Despite the potential discomfort that comes with flying, a creative duo have revealed a tactical seating solution many travellers seem to miss.

TikTok user @gavinandjess demonstrates a simple trick that could drastically improve your flight comfort – provided you’re willing to forego sitting directly next to your partner.

The clip posted on the social media platform captures what has become the couple’s go-to strategy when boarding flights, encapsulated by the caption: “Me and middle seats don’t get along”. The message is one countless passengers can relate to after suffering the discomfort of mid-row confinement for hours on end.

In the viral video – liked by more than 205,000 users – the pair advise: “Most people are content to sit in the middle seat (aka be trapped) just to sit next to their partner.”

However, they take a different approach, stating: “While my fiance and I will literally pretend not to know each other so we can sit across the aisle from each other and both be comfy”.

While it may not be mandatory to feign strangers, this method has drawn high praise from commenters who call it their favoured method of travel.

One satisfied passenger wrote: “The cross aisle combo is great and my preference”, while another offered her own version of the hack, noting, “My husband and I don’t sit together either. He prefers aisle while I prefer window, so we don’t know each other for a few hours.”

A fellow travelling aficionado shared: “People don’t understand why I would kill for an aisle seat, but trust me, I would.”

So the tactical tip shared might be quite insightful for those longing for a comfortable flight journey.

Some passengers have justified their preference for sitting next to their significant others, with one person commenting: “I’d rather be cramped in next to my partner than a stranger though.”

A TikTok user admitted: “I considered this when buying our tickets recently, but realised I wanted him to lean on for sleeping purposes.”

Another individual explained her personal situation: “My husband is so broad he goes into the seat next to him so I sit in the middle because I don’t think it’s fair for someone else to have to endure that misery! “.