July 16, 2026
The Dreaded Middle Seat Could Soon Be A Thing Of The Past… For A Price
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RSS Feed With the big announcement from United Airlines that it will soon be offering an economy plus row with a shared table instead of a middle seat passenger, we get into a full “middle seat “discussion. First, how much would you be willing to pay to avoid someone sitting next to you, and second, what exactly are the rules around middle seat boundaries? Who gets the armrests, and what do you do if you find yourself in the middle, of a middle seat horror story? We also discuss the actual BENEFITS of a middle seat, although T.J. isn’t buying any of them.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
00:00:02
Speaker 1: Hey, folks, we're about to have a debate about something that I thought was not upward debate anymore. This should be settled, and I don't know why people are still arguing over this. Obviously we know who gets the arm rests on a plane and with that, welcome everybody. I'm ja, that's Robes, you're laughing. This is settled law. We could say unwritten rule. Why is anybody confused about what to do with the arm rest? If you're in the middle seat.
00:00:30
Speaker 2: You should get both arm Russ. Yes, that is the unwritten rule. However, it is not always adhered to.
00:00:41
Speaker 3: Who's making a fight.
00:00:42
Speaker 1: You got the aisle or you got the window, you got one arm rest, to the poor people in the middle seat. You feel bad for them, so you give them both armrests. Why is this controversial.
00:00:52
Speaker 2: Because some people don't agree with that and they think this is my seat, I paid for it and I should get are they? Yes? But haven't you ever been in the middle seat and all of a sudden you look to your left, to your right and maybe it's just one of them, but you don't have an armrest. You're already in limited space. You already are confined in a way the others are not. And yes, I have absolutely been in a middle seat where I cannot believe I have literally nowhere to go.
00:01:21
Speaker 1: Okay, and so this has come up now here lately United Airlines.
00:01:25
Speaker 3: Do we give them credit for this?
00:01:26
Speaker 1: The United Airlines is making a change in policy that does this sound well, we don't know how much it costs yet, but we have no idea. Okay, but this might appeal to some people.
00:01:34
Speaker 4: Yes, So United Airlines has announced.
00:01:36
Speaker 2: They will be the first US carrier to give passengers who are in economy plus the option to purchase for an extra fee, a row that has the middle seat blocked off, so you have a shared middle seat where you actually may put a table with two indentations for your drink that you share with your aisle and your window, and the middle seat is gone, and therefore you get extra space and you don't have to worry about that person in the middle.
00:02:11
Speaker 1: It's the point that's usually most annoying about that middle seat, is it that you just don't get the arm rest, Like, why would you want to purchase I see if a middle seat person wants a different seat, but if you're in the aisle or the window Why does it make that big of a difference that somebody's in the middle.
00:02:29
Speaker 4: It does create an elevated experience.
00:02:31
Speaker 2: And when you have someone in the middle, you have another person who might if you're in the aisle, who has to get up and climb over you, or you have to get up so that they can use the rest.
00:02:39
Speaker 4: There's that. It's just also more crowded.
00:02:42
Speaker 2: What if the person in the middle, You're now worried about whether or not the person right next to you has boundary issues? Are they spilling over onto you? Do they fall asleep and drool on you? Do they take your arm rest? Do they pull out the food that they brought from home and start eating it?
00:03:01
Speaker 4: Do they take their shoes off, feed up? It's just all this extra.
00:03:06
Speaker 2: You have to deal with other people's hygiene and other people's choices, and it's right up next to you.
00:03:12
Speaker 3: Okay, but maybe you'll get a nice seat.
00:03:14
Speaker 1: Is this just about not wanting to sit next to anybody versus a different experience when it's somebody sitting in the middle between two people.
00:03:21
Speaker 2: Yes, because it's just a smaller space that you have to share with someone, and more problems can arise, and certainly I think this is an amazing opportunity and it's an option. And here's the deal. It's only going to be on their brand new planes. This is United on international flights to begin and this is actually going to start at the end of this year.
00:03:41
Speaker 4: But there will.
00:03:41
Speaker 2: Only be one row that will have this option, so four passengers.
00:03:47
Speaker 3: Wait, they're testing it out. Is that that's just.
00:03:49
Speaker 2: How they're building the plane right now, and they may look if they see there's a high demand for this, it's likely they may put this on other planes they've already said, or maybe have more rows that have this feature or the potential for this feature. But right now, it would be four passengers who could essentially choose to sit in economy plus and have more of a business or first class experience.
00:04:12
Speaker 1: They might end up we don't know how much it's going to cause, we'll get into that, but it could end up ultimately costing you less but still have feel like you gotten better. Right leg room and nobody's sitting next to you. That's awesome.
00:04:21
Speaker 2: Yes, it's the elbow room that they're really highlighting that people really want their elbow room. You're pulling out your laptop, you're doing all this stuff. If someone isn't seated next to you, you have more space just to move around, take your jacket off, you know all.
00:04:32
Speaker 4: Those things we want to do when we're adjusting.
00:04:34
Speaker 1: Okay, in the first class seats, that is one of the biggest features, not just a bigger and more comfortable seat.
00:04:38
Speaker 3: It has a huge arm rest usually right there. Nice to have space.
00:04:42
Speaker 2: Nice the arm rest wore the territorial way people get about the arm rest.
00:04:47
Speaker 4: It really does.
00:04:48
Speaker 2: Cause I was looking online, like what are the biggest issues when you have a middle seat passenger and what are some of the Sometimes the arguments that are upt It's almost always over that damn armrest. That is is the number one complaint from folks who are in the middle seat that the people on the aisle or on the window take the arm rest and they have nowhere to move or to maneuver, like try to take your laptop out.
00:05:14
Speaker 4: You don't have an arm rest. You're trying to get some work done.
00:05:17
Speaker 2: Because I will say the times I had been in a middle seat had been because of a last minute plane ticket from work where I had to fly somewhere and you're like one of the last people on the plane. So of course, you get the worst possible seat and you actually do have to work.
00:05:31
Speaker 1: It is so difficulty. Nobody wants a middle seat under any circle. Nobody wants a middle seat. Fine, okay, but I didn't know. Still, you know, we fly all the time.
00:05:41
Speaker 3: I don't.
00:05:41
Speaker 1: Well, I'm sitting next to you only usually, but I don't. Yeah, and I don't see what's going on. Uh So I was about to say I didn't see this happening, though, eh uh.
00:05:52
Speaker 4: It exists. You sat in the middle seat, just to I think on one of our last trips.
00:05:55
Speaker 2: Because you had a we had a whoop see, and we literally forgot to book Sabine's ticket. It's a true story, because we had iHeart booking us our seats. We were supposed to then book Sabines and somehow it fell between the cracks last minute, had to get a last seat, and you ended up in the back, in the middle seat because you gave Sabine your first class set.
00:06:17
Speaker 3: Okay, I don't remember even being in that.
00:06:18
Speaker 1: I had an aile on one, yes, right, and that's so I guess I had a middle on the other.
00:06:22
Speaker 4: You had a middle Believe me, I heard all about it. You had a middle seat.
00:06:24
Speaker 2: What was I saying, I have a middle seat in the back of the plane near the restaurants.
00:06:28
Speaker 1: Was I complaining about people or anything going on? I assume I was texting.
00:06:31
Speaker 3: You the whole time.
00:06:31
Speaker 2: Yes, you were just explaining your seat mates and all of that. Yes, it's because you're country I have to get Yes it was from San Francisco.
00:06:39
Speaker 4: Yes, everyone.
00:06:41
Speaker 2: I think pretty much anyone who has flown in a middle seat has some version of a horror story, because, especially on longer flights, it's just downright uncomfortable. And you know it's when you are the one who has the middle seat, not only are you dreading it, but you know that when you come on the plane and you've got somebody sitting in the aisle in the window, they are praying that nobody comes and sits down, And when you come down, they are so annoyed and disappointed, Like you are greeted with size, but nobody wants to see a middle seat person walking up they're coming.
00:07:15
Speaker 3: I always, you know this.
00:07:16
Speaker 1: I check the seat map, Like as we're boarding, I check the seat map to see who's around, other things filled up and whatnot. So you can always check ahead. SA I haven't thought about more so than the what you're talking about with the laptop or trying to work in the middle.
00:07:31
Speaker 3: I am just I mean, I'm not that big.
00:07:34
Speaker 1: Of a dude, but six feet is still uncomfortable in a middle seat. I find myself riding the whole way.
00:07:43
Speaker 2: Yes, because think about it. Can you sleep? Can you drift off? I mean the answer is no, you will end up on the person to your left or right. And I'm assuming when you've got the middle seat. Look, I don't mind the middle seat when you're on the other side, and a lot of times that's.
00:07:57
Speaker 4: What we end up doing.
00:07:58
Speaker 3: The unrest goes up and we.
00:08:00
Speaker 4: Yes, and I just fall on you. And that's fine.
00:08:02
Speaker 2: When you have a middle seat and you've got your partner next to you, either on the window or the aisle, just pull up that arm rest and yes, that is I don't mind it.
