Middle seat etiquette - bathroom breaks
#46
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NY State
Posts: 212
If I were in economy in an aisle seat and the middle seat guy told me he was getting up once an hour to exercise I'd tell him "Good luck". It's one thing when nature calls. It's another when you're making a deliberate decision to get up.
If your medical condition is that serious either book F or in case of IRROPS and you can't get an aisle seat, wait for the next flight. Yeah, I know that sounds heartless and rude, but so does what you say you're doing. It isn't the aisle seat passengers fault you have whatever medical condition you have. Don't make him pay for it.
#47
Join Date: Jan 2014
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Posts: 506
WOW...just WOW! Are you serious? I always try to choose an aisle seat - and that was before developing blood clots during treatment. I have absolutely no problem getting up to let someone out and I let them know that. I have had seat mates tell me they need to get up regularly and I assure them that that is just fine...I understand. There is no way I could afford an F seat, and I am not going to stop flying because you have no patience. Why don't you just book a window seat so that you are not disturbed?
#48
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 55,189
I searched a bit, and couldn't find anything on this, which is kind of surprising.
When trapped in a middle seat and the aisle person/people are sleeping, what's the etiquette? So you wake them up or simply climb over them? Is there a limit to how many times a flight you can get up before you really start annoying people?
When trapped in a middle seat and the aisle person/people are sleeping, what's the etiquette? So you wake them up or simply climb over them? Is there a limit to how many times a flight you can get up before you really start annoying people?
Originally Posted by Tchiowa
If I were in economy in an aisle seat and the middle seat guy told me he was getting up once an hour to exercise I'd tell him "Good luck". It's one thing when nature calls. It's another when you're making a deliberate decision to get up.
#49
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WOW...just WOW! Are you serious? I always try to choose an aisle seat - and that was before developing blood clots during treatment. I have absolutely no problem getting up to let someone out and I let them know that. I have had seat mates tell me they need to get up regularly and I assure them that that is just fine...I understand. There is no way I could afford an F seat, and I am not going to stop flying because you have no patience. Why don't you just book a window seat so that you are not disturbed?
#50
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NY State
Posts: 212
So far, I have always been able to get the aisle seat, but we all know there are no guarantees.
It is public transport...SOMEONE has to sit in the middle and window seats, and those people may need to get out a few times during a flight.
What exactly would you do if someone did need to have you let them out of their seat a few times during a flight?
#51
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I don't NEED another seat. I book an aisle seat, or if flying SW, I use EB.
So far, I have always been able to get the aisle seat, but we all know there are no guarantees.
It is public transport...SOMEONE has to sit in the middle and window seats, and those people may need to get out a few times during a flight.
What exactly would you do if someone did need to have you let them out of their seat a few times during a flight?
So far, I have always been able to get the aisle seat, but we all know there are no guarantees.
It is public transport...SOMEONE has to sit in the middle and window seats, and those people may need to get out a few times during a flight.
What exactly would you do if someone did need to have you let them out of their seat a few times during a flight?
#52
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,925
As I said, if someone needs a bathroom break or something I have no problem with that. But someone who wanted an aisle seat, didn't get it and so informs the person who did get the aisle seat "I'm going to be popping in and out of my seat constantly throughout the flight to make you miserable until you give me your aisle seat" is going to have to learn to crawl over the back of the seat.
I remain confused as to why you choose to sit on the aisle if your top priority is never leaving your seat?
#53
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 294
As I said, if someone needs a bathroom break or something I have no problem with that. But someone who wanted an aisle seat, didn't get it and so informs the person who did get the aisle seat "I'm going to be popping in and out of my seat constantly throughout the flight to make you miserable until you give me your aisle seat" is going to have to learn to crawl over the back of the seat.
#54
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NY State
Posts: 212
But someone who wanted an aisle seat, didn't get it and so informs the person who did get the aisle seat "I'm going to be popping in and out of my seat constantly throughout the flight to make you miserable until you give me your aisle seat" is going to have to learn to crawl over the back of the seat.
As I stated earlier, someone has to sit in the window and middle seats - which may require the person in the aisle seat to get up to let them out. If you do not want to do that, perhaps you should reconsider getting an aisle seat. That way, you would not be inconvenienced.
#55
Join Date: Mar 2007
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So no, there's no imagination required. It happens.
#56
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Yes. If they have a medical condition which is complicated by not having an aisle seat, either get the aisle seat or take the next flight.
#57
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There are hundreds, if not thousands, of posts here on FT telling where exactly that has occurred. Starting soon after birth with entitled mummies threatening that darling young Tristan will vomit all over you if you don't give up your seat all the way to whiskery old grannies waving their walking sticks in a threatening manner if you won't take their 74E when they're already settled in your 2B.
So no, there's no imagination required. It happens.
So no, there's no imagination required. It happens.
Fortunately most of my flights are international, Business or First. First Class all seats have aisle access. Business Class I'm always with my wife and she has no problem crawling over me while I'm asleep. I actually kind of enjoy it.
#58
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
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#59
Join Date: May 2008
Location: SEA
Programs: UA G; Marriott G; Hilton G; Hertz PC; Avis Preferred; GE/Pre
Posts: 10
I felt compelled to reactivate my account in order to relate this story; it happened to me the other week.
I had been flying AMS-EWR-SEA and had done the EWR-SEA segment in a Y aisle seat. Unusually I had slept for the entire flight. Upon wheels-down I was just starting to wake up whereupon I was prodded in the shoulder by the lady sitting at the window seat.
"Sir, I just wanted to tell you that it was highly self-absorbed and inconsiderate of you to take an aisle seat and then sleep for five hours. I could not get out." I'm 5'10" and <200lbs, she was about half my size.
I won't tell you my reply to her.
I had been flying AMS-EWR-SEA and had done the EWR-SEA segment in a Y aisle seat. Unusually I had slept for the entire flight. Upon wheels-down I was just starting to wake up whereupon I was prodded in the shoulder by the lady sitting at the window seat.
"Sir, I just wanted to tell you that it was highly self-absorbed and inconsiderate of you to take an aisle seat and then sleep for five hours. I could not get out." I'm 5'10" and <200lbs, she was about half my size.
I won't tell you my reply to her.
#60
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,925
I'm curious, do you also police the liquids intake of the middle and window seat passengers when you're sitting in the aisle? Because if getting up a few times during a flight due to a congenital medical issue is rude in your book, then I can't even imagine how outraged you must get if your seatmates consume more than one beverage. Actually, maybe you should check around the gate area to see who's sitting in your row, so that you can order them to use the bathroom before boarding so that you won't be disturbed.