Armrest etiquette on the plane...?

Question

Gotta ask what I would usually consider a rather childish question, but I'm curious about it. I just got in from a flight where the seats were 2 by 2. I was in the exit row window seat, so the person next to me was in an aisle, not middle. Apparently the exit row window does not have two armrests, only the shared one in between the seats, so my "window side" was already rather uncomfortable (I'm not small and was rather smushed against the window, but fit fine in the seat). My seatmate, who had full use of her entire seat, the aisle-side armrest, and the aisle leg space, insisted on trying to push my arm off my only rest for the entire flight. With only one, am I still obligated to share that one?

Granted, that was my only annoyance with flying this entire Thanksgiving weekend, which I'm incredibly grateful for. But I was curious about that, for future reference. (Please, no snide comments. I'm not asking in that witchy whiny tone, I'm just curious.)

Barbara - YES! Absolutely, that's so true! Especially since I'm so non-confrontational to begin with. Great answer. :-)

Emily- Yep, I pass your motto's test on this one.

Rude people just suck. Other than this minor annoyance, I hope everyone else's traveling experience was as positive as mine. Maybe I just lucked out. Happy Thanksgiving :)

Answer 1

The armrest in the middle was yours and the armrest by the isle belonged to your seatmate.

Answer 2

It does sound like your flightmate was being rather inconsiderate. And I can understand how you felt. I would've been kindof bummed about it too, being that it was the only arm rest you had to use. She should've noticed that you didn't have an armrest and allowed you the use of the one between the two of you. But, I also don't think it would have been a bad thing for you to mention nicely to her that your side doesn't have an armrest and would she mind terribly if you were to use the armrest between you for the majority of the flight.

Answer 3

I would say that since most people are right handed the right arm rest of each person is "theirs", that being said there are trade offs. If you sit by the window you get the view, and if you sit in an aisle seat you get more space. The person you sat next to sounds a bit rude, and probably shouled have just let you have the arm rest, since they would have been able to use the other arm rest.

Answer 4

I would think if that person already had one arm rest that they should allow you to have the center armrest. At least then you could both be half comfortable. If someone was pushing my arm off the only arm rest I had available to me though I would say something. I would ask them to switch seats so they could have that arm rest and I could use the one on the outside. Of course I would probably say it snidely but...It would irritate me. Like at full movies when the stranger next to you refuses to share the arm rest.

Answer 5

Just be grateful, that one armrest, was between you.... if it were not there, that person would have been sprawled over into your seat...

I was on a flight, where there was a very large gentleman in the seat next to me.. he had to have the extendor on his seatbelt.. at the start of the flight, he asked if he could raise the armrest.. I said no.. because I knew.. that was the only thing, keeping him in his seat.. I'd have been reduced to a few inches of an already small seat...

Answer 6

It was kind of rude of her, but she may not have been aware of that. I think in the future if you just say something politely, hopefully the person will understand.

Answer 7

I would have to agree with you. I'm almost more annoyed when someone is just thoughtlessly inconsiderate than when they're outright rude-you feel more guilty about saying anything.

Answer 8

Well in my professional opinion that should have been your arm rest and she should not have hogged it all up

Answer 9

First come first serve is my motto!