Airline launches lottery to entice more passengers to sit in the middle seat

It take a lot more than a lottery to get me in a middle seat IF the flight is longer than two hours. But -- if two flights in middle seat gets upgrade to business class or first on the third flight --- might consider it.

I'm an introvert, and the middle seat gives me the heebie jeebies. No thanks.

Hmmm. Sooner or later they'll figure out they could charge more for an aisle or window seat.

Sooner or later they'll figure out they could charge more for an aisle or window seat.

Some airlines (maybe most) now charge for seat selection - and what seats do people select? You got it! So, yes, they have figured it out.

As to the lottery, give up an aisle or window seat for just a chance of winning some money? I don't think so. Now, a guaranteed discount on the ticket price, that I might consider.

From a marketing strategy point of view, if I owned an airline, I would increase all seat prices, but offer a discount to those who choose a middle seat.

That is the same as charging more for choosing a seat (i.e. charging more for choosing the window or aisle seat), but it would be more acceptable to consumers. A price discount sounds better than a price supplement.

Cattle Class is bad enough without being stuck in a middle seat. Considering how narrow seats have gotten anyone that is average size in the shoulders is going to not fit very well (at all actually).