Empty Middle Seat? It Depends on Where You’re Flying

Travelers, airlines, and airports are grappling with a hodgepodge of rules that will make flying different in almost every country.

Rows of empty seats of an American Airlines flight in Washington, on March 18, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

SYDNEY/BEIJING/HELSINKI—In Thailand, you cannot have food or water in flight and must wear a mask, while in Malaysia and Indonesia, the plane needs to be half-empty.

In the United States and Europe, it’s not mandatory for airlines to leave the middle seat open.