Can I sit next to the opposite sex on a plane?

Why it isn't a problem

Islam forbids a man and a woman being alone together in private (khalwa), not simply being near each other in a public place. A plane cabin is full of people, crew and cameras, and nobody chooses their neighbor. Scholars generally treat buses, trains and planes like the busy markets of early Islam, where men and women passed by each other and the focus was on behavior, not on avoiding every crowd.

The manners that matter

The Quran's guidance for these situations is about the eyes and the heart:

The next verse gives the same instruction to believing women. A lovely example of how gently this works: during the Farewell Pilgrimage, the young Companion al-Fadl was riding behind the Prophet ﷺ and kept looking at a woman who came to ask a question, so the Prophet ﷺ simply turned al-Fadl's face to the other side (Sahih al-Bukhari 1513). No shouting, no scene.

• Lower your gaze and keep conversation polite and brief.
• Avoid touching where you can: claim your own armrest calmly, keep elbows in, and don't fall asleep on someone's shoulder. Accidental contact in a tight seat isn't a sin.
• Use the space you have: a scarf, jacket or bag between seats can create a small buffer.

Many converts are unsure about handshakes in the same way. See Can I still shake hands with the opposite sex as a Muslim?

Asking to change seats

If you'd rather sit elsewhere, that's your right, as long as you ask kindly:

• Choose your seat early during online check-in, or book next to a family member.
• Ask a flight attendant quietly before take-off whether a swap is possible. Say it's for personal or religious reasons; you don't need to explain more.
• Never make your neighbor feel accused. They did nothing wrong by sitting in their assigned seat.

Long flights

On a long-haul flight you may also need to pray, eat and sleep beside the same person. Pre-order your meal and plan your prayers so the flight goes smoothly. See Can I pray on a plane? and How do I get a halal meal on a flight?