Middle Seat on the Plane? I'd Rather ...

Nobody likes the middle seat on an airplane, and a recent study shows fliers would rather endure some novel discomforts than sit squeezed between two seatmates. BlackBook runs down a few—as well as what's particularly unpleasant about the middle seat.

• 56% of respondents would rather have their teeth drilled at the dentist's.
• 54% would prefer a doctor's visit to the middle seat.
• 20% of fliers would spend the night at an airport hotel for a chance at an aisle seat the next day.

And why is the middle seat so onerous?

• 83% hate crawling over a seatmate to get to the bathroom.
• 80% fear squishing by generously proportioned passengers on either side.
• 71% can't find a good place to rest their weary heads.
• 65% think fellow fliers will snoop on personal or work info—understandable, because 49% of respondents admit snooping on their neighbors.

For more survey results, and info on the "strange 1%" who prefer the middle seat, click the link below.
(More airline stories.)