Page 4 | Leaving odd seats empty on planes

FawnFrenchieMum · 2022-03-07T10:00:10+00:00

I actually didn’t think it allowed you to do this (leave a single window seat of the middle seat of three) Am I being unreasonable to this leaving single seats like this all over the plane shouldn't be allowed?

skgnome · 07/03/2022 11:15

There are a lot of reason people would do that
My mom and dad would never pick the window, my mom likes to stand up and stretch, needs the toilet quite often (medical reasons) so having someone else in the aisle would inconvenience whoever is sitting next to them
And a lot of single travelers will prefer a window to relax - I know I do
Again, people traveling alone may want an aisle, so two people traveling alone may very well leave one in the middle
That’s why people pay extra to choose their seats early
And before the Internet, that’s why people got to the airport early…

CharlotteRose90 · 07/03/2022 11:15

People like to sit in weird seats. Some people prefer the middle for example.but what is selfish is booking a window and aisle and forcing someone to sit inbetween you for the flight. However I work for an airline and I love when it happens because we move them and make the excuses that they can’t sit like that. . I’ve also seen it happen that a person that is overweight or rude etc is placed in the middle but I’ve never done it .

Original poster

FawnFrenchieMum · 07/03/2022 11:17

Ok maybe I’m getting confused with cinemas and theatres with the not allowing it!
Of course people travel alone and are allowed to sit somewhere! There’s actually loads of full rows still available (and I’ve already got my seats booked as I seats through special assistances due to a disability).
Just seems such a waste of ‘rows’ for people travelling together, the back row for example, I’d have expected them to have to either use seat E or if two people want to sit over the aisle then to sit in row 30 but I suppose your all right in that I have no idea in what order they booked them or if the two people are together on the last row.

It’s honestly not me that’s effected but I guess your all right about the single travellers, although I’m betting that they are hoping no one sits in the third seat so they can spread out.

OP posts:

DogInATent · 07/03/2022 11:17

If two people are travelling together but don’t want a window seat, wouldn’t it make more sense for them to sit either side of an aisle rather than leave the window seat empty?

Yup, it's the best way to travel. Split aisle seats are close enough for contact or a conversation, but you both get the extra space from being next to the aisle. But people split aisle and window in the hope that it will put off someone else taking the middle seat and they'll get the row to themselves. It doesn't work, flight are too full.

Frequent fliers have a few tricks that occasional fliers might think odd. Flying on my own I've ended up sat to one half of a split couple a few times, where one sits with the kids and the other sits several rows away. They generally take turn about on the outward and return journey.

JellyfishandShells · 07/03/2022 11:19

‘The only thing that isn't okay is proceeding to talk over middle person/pass things across the whole flight if you don't swap!’

Got moved to another flight across the US once, due to bad weather, so just grateful to have a seat out. I was between a couple travelling together who were on aisle and window. They didn’t just talk across me, refused to engage, they passed an endless selection of snacks across me ( as well as eating the airline meals ). Gross and messy.

CounsellorTroi · 07/03/2022 11:19

I know a couple who buy all three seats - that’s what you should do if you want a whole row.

Do they buy an extra ticket for the flight?

Scianel · 07/03/2022 11:20

OP if the flight is busy those seats will be filled in anyway and not wasted. And if it's not there's no harm done and everyone's happy in the seat of their choice.

eurochick · 07/03/2022 11:21

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

*Yep. And putting their bag in the middle seat. That's when I always hope for the sweaty 6ft tall and 4ft wide guy eating the smelly hamburger to come and sit in the middle.* What a shitty attitude. Why is it our fault planes have three seats but we eschewed a polyamorous marriage? FFS some people need to get over themselves and their pathetic petty resentments.

You must see that it's pretty awkward and unpleasant for the person stuck in the middle to have a couple talking over you, passing snacks, etc.

FTMworrier · 07/03/2022 11:28

Literally had this argument with TUI this weekend. Family of 3, but LO is 14months so only two seats. Paying to select our seats and it wouldn’t allow us to select an aisle seat and middle seat. We tried to choose this incase LO is being a pain on the fight and we need to walk around with him etc. but the system literally blocked us and wouldn’t allow us to select. So we are having to select window and middle seat and have to pay for them even though we don’t want to sit there 🤷🏻‍♀️

SagittariusDwarf · 07/03/2022 11:28

@CounsellorTroi

I know a couple who buy all three seats - that’s what you should do if you want a whole row.

Do they buy an extra ticket for the flight?

