Holiday travel can be stressful, and flight delays or cancellations only add to the frustration. While social media is buzzing with travel tips, not all are created equal. One viral "hack" gaining traction on Instagram, with over 22 million views, promises to help travelers avoid the dreaded middle seat. But is it effective, and more importantly, ethical?

Jorden Tually, a travel content creator with a large following on TikTok, shared a video demonstrating his method. The video shows Tually going through the motions of purchasing all the available middle seats on his flight, using placeholder names during the booking process. His theory is that by temporarily holding these undesirable seats, the airline's system will be forced to assign him a window or aisle seat when he checks in with his actual ticket. He claims this tactic prevents the airline from intentionally assigning middle seats to passengers hoping they'll pay extra for a preferred location.

The newest trending travel seat hack might just call into question your ethics and do more harm than good. (iStock)

The hack going viral shows someone faking multiple seat purchases in an effort to avoid the airline automatically giving out the middle seat. (iStock)

Instagram users found the hack to be both genius and maybe even problematic. (iStock)

Instead of trying to hack the system with a travel trend, find a flight that fits into your travel budget and avoid any additional headache, experts say. (iStock)

A viral travel trend shows people going to great lengths to avoid sitting in the dreaded middle seat on a flight. (iStock)

However, Adam Duckworth, president and founder of Travelmation, expresses skepticism. He argues that the hack is likely more time-consuming than portrayed and raises ethical concerns. Duckworth points out that pretending to book seats with no intention of purchasing them could negatively impact both the airline and other travelers genuinely searching for available seats. He suggests that travelers consider seat preferences when budgeting for a flight and choose an option that aligns with their needs and financial constraints, avoiding the need for such tactics.

Social media reactions to Tually's video have been mixed. Some users praised the ingenuity of the hack, while others criticized it as unethical and potentially contributing to higher flight costs. Some commentators expressed concern that such practices penalize passengers who book and pay for their preferred seats upfront.

Ultimately, Duckworth advises travelers to integrate seat selection into their overall travel budget. He recommends selecting a flight and seat that fits their financial plan, eliminating the stress of trying to manipulate the system and ensuring a smoother travel experience.