Woman and Her Mom Take a Huge Risk To Get the Best Seats on 12-Hour Flight

A flight passenger has shared the hack she uses to secure a whole row for her and her fellow flyer, revealing that it has worked for her the majority of the time.
Ashley Michelle was traveling with her mom from Auckland, New Zealand, to Los Angeles on a Delta flight and wanted to have a whole row for just the two of them. She took to TikTok to share her special hack, which works “85 percent of the time,” she told Newsweek.
“We are trying the travel hack when you book an aisle and a window seat, leaving the middle seat ‘available.’ We paid extra for the specific seats.”
Michelle shared a clip to TikTok showing her and her mom waiting to see if their trick worked, her sitting in the window seat and her mother in the aisle seat. “Finding out of booking an aisle and window seat worked or if there will be a stranger between us for the next 12 hours,” she wrote in the text overlay of the video, which has gone viral with over 7 million views.
“In this flight and our connection to Miami, the hack worked. The middle seat was empty!” she told Newsweek. “If it’s unsuccessful with a passenger in the middle seat, that’s no problem at all! You can either offer to swap or they get both arm rests, we all keep our allocated seats.
“Personally, when a stranger is seated between us, we essentially turn into solo travelers to respect the middle seaters’ personal space.”
In the short clip, Michelle and her mom can be seen eagerly waiting to see if the middle seat will be filled. The hack works under the assumption that the middle seat is the least desirable, with the hopes that other passengers will opt for other available window or aisle seats.
According to AirAdvisor, window seats are the best option for those who want to sleep on long-haul flights because passengers can lean their heads on the wall of the plane. The travel experts also advise getting a seat far away from toilets to minimize disturbances from other passengers passing by.
“I have been doing this hack for the last seven years, predominantly on long-haul/ international flights,” Michelle told Newsweek. “For me, I’d say it’s worked at least 85 percent of the time.
“That includes flights all over, from NZ to Turkey or the Pacific Islands, around Europe, or even from one state to another in the USA. It does help to avoid traveling in peak seasons and please note, you do need to book towards the back of the plane as they fill up front to back.
“As long as you’re happy to take the L [loss] and not kick up a fuss if it does turn out to be a full flight with someone getting the middle seat then go for it, there’s nothing to lose! You’ll still get where you’re going. You might just get the bonus of extra room/comfort without upgrading.”
Simple Flying defines long-haul flights as air journeys that last six hours or more.
Michelle’s video got TikTok users talking, with many sharing their thoughts in the comments.
“For this sole reason, I always board last. The look of disappointment on their face as I stop, and said excuse me, can I get into my seat. It would make my whole week,” said Ariez.
Meanwhile, Kari shared: “Book all three, make one a refundable ticket. cancel at the last possible second.”
“As someone who tends to travel solo, I wish people wouldn’t do this. Just book to sit together if you want to, don’t force someone between you,” said @TrophyPop_.
Kate R commented: “Book two aisle seats next to one another. room to stretch and still chat.”
“I was on a flight and a husband and wife did that and I was stuck between them,” said Angie Vaughn.
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