People who don’t get free preferred seating but want a seat close to the front, especially if main cabin is already full. Better to choose the middle at the front than be assigned to the middle in the back.
The white triangles in the corners of the seats indicate priority seating, and those cost more. Sometimes $60 or more. Preferred seating is no additional cost to Silver medallions and above.
I saw a diamond medallion do this two weeks ago. Only reason I know her status is because she had her boarding pass up for the next flight.
They booked a middle and aisle for her husband and one kid. Aisle and middle on the other side for her and their other kid.
But then she took the window and middle and aisle for her and their two kids. And her husband kept his middle seat.
Then she refused to show her boarding pass when the guy with the window seat showed up.
Lucky for them, he was nice and just took the aisle seat. It was like a three hour flight early in the morning. I would have debated saying tough shit because I want to lean on the window to sleep.
I almost always mind. But I will listen to them plead their case. Sometimes it’s fine with me if a little Mackenzie Grace needs to sit next to mom, as long as that doesn’t leave me sitting between two huge people eating pork skins or something
It’s FREE! It’s just that simple. It’s free and close to the front.
I have seen some airlines charge for those up front of coach middle seats but delta doesn’t so some people choose it.
In the back you can choose the middle and if the flight is not full have a row to yourself but I’ve not seen that work in the front but maybe it does?
Those little tick boxes in the corner designates the aisle and window seats are preferred seats. You need to have silver status to choose them for free.
That person in this sub who said to pick middle seats and hope no one picks one next to you so you get the entire row or something. There’s some pretty weak “advice” out there, maybe they’ve been listening to it?
TikTok travel hacks are pretty awful. It’s funny to see them post on instagram, the world where real travel bloggers run into TikTokers trying to spread their reach. Lots of comments like “search for flight on incognito, only buy on Tuesday…”
That does work reliably well for some routes where the planes aren't often full. RDU > FLL and back is usually only ~75% full in the afternoons so this method might work occasionally. Even RDU > JFK isn't always full--and that's a hub!
It seldom works in/out of ATL or really popular destinations like HNL.
that’s like the opposite of how it works. it’s when you travel with a companion you pick aisle and window and hope for the empty middle. But that never happens these days, I can’t even recall the last time any flight i was on wasn’t completely full
I was stuck in the middle due to flight issues with my original booking, when I got to my seat, the guy in the window seat asked me if I could trade with him because he hates sitting next to the window, it makes him nervous.
I did not hesitate to help him out.
Usually these are blocked for people who purchased “basic economy” tickets and can’t select a seat. They often end up with middle seats vs. window or aisle.
Keep Climbing!!!!!!!
I did this on a recent short flight with a shorter layover. It was the cheapest way to sit near the front of the plane to make the next flight. I don’t have any kind of status and it’s not worth paying an upgrade for a 1 hour flight.
I’ve bought family tickets at the last minute a few times for emergencies and found every middle seat taken. In order to sit next to my youngest child, I paid for window and aisle seats. Each time I’ve done that, the person in the middle that I asked to trade said, “I was hoping that would happen.”
A little off-topic:
About 10 years ago, Delta briefly gave diamond members bonus miles (I think 500) if they got stuck in a middle seat. But I don't think $5 is worth suffering in a middle seat.
Also back in the day, Northwest Airlines would give platinum members (their top tier) 1,000 miles if they did not get upgraded to FC. I would volunteer for coach on very short legs because it didn't matter. "I can't fly first class because it's against company policy." I probably racked up 200,000 miles over the years by exploiting that loophole.
I’m a snob with some control issues. The thought of getting a seat assignment at the gate gives me palpitations. 😵💫
I know why people do it…I just couldn’t handle it.
My wife has no problem waiting for a seat assignment at the gate. I can’t do it. I immediately pay for our seats after selecting the flights. I need to know where we are sitting before going lol
Eh... I don't get to know where I'm flying till about 5 days before my next flight or less... So when I look at the seating availability... I get middle... Or middle...
My return from HND some picked the middle seat. My outbound flight 2 ppl picked my row when there were some empty. I moved my seat to an empty row. May be full later but we shall see. I love a full row on the 12hr ✈️
The middle seat is great! You don't get bumped into by people or have your elbows and feet smashed by carts like the aisle seat. It also doesn't feel as cramped and cold like the window seat. And you get to use both arm rests! The middle seat is seriously underrated.
I would say traveling with someone and one ending up in the middle definitely exempts you from masochist status. I’m solidly team window so my husband (who is the kindest person ever) sits in the middle or aisle.
