Update, 10/1: JetBlue announced they will block most middle seats through at least December 1st and continue some seat blocking through the holiday travel season.
Update, 9/16: Southwest announced they will extend their middle seat blocking through at least November 30th.
Update, 8/20: Delta announced they will extend their middle seat blocking through at least January 6th.
Update, 8/5: Alaska announced they will extend their middle seat blocking through at least November 30th.
Update, 8/5: JetBlue announced they will extend their middle seat blocking through at least October 15th.
Update, 7/15: Southwest has extended their empty middle seat promise through October 31st.
Update, 6/26: American will match United’s policy of selling flights to 100% capacity as of July 1st. Passengers will be allowed to switch flights if they don’t want to fly on a full flight.
Originally posted on 6/3:
Delta announced that they will continue to block middle seats through September 30th.
They accomplish that by selling just 60% of the economy seats, 50% of first class seats, and 75% of Delta One business class seats.
Delta also plans to add flights or switch to larger planes on routes that are filling up.
I’d expect face masks to be required for at least that period of time as well.
JetBlue’s empty middle seat (or empty aisle seat on E190s) promise currently runs through October 15th and Southwest’s empty middle seat promise now runs through October 31st.
If you are traveling with family you can call the airline to sit in a middle seat, but I’d recommend just booking the aisle and window and enjoy the extra space.
Meanwhile American and United are making no such commitments. They are blocking middle seats on empty flights, but will happily and sell them to fill a flight. United says they will contact passengers on flights that are more than 70% full and allow them to change to another flight. You can always buy an extra seat if you want to guarantee an empty seat next to you by making the first name of the ticket EXTRASEAT with your last name. You’ll even get double your baggage allowance.
Airlines are in a catch-22 situation here. They need to sell about 80% of the seats on a plane to turn a profit, but people won’t fly and will make noise on social media if they don’t feel safe due to a full flight:
I guess @united is relaxing their social distancing policy these days? Every seat full on this 737 pic.twitter.com/rqWeoIUPqL
— Ethan Weiss (@ethanjweiss) May 9, 2020
American and United argue that it’s impossible to truly social distance on a plane. Even with a blocked middle seat, you will be less than 6 feet away from people all around you. But it does make a psychological difference and Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest are betting that you will reward them for their empty middle seat promises. And hey, some space has to be better than no space, right?
Those airlines are also likely hoping to get lasting goodwill from passengers remembering that they tried to keep them safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
And then there’s great Qantas parody video on social distancing on a plane:
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76 Comments On "JetBlue Extends Middle Seat Blocking, Will You Stick With Airlines Promising An Empty Middle Seat?"
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Yes if it’s otherwise an even deal (price factor, route and schedule)
It’s always more convenient to have extra elbow space. Safety wise? The exposure is inevitable. Blocking middle seats doesn’t prevent exposure altogether; it ensures exposure isn’t prolonged perhaps. My take. (especially June and onward)
If the plane is a 3-3, and you buy the window and the middle for your family member, they’re still going to have to block that 3rd seat in the row…
Maybe so, but maybe it falls through the system because only middle seats are getting blocked. But either way, why not just book the aisle and window? That’s the wise thing to do even without COVID (as you can always change into a middle seat should someone get the seat between you), now it’s a no-brainer since that middle seat is guaranteed to stay empty.
But if the middle seat cost is significantly cheaper than the aisle/window…
Never heard of such a thing
In my humble opinion, Airlines have been toying with promising more space and less space for decades. At the end of the day, up until covid-19, the consumer always gravitated to the lowest fare regardless of advertised enhancements, extra space Etc.
Notwithstanding the above, it might be that covid-19 concerns are different and consumers will respond to this idea. I I would not bet my life or bet my career pushing this idea.
I personally am not ready to board an aircraft yet. I travel quite a bit, I have been on aircraft where the air was not circulating during a taxi because the pilot was not expecting a long 48 minute taxi and having the air conditioning on would necessitate going back for more fuel. By the way thank you Delta for that miserable experience. The fact that Boeing and Airbus announced a joint project to look into the safety concerns regarding covid-19 on an aircraft, this indicates that Boeing and Airbus are not confident that all the information is known yet.
Does the middle seat policy also apply to international flights? Also Do you recommend booking delta from JFK to tlv end of June?
Is Delta still flying the Airbus A330 to TLV (2-4-2); Does that mean if you get the a 2 you automatically get an empty next to you?
I booked TLV-JFK for mid June. Seat map had 2-4-2 with 1-2-1 blocked. Safe travels. Status upgrades issued only at the gate.
I think this is a bad move on Delta’s part. There is zero scientific evidence that blocking the middle seat on an airplane improves anyone’s safety. It’s a psychological move catering to irrational fear. Why does an airline want to do that? It’s either safe to fly a fully loaded 737 or it’s not. And if it’s not safe, no one should be flying.
Dan what if it’s a 2-4-2 config like on the a330 to Israel? Will the 2 have one empty?
