If you have ever boarded a flight and realized you lost the seat lottery, Subway wants to soften that blow with a little bread and balance.
On Tuesday, January 27, the sandwich chain is rolling out a one-day promotion aimed directly at travelers stuck in the middle seat. Eligible passengers can score a $20 Subway gift card simply for proving they were truly sandwiched between two strangers at 30,000 feet.
The promotion lines up with the same day Southwest Airlines officially ends its long-running open-seat policy, making assigned seats the new normal for its flyers. Subway decided that the shift deserved a small reward for those who end up with the least popular spot on the plane.
To qualify, travelers need to snap a selfie from their middle seat and upload it to subwaymiddleseat.com. The photo must reasonably show both armrests and the seats on either side, but your face does not have to be visible. Submissions open at 12:00:01 a.m. ET on January 27, and the first 737 valid entries will receive the $20 gift card. Any airline qualifies, as long as the flight takes off that day.
The giveaway comes as Subway continues pushing customer perks. The brand recently reintroduced its Sub Club loyalty program, where members earn a free footlong after purchasing three footlongs or six six-inch subs. The reward appears in the app within 24 hours of completing the requirement.
So if travel plans leave you boxed in between armrests, at least lunch might be covered. Sometimes the middle seat still comes with a little extra on the side.
