Armrest Etiquette
#17
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,946
Actually no, I don't think that. I was taught that everyone gets 1 armrest and that one is to be shared. That could be with either window or aisle passenger depending on side of plane. They are meant to be seat dividers and hold control for seat recline. In Europe the understanding is periodic use. with a smile from outer passenger as a sign of thanks for temporary use. Hogging is frowned upon. Also, please keep your feet under the seat in front of you .
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
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Since this topic isn't specific to Alaska Airlines, we'll move it to the TravelBuzz forum, the home of general travel discussion. Please follow as the thread moves there.
jackal
Moderator, Alaska Airlines forum
jackal
Moderator, Alaska Airlines forum
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 55,189
Recently had experience where passenger in middle seat aggressively maintained ownership of both armrests. In the aisle seat, I had to lean into aisle most of the flight as his elbows and upper arms were in my "space". Since my seat control is in right hand arm rest, I have always thought I should have access to that armrest. What are current thoughts on this?
I was taught that everyone gets 1 armrest and that one is to be shared. That could be with either window or aisle passenger depending on side of plane.
So for you in the aisle seat not to "lean into the aisle", you should have the 2 armrests while the middle and window passenger just get one? Come on.
You were misinformed; now you know. Since you feel put out for not having both arm rests as you described above, next time, choose the middle seat for both armrests! Maybe then you'll see why someone squeezed between two people "aggressively maintained ownership of both armrests". The other two in the row were trying to take them from him/her.
#21
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 555
Recently had experience where passenger in middle seat aggressively maintained ownership of both armrests. In the aisle seat, I had to lean into aisle most of the flight as his elbows and upper arms were in my "space". Since my seat control is in right hand arm rest, I have always thought I should have access to that armrest. What are current thoughts on this?
I thought that airlines had guidelines about this... He did fit into the seat with both armrests down, and I don't believe he even used a seat belt extender. But he was very wide! And because he was by the window, the only place for him to overflow was into my seat. He should have either bought two coach seats or traveled in first class (or reimbursed me for the portion of my seat he used!)
This was a different case since there was no option to "share" the armrest, but in general I haven't found it to be a problem. Sometimes I'll share the armrest (front/back) with my seatmate, sometimes one of us will be using it then the other, and I have already been on a flight where the armrest was up the entire time.
I don't think there is really an etiquette for sharing the armrest, as it varies case by case. There is also no set rules for deboarding. As soon as the seat belt sign comes off (or before in some countries!), people get out into the aisle. One would think that those in the aisle will march off first as soon as the doors are open. But, in real life, people generally wait until the row in front of them is empty before going, even though it would be simple to charge ahead.
#22
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 776
I always thought that each pax gets his/her half of the armrest, which works quite well to rest your arm on if you aren't a total clut, and ying-yang setups at mutual discretion. Of course you can treat it as a consolation price for the middle seat pax, but how do other constellations like 2-2, 2-4-2 etc. work?
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
Recently had experience where passenger in middle seat aggressively maintained ownership of both armrests. In the aisle seat, I had to lean into aisle most of the flight as his elbows and upper arms were in my "space". Since my seat control is in right hand arm rest, I have always thought I should have access to that armrest. What are current thoughts on this?
Everyone knows this.
#24
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: IAH
Posts: 488
Middle gets both armrests. To try to claim one as a aisle/window is incredibly rude - if you did it to me Id insist on holding it and we would be holding hands the entire flight - I feel strongly enough to make the flight very awkward about this one.
#25
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
I prefer to just settle the matter with fisticuffs.
#26
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,760
#27
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 971
Considerate people will grant custody of the armrests to the middle seat. However, this is not a "rule" and it is not known by "everyone." And if some clod thinks they have to claim both of their armrests, or part of the shared armrest, there's not much that can be done about it. (Because there is no rule.)
#28
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Programs: United, Delta, AA, southwest
Posts: 150
Middle guy gets both. I always sit in aisle and when the middle guy gets there, I tell him/her "you get both armrests since you are in the middle". It always gets a smile and a thank you from the person and a very happy flight.
#29
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Bonvoy LTTitanium, BAEC Silver
Posts: 590
Considerate people will grant custody of the armrests to the middle seat. However, this is not a "rule" and it is not known by "everyone." And if some clod thinks they have to claim both of their armrests, or part of the shared armrest, there's not much that can be done about it. (Because there is no rule.)
Window seat gets control of the window blind during cruise, middle gets two armrests and I get some aisle space and the freedom to leave my seat without asking anyone to let me out. Sounds like a fair deal to me
#30
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Why is this even a problem? We don't need a "rule" to address this. It's a shared resource, and we first learned how to share back in kindergarten. (Apparently some people have learned better than others.) On a plane this goes for the armrest, aisles, overhead space, or even standing in line for the loo.
Of course like anything in life there will always be people that obsess over such trivia. Small things, small minds, I suppose.