DAN, Would you fly now?
eh. COVID’s not a thing anymore. That’s sooo April.
For you
I’m on a flight from Mia to ewr and the flight is sold out (you can’t buy a ticket now) however all middle seats are blocked out. So they do have this policy, I guess not advertised.
No. I don’t care.
This whole thing is fake and overexposed.
The death rate is .025 less than flu as per new CDC info
It hit hard and fast because it was new. It’s over. Fear mongering is done.
There is no such CDC info. Completely made up.
Yeah ok.
Here you go.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/planning-scenarios.html
I repeat, there is no such CDC info. You obviously have no idea how to read the model compared to the flu model (which you did not post)
You’re lying through your teeth.
Read it.
I guess this post didn’t age well. Aside from the cdc not saying what Gavin is claiming, the cdc is now confirming record numbers of new cases daily. So much for “fear mongering is over“ I guess. I would also like to point out that Florida is now accounting for nearly 25% of new cases (as per yesterday’s official data). Can’t help but wonder if that means the hope that the virus will not spread as much during the hotter months is now being Re-evaluated as it’s been in the 90s every day down there.
I’m flying on southwest next week with my wife and 2 kids under 2
I didn’t book a seat for my kids bc they could be lap children
Do you think that they would let me take a car seat for the middle seat?
You can’t ever put a carseat in the middle. It must be by the window. I’m wondering if family members can sit next to each other.
Yes, it is allowed on Southwest. I’ve had four Southwest flights in the last 10 days.
Cheapest option=I will fly you
I Flew South west and the Gate Agent even offered me that i should take along my Car seat
I just switched my flight from American to Delta. Thanks for the info!
JetBlue will not be selling middle seats through July 31st.
That’s what the post update says.
I bought a flt on el two weeks ago for June 28 to jfk-and then read that they r prob not flying till August. Tried to reach el al
, but no one is answering the phone. How cd they take 2400 from me unless they were definitely flying? Just booked delta yesterday- thank u for that post- but do I just wait till el al cancels? Will they? I want my cash back! But there is no one to speak to!
Do the airlines let immediate family members sit next to each other (using the middle seat)?
Southwest, yes.
Hey Dan. My friend flew Jetblue last week. He purchased 4 seats in Blue, (Him, His wife, and two kids) and chose to rows of window aisle. However when they got their boarding passes he had been re-assigned to three in a row plus an aisle. On the return he got smart and put the family on two separate bookings. Wondering if they will do is this for everyone. I am flying next week with my wife and daughter. I put my daughter in the second to last row (They are currently blocking out the last row on flights). I am in the window in front of her and my wife is in her aisle. This way no on one is in front back or next to her…. will see if we get reassigned.
if it’s the same price, then sure that yes. (but mainly because of comfort-ability, not because of any health concerns)
Depending on the route, of course if its possible to go with an airline that blocks the middle seat then that’s ideal. But not every route has that option…
Just flew American from LA to Miami on the 21st and their 85% capacity was a joke. Passengers in economy stuffed in like sardines and entire rows near the galleys and across from flight attendant jump seats kept empty probably to limit their liability from employee lawsuits. We are flying back in business using 25000 miles per ticket from Alaska and I believe that aircraft is lie flat business so it should be a decent flight but I still think American is the pits but not many non stop options from LAX to MIA. IMO.
Jetblue flies LAX-FLL.
Still more to be learned, but the prevailing consensus is that Covid is transmitted mostly through the air. The risk rises as the concentration in the air increases. Hard to feel safe in an enclosed, recycled air environment full of many other people, such as an airplane. Higher risk for the more at-risk population (generally older), but still dangerous for younger people too who could become unwitting carriers to at-risk populations when they return home.
I would have liked to select that I am not planning to fly until the pandemic is over but if I have to I will select a flight that blocks out the middle seat.
Anyone know the official policy about the plastic face shields on planes?
Flew United, and a guy near me kept harassing me about me face covering. He called the flight attendant that I took off my mask when I was eating, which they explained to him that it’s ok, then he called them again to snitch when I switched my mask to a plastic face shield. They asked me to switch back to my mask (or keep eating). They were very nice to us, and moved our seats away from the guy. But what is the official policy? Can I wear a face shield?
COVID aside, if I’m offered an airline that will not sell the middle seat, I am willing to pay a premium for that flight.
The level of comfort you have on a flight when the middle seat is open increases 10 fold.
Can always buy an extra seat.
Your walking through the airport surrounded by hundreds of people on any given time. Your breathing the same recycled “enhanced filtered” air as everyone on the plane. I’ll take an empty seat next to me but not gonna pay extra for it.
Flying to Cancun next week for work and looking at flights now. Normally would fly AA, but not this time. JetBlue is not operating there yet, so Delta will be getting my business!
Such nonsense. Exposure to coronavirus is no guarantee that one will develop COVID-19. Contacting COVID-19 doesn’t mean that a healthy person will die. Sick people shouldn’t fly ever. This hysteria must stop.
