Most of us don't like the middle seat on a plane. We're crammed between two people. If those seats are all that is available on the flight, you aren't always stuck. Check in with the airlines right before the flight for a possible seat change.
The Points Guy reminds us that when someone else upgrades to a better seat, that seat becomes available to the rest of us:
If you check in at the 24 hour mark, other seats may become available. Also, as passengers get upgraded you may be able to claim one of their vacated seats. For example, an elite flyer may be seated in an exit row, and they could be upgraded in the days leading up to the flight, leaving that exit row seat empty (and waiting for you).
Passengers also miss connecting flights so those seats become available shortly before departure. Even if you're in the air, you can tweet at the airlines to look for a better seat on a connecting flight. I do that all the time and have scored my coveted exit row on more than one occasion.
How Can I Get a Better Airplane Seat at the Last Minute | The Points Guy
Photo by Charles Haynes.