Middle Seat Passengers Are Fed Up With This Awkward Flying Habit

The middle seat is already one of the least desirable spots on a plane. You’re boxed in on both sides, fighting for armrest space, and trying to make yourself as small as possible until landing.

But one traveler recently sparked a big discussion online after describing an especially awkward version of the middle-seat experience: sitting between a couple who had booked the window and aisle seats, only to have them continue talking over them throughout the flight.

The passenger said it happened on a short flight from SFO to RDM. The couple appeared to have chosen their preferred seats, one at the window and one on the aisle, while the poster ended up in the only available middle seat after booking at the last minute.

The issue wasn’t that the couple chose those seats. Many couples do that, hoping the middle seat will remain empty. The problem was that once someone did sit between them, they kept carrying on conversations across the stranger in the middle.

Many Travelers Said the Couple Should Have Offered to Switch

A lot of commenters agreed that the polite move would have been simple: offer the middle-seat passenger either the aisle or the window seat so the couple could sit together.

One person said they had been in a similar situation with a father and son. After the pair kept talking over them, they asked if either wanted to switch. When the father declined, the commenter responded, “Then let’s keep the chatter to a minimum.”

Another traveler said that when they book a window and an aisle seat with a partner, they always offer the middle passenger a better seat if the gamble doesn’t work out.

That seemed to be the general rule many people supported: book the window and aisle if you want, but if the middle seat fills, either switch or stay quiet.

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Some Couples Say They Do This Without Bothering Anyone

Several commenters admitted they use the same seat-booking strategy but said they make a point of not inconveniencing the person between them.

One traveler explained that their spouse likes the window while they prefer the aisle, but once the plane takes off, they both put on headphones and do their own thing.

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The Real Issue Is Courtesy

Most people didn’t seem bothered by couples booking window and aisle seats. The frustration came from what happens after the middle seat is taken.

A couple can hope for an empty middle seat, but once another passenger is there, that person shouldn’t have to become a human divider for conversations, snacks, or passed items.

The simplest fix is also the most considerate: offer to switch, text instead of talking, or save the conversation for after landing.

Because for the person stuck in the middle, the flight is already uncomfortable enough.

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