How To Make the Most of the Middle Seat

Being stuck in the middle seat on an airplane is hardly anyone’s first choice, but for travelers who aren’t willing to shell out extra bucks to choose their own seat, the middle seat may be randomly assigned to them. However, there are a few ways to make the most of this situation and breeze through the flight with the most comfortable experience possible.

Scan the plane for empty seats. If the flight isn’t full and you can spot other available seats on the flight, wait until boarding has finished and asked a flight attendant if you can move to a different seat, thus avoiding the middle seat assignment altogether.

Use the restroom before you sit down or when seatmates go mid-flight. A small bladder is not conducive to the middle seat, but if you find yourself in the middle, make sure to empty your bladder before the flight departs, or sneak out when your seatmate goes so he only has to stand once.

Pack essentials for long periods of sitting. Since the likelihood of being able to move about the cabin is low, prepare your legs for a long journey of sitting by wearing compression socks and comfortable, loose pants.

Block out your passengers. Equip yourself with a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones and an eye mask to help you feel as though you aren’t surrounded by a cabin full of strangers who aren’t well-versed in armrest etiquette.