The Mary Sue
‘All fun and games until…’: Air Canada passenger tries the ‘window seat trick’ …
‘All fun and games until…’: Air Canada passenger tries the ‘window seat trick’ on 14-hour flight. Here’s why people say it won’t always work
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Travel Hack Sparks Heated Debate: The 'DIY Business Class' Seat Strategy on Long Flights
A couple's recent viral video has sparked a debate among travelers and airline staff regarding a popular 'DIY business class' trick. The video, uploaded by user emily, documents their attempt to secure an empty middle seat on a 14-hour flight to Australia by booking the aisle and window seats. The footage captures their initial anxiety during boarding, followed by visible relief and excitement when they successfully found the middle seat vacant. The 'aisle and window seat trick' aims to create more personal space on long-haul flights, effectively turning a standard economy row into a makeshift business class experience if no one occupies the middle seat. While the couple celebrated their success, the comments section quickly filled with varied reactions. Several users expressed frustration with the practice. One commenter stated, "KLM doesn't even allow this. All airlines should stop allowing this," highlighting the perceived unfairness or inconvenience to other passengers. Another shared a negative personal experience, saying, "I was once the middle seat person and they didn't ask to be together. So I spent a 4h flight between a couple that kept having conversations. Absolutely ridiculous." Conversely, some travelers defended the strategy. "Since when did hoping someone didn't book the middle seat illegal??" one user questioned, arguing that booking desired seats and hoping for an empty middle is a legitimate approach. Another user noted, "I do this and it works about 50% of the time. The person in the middle seat always will switch. If they don't want to, which would be a weird hill to die on, but that is their right and I won't complain." Airline staff and frequent flyers also weighed in, pointing out that standby passengers often fill empty seats, potentially thwarting such plans. "People are on standby for some flights so any empty seats will be filled by them," a comment read. Another user, claiming to have friends who are airline staff, warned, "if they see two people in the same booking with the window and aisle seat, they’ll intentionally move a solo passenger from another middle seat to between the people trying this trick." The video has generated significant discussion on the ethics and practicality of such travel hacks, revealing a clear divide between those seeking comfort and those prioritizing standard airline protocols and passenger courtesy.
