People have their ways and methods to avoid having strangers sit next to them on flights, but this one’s a little different.
A TikTok user revealed his interesting, yet clever, way of keeping the seat next to him open while on his Southwest Airlines flight, according to The Sun.
The video, since taken down by the original user but shared by other TikTok accounts, captured the man using a fake person as bait to get people to think the seat next to him was filled.
The viral clip starts by showing the grinning man while he props up his hoodie and hat using just his arm.
The footage then zooms in on the man holding his fist raised in the air, which is where the hat is placed, while a black hoodie is draped around his arm to form what looks like a person.
Passengers boarding the flight walk by the empty seat without noticing the silly tactic, seemingly to look elsewhere for a seat.
Travel guru Chelsea Dickenson shared some helpful tips for travelers who seek to avoid awkward seating arrangements on flights.
Dickenson recommended passengers travel in pairs, but when booking a flight one needs to make sure they get a seat by the window while the other takes the aisle seat.
Dickenson preached this would most likely make a stranger avoid wanting to be sandwiched by taking the middle seat.
A more simple tip Dickenson added was for passengers to book a seat near the back of the plane, or choose the row 13 seats “as lots of people think it’s unlucky,” she said.
Southwest Airlines also chimed in on the fun, assembling a parody for people who want their-way-or-the-highway on flights in a short TikTok skit.
The humorous video shows a man in the video putting on his best happy face as he welcomes passengers to sit next to him.
“I was on a flight last week and the lady in the row across from me was pretending to throw up in the puke bag during the whole boarding process,” one user said in response to the video.
“The heavy panting holding the air sick bag is a favorite of mine,” a commenter replied.
“I’d love to try this if my flights weren’t constantly canceled,” a user replied, jokingly taking a shot at the airline.