00:08:10
Speaker 1: And even if somebody is in the third seat in your row, you can just lean away from that person because you're together.
00:08:16
Speaker 3: Okay, that works perfectly. I'm with you.
00:08:18
Speaker 1: I did not know. I don't think people take issue with this. The middle seat gets both armrests.
00:08:24
Speaker 2: Yes, that period, and I just think that we should be on the record, we should be shouting that from the rooftops. Anyone who has ever been in a middle seat understands the importance of everyone adhering to this unwritten rule.
00:08:38
Speaker 1: So it's just a manner. This is being considerate to your fellow man. That really is what we're talking about. Robes, nobody, everybody has been on a middle seat. You didn't like it, So now here you are sitting on your aisle or window thrown looking at this person and not being considerate and not remembering that you were there. We can empathize with every single person on middle seat and robes. If they're sitting here, that's the middle lean away from them. I got the window over here. In an arm rest I can lean on. If I'm in the aisle, I can lean over this way and just give them space. Why anybody would fight that makes no sense. You really want to fight the middle seat person or an arm rest, so you can have two.
00:09:24
Speaker 4: There are people who feel like they're owed. Now.
00:09:27
Speaker 2: I asked you before we started this if you had any middle seat horror stories, because there are plenty of them online.
00:09:33
Speaker 4: Do you have one? Okay?
00:09:35
Speaker 2: I have mine, and this one. This was years ago. I was first starting out in the business, I was a reporter in DC. I got to travel to LA. I was so excited. But it was a last minute decision and I was traveling from DC to LA and I had a middle seat. Fine, I was just so excited to be there. I was so excited to go cover and then we had Oh, okay, I'm not holding my mic correctly.
00:10:01
Speaker 3: No, no, you are.
00:10:01
Speaker 1: Actually as you're holding you're waving and you're getting into my camera shot constantly.
00:10:07
Speaker 3: That's what's happened. Any other way to tell.
00:10:09
Speaker 2: You, like, I'm in the middle seat and I'm taking this thing up your space.
00:10:13
Speaker 4: I'm not having boundary issues.
00:10:15
Speaker 1: So I was trying to subtly, I can just get you to use this and then use this other hand, and then it's not in the show.
00:10:22
Speaker 2: I need to act like I am an aisle and you're in the middle, and I need to not invade your space.
00:10:26
Speaker 4: Got it?
00:10:27
Speaker 2: But I speaking of that, this actually tees me up perfectly. I'm in the middle, I don't know what I'm walking into. And all of a sudden I see two people and they were taking up so much extra space that this was a married couple and they I don't think physically could sit next to each other. So they were probably one of those folks hoping nobody was going to come sit in the middle, walk in me.
00:10:50
Speaker 4: I come sit in the middle. And here's the problem.
00:10:54
Speaker 2: They were talking for six hours back and forth over me, passing snacks, drinks, and I sat there and it was the most brutal six hours.
00:11:07
Speaker 4: To just sit there. I couldn't I couldn't avoid it was awful.
00:11:11
Speaker 1: Well, why and in that situation, why do you not have the right to say, pardon me?
00:11:16
Speaker 3: Guys?
00:11:16
Speaker 2: I did ask. I said to them, I said, is there any way you walk and sit next to each other? And they said no, it actually we can't fit.
00:11:25
Speaker 1: No. But my question, what is okay to say? Can you stop doing this across me? It's rude as hell.
00:11:33
Speaker 2: I was twenty four or twenty five years old, and I just did not have enough confidence to say that to them. I did get up, and I did talk to the flight attendant and I asked her, I said, is there any other seat on this plane? I will sit in the back near the restrooms like you did, in any seat other than this one. And she was like, I've been watching you and I feel so bad for you, but there's nothing I can do, and so I sat there. That was absolutely my worst seat experience.
00:12:01
Speaker 1: Do you have an arm rest horror story? Did you have either?
00:12:06
Speaker 3: Don't know. Have you ever remember fighting anybody who over an armor?
00:12:09
Speaker 4: I would never fight anyone.
00:12:10
Speaker 2: I would always be the one to say, uncle, I surrender. I'm never going to get into a physical or even a verbal I've never had a verbal altercation with anybody on a plane because I just it's not worth it. Whatever discomfort I'm feeling will end, There is an end to it, and I can that's you know, even like going through a marathon or doing some of the stuff we do, it's a mental training that this too shall pass. I know it will end, and I just have to I tell myself, this is an opportunity to grow and to continue to exercise patience and and extend sympathy towards people who are maybe even having a tougher day than you. Yeah, those are the moments where I try to go into my uh, all of my practices.
00:12:49
Speaker 1: You and I travel, we see a lot of stuff when we travel, and travel and air travel in particular, well, it is stressful, Like take don't even hell, just take life.
00:12:58
Speaker 3: Life is difficult.
00:12:59
Speaker 1: And then you put people in this pressure cooker situation where they just got overcharged for a ticket. They got overcharged, they have to check a bag, all these things and they're fighting to get the right seat, the best seat, and you get in there and roads we see flight attendants being treated poorly because there's some entitlement in some way.
00:13:15
Speaker 3: When you spend four hundred dollars on a ticket.
00:13:18
Speaker 1: It's like you're in the upper class on the Titanic, like you expect everything to be perfect, and I think robes. I notice oftentimes it's pride and ego and what is it about you that needs to win an armrest battle instead of just being considered. People take so so much of personal offense and want to win these little fights, and it's just not worth it. And what's the easiest way an opportunity. You have to be a nice person to somebody today, let them.
00:13:50
Speaker 3: Have the armrest.
00:13:51
Speaker 1: That should make you feel good, like, wow, I did the right thing. I have never fought anybody over an armrest. If somebody has right that I've been in a middle seat was people took up both of them. They don't have a word to say my worst horror story about a middle seat, though I wasn't thinking the right way when you asked. It wasn't about me being in a middle seat. It was about who was in the middle seats, and I spent. I can't remember how long this flight was roam's half of my body was in the aisle.
00:14:23
Speaker 4: Wow.
00:14:24
Speaker 1: The person was so big and so I mean nothing they could do. I couldn't be mad at this person spilling over. I could not sit up straight in my seat because the person was in my space. I literally had to do this to give that person space. Flight attend and I were cool the whole time. I get every time.
00:14:42
Speaker 3: Feat sorry, sorry everybody, because your.
00:14:46
Speaker 4: Tug you're halfway in the halfway in the aisle.
00:14:50
Speaker 2: So this got us thinking, and I actually looked up to see is there any situation in which you would be better off in a middle seat or or is there any human being out there who flies who prefers the middle seat. Okay, so there was a study. This is not that shocking. It's from going It was the twenty twenty four State of Travel. Guess what percentage of people prefer a middle seat should be zero?
00:15:18
Speaker 4: It's one percent of those they didn't understand the question.
00:15:21
Speaker 2: Fifty fifty three percent prefer window seats and forty six percent prefer the isle.
00:15:30
Speaker 4: I prefer the issle.
00:15:31
Speaker 3: Of course, we're ile people.
00:15:32
Speaker 4: Yes, yes, I want to.
00:15:33
Speaker 2: Get off the plane as soon as possible if there's an issue, I want to be able to leave quickly. And obviously I usually have to use the restroom, and therefore I don't have to bother anyone. So for all of those reasons, I also feel claustrophobic, and I actually, this is the truth, I prefer a middle seat to a window seat. I don't like to be three in if I have to get up, and so I actually feel claustrophobic when I'm at the window.
00:15:55
Speaker 4: So I would prefer a middle seat over a window seat.
00:15:59
Speaker 1: Sweet Heart, in life, when have you ever seen a window seat available and you chose the middle?
00:16:07
Speaker 4: Never?
00:16:10
Speaker 2: But when I'm sitting on the window seat and I really get upset about the window, I think, why didn't I just go ahead and do the middle?
00:16:15
Speaker 3: But I never did. What you're saying.
00:16:17
Speaker 2: Okay, here's the reason why some people might prefer the middle seat. You said zero percent and that one percent they didn't understand the question, But there actually are some reasons. Number one, they're cheaper, so they might not know they're choosing the middle seat or prefer the middle seat. But oftentimes you have to pay extra for an upgraded ticket to be able to choose your seat. And if you can't choose your seat, you know, the airline sticking you in the middle. They're not going to give you the aisle or the window. So that's the one.
00:16:43
Speaker 4: The other one is, yeah, well there's a guess.
00:16:45
Speaker 2: Statistically, you're safer if you are in the rear of the plane in a middle seat, if anything were to happen, even turbulence.
00:16:53
Speaker 4: I'm not even talking about a plane crash.
00:16:55
Speaker 2: Statistically, the aisle seats in the middle of the plane are by far the deadliest. They're the most dangerous seats because you have to deal with luggage that could be falling, rolling carts that'd be coming out just to brie ca and fly. So you are actually more susceptible to injury and death if you sit on the aisle versus in the middle, So they have the highest survival rates middle seats.
