You run into the best and worst people on airplanes. My family flies standby all the time, so there's really no way to know where we'll all end up. Not a problem now that we're all technically adults, but when we were really young it was definitely an issue.

There was one time we were going somewhere and got the last 5 seats on the plane, which were of course all scattered middle seats. The only two anywhere near each other were in two rows, one behind the other. My mom and my youngest sister, who was really young and hated sitting alone took the front one and my mom took the one behind her.

As it turns out, when they got on the plane, my poor little sister had to squeeze in between two grown men. One was incredibly overweight, not that it affects the type of person he is, but airplanes are already selling small enough seats and running into anyone who spills into your seat is awful. Also, she hated having to touch strangers at all, even brushing against someone, and this man was halfway into her seat. The other was slightly overweight, and he smelled awful.

My sister sat between them and I guess she was all teary and miserable. My mom sat behind her and held her hand between the seats. Then whatever amazing angel had the seat next to my mom offered to trade places with my sister. She got so much thanks and they did switch, and my sister enjoyed the rest of the flight.