The airplane armrest-who owns its?

[Anonymous]

sounds like a future airline fee- paying arm rest customer

[Anonymous]

I hang out on FlyerTalk sometimes and the consensus of the frequent flyers there is that the person in the middle seat gets both armrests. However it usually works out that whoever stakes their claim first often get its.

If there are just two seats, I would vote for the person in the aisle to get the middle arm rest as the functionality of the aisle arm rest can be limited by traffic in the aisle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was on 2 airplanes today (I am female). The males who were seated next to me both took over the arm rest. FYI: I was seated first. What say you?

Woman here, and this has been my frequent experience, too. I just put my arm on the rest, too!

[Anonymous]

Americans are getting bigger and plane seats are getting smaller. The whole situation sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle person gets both or neither touches it.

I am generally fairly laid back but if I am on a flight and a man continues to invade my space (elbows over the rest, spreading legs), I say "Excuse me, could you please stop touching me." It makes men much more aware of their bodies.

I've gotten close to that but haven't quite said it yet. Good for you. I just do the passive aggressive stuff instead (use my carry-ons, laptop, etc. as a block). The one exception is coats - I've had people get on with big coats that then hang well into my seat. I've asked people to move those before.

[Anonymous]

The man, obviously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the seat. Middle seat gets both.

Hell no.

I agree middle person should get both, edge people can both lean over on one and get some breathing room, middle person needs to stabilize and can't really lean in either direction

Middle gets both.

Last flight I was on it was a two seater. Guy beside me not only claimed the armrest but his elbow came way over into my space. That was a declaration of war. I pulled my tray down,which bopped his elbow. He moved it (fatal mistake) and I went in for the kill and reclaimed the armrest. Never gave up even half an inch of it for the remainder of the flight.

Awesome

+2!

[Anonymous]

well, if there woman was attractive, I would share the arm rest, maybe have our fingers touch, which leads to soft apologies, which leads to a conversation, which leads to flirting, which leads to holding hands, which leads to a relationship....

then I wake up and realize the 4 year old just spilled his juice box on me and now I'm wet and sticky - and not in the fun way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't matter if you were seated first, it matters which seat you are in. Without that info we can't tell you anything, but being a female and sitting first doesn't entitle you to anything.

She said middle seat in her post. Even if she didn't say it, if she were fighting two different people for an armrest, wouldn't that imply she was in a middle seat?

Hey genius, maybe go back and read the OP. She DID NOT specify middle seat. Her situation could have been any of the 3 seats, and a few posts down, she specifies she was in the aisle. Before criticizing anyone, make sure you know what you're talking about.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. If I am in the middle seat, I keep my elbows in my own lap. But, as I said, I am not a big person so that posture isn't uncomfortable to me. Next time I am on a plane and as I walk to the bathroom, I will conduct my own survey of the middle seat inhabitants. I think I'll bring a clipboard Thank you all for your unique perspective.

[Anonymous]

Me. I own the all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the seat. Middle seat gets both.

Totally agree with this. For me, this issue cuts right to the difference between fair and equal. I am usually in an aisle seat by preference so clearly I have an aisle armrest. And the window person has a window armrest. The middle seat is the least desirable seat and it only seems fair that this person should get both armrests. It is fair and kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the seat. Middle seat gets both.

Totally agree with this. For me, this issue cuts right to the difference between fair and equal. I am usually in an aisle seat by preference so clearly I have an aisle armrest. And the window person has a window armrest. The middle seat is the least desirable seat and it only seems fair that this person should get both armrests. It is fair and kind.

Agree. My last flight, I missed earlier flight and was placed in middle seat. Window seat guy was there first=--pretended he was already asleep and claimed the armrest. Fortunately, aisle seat guy (a really tall, long legged man) was extremely considerate. He folded his arms in front of him and slept the whole flight and allowed me the shared armrest. Easy to tell the difference between the selfish and unselfish when you are on a flight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the seat. Middle seat gets both.

Totally agree with this. For me, this issue cuts right to the difference between fair and equal. I am usually in an aisle seat by preference so clearly I have an aisle armrest. And the window person has a window armrest. The middle seat is the least desirable seat and it only seems fair that this person should get both armrests. It is fair and kind.

Agree. My last flight, I missed earlier flight and was placed in middle seat. Window seat guy was there first=--pretended he was already asleep and claimed the armrest. Fortunately, aisle seat guy (a really tall, long legged man) was extremely considerate. He folded his arms in front of him and slept the whole flight and allowed me the shared armrest. Easy to tell the difference between the selfish and unselfish when you are on a flight.

+100 I fly pretty frequently. I have never met a person who specifically chose a middle seat unless it was the only thing available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't matter if you were seated first, it matters which seat you are in. Without that info we can't tell you anything, but being a female and sitting first doesn't entitle you to anything.

She said middle seat in her post. Even if she didn't say it, if she were fighting two different people for an armrest, wouldn't that imply she was in a middle seat?

Hey genius, maybe go back and read the OP. She DID NOT specify middle seat. Her situation could have been any of the 3 seats, and a few posts down, she specifies she was in the aisle. Before criticizing anyone, make sure you know what you're talking about.

I think PP was referring to the subsequent post others were commenting on that said:

"I only have an opinion about the middle seat. Middle seat person should get both armrests. I was on a flight recently, in the middle seat, where both neighbors took both armrests. That was thoughtless."