00:17:19
Speaker 3: I'm sure that'll change people's mindsets.
00:17:21
Speaker 2: Snow, we also can't get sucked out of an airplane if your window breaks or the aisle.
00:17:26
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's the prevalence of those. Oh you staff in a couple of there is no upset. You really think they're gonna change people's hearts and minds. Wait a minute, you're telling me I'm safer in a middle seat and.
00:17:37
Speaker 4: I can save sixty dollars.
00:17:41
Speaker 3: Middle seat for me?
00:17:42
Speaker 2: Come on, some people, look when you honestly, the last or the most recent scary broken window happened on a Ryan airplane, a plane an airline that my children know very very well because they love to pay thirty five bucks one way to go anywhere in Europe, and so yeah, if they could save an extra bit to sit in the middle I guarantee you some college kids, there are certain segments of the population where every dollar counts, I understand. And by opting out of a seat choice, you save money and that becomes worth it, and therefore you are technically maybe you are choosing a middle seed by doing so, because you are likely going to get one.
00:18:22
Speaker 1: What is uh, what would you say the different I know you didn't research this top of the head. What would be your idea? How much are you saving by sitting in a middle seat versus an aisle or whatever in this scenario we're.
00:18:33
Speaker 2: Talking about, well, I feel like when I've looked to see because now they have all these different like it's like you can get I forgot how they call it.
00:18:42
Speaker 4: It depends on the airline.
00:18:43
Speaker 2: But when you're doing economy, it can be basic economy, then it can be like preferred economy, then it can be And if you have a basic economy you can't even bring a carry on. In some airlines, you certainly cannot check luggage unless you have you know, you're paying for it, and you also have to board the plane last. So I think those end up being like, you know, one hundred bucks to fifty bucks cheaper when you don't have those, to me standard options, Suddenly they become premium options.
00:19:12
Speaker 3: To have a.
00:19:13
Speaker 2: Carry on, to choose your seat, to board the plane luxuries. Now, yeah, that's a luxury to be able to do all the things that I'm sorry should be basic or standard.
00:19:23
Speaker 3: Ooh you want water? Your economy ticket doesn't cover this? Yeah, I'll get you. All right.
00:19:29
Speaker 2: Well, we are going to talk next about numbers. You just mentioned how much things cost. How much would it potentially cost to have that middle seat blocked off.
00:19:39
Speaker 4: And why would airlines do this?
00:19:41
Speaker 2: That seems like they'd be losing money, right, they lose a passenger, they lose a person who's paying for a seat.
00:19:46
Speaker 4: Oh no, they know what they're doing.
00:19:58
Speaker 3: All right.
00:19:58
Speaker 2: We're talking about those dreaded middle seats and having someone sit in a middle seat next to you. How much would you pay? So you've got an economy ticket, so whatever that cost, say your economy ticket was.
00:20:10
Speaker 4: Two hundred and fifty bucks.
00:20:12
Speaker 2: Right, you're flying on a long flight and you would really prefer not to have someone in the middle seat.
00:20:20
Speaker 4: How much would you pay extra to block off that middle.
00:20:22
Speaker 1: Seat If the ticket's to fifty, maybe a hundred If the tickets through two fifty, maybe a hundred bucks. That's because that's I mean, it doesn't make sense if you're going to almost double the cost of the ticket you already bought.
00:20:32
Speaker 3: I mean, if you go to two hundred bucks.
00:20:34
Speaker 4: But a long flight, that wouldn't be nice.
00:20:36
Speaker 2: Here's this what about this one of the drawbacks people say of having a middle seat or having someone seating next to you. It's not just about the elbow room. It's not just about uh, having someone get up and going to the bathroom. It's about the socialization.
00:20:50
Speaker 3: What does that mean?
00:20:51
Speaker 2: You have to talk to somebody sometimes when they're right next to you. It's hard to avoid. If someone's right up on you, you have the opportunity or the likelihood that that person might want to talk to you.
00:21:01
Speaker 4: Grows up goes up significantly.
00:21:03
Speaker 1: That anti social I don't only want to sit next to somebody on the chance they might speak to you.
00:21:08
Speaker 2: I was looking at all of the drawbacks, and that was one of the reasons why they liked having that middle seed blocked off, is no one is going to talk to them.
00:21:18
Speaker 3: I will pay yes to not interact.
00:21:21
Speaker 2: Yes for privacy or peace maybe, Okay, okay.
00:21:25
Speaker 1: And you know I don't do this. I don't talk to people on a plane anyway, AirPods, I only talk to the flight attendant. For the most part.
00:21:31
Speaker 4: You do talk to the flight attend you talk to me sometimes.
00:21:35
Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't fly that much with strangers anymore. Now I think about it.
00:21:38
Speaker 4: It's been a while, all right, So we don't know.
00:21:40
Speaker 2: United has not said exactly how much more this is going to cost on their basic economy. Fair, but we can look to the European airlines who have already had this on several flights, and they this is pretty interesting. One way, those seats that have the blocked off middle seeds typically cost between two hundred and six one hundred dollars more one way.
00:22:02
Speaker 3: That's a lot. That's a lot.
00:22:04
Speaker 4: That is a lot.
00:22:05
Speaker 2: And so look one way on Lufthansa you have to add one hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars one above, one way above your economy ticket. And then on British airwayse this is even more airwaves. On British Airways you have to add two hundred fifty to five hundred dollars one way to your economy fair.
00:22:27
Speaker 3: What's your economy fair to start with?
00:22:29
Speaker 2: I mean, I don't know, I'm guessing around. Just put it at two fifty three hundred.
00:22:33
Speaker 1: It sounds like you're you're paying for the other seat. You're just paying buying two tickets essentially.
00:22:37
Speaker 2: Pretty much in a lot of ways, you are pretty much. I mean I'm not that's what their pricing is.
00:22:43
Speaker 1: You have to make a determinate well, why not just get the actual economy plus why not just get the first class?
00:22:50
Speaker 3: That's that's getting a little expensive as.
00:22:52
Speaker 2: Well, I think obviously it still has to be underneath what their business or first class tickets are, because nobody would do that. But maybe maybe you're that person who wanted to get into business, wanted to get into first class, and they're sold out, so this is your next best option, and it's slightly underpriced what it would have been had you had the full first class business experience.
00:23:11
Speaker 1: Do you think United they're leading the way, Yes, they certainly are. They just pissed us off recently. What did they just do? Oh they wouldn't give us our money back?
00:23:16
Speaker 2: Oh, yes, that is true. They did not give us our money back. We actually ended up for work having to fly on another airline to a different city, and so I thought, you know what, it's okay.
00:23:26
Speaker 4: We had long booked these flights.
00:23:28
Speaker 2: I was like, we'll just get the credit and then we'll be able to apply it to another flight. That is what we've been doing for years now, at least since the pandemic. That has been what happens.
00:23:38
Speaker 4: We call all. I couldn't call first I spent an hour trying to do it online and it would have left.
00:23:43
Speaker 1: Supposed to be able to Everybody knows this, and that's Okay, this was a first class ticket. Yes it's refundable, but we just wanted the credit. So what do some airlines and I think maybe even some credit card companies start doing. Now this is the worst this. Please encourage everybody to stop this practice. They charge you money for customer service.
00:24:03
Speaker 2: So it's twenty five bucks to get on a phone to talk to a human to try and figure out what to do. Because I went through every avenue I could online and it wouldn't let me go to the next step. And when I finally got somebody, she said, oh, you can only use this credit for the exact leg you were taking from Paris back to New York. And I was like, well, I ended up having to fly to Ireland, already made it back to New York, so I'm not going to be in Paris anytime soon. And they said, we can extend it to anywhere in the European continent. You can have a one way ticket back to the United States and whatever you paid to be credited.
00:24:40
Speaker 4: Are you kidding me? This is US and you've never heard of that happening before.
00:24:44
Speaker 2: And I said, wow, I've always just had a credit that I could apply to another ticket. It didn't matter if it was domestic or international. So yes, they are cutting costs. But they did make another announcement earlier that has got a lot of folks excited. This is also going to take place in twenty twenty seven.
00:25:00
Speaker 3: Can I ask what ended up happening with our money?
00:25:02
Speaker 2: It's it's it's just sitting in a United We can't use it. If we're in Europe, we can steal the next time we're in Europe, we can use that credit towards a flight headed back to the United States. Oh, that's where we are. They stole our money pretty much. Yeah, so we don't want to give you United too much love right now here. No.
00:25:24
Speaker 1: I thought we got on the phone and this got resolved and we were just getting the credit.
00:25:27
Speaker 4: I'm waiting to see if we get it.
00:25:29
Speaker 3: It had seven.
00:25:31
Speaker 4: I haven't gotten an email.
00:25:35
Speaker 2: They said I had to send proof that I had a work emergency that forced me to take a different flight, and then they would consider it.
00:25:43
Speaker 4: But I have to show proof receipts.
