Leaving odd seats empty on planes

[FawnFrenchieMum]

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?

I travelled recently and the cabin crew said no one could move seats as the flight wasn’t full and the seats were set for balance and load.

Could it be that?

@Scianel I’m very claustrophobic too and can’t really fly without an aisle, so again i always book in advance.

I agree that it’s the talking over people that’s the issue, not that a couple might have different needs and want to sit in aisle and window as though not travelling together.

Once I flew with exh who was determined not to hook in advance, it’s a waste of money etc. So I booked my aisle and he left his to chance. On the day I had an empty row of three seats (just by chance) and he was wedged in the worst middle seat of all, right at the back with extra small leg space

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

Getting off a plane quickly can make a big difference to how long you're queuing for immigration, taxis, etc.

I guess it depends on the airport - I used to fly once a week from EMA to DUB - it made almost zero difference whether I rushed or didn't - in fact rushing to get off disadvantaged me on the rare occasions we were bussed to the terminal as fist on the bus meant I wasn't first off it. Mostly these "advantages" are just like people who push past you to get on the tube - they are largely illusory.

As you correctly say it depends on the airport..if you are disembarking via a jetty it can make a big difference.

There are only certain seats allowed for children due to the oxygen I think. If it has to drop down

Depends on destination. If it’s a major city and therefore high business travel this is absolutely normal. Some single travellers prefer window and some aisle. Aisle always got booked up more on long haul so people didn’t need to scramble over some stranger asleep especially if you’re a woman. Aisle seats more popular on shorter flights.
No business traveller in their right mind would book a middle seat voluntarily

Looks normal to me, I always book an aisle seat

@Lou98 god no I'd be far too conscious of being inconsiderate, I'd just be quietly reading my kindle. I'd feel bad for you and not want to make your trip worse.

Tbh I don't think we've done that for years anyway - for long haul we'd probably book the two in a row seats at the back or something and short haul just book an aisle and a middle.

We've just had the exact same with tui, seems really weird. I'm thinking maybe we can negotiate a swap with whoever is in the aisle when we get on the plane

It’s a pain with them. I had this last time we travelled, but it was my DS who was in the aisle seat. He’s only 10 so I didn’t want him in at the window, but the couple with the toddler really wanted to be on the aisle. It didn’t help anyone not being able to pick the seats they wanted originally.

@AchillesPoirot

There are only certain seats allowed for children due to the oxygen I think. If it has to drop down

Yes completely agree, only one infant per row of three, but it might be only every other row. I also don't think infants are allowed in the aisle seats because of the difficulty in getting out for other passengers

Quite interesting this summer. Flew out on cough Ryanair and we were none of us sitting together which was fine as we didn't want to pay the extra. I swapped with a boy of about nine so he could sit next to his dad but they didn't ask me, I offered when I saw the boy going towards the back and looking a bit sad about it.

Coming back the stewardess actually made sure that children under 12 were sitting with at least one adult who was in charge of them - which are the actual air passenger regulations, I believe, and even asked my daughter who was 12 then and looks older, and was happy to sit with people she doesn't know, how old she was and if she was ok. Going out I'd just swapped informally and other passengers had too.

Just an observation. Even though it no longer affects us it would be nice if airlines actually complied with the regulations all the time.

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing that must have been an extremely comfortable and satisfying flight

As I said in a pp we don't do the aisle and window thing any more, I think probably just did it once or twice years ago, just to avoid any awkwardness or skirmishes over the aisle seat! Would definitely never talk over some poor stranger either.

I'm flying with a baby soon. I haven't bothered reserving a seat as baby will be on my lap. If a couple has booked a window and aisle seat and I get allocated the middle seat, they probably live to regret that decision.

But I used to quite frequently fly alone. If one person has booked an aisle seat leaving the middle and window seat free, I think it would be odd to book the middle seat, leaving the window seat free.
People naturally spread out and leave a gap if they can.

@AchillesPoirot

There are only certain seats allowed for children due to the oxygen I think. If it has to drop down

Never seen that as a restriction but I guess it might exist on some aircraft somewhere.

There is usually/often an extra mask per row to cater for babes in arms (and the cabin crew if they have to move around the aisles to check on passengers whilst the aircraft is not pressurized at altitude)

You can’t just swap seats willy-nilly. Children aren’t allowed to just sit anywhere, because they can impede the evacuation in case of an accident.

There is - or was - at least one budget airline that wouldn’t let you do this, but I can’t remember which one. I like a window, DH likes an aisle, we generally only communicate on a flight when the food comes round Didn’t book with them when I found that out.

Otherwise it’s a free-for-all, first come first served, which is fair enough especially when you’re paying for your seat booking.

I dont understand why you find this happening unreasonable? Surely /some/ of the empty seats will be booked later on but even if not, why should it be a problem?

When we travelled with our children - primary age and younger - it always looked deliberate that we were seated the farthest away from exit rows. I wondered if it was policy, as it happened so often. I think it’s just that children aren’t allowed in exit rows, though.

Surely it should be encouraged in this day and age

There is usually/often an extra mask per row to cater for babes in arms (and the cabin crew if they have to move around the aisles to check on passengers whilst the aircraft is not pressurized at altitude)

Ah, thanks @notimagain - I’d posted above about DH and I not being able to sit in the same row of three with us both having an infant on our lap and had wondered why that was. I’d wondered if it was about evacuation but of course, hadn’t thought of oxygen masks!

@Woollystockings

You can’t just swap seats willy-nilly. Children aren’t allowed to just sit anywhere, because they can impede the evacuation in case of an accident.

That is often the case for some seats or all the seats of “self help” exit rows (usually the overwings) but I can’t think of any technical reason why children would be banned from any of the seats of a block of three elsewhere in the cabin.

I don’t think there is any great mystery to this….it’s mainly as been explained upthread- passengers travelling in pairs hoping for a free centre seat and/or the way solo traveler’s have selected their seats.

@Cam22

It can be about balance for the aircraft. I presume you’d rather they didn’t think of safety?

It can't be at this point, its months away and people can still book and choose any seat on the plane.

@Woollystockings

When we travelled with our children - primary age and younger - it always looked deliberate that we were seated the farthest away from exit rows. I wondered if it was policy, as it happened so often. I think it’s just that children aren’t allowed in exit rows, though.

They are not allowed exit rows, neither are disabled people as they need to quickly be moved out of the seats.

I am a bit at loss as to what you expect to see?
Do you think people should chose their seats according to some sort of guidelines?
Have the computer tell you where you will sit because there is 5 of you and therefore, this is the arrangement?

I mean when all of 4 of us travel, we all take seats on the aisle. The reason is that I have a DH and 2 teens dcs who are very tall. They just don't fit in the other seats (or not wo backache etc...). Shoul they be told, 'though, you are payng to book a seat but actually you are not allowed to get the ones that are suitable for you'?

Balance is an issue fore/aft, I’m not convinced what is being described is down to that being a problem.

When we fly with BA we always book the aisle and window seat because my frequent flyer status blocks the middle seat & makes it unavailable to book. Unless the flight is full they will leave it empty, but we only find out when boarding (it stays free about 75% of the time).

If I’m by myself I’ll sit in the window or aisle, why take a middle seat if you don’t have to?

There’s many ways to ensure you can sit together. Few airlines deliberately split up groups unless you’ve booked very late.