A Brit who has taken over 1,000 flights has revealed the unwritten rules of seat etiquette he says everyone should follow.
Lee Thompson, co-founder of group solo travel company Flash Pack, has travelled to more than 100 different countries.
He has witnessed all sorts of antics from fellow passengers at 35,000 feet in the air.
Over time, Lee has gathered several unwritten rules he notices ‘nobody explains, but everyone expects you to follow’.
If you’re landed with the middle seat, which Lee argues is the ‘worst’, you should reap at least one benefit – the arm rests.
The travel expert says, ‘If you land it, there is one universal form of compensation: both armrests are yours.
‘Window passengers get a wall. Aisle passengers get freedom. The middle seat gets neither – which is exactly why both armrests belong to them. Claim them early with your elbows, or they will slowly be taken.’
It might feel difficult to stand up easily after sitting down for so long, but a big no-no is using the seat in front to help.
Lee Thompson, co-founder of group solo travel company Flash Pack, has travelled to more than 100 different countries
‘Grabbing the seat in front of you to haul yourself up for the toilet is intrusive and unnecessary,’ Lee adds.
‘I’ve had it done to me multiple times – including once when someone managed to pull my hair as they dragged themselves upright. It jolts the person in front and can genuinely hurt.’
Instead, he recommends using your armrests to stand up, or the seat beside you.
Taking up extra space because of your bag is another no from Lee, who says it’s normal to put your bag under a seat, but don’t use it ‘as an excuse to expand into someone else’s legroom’.
He says, ‘I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve felt someone’s legs – or worse, their shoes – drifting into my space.
‘If you choose to store your bag there, that’s your decision. It doesn’t entitle you to borrow someone else’s legroom.’
The travel expert has some rules specific to reclining seats on a plane.
During long-haul flights that travel through the night, it’s common for people to recline their seats to sleep more comfortably.
Lee says this is an ‘unspoken agreement’ and a ‘social contract’ amongst passengers.
Join the debate
What’s the worst breach of airplane seat etiquette you’ve witnessed or experienced?
During long-haul flights that travel through the night, it’s common for people to recline their seats to sleep more comfortably which Lee says is an ‘unspoken agreement’
‘Once the lights go out, seats go back – fully – and they stay there until the lights come back on. That’s not rude. It’s the social contract,’ Lee explains.
‘Complaining about reclining on a red-eye is like complaining that it’s dark at night. Night flights are for sleeping. Everyone knows it.’
If it doesn’t feel an appropriate time to recline your seat, but you would prefer to, Lee says a quarter recline ‘is always acceptable’.
‘A gentle recline (around 25 per cent) is fine at almost any time. It improves comfort without ruining anyone’s space, and most people barely notice it,’ he says.
‘It’s a bit like verbally telling someone behind you that you’re going to recline your seat so once you’ve done that, moving back a little further later in the flight won’t come as a shock to the person behind. Gradual beats aggressive every time.’
But it’s important to do it slowly, as quick movements can cause issues if the person behind you has something on their table.
Lee advises: ‘Slamming your seat backwards in one sharp movement is the fastest way to spill drinks and start a silent feud.
‘Recline slowly and steadily, not all at once.
But, it’s important to do it slowly, as quick movements can cause issues if the person behind you has something on their table
‘If you want to be extra considerate, glance back and give a small nod. You’re not asking permission – you’re giving notice.’
If the lights haven’t been turned off yet and you fancy an early night, Lee says to check what the passenger behind you is doing to make sure it’s safe, or even verbally tell them.
‘Before you lean back, glance behind you like you would check a car mirror. Is someone eating? Drinking tea? Working on a laptop? If so, a sudden recline can easily spill a drink or crush a screen,’ he adds.
As for daytime long-haul flights, Lee recommends reclining just 50 per cent at first and says, ‘Context matters. Be mindful that there’s a human being directly behind you’.