00:25:46
Speaker 2: I haven't gotten an email first where I can even start the process.
00:25:49
Speaker 3: We're going to do this, United, Come on, This is one of the this is why people hate.
00:25:53
Speaker 4: Flying and We're talking about thousands of dollars.
00:25:55
Speaker 1: Making this difficult and saying you telling us we are required to go back to Europe and when we leave there, we better be coming back to the United States or else. Well, I know this is why, So what the hell with United and this? I'm sorry I forgot about this. We're giving them.
00:26:13
Speaker 4: They're also offering something else to flyers.
00:26:16
Speaker 2: Not that will necessarily be using this, but if you want to fly and you want you you'd love you know, you go past first class and you see those folks in the Polaris Club and the Polaris Lounge and they're all in their lay flat or their lie flat seats. They've got their comforters and they're sleeping. They wake up when they arrive in Europe or Asia refreshed having had a good night's sleep. You, meantime, are cramped and you haven't slept a wink and you're irritable and grumpy starting your vacation or a work trip. Well, they're now offering something where you can actually buy for a reduced price all three seats and they will create a couch so to speak, that you can lie flat in economy, and that service is going to be offered starting in twenty twenty seven.
00:27:02
Speaker 3: Ah, now, how much is that gonna cost you?
00:27:04
Speaker 4: Well, it's gonna cost a lot less than the Life flat seat.
00:27:06
Speaker 2: Those those international flights where the Life flat those are. Some of those tickets are twelve thousand dollars, fifteen thousand dollars, And the only reason why we really know a lot about them is.
00:27:15
Speaker 4: Because work paid for them. For the most part.
00:27:18
Speaker 2: I remember when I flew to China for the first time at NBC. I saw my flight was twelve thousand dollars and I actually wanted to throw up. I couldn't believe a flight could cost that much.
00:27:28
Speaker 1: It's awesome, of my flights. I didn't mind it at all. I'm glass, somebody's picking up his tab. Wow, I'm really flying in luxury. I'm gonna enjoy this.
00:27:35
Speaker 4: Oh my goodness.
00:27:36
Speaker 2: So yes, that is going to be an option, and obviously it will be vastly reduced from what you would get if you were flying up in the first class.
00:27:43
Speaker 4: So they are trying.
00:27:45
Speaker 2: Look, they are trying some innovative and new opportunities and new ways for people who can't afford the high priced luxury of flying a certain way and letting people have at least a little bit a little taste of it for at a red u cost. And the hope is that if United does this, other airlines will follow suit. If it's popular, they're probably waiting to see how many people are going to take them up on this.
00:28:09
Speaker 4: Is it cost effective?
00:28:11
Speaker 2: And one of the reasons why United it's believed, is able to do this. Yes, they're getting more money from those passengers. I don't think it fully takes over or accommodates the price they lost from that seat. But the word is they'll be able to have one less flight attendant. You have fewer passengers on the plane, same size plane. If they can reduce their flight attendant staff by one, that's a significant savings for the airline per flight. And that is how it becomes cost effective for these airlines. And Europe has done it and tried it and it has gone really well. And so United is the first American airline to try and test the waters to see how American flyers will feel about that option.
00:28:52
Speaker 3: They'll be fine.
00:28:53
Speaker 1: And United can afford this clearly because they've been stealing people's money, namely ours. This is we have actually we did State Man that's too bad. They just lost a customer because we like flying on a Newark where they are. We can't deal with this airline. So I get what you're saying with the money, and I know they need to cut corners by not giving people their money back, making things very difficult.
00:29:14
Speaker 3: And now they're having to offer this thing. That's fine, I understand. I get.
00:29:17
Speaker 1: They're very good people, wonderful people. You know, some of my favorite people are flight attendants. I love flight attendants. I love in particular. I don't know how it ends up happening when there's a crew of all guys and sometimes all gay guys.
00:29:28
Speaker 3: Yeah, I like that crew.
00:29:30
Speaker 4: It's fun. It's like a party on a plane.
00:29:32
Speaker 2: And look, we've said this before, but I think it's worth mentioning because we do fly a lot. If you just take the time and you just look a flight attendant in the eye and you say thank you, and you just show them some courtesy, some acknowledgement that they are there serving you. You're sleeping, you're eating, you're relaxing, maybe you're they're working to make your experience better, And just to give them a nod, you will have a friend for life.
00:30:00
Speaker 4: You will have.
00:30:01
Speaker 2: They are so appreciative because I don't think they get the love they deserve very often. Most people are busy and are hurry, stressed and only thinking about where they're going and how stressful it was. Take a moment to say thank you, and your whole experience on that plane will change.
00:30:17
Speaker 1: It doesn't take much at all because they're used to being treated like crap by everybody. So all you have to do is smile, look them in the eye, say hello, make the eye contact when they're actually answering you. Be polite when you're ordering something. Look Roes. It goes so far. You and I how I have been handed bottles of wine getting off a plane because.
00:30:35
Speaker 3: They're like, here, take this.
00:30:36
Speaker 1: Because I have had the most ridiculous, wonderful experiences on flights with flight attendants, and I didn't have to do much, just be appreciative and acknowledge them.
00:30:47
Speaker 3: I love you.
00:30:47
Speaker 1: Know this robes no bigger heroes than flight attendants. When I was sitting in the back and you and SA being we're in first class, I was sending you notes about the flight attendant I was back the.
00:30:56
Speaker 4: Flight back there, yes exactly, because she was.
00:30:59
Speaker 1: Holding people accountable to putting their smaller bags in the overhead. You want to hit that today, we all's skip that. We'll say that for another one.
00:31:05
Speaker 4: Oh yes, that's that's a pet peeve.
00:31:07
Speaker 2: Anyone who has a backpack or just you know, a large purse, please don't put it in the overhead because then when folks are trying to get their roller bags up there, there's no room because your little backpack that can easily fit under your seat. Yes, you might have to lose some leg room, but that was your choice to bring the backpack on.
00:31:24
Speaker 4: You should put it underneath your seat.
00:31:26
Speaker 2: I actually give fut attended so much credit because you and I I would have a really hard time staying patient and saying I guess kind when I see people and you know, people get upset. Remember when you had to move that woman's bag because she shouldn't have had it up there and you couldn't don't touch my bag screaming It.
00:31:47
Speaker 4: Was like a mes Yeah you had.
00:31:48
Speaker 1: A purse up there, and oh I made the biggest scene by being polite. Oh man, don't you worry. I'm gonna go ahead and close this cabin here. Make sure nobody can touch it. She took up the space of almost two damn roller bags because.
00:32:00
Speaker 2: She will design her handbag. Oh my god, people, and then she didn't want anyone to touch it. I'm like, then, don't put it in the overhead.
00:32:06
Speaker 1: She's embarrassed that we whole first class is laughing at her, like it was absurd. Anyway, folks, be nice on a plane. It'll get you a long way. It's stressful, it's hard, it's difficult. Hell, even sitting here with you, you brought up United again in that money, and I'm pissed again.
00:32:19
Speaker 4: You've got all upset.
00:32:20
Speaker 2: But look, and that same courtesy that we extend hopefully to flight attendants, you should extend to your fellow passengers, including your middle seat passenger, until the time comes or the day comes where you two can prefer or choose to have a preferred seat where your middle seat is blocked off. I'm really interested to see how this goes and if this takes off among other airlines.
00:32:43
Speaker 3: Obviously.
00:32:43
Speaker 1: You know what I'm curious about is if we're ever going to get our money back.
00:32:46
Speaker 3: But that's it. We can deal with that later. What rule. Okay, I'm sorry, I got I didn't go ahead.
00:32:52
Speaker 4: That's funny.
00:32:52
Speaker 2: It's a genuine anger right here that you're witnessing right now.
00:32:56
Speaker 1: Our money, They won't give it back unless you fly exactly where you had planned. How does that work within the continent of the United States. If I was going from New York to Memphis and canceled, can I only go to Memphis? You can't get your money.
00:33:11
Speaker 4: They have all these rules.
00:33:12
Speaker 2: But I will say, this is the first time that we have encountered something like this post pandemic.
00:33:18
Speaker 4: That was one of the only silver.
00:33:20
Speaker 2: Linings of the pandemic was that the airlines all made change fees go away.
00:33:25
Speaker 4: You could use your airline credits.
00:33:28
Speaker 2: They let you apply certain credits and legs to other business travel or travel.
00:33:35
Speaker 1: I don't remember that like the leg you have to take the same leg. You have a refundable first class ticket canceled, We're going to keep your money unless you fly specifically out of that airport.
00:33:47
Speaker 4: Again, it was the first I've heard of it too.
00:33:49
Speaker 1: I've not heard of that. And we said afterwards done with United. We didn't you didn't go off. We didn't get an attitude with the woman on the phone. But we just both know this is an awful experience. This is an awful experience, and we have had money stolen by this airline.
00:34:03
Speaker 4: Maybe we'll get that email today, you know, Okay.
00:34:05
Speaker 3: And then we'll take this down. We'll take this episode down.
