Woman reveals overnight flight hack which allows people to get entire row of seats to themselves

It's a rare phenomenon only few of us have experienced - having an entire row of seats to yourself on a long haul or overnight flight.

There's nothing worse than trying to get some beauty sleep on a flight when you're crammed in like a sardine next to a bunch of strangers.

It's the price we begrudgingly pay if we want to travel to see what the big wide world has to offer out there.

But what if I told you there's a way to bag an entire row of seats to yourself to stretch out and relax without having to fork out for business class?

There are plenty of reasons you might want an entire row of seats to yourself (Getty Images)

Well, 24-year-old travel influencer and YouTuber Maddie Borge has all the answers as she heard about the 'overnight flight hack' and decided to put it to the test before boarding her 13.5 hour flight to Sydney, Australia.

The Norwegian, who lives in London, UK, said it comes down to the 'economy neighbor free' option that some airlines offer.

Maddie explained: "[It] basically means that I bid on the seats next to me on the plane and if a flight isn't completely full when I board, I get the whole row to myself - basically like 'business class in economy.' I can lie down, sleep, all that."

The young woman was flying with Etihad Airways at the time and said she had done the bidding prior to boarding.

Maddie was clearly pleased with the outcome (YouTube/@macerly)

After receiving her boarding pass, she then asked a staff member about whether her bidding had worked.

"I booked the 'neighbor free seats' and it says I was awarded but on my ticket it just says 24A. Do you know if I was awarded them or...?" she said.

The crew member then confirmed: "The entire row is for yourself."

Referring to the seats, he reiterated: "24 Alpha Delta Charlie is for you because you did it and you won it."

Clearly overjoyed, Maddie said the news was 'amazing' and had a huge grin on her face as she boarded, as any of us would.

Then showing her entire row, she said: "Lowkey I think the coolest part of this whole thing is, because I have the whole row, I'm gonna choose different seats to sit in for the duration of the 13.5 hour flight."

It was a huge success (YouTube/@macerly)

Leisurely roaming around her aisle, Maddie was able to put her belongings across other seats and under the ones in front to optimize her space.

Mid-flight, she then sprawled out across all three seats and slept 'a solid eight hours straight.'

What she didn't disclose to her 1.5 million subscribers, however, is how much the bidding cost her - though followers in the comments say she clarified in another video that it cost £98 ($127) for the seat next to her or £198 ($257) for both.

"It's cheaper than getting a business class seat, so I say go for it," another fan commented.

A second thanked her for sharing an 'actual hack and not just click bait'.

Though some found the idea clever, they weren't too keen on coughing up extra funds for a better sleep.

"Eight hours sleep isn't worth that much to me," a critic penned. "You could reverse this and say 'would you be willing to get paid £198 to stay awake for 8 hours on a flight?' That's what you're doing by not paying."