Could have flown for free with my miles, and that is what I booked originally, but am instead spending $400 for a Delta Flight one way to avoid two stops, one in a hot spot, and to have the middle seat open. I will be flying back with miles on American because the return flight stop is acceptable and if I end up sick I will be home. I am frugal, but the less contact I can have with the badly behaved the better. When I planned this a few months back I never dreamed there would be people who refused to wear a face mask, but since we seem to have a deluge of people here in the US that have chosen to make a medical device into a political statement, we may have to fly defensively for a number of years. And don’t even get me started on how ticked off I am that the antimaskers have helped shoot the numbers so high we can’t visit Europe or Canada this summer. That has to be hurting the big airlines enormously.
I always thought social distancing 6 ft was so important, but now you’re blaming this on the anti-maskers?! Why do you think you masking is so important without distancing??
“Passengers will be allowed to switch flights if they don’t want to fly on a full flight.”
How does this work- Can one book a flight for say Thurs and switch it to a day earlier due to a full flight? or only to a later flight..Reason is Wed flight is much more expensive right now
Really what’s the difference? There is no such thing as social distancing on planes. Period. I won’t be flying unless absolutely necessary.
My two daughters flew to camp on Southwest. When checking them in they were sitting next to each other with one in a middle seat. I figured that was because they were on a group reservation. But after the flight my daughters told me that the plane was full, almost all middle seats were taken. We originally tried booking them with Delta, but Delta was completely booked and when I called reservations they said that even if they’re willing to sit in Middle seats as family or group reservation they couldn’t override it and book a middle.
I will drop JetBlue and buy Delta for Sept 24 flight from Boston to LA. I don’t want to fly on a full plane while there’s no cure or vaccine for Covid 19. We have our Jet Blue tickets but I hope they’re not going to be wasted when we buy Delta tickets.
We have reservations for JetBlue, Sept 24, BOS to LAX, but they are NOT blocking middle seats on that flight. Corona Virus cases have gone up, not down, so this is not the time to open planes up to full capacity. We’re shopping for a less crowded flight; perhaps Delta or Southwest?
Can you book the seat next to you under the EXTRASEAT name on a basic economy ticket on United?
Yes
Have you noticed that their change policy no longer works?
Dan, any knowledge or inside scoop if United is planning on canceling upcoming scheduled flights from SFO to TLV? Have tickets for first week of August which we don’t intend on using. Also, do you think United will be extending waivers beyond 7/31?
They are not planning cancellations, but it can always happen.
We should know on 7/31 if they are extending.
Makes the Elites, Business seats and the Chase SW four upgraded boarding reimbursement or Amex Airline credit (if one redeems it this way) almost zero value – unless you just have to sit at front if the plane or an exit row.
At least SW masks policy is less disengenous than UAs since UA is filling as many seats as it can despite saying that an extra 24″ between passengers (average) has no impact on transmission.
On Southwest, will they let you sit your own child in the middle seat? Like if you, your wife and child are on a flight, can the three of you sit together in the same row?
Yes.
Southwest in the title, but a picture of Delta?
JetBlue is getting stricter on it’s mask policy. Will people be happy about that too or claim that it violates their rights. Or share a “trick” to eat and drink through the flight to get around the rule? https://www.foxnews.com/travel/jetblue-face-mask-policy-customers-claim-exemptions
CDC says social distance 6 ft, which you can’t do on a plane. Why no concern about that, but be worried about those eating and not wearing a mask??
do you have to wear a mask on united flights if their anyway selling middle seats?
Of course, you have to follow all the rules that don’t add up.
Dan, i remember seeing something about airlines letting you bring only one bag on board (either a backpack or a carry-on, not both) to help combat the spread or some other shtuyot like that. How can i find out which airlines have this rule?
i prefer to fly next to an empty seat but not at double the cost of an AA ticket.
I think an airline should stop enforcing the mask, more people would fly that airline than the other ones
How does southwest do that when there is no seat choosing ? Do they sell less tickets on each flight?
I absolutely select airlines that guarantee an empty middle seat. I’ve flown Southwest and Delta domestically since the pandemic started, and cancelled American.
Jet Blue blocks the middle seat in the front and rear of the plane. The middle of the plane has all seats available including the middle seat.
Please fact-check. I have flown 12+ Transcon round-trips since February. I have not once seen a middle seat available for booking or actually filled, except for families sitting together.
Any flight for on or after 10/16/20 will have middle seats available in the center of the aircraft. I fly jet blue twice a week NYC-FLL. Fact check yourself when you try to book a ticket and come back to the thread to admit.
They are definitely not blocking all of the middle seats (maybe some but definitely not all)
I just went to check in for my flight from JFK to FLL and they assigned a middle seat with no window or aisle seats remaining on the plane…..except for a few which cost an extra $45.
Jetblue is like all the others…can’t trust them and have to read the fine print.
Southwest ending middle seat blocking 12/1
Well–I just flew JB from Boston to LAX on thursday 11/5 and guess what? They filled the middle seats. It was a great disappointment!