00:34:09
Speaker 4: Well yeah, that's right, like whoopsie. Never mind what we just said about United.
00:34:14
Speaker 2: There are favorites, but with that everyone, we always appreciate you.
00:34:18
Speaker 4: Thanks for listening, thanks for watching. We'll see you soon.
Speaker 1: Hey, folks, we're about to have a debate about something that I thought was not upward debate anymore. This should be settled, and I don't know why people are still arguing over this. Obviously we know who gets the arm rests on a plane and with that, welcome everybody. I'm ja, that's Robes, you're laughing. This is settled law. We could say unwritten rule. Why is anybody confused about what to do with the arm rest? If you're in the middle seat.
00:00:30
Speaker 2: You should get both arm Russ. Yes, that is the unwritten rule. However, it is not always adhered to.
00:00:41
Speaker 3: Who's making a fight.
00:00:42
Speaker 1: You got the aisle or you got the window, you got one arm rest, to the poor people in the middle seat. You feel bad for them, so you give them both armrests. Why is this controversial.
00:00:52
Speaker 2: Because some people don't agree with that and they think this is my seat, I paid for it and I should get are they? Yes? But haven't you ever been in the middle seat and all of a sudden you look to your left, to your right and maybe it's just one of them, but you don't have an armrest. You're already in limited space. You already are confined in a way the others are not. And yes, I have absolutely been in a middle seat where I cannot believe I have literally nowhere to go.
00:01:21
Speaker 1: Okay, and so this has come up now here lately United Airlines.
00:01:25
Speaker 3: Do we give them credit for this?
00:01:26
Speaker 1: The United Airlines is making a change in policy that does this sound well, we don't know how much it costs yet, but we have no idea. Okay, but this might appeal to some people.
00:01:34
Speaker 4: Yes, So United Airlines has announced.
00:01:36
Speaker 2: They will be the first US carrier to give passengers who are in economy plus the option to purchase for an extra fee, a row that has the middle seat blocked off, so you have a shared middle seat where you actually may put a table with two indentations for your drink that you share with your aisle and your window, and the middle seat is gone, and therefore you get extra space and you don't have to worry about that person in the middle.
00:02:11
Speaker 1: It's the point that's usually most annoying about that middle seat, is it that you just don't get the arm rest, Like, why would you want to purchase I see if a middle seat person wants a different seat, but if you're in the aisle or the window Why does it make that big of a difference that somebody's in the middle.
00:02:29
Speaker 4: It does create an elevated experience.
00:02:31
Speaker 2: And when you have someone in the middle, you have another person who might if you're in the aisle, who has to get up and climb over you, or you have to get up so that they can use the rest.
00:02:39
Speaker 4: There's that. It's just also more crowded.
00:02:42
Speaker 2: What if the person in the middle, You're now worried about whether or not the person right next to you has boundary issues? Are they spilling over onto you? Do they fall asleep and drool on you? Do they take your arm rest? Do they pull out the food that they brought from home and start eating it?
00:03:01
Speaker 4: Do they take their shoes off, feed up? It's just all this extra.
00:03:06
Speaker 2: You have to deal with other people's hygiene and other people's choices, and it's right up next to you.
00:03:12
Speaker 3: Okay, but maybe you'll get a nice seat.
00:03:14
Speaker 1: Is this just about not wanting to sit next to anybody versus a different experience when it's somebody sitting in the middle between two people.
00:03:21
Speaker 2: Yes, because it's just a smaller space that you have to share with someone, and more problems can arise, and certainly I think this is an amazing opportunity and it's an option. And here's the deal. It's only going to be on their brand new planes. This is United on international flights to begin and this is actually going to start at the end of this year.
00:03:41
Speaker 4: But there will.
00:03:41
Speaker 2: Only be one row that will have this option, so four passengers.
00:03:47
Speaker 3: Wait, they're testing it out. Is that that's just.
00:03:49
Speaker 2: How they're building the plane right now, and they may look if they see there's a high demand for this, it's likely they may put this on other planes they've already said, or maybe have more rows that have this feature or the potential for this feature. But right now, it would be four passengers who could essentially choose to sit in economy plus and have more of a business or first class experience.
00:04:12
Speaker 1: They might end up we don't know how much it's going to cause, we'll get into that, but it could end up ultimately costing you less but still have feel like you gotten better. Right leg room and nobody's sitting next to you. That's awesome.
00:04:21
Speaker 2: Yes, it's the elbow room that they're really highlighting that people really want their elbow room. You're pulling out your laptop, you're doing all this stuff. If someone isn't seated next to you, you have more space just to move around, take your jacket off, you know all.
00:04:32
Speaker 4: Those things we want to do when we're adjusting.
00:04:34
Speaker 1: Okay, in the first class seats, that is one of the biggest features, not just a bigger and more comfortable seat.
00:04:38
Speaker 3: It has a huge arm rest usually right there. Nice to have space.
00:04:42
Speaker 2: Nice the arm rest wore the territorial way people get about the arm rest.
00:04:47
Speaker 4: It really does.
00:04:48
Speaker 2: Cause I was looking online, like what are the biggest issues when you have a middle seat passenger and what are some of the Sometimes the arguments that are upt It's almost always over that damn armrest. That is is the number one complaint from folks who are in the middle seat that the people on the aisle or on the window take the arm rest and they have nowhere to move or to maneuver, like try to take your laptop out.
00:05:14
Speaker 4: You don't have an arm rest. You're trying to get some work done.
00:05:17
Speaker 2: Because I will say the times I had been in a middle seat had been because of a last minute plane ticket from work where I had to fly somewhere and you're like one of the last people on the plane. So of course, you get the worst possible seat and you actually do have to work.
00:05:31
Speaker 1: It is so difficulty. Nobody wants a middle seat under any circle. Nobody wants a middle seat. Fine, okay, but I didn't know. Still, you know, we fly all the time.
00:05:41
Speaker 3: I don't.
00:05:41
Speaker 1: Well, I'm sitting next to you only usually, but I don't. Yeah, and I don't see what's going on. Uh So I was about to say I didn't see this happening, though, eh uh.
00:05:52
Speaker 4: It exists. You sat in the middle seat, just to I think on one of our last trips.
00:05:55
Speaker 2: Because you had a we had a whoop see, and we literally forgot to book Sabine's ticket. It's a true story, because we had iHeart booking us our seats. We were supposed to then book Sabines and somehow it fell between the cracks last minute, had to get a last seat, and you ended up in the back, in the middle seat because you gave Sabine your first class set.
00:06:17
Speaker 3: Okay, I don't remember even being in that.
00:06:18
Speaker 1: I had an aile on one, yes, right, and that's so I guess I had a middle on the other.
00:06:22
Speaker 4: You had a middle Believe me, I heard all about it. You had a middle seat.
00:06:24
Speaker 2: What was I saying, I have a middle seat in the back of the plane near the restaurants.
00:06:28
Speaker 1: Was I complaining about people or anything going on? I assume I was texting.
00:06:31
Speaker 3: You the whole time.
00:06:31
Speaker 2: Yes, you were just explaining your seat mates and all of that. Yes, it's because you're country I have to get Yes it was from San Francisco.
00:06:39
Speaker 4: Yes, everyone.
00:06:41
Speaker 2: I think pretty much anyone who has flown in a middle seat has some version of a horror story, because, especially on longer flights, it's just downright uncomfortable. And you know it's when you are the one who has the middle seat, not only are you dreading it, but you know that when you come on the plane and you've got somebody sitting in the aisle in the window, they are praying that nobody comes and sits down, And when you come down, they are so annoyed and disappointed, Like you are greeted with size, but nobody wants to see a middle seat person walking up they're coming.
00:07:15
Speaker 3: I always, you know this.
00:07:16
Speaker 1: I check the seat map, Like as we're boarding, I check the seat map to see who's around, other things filled up and whatnot. So you can always check ahead. SA I haven't thought about more so than the what you're talking about with the laptop or trying to work in the middle.
00:07:31
Speaker 3: I am just I mean, I'm not that big.
00:07:34
Speaker 1: Of a dude, but six feet is still uncomfortable in a middle seat. I find myself riding the whole way.
00:07:43
Speaker 2: Yes, because think about it. Can you sleep? Can you drift off? I mean the answer is no, you will end up on the person to your left or right. And I'm assuming when you've got the middle seat. Look, I don't mind the middle seat when you're on the other side, and a lot of times that's.
00:07:57
Speaker 4: What we end up doing.
00:07:58
Speaker 3: The unrest goes up and we.
00:08:00
Speaker 4: Yes, and I just fall on you. And that's fine.
00:08:02
Speaker 2: When you have a middle seat and you've got your partner next to you, either on the window or the aisle, just pull up that arm rest and yes, that is I don't mind it.
00:08:10
Speaker 1: And even if somebody is in the third seat in your row, you can just lean away from that person because you're together.
00:08:16
Speaker 3: Okay, that works perfectly. I'm with you.
