How to Survive in the Middle Position
Are you being elbowed in the stomach by dueling strangers right now? In flight, you must sit in the middle seat. And we’re really sorry.
It’s never easy to be meat in a sandwich with a stranger. (If that’s none of your business, no judgment here.) You can’t even get to the restroom when you need it, but you have to be on the lookout in case your window sill neighbor requires a bathroom visit. You won’t sleep!
But the middle place doesn’t have to be that bad. After all, if you’re limited to a middle seat, you can book your ticket closer to the front of the plane and get off quickly as soon as you land. And if you’re a talkative person, you have a double chance of finding a new friend. (Just know when to end the conversation .)
Use the toilet before boarding and choose the “right” middle seat.
When you’re stuck in the middle seat next to a soundly sleeping neighbor, crawling on it in flight is not the best option. Obviously, you should go to the bathroom before your flight to take care of any important things. (I remove contacts before boarding in case I fall asleep early during the flight.)
Here’s a handy tip the next time you only have middle seats as options: look at the seating arrangements on your plane at Seatguru and find out if your flight is in a 3-3-3 configuration (or something similar) and book your seat. in the middle 3; This way, you can move out of the row from either side if one of your seatmates falls asleep. Plus, you won’t get in the way of your own seat mates who have to climb over you to get to the restroom. If you sit in the center of a 3-4-3 constellation, your chances of getting to the toilet without disturbing anyone are also slightly higher.
Obviously, if you are flying a 3-3 pattern, there is not much you can do to avoid it. As we mentioned, if you have middle seat options remaining, try to book your tickets at the front of the plane so at least you can get off early.
Book your exit or front seat
If you have a seat in the middle and can afford it, you can make it a little less frustrating by booking an exit row seat, premium economy class, or a bulkhead row seat. You get a little more legroom in exchange for the extra charge, although you should check out Seatguru to be sure.
On the other hand, you may want to avoid the middle seat next to the exit row or at the very rear of the plane, as some of them may not recline on purpose; These seats are designed in such a way that they cannot get in the way of the emergency door. (Again, check the seat map of your flight on Seatguru to avoid this.)
Place your bags in the overhead basket and pack your second carry-on luggage.
We understand that sometimes you absolutely need to have your bag with you in case you need headphones, a book, or anything else you are carrying, but consider putting your bag in the top drawer the next time you fly in the middle seat.
Obviously, this will give you more of the space you absolutely need when flying with a passenger on either side. Just be sure to remove everything you need from your bag before placing it in the trash can.
I always put a small bag in my carry-on luggage, so I can easily remove the things I need for the flight without delaying passengers in the aisle. It usually has headphones, a charger and a snack in it. You can also take off your jacket or sweater in case it gets particularly cold in flight. (Alternatively, you can place it behind your neck or behind your back if you need additional support .)
According to the C Boarding Group , if you are feeling particularly cramped, you should use a table with a tray to take a nap while you can. This can be a little more comfortable than being squeezed by your seatmates when sitting upright. If it’s red eyes, consider bringing sleeping pills, a neck pillow, and downloading a few movies to your Netflix app on your phone so you can survive as best as possible in the long run.
Flip your seat back and take both armrests, damn it
I recently boarded a return flight from Chicago and let the gentleman in the middle seat take our shared armrest because he damn well deserved it. This is an unsaid rule, but I totally believe that the armrests are yours when you sit in the middle seat. After all, the window seat should be leaning against the plane, and the aisle should be the bathroom! The middle seat experiences nothing but back pain.
The easiest way to establish ground rules for the middle seat is to put both hands down as soon as you sit down; This way, your seat mates will never know they had the opportunity to enjoy your shared armrest. And yes, this is another unpopular opinion, but for your own comfort, recline the seat as far back as possible. The middle seat is already awful, and you deserve the luxury of a little recline.
Or just avoid the middle seat
If you want to avoid the middle seat, there are several ways you can manage to change seats at the last minute. As close as possible to 24 hours before departure, you should check in and try to book the best seat; Around this time, some airlines are upgrading their customers to any elite status, freeing up coveted aisle and window seats.
Also, don’t forget to download your airline’s app to your phone. Using the app, you can check the updated seat map on your flight and find a better seat. They also often have in-app entertainment options, so at least you’ll have something to do while you’re awake.