Worried About Crowded Planes? Know Where Your Airline Stands

Worried About Crowded Planes? Know Where Your Airline Stands

Whether your flight will be jammed with passengers, or have enough empty seats to soothe virus-fearing travelers, really depends on the airline.

An American Airlines flight from Seattle to Chicago on July 16.Credit...Ryan Christopher Jones July 21, 2020, 5:00 a.m. ET

As air travel has ticked up in the last month, airlines have divided into two camps: those blocking strategic seats to offer more space, and those willing to fill planes to capacity.

In the latter camp, United Airlines never instituted limits and continues to sell all available seats as demand allows. As of July 1, American Airlines announced it would drop its capacity restraints, in place at 85 percent since April.

In the other corner are Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines who say they will continue to block middle or adjacent seats through Sept. 30. JetBlue Airways just extended its ban on selling middle seats through Labor Day.

The rise of full flights this summer has enraged some travelers. In response to a recent New York Times story on the lack of social distancing in the air, one reader commented, "I recently flew on two different American Airlines flights. Passengers totally packed together as in the old days, zero social distancing,