CHECKING in late, buying snacks for the crew – the internet is full of hacks for trying to get the best plane seats possible without paying for them.
But there is one viral seat hack that I absolutely hate – despite travellers bragging about it.
If with a mate or partner, it can be tempting to try and get a whole row to yourself with an empty middle seat.
The online trick means booking the window and the aisle seat while keeping the middle one free.
Not only are people less likely to book a middle seat, but even if they do, they are more likely to move so they aren't between a group.
However, I've found that the latter rarely happens when I am forced to book a middle seat because of a full plane.
Not only is it infuriating, but it ruined my flight after being stuck between two rude passengers.
While I certainly don't like a middle seat – – I won't begrudge anyone if I am forced to sit in it.
But what happened on this occasion was two friends – who I had “separated” after sitting between them – then refused to swap.
And rather than just sit in their respective seats, they spent the rest of the flight talking over and round me.
I was forced to lean back in my seat as every few moments they decided to have a full conversion, with me unable to even look at my phone without feeling like I was blocking them.
It might have only been a short trip to but the selfish passengers completely ruined the flight.
If it had been any longer it would have been even worse although little could be done, after all, how would I tell the flight crew that they were “talking too much over me” without sounding like a child?
But it's not just me who has been annoyed by it.
‘Ghost floating between them'
One solo passenger recounted to the Thrillist: “Here I am, single and squeezed between two people who are happily passing around iPads and snacks, having a full-blown conversation as if I’m just a ghost floating between them.
“This experience has been haunting me, to be honest.”
So to anyone thinking about trying the hack, I urge you to not risk annoying your fellow passengers.
Or at least make sure you give up your window or aisle seat instead.
One tried and tested method to getting a better seat without annoying anyone is to have the plane app up while boarding to see if there are any empty rows on the seat map.
You can then ask crew if it is okay to move to them.
Just make sure to always ask – sometimes they have been left empty to balance the plane.
