Aisle/window seat etiquette?
 

Hello all,

Sorry if this is not suitable for this forum, but I always find it so interesting hearing all your responses!

I'm aware that a lot of members here are often in a situation where they have aisle access wherever they sit (F, J) but I was wondering what your views were as to aisle seat etiquette.

By which I mean, if you are sitting in the window seat and the aisle seat passenger is asleep, or even using the IFE, and you want to get up, do you wake them up? Or do you leave them sleeping and wait. I am always torn because in theory, they chose the aisle seat and its 'responsibilities', but it always feels rude.

So what would be your course of action in this situation, as an aisle passenger letting people up or as a window seat one wanting to get up!

Thank you, A-L

I usually try to jump over or try to brush by. If they wake up I say sorry.


Says the guy who ALWAYS sits in a window seat = )) and goes to the bathroom/galley every flight over 1 hour long

Anything is fine providing you are polite.

Haha! Thank you, that's usually my last resort as well. Window seats are definitely the best ;)

I sit in an aisle seat on almost all long haul flights as I love getting up when I want to without disturbing people. I also don't mind getting up for others.

When in a window seat, I would get up when I wanted, I'd rarely wait. I will wake the person next to me, otherwise I will try to squeeze past or step over without touching them and quite softly.

Lucky I am small framed so I can fit around places well.

I'm always window too and would not wake people up if they are asleep unless desperate. If they are watching a movie I'll very politely and smilingly and apologetically ask, trying to climb past them without them needing to stand up if at all possible. I'll try to only do it once on short/medium flights, probably twice on flights over 6 hours, maybe three times above 12 hours or so.

Interesting answers, thanks! Keep 'em coming

On longhaul I like to clean my teeth after eating and drinking (i.e, quite a bit), so I'll sacrifice the window unless there's seating where I can weave out with no risk of contact.

If people bump into me I don't mind as long as they acknowledge that I exist.

If you're in an aisle seat, please just get out of your seat to let people out. I can't past you and I can't climb over you.

If I am in an aisle seat I accept that I will have to move if the passenger(s) sitting on the inside need to get out - it comes with the territory. And I would much rather someone ask me to move than have people climbing over me.

I'm not a very frequent traveller but have always been in a window J seat. I have never had to disturb the aisle passenger, just stepped over them.

I always select an aisle seat, so will comment from that perspective.

Even if I seem to be sleeping, it's never a deep sleep in Y, so "waking me up" is pretty much a non-event. However, if someone nudges/elbows me that is not appreciated -- just use your words to get my attention.

I certainly don't think anyone should ever feel obliged to remain seated: if you want to get out then get out. I'm often surprised that people don't get up and down more for a little walk every now and then.

I travel predominately in Club World on longhaul. I'm teetotal and one advantage that has is that I rarely need to use the onboard WCs, except in the very long Asia + EZE flights. So I choose the window, ideally the direct access seats. But if I'm in the 777 4 class dorm then I sometimes end up mid cabin.

In which case, there is actually a knack to getting over the aisle CW passenger without disturbing them, it involves going a bit bow legged and mechanically getting the second leg over (as it were). You don't need to be particularly long limbed to do this either. So in short I don't normally wake the aisle passenger, the possible exceptions is if there are wires everywhere and it's too dark to do it safely.

However it's my impression that those who make frequent toilet breaks tend to be aisle passengers anyway, so sometimes you can just time yourself to use the WC at the same time. It helps if you know where the less well known WC locations are, but I am surprised that some UD passengers don't seem to twig that there is a WC at the front of the cabin.

A very sensible approach I think.

I wish more aisle seat passengers thought like this haha. I completely agree, I always like to walk up and down the aisles to stretch my legs.

Good advice, thank you. It is definitely an interesting experience stepping over someone in J...