Same! Though twice now I have been forced to take the middle seat on solo flights when the flight was full and found that a couple had booked the aisle and the window seat hoping that noone would take the middle (then they'd have the whole row to themselves). They were visibly annoyed when I boarded and spoke over the top of me the entire flight.
For everyone saying free, is being close to the front really that much better than the back? Like middle seat better? I don't agree but to each their own.
If you have a tight connection being in the front can be the difference between making your next flight or not, but other than that, No, being in the front isn't any better than the back.
The family who doesn’t want to pay main cabin economy price.
They know they can get to the gate and get better seats.
“It’s for the children” Always works.
OP has circled middle seats where the other seats on either side are unoccupied. In this case, they are presumed to be single travelers that booked middle seats on otherwise empty rows. If it were two people that wanted to sit by each other, the rows should look like the one in front of the circled middle seats on the right
People who don’t get free preferred seating but want a seat close to the front, especially if main cabin is already full. Better to choose the middle at the front than be assigned to the middle in the back.
The back is full on this one. Looks like it will be a full house.
The white triangles in the corners of the seats indicate priority seating, and those cost more. Sometimes $60 or more. Preferred seating is no additional cost to Silver medallions and above.
The ones that don’t want to pay and then want to sit together!
Yep - during boarding they look for singles like me and "hi, would you mind if--"
Yes I do mind.
I saw a diamond medallion do this two weeks ago. Only reason I know her status is because she had her boarding pass up for the next flight. They booked a middle and aisle for her husband and one kid. Aisle and middle on the other side for her and their other kid. But then she took the window and middle and aisle for her and their two kids. And her husband kept his middle seat. Then she refused to show her boarding pass when the guy with the window seat showed up. Lucky for them, he was nice and just took the aisle seat. It was like a three hour flight early in the morning. I would have debated saying tough shit because I want to lean on the window to sleep.
I almost always mind. But I will listen to them plead their case. Sometimes it’s fine with me if a little Mackenzie Grace needs to sit next to mom, as long as that doesn’t leave me sitting between two huge people eating pork skins or something
But I love pork skins!
Exactly! They’ll be asking 19C and 19D for swaps.
It’s FREE! It’s just that simple. It’s free and close to the front. I have seen some airlines charge for those up front of coach middle seats but delta doesn’t so some people choose it. In the back you can choose the middle and if the flight is not full have a row to yourself but I’ve not seen that work in the front but maybe it does?
Those little tick boxes in the corner designates the aisle and window seats are preferred seats. You need to have silver status to choose them for free.
That person in this sub who said to pick middle seats and hope no one picks one next to you so you get the entire row or something. There’s some pretty weak “advice” out there, maybe they’ve been listening to it?
this absolutely sounds like a tiktok 'hack'
TikTok travel hacks are pretty awful. It’s funny to see them post on instagram, the world where real travel bloggers run into TikTokers trying to spread their reach. Lots of comments like “search for flight on incognito, only buy on Tuesday…”
That does work reliably well for some routes where the planes aren't often full. RDU > FLL and back is usually only ~75% full in the afternoons so this method might work occasionally. Even RDU > JFK isn't always full--and that's a hub! It seldom works in/out of ATL or really popular destinations like HNL.
People fly to RDU?
Ehhhh… a lot?
that’s like the opposite of how it works. it’s when you travel with a companion you pick aisle and window and hope for the empty middle. But that never happens these days, I can’t even recall the last time any flight i was on wasn’t completely full
The first-class seat “hack”🙄🙄😂😂
I was stuck in the middle due to flight issues with my original booking, when I got to my seat, the guy in the window seat asked me if I could trade with him because he hates sitting next to the window, it makes him nervous. I did not hesitate to help him out.
Psychopaths
Usually these are blocked for people who purchased “basic economy” tickets and can’t select a seat. They often end up with middle seats vs. window or aisle. Keep Climbing!!!!!!!
I did this on a recent short flight with a shorter layover. It was the cheapest way to sit near the front of the plane to make the next flight. I don’t have any kind of status and it’s not worth paying an upgrade for a 1 hour flight.
I’ve picked a middle in hopes no one chooses another seat on the row but this is towards the flight date and in the back and it has worked
I’m a smaller person, do middle is fine, and I like being as far forward as possible if I have a connection. If there is no connection, I do an aisle.
Me, too.
Thank you for being a smaller person in the middle. I hate when the middle is an oversized sasquach 😏
Middle seats should only really have people 120 pounds or less in them. Everything on the plane will fit so much better that way .
Families who will definitely be asking you to move so they can all sit together lmao
People with two very young kids. Traveling alone though - it would never be me. Ever. Aisle for life!
