Bulkhead Etiquette
 

When seated in a bulkhead seat would it be considered rude to ask the person behind me if I could place my laptop underneath my seat for take-off and landing only? It is pretty slim, and I need to use it during the flight. I appreciate your comments!

IMO it's not rude to ask politely for this, or for almost anything else. Like a seat swap, you're asking for a favor, so you should accept a refusal gracefully, not act entitled, and especially not put your laptop in that space before asking.

If I were in the row behind you, I'd probably say no, but only because my soft-sided briefcase is usually jammed so full that it takes up the whole space, not because it's an unreasonable request.

I don't think it's rude to ask, but I'd refuse your request -- I use the space under your seat for my feet.

You've got the bulkhead with its advantages (more knee-space, nobody reclining into your space, easy to get in/out), so I think you should gracefully bear the disadvantage (no luggage during take-off and landing) and not inconvenience others for your convenience.

HTB.

The question is rude and I'd respond with laughter. The bulkhead seat is already, likely, superior to the one behind it, and now you want to further downgrade it?

depending on where you're located you might be able to put the laptop perpendicular and it wouldn't take up any space at all. I can understand wanting to packet away above but the problem with that is is that if you are on a short flight there's almost no time to get your stuff out and then to put it back.

asking is not rude at all, but if you expect to put anything underneath the seat, pick another seat. i always do.

You could put it in the overhead, and retiieve it once the seat belt sign is off. That'll only cost you 15 minutes or so, at most, usually.

If I was behind you, I might offer to switch seats, and then the storage space is all yours.

Thanks all....I appreciate the feedback!

I have been asked and, depending on my mood, sometimes agreed and sometimes did not. I use the space under the seat in front of me either for my own things or for my feet.

I have, however, encountered people who didn't ask. Again, depending on my mood, I'd either tell them to move it or use it as a footrest.

I've often been asked that and have always said yes. I usually offer to hold a book or something else if necessary as well.

It's kreppy enough flying in coach without trying to help each other.

"Why can't we all just get along?"

I don't understand why airlines don't put some kind of storage on the bulkhead. The magazine pocket is so useless it's almost comical.

But FWIW, I set my laptop down on the floor against the bulkhead beside my knees. I doubt the FA can even see it, and if they do and ask me to stow it I will.

Unless I am lucky enough to get a wide body, domestically I am almost always in seat 1A. On a 757 there is enough room between the seat and the window to stash my purse. On a A320 there is no room, so I always ask the person in 2A if I can put my purse (it's pretty small) under my seat.

They have always most graciously agreed. ^

I don't think it's rude to ask, especially if it's a small item and the space is empty when the door is closing. I've been known to hide my purse behind my calves, too. Putting things in the overhead isn't a great solution when I have a window seat; even with the additional legroom of bulkhead, the middle and aisle passengers often have to get out to let me out, and I would much rather ask one fellow passenger to share a few inches of space under my chair than force two to unbuckle, climb out, and stand in the aisle while I access the overhead at the beginning and end of the flight.