Want to be friendly and chat on a flight? Please don't sit next to me

The article argues against sitting next to—particularly booking—the middle seat to start conversations during flights. It discusses a social-media post from a man named Khong, who said he always chooses the middle seat because it places him between two people for “eight, 10, sometimes 15 hours,” making conversation easy. The writer responds that while meeting people can be enjoyable on the ground, air travel creates a “trapped” situation where passengers can’t easily move away or end interaction politely. The piece emphasizes discomfort with the prospect of being approached mid-flight, preferring rest and privacy until arrival.