Flight attendant reveals ‘elbow rest’ rule when sitting in the middle seat
A FLIGHT attendant has revealed the ‘elbow rest’ rule that passengers need to know when flying, especially if you’re caught in the middle seat.
From reclining to shoulder surfing, many have their own grievances and pet-peeves when it comes to sitting next to a stranger when travelling to their destination.
Around half of UK households fly once a year with videos on social media regularly going viral across the globe when tensions flare on-board an aircraft.
The latest information from a former flight attendant revealed the long list of bugbears that can be just as frustrating for cabin crew, with one particular issue always causing a stir.
According to Charmaine Davies the question of whether to recline or not often leads to impatience from those seated behind.
Prof Jim Salzman of the University of California, Los Angeles, described how crammed airlines combined with passengers hoping to take up more space results in the inevitable.
He told the BBC: “[The airlines] are able to pass on the anger and frustration of cramped seating to passengers who blame each other for bad behaviour instead of the airlines who created the problem in the first place.”
On the topic of space, another common gripe was armrest hogging, particularly for those caught in the middle.
One flight attendant for a major US airline explained how she often ends up sitting between “two guys with both their arms on armrests” when she doesn’t get to opt for a specific seat.
She said: “I wait until they reach for a drink and take the armrest. One [guy] kept trying to push my arm, and I just had to give him a look: ‘We’re not doing that today.'”
According to a 2023 Skyscanner survey, nearly a third of UK passengers found those taking up armrest space annoying.
The debate of which seat earns top spot – window or aisle – has long been a discussion.
Yet, no matter which one you prefer problems can escalate when your seated neighbour needs to go to the toilet.
With over half of Americans suggesting that climbing over someone to use the restroom on a plane was unacceptable, others may be at a loss of what to do when someone has fallen asleep.
A former flight attendant for Virgin Atlantic, Zoe, raised the issue of how alcohol consumption can heighten the need to head to the loo.
She described a flight bound for Ibiza with a number of passengers having a drink to hand.
This meant that as soon as the seatbelt sign was switched off, “everybody stood up” and some even got “quite aggressive”.
Eventually, they were forced to ask everyone to sit back down with one passenger having “a wee in a carrier bag” as he was unable to wait.
On a similar note, many find a grievance with passengers choosing to stand up just as the plane has landed.
Especially with the ground crew often needing to hook up the passenger boarding bridge or stairs which can take a few minutes.
The list goes on with people using mobiles without headphones, draping hair over the back of a seat, removing shoes or just being generally inconsiderate.
William Hanson, an etiquette coach, advised: “If you don’t want to temper your behaviour to get along with other people then there’s something wrong with you, to be blunt.”
Worst passengers to have to deal with
A flight attendant has revealed the worst passengers to deal with on flights, here's what she said:
Drunk passengers
“People who make the most of the booze on board are really irritating. We have a lot to think about on our flights as it is, without looking after people who have drunk themselves into a stupor.
“My advice for passengers is to enjoy the included booze, in moderation.
“If there’s an emergency and you’re hammered, you’re going to be no use to anybody, least of all yourself. So it’s best to stay alert.”
Vapers
“Vaping on board is becoming more popular and it’s ridiculous that people think they can get away with it.
“The big plume of fruity smoke is always a bit of a giveaway.
“But it can also cause panic in the rest of the cabin as well – imagine seeing a big smokey cloud in a plane? It’s definitely not something you’re expecting, so will definitely leave people feeling a little frightened.”
Listening to music without headphones
“There’s few things worse than tinny phone music blaring out through the plane cabin, or an episode of Breaking Bad being broadcast from one passenger to the people around them.
“The thing I always tell people to remember is that there are other people on board the plane and they aren’t all travelling for the same reason.
“So keep your music and TV to yourself and just think long and hard about whether the other people on board want to listen to your awful dance music.”