Of all the places to meet other singles, airplanes have to be among the toughest. First of all, how can you be sure whether the person sitting across from you is actually as attractive as they seem or whether your vision is being adversely affected by the recycled air and cabin pressure.

Most people don’t think about hooking up with someone they meet on an airplane. They are preoccupied with thoughts or worries about what they are going to do when they reach their destination. They are uncomfortable. They’ve already seen the in-flight movie several times. The person behind them keeps kicking their seat. The last thing they care about is the fact that one of their fellow passengers finds them attractive.
Sometimes, no matter how many smiles you throw someone’s way, they are always going to be returned with a frown. But, finding romance aloft is possible. Would-be lovers just have to remember that the game is much different in the sky than it is on solid ground.
Looking to pick up someone on an airplane? You have to get up the courage to make your move. After than, you have to figure out what you move is going to be.
1. Think about what you have in common with passengers on your flight. You are probably going to the same destination (see #3), or at least laying over at the same airport. If you’ve been there before, you can offer some insight about where to eat or grab a cup of coffee. If the airport is new to you, you can ask the attractive person in the seat next to you for some advice about restaurants or cafés. Either way, it is the perfect segue to “would you like to join me for a bite to eat?”
And what about the nasty airline meal or the boring in-flight movie or the baby who has been crying for the whole trip? If something bothered you during the flight, chances are it bothered everyone else on the plane too. No one wants to hear complaints though, unless they are offered in a good natured or sarcastically humorous way, “That was the best mystery meat sandwich and wilted salad that I’ve ever had!” Most people are not entirely happy to be on an airplane, so saying anything that lightens the mood invites a positive response. Get the hotty next to you to smile or laugh is always a good start.
2. Talk about your destination. If you’ve been there before, you can dish out advice. Everyone likes an expert. The best-case scenario is that the beauty in seat 44B has never been to the destination and will naturally be interested in getting the lowdown. If she is familiar with the city, you can compare notes. And, if you are heading somewhere for the first time, ask for advice, “You look like you know your way around (insert city or country). Can you tell me where I can get a good meal? (Insert small talk about food here). Would you like to join me?” You can keep asking questions to push along the conversation until the critical moment when you let your attraction be known.
3. Offer to buy some extras. As airlines tighten their belts, complementary items are disappearing from the cabin. You might get a free bag of heavily salted peanuts, but you then have to pay $2 if you want to wash them down with a Sprite. Normally, this would cause you to curse the airline. But, the god or goddess in 44B has changed all that. Now, you are praising the recession. 44B’s mouth is dry and you can earn some points with them for only two George Washingtons. If a conversation ensues, you can switch to Jack and Coke and even another round of Planters. In a way, this strategy is similar to what you might employ at a singles bar. But remember that there is not much of a party atmosphere on an airplane. You don’t want to throw around too much money on alcohol until you get to the club. A cocktail on an airplane is more of a way to take the edge off. Fellow passengers, airplane staff, and, most importantly, the person you are trying to impress will be put off by someone hitting the joy juice too hard.
4. Compare travel stories. Here again, it’s best to start with something that lightens the mood. A funny thing has probably happened to you on an airplane sometime in the past. Or at least, you can make up something humorous or even plagiarize some material from one of those old Airplane! Movies.
Find out if the person you like is excited about their destination. If they are, they’ll be more than happy to talk about it with you. And, if their not excited, you can encourage them to talk about past travels that they enjoyed. You can throw in a few tales yourself, as long as you make sure the conversation is not one sided.
5. Offer entertainment. Have you ever notice how many people on an airplane simply sit and stare straight ahead or look out the window at the unchanging horizon. Sure, they flip through the in-flight catalog or magazine. Maybe they check out the movie, if there is one. But, for the most part, air travel is boring. That’s good news for you and your love life. You can set off in search of romance armed with an iPod, a book or magazine, or, better yet, a computer or personal DVD player. If you are lucky enough to be sitting next to someone attractive, nothing will get their attention better than a movie. Push play and offer an extra set of headphones to them when they glance over to see what you are watching.
Or, offer a comment about what you are reading when you see them give it a casual look.
Conversation about movies or books comes easily to most people. Go with it, throwing in some mild flirtation when the opportunity presents itself.
Some things that might hamper your romantic, mid-flight endeavors: air sickness, unexpected turbulence, the fact that the attractive person you have your eye on is sitting on the other end of the airplane. These are unavoidable, but can be remedied with easy fixes like Dramamine and patience. Sometimes it’s easier to approach someone in an airport after a flight rather than walking up to seat 44B and trying to flirt while the people in 44A, 44C and 45A-C look on. Some of the same conversation starters might work in the terminal as well as in the airplane cabin.
And even if you fail in your attempts at romance, there is always the return trip.