This blog isn't called The Window Seat for nothing, you know. I mean, as far as airline travel goes, the spot beside the window is obviously the best seat in the house. In second place, of course, you've got the old aisle, whose pros (easy access to the bathrooms, a bit of room into which to stretch your legs) are tempered only slightly by its cons (flight attendants crashing into your ankles and elbows with the drinks cart, having to get up and down every few minutes to let your neighbor--lets call him Mr. Overactive Bladder--make his non-stop trips to the lavatory.)

But who in the history of the world has ever asked for the middle seat?

No-one, that's who. In fact, a recent survey revealed that 25% of people polled wouldn't sit in the middle seat on a plane no matter how much money they were offered in return. Obviously blessed, however, with lower standards and looser morals---and perhaps shorter legs and the patience of Job--forty two percent said they'd do it for a hundred bucks.

A few months ago, Northwest unveiled a $15 surcharge for aisle seats; the response was not pretty. United will apparently charge you a fee to "upgrade" from an aisle to a window, even if the plane is only half-full and you could move to a window yourself. What's next: charging $25 for window access? And while we're at it, why not offer a discount to those brave souls who take one for the team and pick the middle seat? I'd say $100 was about right, wouldn't you?