Which Airlines Are Blocking Middle Seats?
JetBlue is among the airlines that will continue blocking middle seats. These are the latest middle seat policies from the big U.S. airlines.
—
JetBlue is going to keep middle seats open for a while longer. The airline announced today that it will continue to limit onboard capacity through at least October 15th. They join a few other U.S carriers, the largest of which are Delta and Southwest, that will continue blocking middle seats during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Does Middle Seat Blocking Help?
The airline industry seems to think that it really doesn’t matter if they block middle seats. As Europe’s industry group explains: “Social distancing is neither necessary nor viable on board an aircraft.” I don’t disagree. As I’ve written previously, “it isn’t exactly better if the passenger behind me starts coughing, so there really is little difference.”
But opinions and even science won’t sell plane tickets. Air travelers want to feel safe. Not long ago, a professor at MIT did a “rough” analysis and concluded that the chances of contracting Covid-19 on a completely full flight are 1 in 4300. But when middle seats are blocked, that drops to 1 in 7700. So according to this analysis, which has not been peer reviewed, the risk almost doubles. The numbers have been widely used to argue why middle seats must remain open.
To put these numbers in context, the odds of being struck by lightning in your lifetime are 1 in 3000. The odds of tragically being killed in a car crash are 1 in 103. More important, there has been virtually no transmission of the virus on board aircraft. In one study, IATA found just 4 instances of any Covid-19 transmission. Those incidents happened during the first three months of the year, long before face coverings were mandatory.
Air travel is safe NOT because middle seats are blocked, although the practice will make air travel incrementally safer. Air travel is safe because planes have hospital-grade HEPA air filters, and the air flows through planes from top to bottom. It’s safe because everyone is required to wear face coverings and complete a health self-assessment before flying. Thus, flying is safer than most offices or eating at indoor restaurants. The ventilation on an airplane beats most indoor environments on the ground.
Travelers Want Open Middle Seats
And yet, in a survey from IATA, the airline’s industry group, nearly two thirds of people said their biggest worry about flying right now was… yup, sitting next to an infected person on the plane.
With airlines running at reduced capacity, it’s not a bad time for airlines to make a customer service play and block middle seats. Plus, it also puts pressure on their seat capacity that hasn’t been there since March. Fewer available seats will allow airlines that keep the middle seats open to charge more. And for once, the air traveling public just might be willing to pay more for them.
With that in mind, here is your guide to the seating policies of major U.S. airlines.
JetBlue
As we mentioned at the outset, JetBlue has announced an extension of its middle seat policy through at least October 15th.
Delta Air Lines
Delta has currently extended its middle seat blocking policy through September 30th. Parties of three or more will be able to book seats together. Otherwise, middle seats will show as unavailable.
Delta maintains capacity limits as follows:
- 60% in Main Cabin, Comfort+, and Premium Select
- 50% in First Class and narrow-body Delta One cabins
- 75% in wide-body Delta One cabins
One Mile at a Time notes that Delta is not limiting capacity in its Delta One suites on flights to/from China, due to extreme limits on seat availability.
American Airlines
American quietly stopped blocking middle seats on July 1st. According to USA Today, an airline spokesperson said it was safe to return to normal capacity. AA will notify passengers when their flight is filling up and allow them to make changes at no cost.
United Airlines
Not long ago, a United exec said that blocking middle seats is “a PR strategy… not a safety strategy.” You know what you shouldn’t say to nervous travelers? Yeah, that.
Again, he wasn’t wrong. And it should be noted that Chief Communications Officer Josh Earnest pointed out all the important things the airline is doing to keep its passengers safe. But considering his position, he maybe should have soft-pedaled his points a bit more. Let the bloggers and experts say these things, because then it won’t blow back in your face.
But at least you know where United stands on the issue. They are not blocking middle seats. If a flight is close to capacity, they’ll let customers know and provide re-booking options.
Alaska Airlines
We’ve heard reports of full Alaska Airlines flights. If one flight is canceled, the airlines will try to get everyone on the remaining flight. That’s what happened to Will Bruin of my favorite soccer team, Seattle Sounders FC.
In such cases, Alaska asks travelers to speak with a customer service agent about their options. (Be nice, they can’t really do anything except re-book you to another flight or another day).
But Alaska’s policy is to block middle seats at booking, and they will continue to do so until October 31, 2020. I’ve flown Alaska a few times during the pandemic and have had a great experience each time. I felt comfortable and safe.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest doesn’t have seat assignments and thus cannot block middle seats. But, they can limit flights to 2/3 of normal capacity and accomplish the same thing. Southwest will limit capacity through September 30, 2020, but I expect that policy to be extended.
Hawaiian Airlines
Thanks to Hawaii’s quarantine restrictions, few travelers outside Hawaii are flying Hawaiian Airlines at the moment. Starting September 1st, Hawaii authorities plan to let visitors return without quarantine if they have a negative Covid-19 PCR test in hand.
For those heading to the Aloha State or between islands, the carrier is blocking middle seats at booking until further notice.
Frontier Airlines
Frontier’s middle seat policy is a bit difficult to nail down. This is the airline that infamously decided it would sell passengers the seat next to them, to ensure they wouldn’t have added company. To the public, it looked like Frontier was putting a price on safety. A few members of Congress called the airline out and Frontier dropped its plans. Frankly, I would pay $39 to have an empty seat next to me, and not just during a pandemic.
Frontier’s Covid-19 web page makes no mention of their policy. But upon booking a flight, travelers will notice that some middle seats have been blocked. A message says they are blocked through 8/31/2020.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines is not blocking middle seats. Your best bet to avoid sitting next to someone you don’t know is to book their Big Front Seat. You and your travel companion won’t have a middle seat to worry about.
Allegiant Airlines
Allegiant is not blocking middle seats, but they encourage people not to book a middle seat except when sitting together. If customers have concerns about a full flight, they can request a notification should their flight be booked above 65% capacity.
Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country has no middle seat restrictions and will book its flights to capacity.
Final Thoughts
Most U.S. airlines are blocking middle seats, but two big network carriers — United, American — are not. It may be nothing more than safety theater, but the travel industry does quite a few things because it makes the public feel better.
We’ve had security theater for years. How many years has it been since the shoe bomber? And still, most air travelers have to remove their shoes when going through security.
I like the empty middle seats. And I’m willing to spend a bit more to have an open seat next to me. I’m sure Delta is banking on that good will. But at some point (hopefully soon), travel demand will rebound and we’ll all have to get comfortable with full flights once again. For now, enjoy the extra space when you get it.
—
(Header Image by Shutterstock)