Elbow war with middle seat
Feb 9, 2020, 6:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL PM / SPG Gold
Posts: 562
Elbow war with middle seat
Currently somewhere over Chicago on my way JFK-SFO. In the aisle seat on a packed flight.
Guy in middle seat has his elbow over the arm rest and into my seat area, right at the seat back. So while I'm typing I really have nowhere to put my elbows without slamming into him. If I need to move my arms and center myself in the seat, for instance to avoid getting rammed by the cart, I get his elbow in my side.
Do I -
A) Continue the passive aggressive elbow war and be okay ramming my elbow into his
B) Politely ask him to move his elbow, explaining that while I appreciate he is in the middle seat, he needs to respect the bounds of my seat.
C) Give up. Decide it's not worth it, put the computer away, watch the Oscars.
D) Up the ante from passive aggressive to aggressive aggressive and go on the offensive. Current ideas include i) ordering some red wine and then spilling it on his lap, ii) coughing to get his attention, and then start Googing 'coronavirus symptoms', iii) waiting at the end of the flight for everyone to deplane before exiting, trapping him, and iv) releasing a massive amount of flatulence.
Our time to destination is 4:20. Let me know what you think.
David
PS - This is all in good fun. Settle down.
Guy in middle seat has his elbow over the arm rest and into my seat area, right at the seat back. So while I'm typing I really have nowhere to put my elbows without slamming into him. If I need to move my arms and center myself in the seat, for instance to avoid getting rammed by the cart, I get his elbow in my side.
Do I -
A) Continue the passive aggressive elbow war and be okay ramming my elbow into his
B) Politely ask him to move his elbow, explaining that while I appreciate he is in the middle seat, he needs to respect the bounds of my seat.
C) Give up. Decide it's not worth it, put the computer away, watch the Oscars.
D) Up the ante from passive aggressive to aggressive aggressive and go on the offensive. Current ideas include i) ordering some red wine and then spilling it on his lap, ii) coughing to get his attention, and then start Googing 'coronavirus symptoms', iii) waiting at the end of the flight for everyone to deplane before exiting, trapping him, and iv) releasing a massive amount of flatulence.
Our time to destination is 4:20. Let me know what you think.
David
PS - This is all in good fun. Settle down.
Feb 9, 2020, 6:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,677
B - As far as I am concerned the armrest is his. However, he doesn’t get to encroach on your seat.
Flatulence is always a good weapon, though unfortunately it’s not terribly precise and there’s likely to be collateral damage.
Flatulence is always a good weapon, though unfortunately it’s not terribly precise and there’s likely to be collateral damage.
Feb 9, 2020, 6:19 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
If there's a Sky magazine in your seat pocket, stick it down the side of your seat, just on your side of the armrest, to create a boundary or barrier to further encroachment.
Feb 9, 2020, 6:23 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL PM / SPG Gold
Posts: 562
Feb 9, 2020, 10:17 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: FB Platinum, SM Diamond
Posts: 645
Or ask FA the newspaper, read a couple of pages and put it between your seat and the armrest.
A trick is also get up (just walk a little) and get back. When you are seating just push yourself tight to the armrest (because your are seating back, the person will remove is elbow (if not, sit on his elbow). Take this moment to put the newspaper between your seat and the armrest.....
