(Image Source: Flickr/Vincent Desjardins)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

Tired of flights where you have to sit next to random travelers with whom you have nothing in common? Well, if you’re flying KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, you will soon be able to pick your seat mate. Here’s USA Today.

“KLM … is launching a ‘meet and seat’ service early next year that will let passengers tap their social media accounts and pick seatmates based on similar interests. Travelers will be able to link Facebook and LinkedIn profiles to their check-in information[.]”

But can social media profiles be a key to a seating partnership made in heaven? As Tnooz points out, some travelers may actually prefer the in-flight anonymity.

“On a basic level, a business traveller might not actually be interested in talking business on a flight...Of course, passengers don’t have to link up their profiles if they’re not interested but what if they play along and end up with someone who just wants to make a sales pitch.”

And one anchor at Detroit’s WJBK asks the ultimate question—what if no one wants to sit next to you?

ANCHOR 1: “That is way too much pressure. Can you imagine that? ‘Gee, will anyone want to sit next to me?’ That would be horrible.” 
“If you have your profile there and nobody picks you as a seat mate.”
ANCHOR 2: “It could be tough.”

KLM’s program isn’t exactly the first of its kind--

Earlier this year, Malaysia Airlines’ launched a Facebook service that lets passengers see if any one on their friends list is in the same flight.  (Image: Facebook)

The service will be available to anyone who checks in to KLM flights online. Travelers can also still choose to keep their social media profiles private.