I presume so as you can't buy a seat for a plane you aren't booked on. I actually think it's a pretty good idea for cheap flights. Never occurred to me to do it myself but may do for a short haul flight dh and I are doing later this year

CounsellorTroi · 07/03/2022 11:31

I think it’s a bit selfish, could mean that someone who really wanted a seat on that flight doesn’t get it.

deadlanguage · 07/03/2022 11:32

We might have done this for our upcoming holiday in the hope it meant if the plane isn’t full then no one will be sat next to us 🙈
But it’s a route that is also flown for business (ie it’s not Birmingham to Alicante or whatever) so there could also be a number of single passengers to go in there if it is full, it won’t be holidaying families getting split up.

LemonTT · 07/03/2022 11:35

@CounsellorTroi

I think it’s a bit selfish, could mean that someone who really wanted a seat on that flight doesn’t get it.

Which is why the airlines overbook.

It’s an expensive way to have someone sitting there anyway because no one checked in.

MeanderingGently · 07/03/2022 11:38

I can't understand why you think it isn't allowed, we've always been able to book seats in advance for a small fee. All fine, what is your problem with it?

I travel alone....the worst seat is the middle seat, being jammed in with no arm room either side. I'm not keen on window seats, not easy to get out to go to the loo and I can't get up and get my stuff quickly once we've landed. I much prefer an aisle seat and always book one if one is available.

incognitoforthisone · 07/03/2022 11:40

I think it’s a bit selfish, could mean that someone who really wanted a seat on that flight doesn’t get it.

Er... no it doesn't?! The number of seats available isn't affected by where anyone else is sitting. If someone has booked a window seat and another person has booked an aisle seat, the middle seat doesn't somehow become out of bounds for anyone else to book.

If a plane has 200 seats, 200 people can get on the flight. That fact remains the same regardless of where those seats are.

CounsellorTroi · 07/03/2022 11:42

@incognitoforthisone

I think it’s a bit selfish, could mean that someone who really wanted a seat on that flight doesn’t get it.

Er... no it doesn't?! The number of seats available isn't affected by where anyone else is sitting. If someone has booked a window seat and another person has booked an aisle seat, the middle seat doesn't somehow become out of bounds for anyone else to book.

If a plane has 200 seats, 200 people can get on the flight. That fact remains the same regardless of where those seats are.

Not quite what I meant, I meant that someone might not be able to get on the flight at all, not that they wouldn’t’ be able to sit where they wanted.

TheHoptimist · 07/03/2022 11:43

They weight the plane if bookings are low and do this by blocking seats for booking
They sometimes ask people to move once on board with BA
Weight distribution

isurvived3under2 · 07/03/2022 11:51

Well I have just booked 5 seats, so 3 + 2 - how on earth was I supposed to not leave one empty? A single traveller can book it if they want to!

Dinoteeth · 07/03/2022 11:54

@FTMworrier

Literally had this argument with TUI this weekend. Family of 3, but LO is 14months so only two seats. Paying to select our seats and it wouldn’t allow us to select an aisle seat and middle seat. We tried to choose this incase LO is being a pain on the fight and we need to walk around with him etc. but the system literally blocked us and wouldn’t allow us to select. So we are having to select window and middle seat and have to pay for them even though we don’t want to sit there 🤷🏻‍♀️

With babies you have the additional complications of where is the 'extra' oxygen mask. My friend has twins they couldn't sit in the same row because only one seat per row has two masks. I think in some planes it might be 1 in 6 seats has two.

I was told not to swap seats on a very empty plane because it can leave the plane un balanced. I was also told by someone else that should the unfortunate happen the seat numbers are marked on the seats so could be confusing if Mrs Smith who's meant to be in 23F is actually attached to seat 23D

Arabellla · 07/03/2022 11:54

I guess your all right about the single travellers, although I’m betting that they are hoping no one sits in the third seat so they can spread out.

So what? Darn those selfish, single travellers.

FinallyHere · 07/03/2022 11:58

Imaging booking and paying for a third seat, in order to secure a whole row to yourselves, then that third ticket being bumped from the flight so someone else can sit there.

All the cost and none of the benefit.

BoredBoredBoredB · 07/03/2022 11:59

I don’t think two people travelling together should be able to book aisle and window seats leaving a gap between them. It just seems greedy to hope that nobody goes between you.

Juno22 · 07/03/2022 11:59

I knew I'd experienced this before. Yes, Tui systems generally don't allow you to book an aisle and middle for 2 people leaving the window seat free. As a high number of their clients are families going on holiday they probably don't want those seats left empty when they are trying to seat families together.

I've never experienced this with any other airline.

Ted27 · 07/03/2022 12:01

why would single travellers want to spread out more than others?

I havent flown sole for a long time but I did for many years. I always booked my seat and was frequently requested to move by other passengers and crew to accommodate couples who hadnt bothered to book. The answer being NO

girlmom21 · 07/03/2022 12:02

@BoredBoredBoredB

I don’t think two people travelling together should be able to book aisle and window seats leaving a gap between them. It just seems greedy to hope that nobody goes between you.

It's not really greedy if there'd be an empty seat elsewhere otherwise.