The best tips for surviving on the middle seat of an airplane

Whether it's winter or summer, flying can be exhausting. There's a new trend called rawdogging, but there are better ways to make coughing or swallowing in the middle seat more comfortable…

Travel volumes remain high and airlines are packing more and more people onto the same planes. Average legroom has dropped from a comfortable 89cm to a cramped 71cm, which is common on budget airlines. Actual seat width has also shrunk by as much as 10cm over the past 30 years, with many seats now only a narrow 40cm wide. So long flights in the middle seat can be challenging, but the good news is that with the right preparation and attitude, you can make them more bearable.

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There's a new trend among some men called rawdogging. It's a monk-like in-flight asceticism that involves abstaining from all entertainment, reading, and food and focusing only on the space in front of you. Apparently the only distraction you can get is staring at your flight tracker. While meditation can make the trip a more enlightening experience, that sounds pretty awful… especially on flights longer than 4 hours. Instead, here are the best tips for surviving a middle seat on a plane.

Store your luggage in the luggage rack

To stretch your legs and have a little more room, take out any items you need – headphones, water, books, tablets – and stow your bag in the overhead compartment. Just because flight attendants say there isn't enough room on the plane doesn't mean you have to be in pain.

Have headphones and entertainment ready

If you have a middle seat, you're sitting between two people, which increases the likelihood of having a chatty neighbor. Get a pair of effective headphones to easily avoid chatty neighbors or just escape the stress. There are other ways to lose yourself in reading or a movie. Load up something you really liked or want to enjoy so you can enjoy it even in a confined space. This could be your chance to watch something from your list on repeat.

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Use the toilet before boarding

Before all the chaos of boarding a plane starts, you should take some time to go to the bathroom. If you're sitting in the middle seat, you'll probably be woken up by your window neighbor heading to the bathroom, and you'll have a hard time going there yourself if you don't dare wake up the person in the aisle seat.

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Gummi bears – either CBD or marijuana

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Chicago report that low concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, reduce stress. A discreet gummy can make the trip more relaxing and allow you to better enjoy your entertainment of choice. If you want the benefits without the high, consider a CBD gummy. Just be sure to time it, as most gummies take longer to absorb into the body.

Pay extra and avoid it

If you still find the middle seat too uncomfortable, pay extra for an aisle or window seat and avoid all that drama. While a seat upgrade usually comes with a significant premium on the ticket price, at least you'll have the space you need to sleep and stretch out.