How to Get an Empty Seat Next to You on a Flight

I’ve become mildly obsessed with this topic after one particularly miserable transatlantic flight wedged between a snoring businessman and a nervous flyer who clutched my arm during turbulence. Ever since, I’ve studied the arcane arts of seat selection with perhaps unhealthy dedication. Probably should have led with this, honestly: while you can never guarantee an empty adjacent seat, you can significantly improve your odds with strategy, timing, and occasionally luck. Here’s everything I’ve learned.

Choose the Right Flight

Timing matters enormously. Avoid peak travel periods – holidays, weekends, Monday mornings, Friday evenings. Midweek flights naturally carry fewer passengers. Red-eye flights and very early or late departures tend to be less popular. That’s what makes off-peak travel endearing to us space-seekers: the discomfort of inconvenient timing often trades for the comfort of empty seats.

Pick Your Seat Wisely

The back of the plane boards last and sometimes stays emptier. Avoid high-traffic areas near bathrooms and galleys – these seats fill first because families and anxious flyers prefer them. Middle seats are last to be selected, so choose window or aisle and hope the middle stays vacant.

Look for Flights with Multiple Open Seats

Before booking, check the seating chart. Many airline websites display current seat availability. Nearly full flights offer slim chances; flights showing many open seats improve your odds. Use this intelligence before committing money.

Set Seat Preferences

Configure your frequent flyer profile with default preferences for window or aisle seating. This won’t guarantee empty neighbors but helps avoid the least desirable middle seat assignments.

Book an Alternate Seat Later

Initial seat selection isn’t final. As departure approaches, check the seating chart again – especially within 48 hours of the flight when last-minute changes happen. If better options appear, switch.

Consider Paying for an Extra Seat

Some airlines allow purchasing adjacent seats for comfort. Expensive, yes, but guaranteed space. Available at booking or through customer service afterward.

Check in Early or Late

Early check-in provides more options on lightly booked flights. Late check-in might reveal which seats will likely remain empty after most passengers have selected. Online check-in tools give you control either way.

Watch for Cabin Changes

Aircraft swaps create different seating configurations. Monitor your booking for changes. If your flight changes equipment, reselect your seat for potentially better options.

Use Airline Status Perks

Frequent flyer status often includes preferred seating options and better upgrade chances. If you have status or can earn it, leverage those benefits.

Fly During Off-Peak Seasons

Avoid summer vacation, Christmas, and Thanksgiving if possible. Late winter or early spring typically sees lower passenger loads, naturally increasing empty seat probability.

Utilize Flight Alerts

Set alerts for multiple flight options if your schedule permits. When notified of availability changes or price drops, you can select flights with better seating potential.

Be Kind to Airline Staff

Gate agents and flight attendants control seating arrangements. Politeness and respect cost nothing but can yield dividends when they’re handling last-minute adjustments.

Check Seat Maps Frequently

Regular monitoring reveals availability changes as departure approaches. Log into your booking every few days to catch opportunities for better positioning.

Ask at the Gate

Before boarding, approach the gate agent. If the flight isn’t full, they may accommodate seat change requests. Last-minute adjustments happen more often than people realize.

The Companion Strategy

Traveling with someone? Book window and aisle seats in the same row, leaving the middle empty. Others rarely choose that middle seat voluntarily. If someone does, offer to switch so you can sit together – most people accept.

Consider Flight Class

Business and Premium Economy have fewer seats and more spacing. These classes are also less likely to fill completely compared to Economy. The premium might be worth it.

None of these strategies guarantee success. But combining several significantly improves your odds of that precious empty seat – and the comfort it brings.

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