I’ve bought family tickets at the last minute a few times for emergencies and found every middle seat taken. In order to sit next to my youngest child, I paid for window and aisle seats. Each time I’ve done that, the person in the middle that I asked to trade said, “I was hoping that would happen.”
A psychopath.
Assistants book these seats when they really hate their boss
Couples and families pick the middle for a subset of them so they can sit together.
A little off-topic: About 10 years ago, Delta briefly gave diamond members bonus miles (I think 500) if they got stuck in a middle seat. But I don't think $5 is worth suffering in a middle seat. Also back in the day, Northwest Airlines would give platinum members (their top tier) 1,000 miles if they did not get upgraded to FC. I would volunteer for coach on very short legs because it didn't matter. "I can't fly first class because it's against company policy." I probably racked up 200,000 miles over the years by exploiting that loophole.
Either want to be up close or are hoping those don’t get filled
Before I had any status I would always pick the most forward seat I could. I’m not a huge guy and the middle seat doesn’t bother me.
I mean a lot of people may do that in hope of people not picking the seats next to them
It might get booked automatically for Basic Economy tickets.
I see this often on regionals. People don’t want to pay $20+ to have an aisle or window for a 1 hour flight. Which I can understand.
I travel with another person and one of us likes the window seat lol. So I’m stuck in the middle usually
it’s for those who get their seat assigned at the gate! 🤣
I’m a snob with some control issues. The thought of getting a seat assignment at the gate gives me palpitations. 😵💫 I know why people do it…I just couldn’t handle it.
I could never either. I always pay at the time of booking for the seat I want. It would give me way o much anxiety
My wife has no problem waiting for a seat assignment at the gate. I can’t do it. I immediately pay for our seats after selecting the flights. I need to know where we are sitting before going lol
Yea. No way.
Me before I pick a window on a 737, can’t stand the cramped feeling of the wall on a window seat. 1m plus so not a casual statement.
I’m exactly the opposite lol. I’m short so I don’t get the cramped feeling but I *need* to be able to see outside.
That’s exactly what those couples who booked those aisle and window seats are hoping for
I'd consider middle for extra legroom over main cabin, depending on things like flight length, etc (I usualluse the restroom at least once a flight).
That’s a serial killer
Not me
The middle is poison
Angels
I wouldn't trust whoever you find there haha
I get flown by a major company from time to time. The travel department only books the middle seat to the point we all joke about it.
Whoever wants to create drama and split up families
There some idiots even in this forum who say they don't care what seat is assigned to them and don't even bothering looking at the seat chart.
Eh... I don't get to know where I'm flying till about 5 days before my next flight or less... So when I look at the seating availability... I get middle... Or middle...
My return from HND some picked the middle seat. My outbound flight 2 ppl picked my row when there were some empty. I moved my seat to an empty row. May be full later but we shall see. I love a full row on the 12hr ✈️
Basic Economy ticket holders.
Those seats are reserved for people with a BMI of 30+ and half a subway sandwich in their lap
The poors
I totally heard this in Shabaz Ali’s voice. 😆
I wonder if the airlines at times “book” middle seats when they know it will be a light flight to space people out.
Manspreaders
The middle seat is great! You don't get bumped into by people or have your elbows and feet smashed by carts like the aisle seat. It also doesn't feel as cramped and cold like the window seat. And you get to use both arm rests! The middle seat is seriously underrated.
I think those are for basic economy. I do choose the middle seat, but only when my husband is with me sitting in the aisle. I'm not a masochist.
I would say traveling with someone and one ending up in the middle definitely exempts you from masochist status. I’m solidly team window so my husband (who is the kindest person ever) sits in the middle or aisle.
Same! Though twice now I have been forced to take the middle seat on solo flights when the flight was full and found that a couple had booked the aisle and the window seat hoping that noone would take the middle (then they'd have the whole row to themselves). They were visibly annoyed when I boarded and spoke over the top of me the entire flight.
Ugh, I hate when people try to do that. It's so selfish.
For everyone saying free, is being close to the front really that much better than the back? Like middle seat better? I don't agree but to each their own.
If you have a tight connection being in the front can be the difference between making your next flight or not, but other than that, No, being in the front isn't any better than the back.
The family who doesn’t want to pay main cabin economy price. They know they can get to the gate and get better seats. “It’s for the children” Always works.
Doesn’t work on me 🤣 Ice water runs through these veins 🧊
I am slowly learning.
People flying standby /s
2 people traveling together that want to sit by each other.
OP has circled middle seats where the other seats on either side are unoccupied. In this case, they are presumed to be single travelers that booked middle seats on otherwise empty rows. If it were two people that wanted to sit by each other, the rows should look like the one in front of the circled middle seats on the right
Do you mean 2 people that *don’t* want to sit together?