00:08:18
Speaker 1: I did not know. I don't think people take issue with this. The middle seat gets both armrests.
00:08:24
Speaker 2: Yes, that period, and I just think that we should be on the record, we should be shouting that from the rooftops. Anyone who has ever been in a middle seat understands the importance of everyone adhering to this unwritten rule.
00:08:38
Speaker 1: So it's just a manner. This is being considerate to your fellow man. That really is what we're talking about. Robes, nobody, everybody has been on a middle seat. You didn't like it, So now here you are sitting on your aisle or window thrown looking at this person and not being considerate and not remembering that you were there. We can empathize with every single person on middle seat and robes. If they're sitting here, that's the middle lean away from them. I got the window over here. In an arm rest I can lean on. If I'm in the aisle, I can lean over this way and just give them space. Why anybody would fight that makes no sense. You really want to fight the middle seat person or an arm rest, so you can have two.
00:09:24
Speaker 4: There are people who feel like they're owed. Now.
00:09:27
Speaker 2: I asked you before we started this if you had any middle seat horror stories, because there are plenty of them online.
00:09:33
Speaker 4: Do you have one? Okay?
00:09:35
Speaker 2: I have mine, and this one. This was years ago. I was first starting out in the business, I was a reporter in DC. I got to travel to LA. I was so excited. But it was a last minute decision and I was traveling from DC to LA and I had a middle seat. Fine, I was just so excited to be there. I was so excited to go cover and then we had Oh, okay, I'm not holding my mic correctly.
00:10:01
Speaker 3: No, no, you are.
00:10:01
Speaker 1: Actually as you're holding you're waving and you're getting into my camera shot constantly.
00:10:07
Speaker 3: That's what's happened. Any other way to tell.
00:10:09
Speaker 2: You, like, I'm in the middle seat and I'm taking this thing up your space.
00:10:13
Speaker 4: I'm not having boundary issues.
00:10:15
Speaker 1: So I was trying to subtly, I can just get you to use this and then use this other hand, and then it's not in the show.
00:10:22
Speaker 2: I need to act like I am an aisle and you're in the middle, and I need to not invade your space.
00:10:26
Speaker 4: Got it?
00:10:27
Speaker 2: But I speaking of that, this actually tees me up perfectly. I'm in the middle, I don't know what I'm walking into. And all of a sudden I see two people and they were taking up so much extra space that this was a married couple and they I don't think physically could sit next to each other. So they were probably one of those folks hoping nobody was going to come sit in the middle, walk in me.
00:10:50
Speaker 4: I come sit in the middle. And here's the problem.
00:10:54
Speaker 2: They were talking for six hours back and forth over me, passing snacks, drinks, and I sat there and it was the most brutal six hours.
00:11:07
Speaker 4: To just sit there. I couldn't I couldn't avoid it was awful.
00:11:11
Speaker 1: Well, why and in that situation, why do you not have the right to say, pardon me?
00:11:16
Speaker 3: Guys?
00:11:16
Speaker 2: I did ask. I said to them, I said, is there any way you walk and sit next to each other? And they said no, it actually we can't fit.
00:11:25
Speaker 1: No. But my question, what is okay to say? Can you stop doing this across me? It's rude as hell.
00:11:33
Speaker 2: I was twenty four or twenty five years old, and I just did not have enough confidence to say that to them. I did get up, and I did talk to the flight attendant and I asked her, I said, is there any other seat on this plane? I will sit in the back near the restrooms like you did, in any seat other than this one. And she was like, I've been watching you and I feel so bad for you, but there's nothing I can do, and so I sat there. That was absolutely my worst seat experience.
00:12:01
Speaker 1: Do you have an arm rest horror story? Did you have either?
00:12:06
Speaker 3: Don't know. Have you ever remember fighting anybody who over an armor?
00:12:09
Speaker 4: I would never fight anyone.
00:12:10
Speaker 2: I would always be the one to say, uncle, I surrender. I'm never going to get into a physical or even a verbal I've never had a verbal altercation with anybody on a plane because I just it's not worth it. Whatever discomfort I'm feeling will end, There is an end to it, and I can that's you know, even like going through a marathon or doing some of the stuff we do, it's a mental training that this too shall pass. I know it will end, and I just have to I tell myself, this is an opportunity to grow and to continue to exercise patience and and extend sympathy towards people who are maybe even having a tougher day than you. Yeah, those are the moments where I try to go into my uh, all of my practices.
00:12:49
Speaker 1: You and I travel, we see a lot of stuff when we travel, and travel and air travel in particular, well, it is stressful, Like take don't even hell, just take life.
00:12:58
Speaker 3: Life is difficult.
00:12:59
Speaker 1: And then you put people in this pressure cooker situation where they just got overcharged for a ticket. They got overcharged, they have to check a bag, all these things and they're fighting to get the right seat, the best seat, and you get in there and roads we see flight attendants being treated poorly because there's some entitlement in some way.
00:13:15
Speaker 3: When you spend four hundred dollars on a ticket.
00:13:18
Speaker 1: It's like you're in the upper class on the Titanic, like you expect everything to be perfect, and I think robes. I notice oftentimes it's pride and ego and what is it about you that needs to win an armrest battle instead of just being considered. People take so so much of personal offense and want to win these little fights, and it's just not worth it. And what's the easiest way an opportunity. You have to be a nice person to somebody today, let them.
00:13:50
Speaker 3: Have the armrest.
00:13:51
Speaker 1: That should make you feel good, like, wow, I did the right thing. I have never fought anybody over an armrest. If somebody has right that I've been in a middle seat was people took up both of them. They don't have a word to say my worst horror story about a middle seat, though I wasn't thinking the right way when you asked. It wasn't about me being in a middle seat. It was about who was in the middle seats, and I spent. I can't remember how long this flight was roam's half of my body was in the aisle.
00:14:23
Speaker 4: Wow.
00:14:24
Speaker 1: The person was so big and so I mean nothing they could do. I couldn't be mad at this person spilling over. I could not sit up straight in my seat because the person was in my space. I literally had to do this to give that person space. Flight attend and I were cool the whole time. I get every time.
00:14:42
Speaker 3: Feat sorry, sorry everybody, because your.
00:14:46
Speaker 4: Tug you're halfway in the halfway in the aisle.
00:14:50
Speaker 2: So this got us thinking, and I actually looked up to see is there any situation in which you would be better off in a middle seat or or is there any human being out there who flies who prefers the middle seat. Okay, so there was a study. This is not that shocking. It's from going It was the twenty twenty four State of Travel. Guess what percentage of people prefer a middle seat should be zero?
00:15:18
Speaker 4: It's one percent of those they didn't understand the question.
00:15:21
Speaker 2: Fifty fifty three percent prefer window seats and forty six percent prefer the isle.
00:15:30
Speaker 4: I prefer the issle.
00:15:31
Speaker 3: Of course, we're ile people.
00:15:32
Speaker 4: Yes, yes, I want to.
00:15:33
Speaker 2: Get off the plane as soon as possible if there's an issue, I want to be able to leave quickly. And obviously I usually have to use the restroom, and therefore I don't have to bother anyone. So for all of those reasons, I also feel claustrophobic, and I actually, this is the truth, I prefer a middle seat to a window seat. I don't like to be three in if I have to get up, and so I actually feel claustrophobic when I'm at the window.
00:15:55
Speaker 4: So I would prefer a middle seat over a window seat.
00:15:59
Speaker 1: Sweet Heart, in life, when have you ever seen a window seat available and you chose the middle?
00:16:07
Speaker 4: Never?
00:16:10
Speaker 2: But when I'm sitting on the window seat and I really get upset about the window, I think, why didn't I just go ahead and do the middle?
00:16:15
Speaker 3: But I never did. What you're saying.
00:16:17
Speaker 2: Okay, here's the reason why some people might prefer the middle seat. You said zero percent and that one percent they didn't understand the question, But there actually are some reasons. Number one, they're cheaper, so they might not know they're choosing the middle seat or prefer the middle seat. But oftentimes you have to pay extra for an upgraded ticket to be able to choose your seat. And if you can't choose your seat, you know, the airline sticking you in the middle. They're not going to give you the aisle or the window. So that's the one.
00:16:43
Speaker 4: The other one is, yeah, well there's a guess.
00:16:45
Speaker 2: Statistically, you're safer if you are in the rear of the plane in a middle seat, if anything were to happen, even turbulence.
00:16:53
Speaker 4: I'm not even talking about a plane crash.
00:16:55
Speaker 2: Statistically, the aisle seats in the middle of the plane are by far the deadliest. They're the most dangerous seats because you have to deal with luggage that could be falling, rolling carts that'd be coming out just to brie ca and fly. So you are actually more susceptible to injury and death if you sit on the aisle versus in the middle, So they have the highest survival rates middle seats.
00:17:19
Speaker 3: I'm sure that'll change people's mindsets.
00:17:21
Speaker 2: Snow, we also can't get sucked out of an airplane if your window breaks or the aisle.
