Fighting for armrest space is a common frustration for many airline passengers, but one flight attendant has revealed a clever strategy for those stuck in the middle and sandwiched between two armrest-hogging neighbors.
Almost a third of passengers flying on UK airlines find armrest hogging one of the most annoying habits on board, a survey has revealed.
Mary, a flight attendant for a major US airline, recently shared her advice for reclaiming coveted armrest space, especially when you’re on a work transfer, sitting between two passengers with no seat choice.
A flight attendant has shared the “elbow rest” strategy that passengers should know about when flying, especially those stuck in the middle seat.
talking to bbc newsMary explained that she is often placed in the middle seat, between two passengers, usually men, who occupy both armrests.
He admitted he had to “fight with his elbows” to get an armrest, but revealed his own personal strategy for reclaiming the space.
Maria’s solution? Patience and a well-timed move, as she herself revealed: ‘I wait until they have a drink and hold on to the armrest.
“One (guy) kept trying to push my arm, and I just had to look at him: ‘We’re not doing that today.’
To resolve any tension, William Hanson, author and etiquette coach, also suggested a mindset to adopt while on board.
The expert says people should adapt to the idea of having “armrests” instead of armrests and share them equally.
Meanwhile, one flight attendant has shared three ways customers can get a free first-class cabin upgrade.
Mary, a flight attendant for a major US airline, revealed that she waits for the other passengers in the aisle to take their drinks before reaching out to place her elbow on the armrest.
Cierra Mist, who posts videos on TikTok about her life as a flight attendant, gave some helpful tips to viewers on how they could make an upgrade.
Sharing his first tip, he advised that the simple gesture of being nice to the gate agent or flight attendant could get you a golden ticket to a more luxurious part of the plane.
She said: “We can work miracles if they give us a Starbucks or a bag of chocolate when we haven’t even had time to stop for food on consecutive flights.”
Moving on to her second tip, Cierra shared one that might be a little out of your control, but can still be achieved.
Cierra said: “Another common way is to move people to the front of the plane if the flight is not full to make sure the plane is balanced.”
This means that if you sit in the back of the plane in an area that is very busy, you may get lucky and be asked to move up to first class.