Ways to Survive the dreaded Center Seat on Flights.

Apps make this easy today but you can always ask your gate agent as well. As a last resort, you can ask the people sitting with you if anyone is willing to switch.

It is imperative that you stake out your space.

Either in the overhead or under the seat is too difficult for most to reach without asking someone else to move. Stow anything you might need in your seat pocket.

As people file into their seats, their is a subtle subsconscious battle for who will have control of the armrest during the flight. It is imperative that you win control of at least one. Most likely it will be the one with your controls on it.

Drinks are fine but many find it difficult to eat without inadvertently elbowing neighbors.

On flights, most people recline their seats as far back as possible the instant they can get away with it. By having your seat in a slightly different angle than your neighbors, you create slightly more shoulder space and separation. 

Take a walk around the cabin. Visit with the cabin crew in the galley (Some are more tolerable of this than others)

In the middle seat you will definitely be warmer. And shedding layers becomes more difficult.