00:17:26
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's the prevalence of those. Oh you staff in a couple of there is no upset. You really think they're gonna change people's hearts and minds. Wait a minute, you're telling me I'm safer in a middle seat and.
00:17:37
Speaker 4: I can save sixty dollars.
00:17:41
Speaker 3: Middle seat for me?
00:17:42
Speaker 2: Come on, some people, look when you honestly, the last or the most recent scary broken window happened on a Ryan airplane, a plane an airline that my children know very very well because they love to pay thirty five bucks one way to go anywhere in Europe, and so yeah, if they could save an extra bit to sit in the middle I guarantee you some college kids, there are certain segments of the population where every dollar counts, I understand. And by opting out of a seat choice, you save money and that becomes worth it, and therefore you are technically maybe you are choosing a middle seed by doing so, because you are likely going to get one.
00:18:22
Speaker 1: What is uh, what would you say the different I know you didn't research this top of the head. What would be your idea? How much are you saving by sitting in a middle seat versus an aisle or whatever in this scenario we're.
00:18:33
Speaker 2: Talking about, well, I feel like when I've looked to see because now they have all these different like it's like you can get I forgot how they call it.
00:18:42
Speaker 4: It depends on the airline.
00:18:43
Speaker 2: But when you're doing economy, it can be basic economy, then it can be like preferred economy, then it can be And if you have a basic economy you can't even bring a carry on. In some airlines, you certainly cannot check luggage unless you have you know, you're paying for it, and you also have to board the plane last. So I think those end up being like, you know, one hundred bucks to fifty bucks cheaper when you don't have those, to me standard options, Suddenly they become premium options.
00:19:12
Speaker 3: To have a.
00:19:13
Speaker 2: Carry on, to choose your seat, to board the plane luxuries. Now, yeah, that's a luxury to be able to do all the things that I'm sorry should be basic or standard.
00:19:23
Speaker 3: Ooh you want water? Your economy ticket doesn't cover this? Yeah, I'll get you. All right.
00:19:29
Speaker 2: Well, we are going to talk next about numbers. You just mentioned how much things cost. How much would it potentially cost to have that middle seat blocked off.
00:19:39
Speaker 4: And why would airlines do this?
00:19:41
Speaker 2: That seems like they'd be losing money, right, they lose a passenger, they lose a person who's paying for a seat.
00:19:46
Speaker 4: Oh no, they know what they're doing.
00:19:58
Speaker 3: All right.
00:19:58
Speaker 2: We're talking about those dreaded middle seats and having someone sit in a middle seat next to you. How much would you pay? So you've got an economy ticket, so whatever that cost, say your economy ticket was.
00:20:10
Speaker 4: Two hundred and fifty bucks.
00:20:12
Speaker 2: Right, you're flying on a long flight and you would really prefer not to have someone in the middle seat.
00:20:20
Speaker 4: How much would you pay extra to block off that middle.
00:20:22
Speaker 1: Seat If the ticket's to fifty, maybe a hundred If the tickets through two fifty, maybe a hundred bucks. That's because that's I mean, it doesn't make sense if you're going to almost double the cost of the ticket you already bought.
00:20:32
Speaker 3: I mean, if you go to two hundred bucks.
00:20:34
Speaker 4: But a long flight, that wouldn't be nice.
00:20:36
Speaker 2: Here's this what about this one of the drawbacks people say of having a middle seat or having someone seating next to you. It's not just about the elbow room. It's not just about uh, having someone get up and going to the bathroom. It's about the socialization.
00:20:50
Speaker 3: What does that mean?
00:20:51
Speaker 2: You have to talk to somebody sometimes when they're right next to you. It's hard to avoid. If someone's right up on you, you have the opportunity or the likelihood that that person might want to talk to you.
00:21:01
Speaker 4: Grows up goes up significantly.
00:21:03
Speaker 1: That anti social I don't only want to sit next to somebody on the chance they might speak to you.
00:21:08
Speaker 2: I was looking at all of the drawbacks, and that was one of the reasons why they liked having that middle seed blocked off, is no one is going to talk to them.
00:21:18
Speaker 3: I will pay yes to not interact.
00:21:21
Speaker 2: Yes for privacy or peace maybe, Okay, okay.
00:21:25
Speaker 1: And you know I don't do this. I don't talk to people on a plane anyway, AirPods, I only talk to the flight attendant. For the most part.
00:21:31
Speaker 4: You do talk to the flight attend you talk to me sometimes.
00:21:35
Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't fly that much with strangers anymore. Now I think about it.
00:21:38
Speaker 4: It's been a while, all right, So we don't know.
00:21:40
Speaker 2: United has not said exactly how much more this is going to cost on their basic economy. Fair, but we can look to the European airlines who have already had this on several flights, and they this is pretty interesting. One way, those seats that have the blocked off middle seeds typically cost between two hundred and six one hundred dollars more one way.
00:22:02
Speaker 3: That's a lot. That's a lot.
00:22:04
Speaker 4: That is a lot.
00:22:05
Speaker 2: And so look one way on Lufthansa you have to add one hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars one above, one way above your economy ticket. And then on British airwayse this is even more airwaves. On British Airways you have to add two hundred fifty to five hundred dollars one way to your economy fair.
00:22:27
Speaker 3: What's your economy fair to start with?
00:22:29
Speaker 2: I mean, I don't know, I'm guessing around. Just put it at two fifty three hundred.
00:22:33
Speaker 1: It sounds like you're you're paying for the other seat. You're just paying buying two tickets essentially.
00:22:37
Speaker 2: Pretty much in a lot of ways, you are pretty much. I mean I'm not that's what their pricing is.
00:22:43
Speaker 1: You have to make a determinate well, why not just get the actual economy plus why not just get the first class?
00:22:50
Speaker 3: That's that's getting a little expensive as.
00:22:52
Speaker 2: Well, I think obviously it still has to be underneath what their business or first class tickets are, because nobody would do that. But maybe maybe you're that person who wanted to get into business, wanted to get into first class, and they're sold out, so this is your next best option, and it's slightly underpriced what it would have been had you had the full first class business experience.
00:23:11
Speaker 1: Do you think United they're leading the way, Yes, they certainly are. They just pissed us off recently. What did they just do? Oh they wouldn't give us our money back?
00:23:16
Speaker 2: Oh, yes, that is true. They did not give us our money back. We actually ended up for work having to fly on another airline to a different city, and so I thought, you know what, it's okay.
00:23:26
Speaker 4: We had long booked these flights.
00:23:28
Speaker 2: I was like, we'll just get the credit and then we'll be able to apply it to another flight. That is what we've been doing for years now, at least since the pandemic. That has been what happens.
00:23:38
Speaker 4: We call all. I couldn't call first I spent an hour trying to do it online and it would have left.
00:23:43
Speaker 1: Supposed to be able to Everybody knows this, and that's Okay, this was a first class ticket. Yes it's refundable, but we just wanted the credit. So what do some airlines and I think maybe even some credit card companies start doing. Now this is the worst this. Please encourage everybody to stop this practice. They charge you money for customer service.
00:24:03
Speaker 2: So it's twenty five bucks to get on a phone to talk to a human to try and figure out what to do. Because I went through every avenue I could online and it wouldn't let me go to the next step. And when I finally got somebody, she said, oh, you can only use this credit for the exact leg you were taking from Paris back to New York. And I was like, well, I ended up having to fly to Ireland, already made it back to New York, so I'm not going to be in Paris anytime soon. And they said, we can extend it to anywhere in the European continent. You can have a one way ticket back to the United States and whatever you paid to be credited.
00:24:40
Speaker 4: Are you kidding me? This is US and you've never heard of that happening before.
00:24:44
Speaker 2: And I said, wow, I've always just had a credit that I could apply to another ticket. It didn't matter if it was domestic or international. So yes, they are cutting costs. But they did make another announcement earlier that has got a lot of folks excited. This is also going to take place in twenty twenty seven.
00:25:00
Speaker 3: Can I ask what ended up happening with our money?
00:25:02
Speaker 2: It's it's it's just sitting in a United We can't use it. If we're in Europe, we can steal the next time we're in Europe, we can use that credit towards a flight headed back to the United States. Oh, that's where we are. They stole our money pretty much. Yeah, so we don't want to give you United too much love right now here. No.
00:25:24
Speaker 1: I thought we got on the phone and this got resolved and we were just getting the credit.
00:25:27
Speaker 4: I'm waiting to see if we get it.
00:25:29
Speaker 3: It had seven.
00:25:31
Speaker 4: I haven't gotten an email.
00:25:35
Speaker 2: They said I had to send proof that I had a work emergency that forced me to take a different flight, and then they would consider it.
00:25:43
Speaker 4: But I have to show proof receipts.
00:25:46
Speaker 2: I haven't gotten an email first where I can even start the process.
00:25:49
Speaker 3: We're going to do this, United, Come on, This is one of the this is why people hate.
00:25:53
Speaker 4: Flying and We're talking about thousands of dollars.
