Two 2020 Democrats found themselves meeting face to face a bit earlier than expected Tuesday when they were booked one row apart on a United Airlines flight to Houston on the way to Thursday's primary debate.

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE (D) tweeted a picture Tuesday afternoon of himself and Sen. Amy Klobuchar Amy Klobuchar3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Social media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE (D-Minn.) grinning after learning they would practically be seatmates for their trip to Houston, the site of the third debate for the 2020 Democratic primary contenders.

"Very funny, @United," Buttigieg wrote on Twitter, while Klobuchar quipped that Thursday's debate had started two days early.

"And the debate begins... Good sitting by you @PeteButtigieg," she tweeted.

And the debate begins... Good sitting by you @PeteButtigieg https://t.co/YlotOl9ozM — Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) September 10, 2019

Thursday's debate will be the first of the 2020 cycle to feature all of the leading contenders onstage in one night, as the heightened qualifications for the event pushed out several lower-performing members of the 2020 field.

ADVERTISEMENT

The higher requirements in both polling and individual fundraising numbers led to the exit of several Democrats from the field in recent weeks, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Kirsten GillibrandSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Suburban moms are going to decide the 2020 election Jon Stewart urges Congress to help veterans exposed to burn pits MORE (N.Y.) and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Jay Robert InsleeBarr asked prosecutors to explore charging Seattle mayor over protest zone: report Bottom line Oregon senator says Trump's blame on 'forest management' for wildfires is 'just a big and devastating lie' MORE.

A RealClearPolitics average of polls shows Buttigieg sitting at about 4.3 percent nationally, while Klobuchar remains at 1 percent.

Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE leads in most national polls.