00:25:55
Speaker 1: Making this difficult and saying you telling us we are required to go back to Europe and when we leave there, we better be coming back to the United States or else. Well, I know this is why, So what the hell with United and this? I'm sorry I forgot about this. We're giving them.
00:26:13
Speaker 4: They're also offering something else to flyers.
00:26:16
Speaker 2: Not that will necessarily be using this, but if you want to fly and you want you you'd love you know, you go past first class and you see those folks in the Polaris Club and the Polaris Lounge and they're all in their lay flat or their lie flat seats. They've got their comforters and they're sleeping. They wake up when they arrive in Europe or Asia refreshed having had a good night's sleep. You, meantime, are cramped and you haven't slept a wink and you're irritable and grumpy starting your vacation or a work trip. Well, they're now offering something where you can actually buy for a reduced price all three seats and they will create a couch so to speak, that you can lie flat in economy, and that service is going to be offered starting in twenty twenty seven.
00:27:02
Speaker 3: Ah, now, how much is that gonna cost you?
00:27:04
Speaker 4: Well, it's gonna cost a lot less than the Life flat seat.
00:27:06
Speaker 2: Those those international flights where the Life flat those are. Some of those tickets are twelve thousand dollars, fifteen thousand dollars, And the only reason why we really know a lot about them is.
00:27:15
Speaker 4: Because work paid for them. For the most part.
00:27:18
Speaker 2: I remember when I flew to China for the first time at NBC. I saw my flight was twelve thousand dollars and I actually wanted to throw up. I couldn't believe a flight could cost that much.
00:27:28
Speaker 1: It's awesome, of my flights. I didn't mind it at all. I'm glass, somebody's picking up his tab. Wow, I'm really flying in luxury. I'm gonna enjoy this.
00:27:35
Speaker 4: Oh my goodness.
00:27:36
Speaker 2: So yes, that is going to be an option, and obviously it will be vastly reduced from what you would get if you were flying up in the first class.
00:27:43
Speaker 4: So they are trying.
00:27:45
Speaker 2: Look, they are trying some innovative and new opportunities and new ways for people who can't afford the high priced luxury of flying a certain way and letting people have at least a little bit a little taste of it for at a red u cost. And the hope is that if United does this, other airlines will follow suit. If it's popular, they're probably waiting to see how many people are going to take them up on this.
00:28:09
Speaker 4: Is it cost effective?
00:28:11
Speaker 2: And one of the reasons why United it's believed, is able to do this. Yes, they're getting more money from those passengers. I don't think it fully takes over or accommodates the price they lost from that seat. But the word is they'll be able to have one less flight attendant. You have fewer passengers on the plane, same size plane. If they can reduce their flight attendant staff by one, that's a significant savings for the airline per flight. And that is how it becomes cost effective for these airlines. And Europe has done it and tried it and it has gone really well. And so United is the first American airline to try and test the waters to see how American flyers will feel about that option.
00:28:52
Speaker 3: They'll be fine.
00:28:53
Speaker 1: And United can afford this clearly because they've been stealing people's money, namely ours. This is we have actually we did State Man that's too bad. They just lost a customer because we like flying on a Newark where they are. We can't deal with this airline. So I get what you're saying with the money, and I know they need to cut corners by not giving people their money back, making things very difficult.
00:29:14
Speaker 3: And now they're having to offer this thing. That's fine, I understand. I get.
00:29:17
Speaker 1: They're very good people, wonderful people. You know, some of my favorite people are flight attendants. I love flight attendants. I love in particular. I don't know how it ends up happening when there's a crew of all guys and sometimes all gay guys.
00:29:28
Speaker 3: Yeah, I like that crew.
00:29:30
Speaker 4: It's fun. It's like a party on a plane.
00:29:32
Speaker 2: And look, we've said this before, but I think it's worth mentioning because we do fly a lot. If you just take the time and you just look a flight attendant in the eye and you say thank you, and you just show them some courtesy, some acknowledgement that they are there serving you. You're sleeping, you're eating, you're relaxing, maybe you're they're working to make your experience better, And just to give them a nod, you will have a friend for life.
00:30:00
Speaker 4: You will have.
00:30:01
Speaker 2: They are so appreciative because I don't think they get the love they deserve very often. Most people are busy and are hurry, stressed and only thinking about where they're going and how stressful it was. Take a moment to say thank you, and your whole experience on that plane will change.
00:30:17
Speaker 1: It doesn't take much at all because they're used to being treated like crap by everybody. So all you have to do is smile, look them in the eye, say hello, make the eye contact when they're actually answering you. Be polite when you're ordering something. Look Roes. It goes so far. You and I how I have been handed bottles of wine getting off a plane because.
00:30:35
Speaker 3: They're like, here, take this.
00:30:36
Speaker 1: Because I have had the most ridiculous, wonderful experiences on flights with flight attendants, and I didn't have to do much, just be appreciative and acknowledge them.
00:30:47
Speaker 3: I love you.
00:30:47
Speaker 1: Know this robes no bigger heroes than flight attendants. When I was sitting in the back and you and SA being we're in first class, I was sending you notes about the flight attendant I was back the.
00:30:56
Speaker 4: Flight back there, yes exactly, because she was.
00:30:59
Speaker 1: Holding people accountable to putting their smaller bags in the overhead. You want to hit that today, we all's skip that. We'll say that for another one.
00:31:05
Speaker 4: Oh yes, that's that's a pet peeve.
00:31:07
Speaker 2: Anyone who has a backpack or just you know, a large purse, please don't put it in the overhead because then when folks are trying to get their roller bags up there, there's no room because your little backpack that can easily fit under your seat. Yes, you might have to lose some leg room, but that was your choice to bring the backpack on.
00:31:24
Speaker 4: You should put it underneath your seat.
00:31:26
Speaker 2: I actually give fut attended so much credit because you and I I would have a really hard time staying patient and saying I guess kind when I see people and you know, people get upset. Remember when you had to move that woman's bag because she shouldn't have had it up there and you couldn't don't touch my bag screaming It.
00:31:47
Speaker 4: Was like a mes Yeah you had.
00:31:48
Speaker 1: A purse up there, and oh I made the biggest scene by being polite. Oh man, don't you worry. I'm gonna go ahead and close this cabin here. Make sure nobody can touch it. She took up the space of almost two damn roller bags because.
00:32:00
Speaker 2: She will design her handbag. Oh my god, people, and then she didn't want anyone to touch it. I'm like, then, don't put it in the overhead.
00:32:06
Speaker 1: She's embarrassed that we whole first class is laughing at her, like it was absurd. Anyway, folks, be nice on a plane. It'll get you a long way. It's stressful, it's hard, it's difficult. Hell, even sitting here with you, you brought up United again in that money, and I'm pissed again.
00:32:19
Speaker 4: You've got all upset.
00:32:20
Speaker 2: But look, and that same courtesy that we extend hopefully to flight attendants, you should extend to your fellow passengers, including your middle seat passenger, until the time comes or the day comes where you two can prefer or choose to have a preferred seat where your middle seat is blocked off. I'm really interested to see how this goes and if this takes off among other airlines.
00:32:43
Speaker 3: Obviously.
00:32:43
Speaker 1: You know what I'm curious about is if we're ever going to get our money back.
00:32:46
Speaker 3: But that's it. We can deal with that later. What rule. Okay, I'm sorry, I got I didn't go ahead.
00:32:52
Speaker 4: That's funny.
00:32:52
Speaker 2: It's a genuine anger right here that you're witnessing right now.
00:32:56
Speaker 1: Our money, They won't give it back unless you fly exactly where you had planned. How does that work within the continent of the United States. If I was going from New York to Memphis and canceled, can I only go to Memphis? You can't get your money.
00:33:11
Speaker 4: They have all these rules.
00:33:12
Speaker 2: But I will say, this is the first time that we have encountered something like this post pandemic.
00:33:18
Speaker 4: That was one of the only silver.
00:33:20
Speaker 2: Linings of the pandemic was that the airlines all made change fees go away.
00:33:25
Speaker 4: You could use your airline credits.
00:33:28
Speaker 2: They let you apply certain credits and legs to other business travel or travel.
00:33:35
Speaker 1: I don't remember that like the leg you have to take the same leg. You have a refundable first class ticket canceled, We're going to keep your money unless you fly specifically out of that airport.
00:33:47
Speaker 4: Again, it was the first I've heard of it too.
00:33:49
Speaker 1: I've not heard of that. And we said afterwards done with United. We didn't you didn't go off. We didn't get an attitude with the woman on the phone. But we just both know this is an awful experience. This is an awful experience, and we have had money stolen by this airline.
00:34:03
Speaker 4: Maybe we'll get that email today, you know, Okay.
00:34:05
Speaker 3: And then we'll take this down. We'll take this episode down.
00:34:09
Speaker 4: Well yeah, that's right, like whoopsie. Never mind what we just said about United.
00:34:14
Speaker 2: There are favorites, but with that everyone, we always appreciate you.
00:34:18
Speaker 4: Thanks for listening, thanks for watching. We'll see you soon.