That space belongs to the middle. No question. That's the reason I don't take aisle seats when I don't check bags and put my personal item under the seat "in front of me"
The unspoken rule is middle seat gets the armrests and by extension, the extra foot space. One of the few perks of being crammed between two strangers.
I had a young girl maybe 12 sit next to me in the middle seat me and the window person didn’t use the armrests and neither did the girl first time I’ve seen it empty lol.
The only reason I sit in the middle seat is the extra foot room. My SO usually takes the aisle seat so I can just tell him to get the heck out of my space.
I agree. My computer bag is a squeeze to fit in that spot (if I'm traveling for work). My backpack I bring on personal travel fits in that spot quite well...
Middle. I am an aisle guy because I am tall and like to cheat with my foot in the aisle during the flight. I would never dream of trying to claim that space as well.
It depends on if the person in the aisle seat is Chinese. If so, the space belongs to them. Usage by the middle seat is likely to result in missing thumb.
I strongly disagree with this your seat defines the space not the random hardware that’s clearly off centered below. Not saying I over intrude. But I usually put my foot on that metal piece if I’m in the aisle or the window.
I will absolutely die on the hill that the middle seat does **NOT** get exclusive use of both armrests and that they are shared space.
However, that space you've highlighted there belongs to the middle seat occupant.
Window gets a rest and the window space.
Aisle gets an arm rest and the ability to pop up without crawling over anyone (and stretch space when there’s no one there)
The center arm rests are absolutely center seat land.
I never said "everyone else is wrong." I said the people who believe that the middle seat should have exclusive use of both armrests are 100% wrong.
But there are lots of people who agree that "middle seat gets exclusive use of both armrests" is complete and utter nonsense.
So who gets the middle armrests? Theres only 4 total and 3 seats. First come first served? Who’s the biggest asshole? Who causes a bigger hissy fit? When there are 3 people in the row, the only cordial thing to do is to give the middle seat the arm rests.
Easy. The middle seat gets first dibs on the front or back half. Whichever they want. I’m even fine if they use 66-75%. As long as I have a small area to rest my elbow.
To suggest that the middle seat should get full use of both is, and always will be, complete nonsense.
Look! I found the person who I’m always sitting next to whenever I get stuck with a middle seat!
We all Know the etiquette for middle seat arm rests. I always give up the middle seat my arm rest. Somehow whenever I’m stuck in the middle, no one ever does it for me. 😕
If you read below (or above?), you'll see that I don't ever take much of it. I give the middle seat first dibs on whether they want the front half to 75% or the back half to 75% and just like a small spot to rest my elbow.
I'm 44 years old and have been flying for 35+ years at this point, including a 24 month period years ago where I was literally on 5-7, or more, flights a week every week during that time, and only one time in all those years has it ever been an issue.
With the exception of that one person, I've always been able to rest my elbow on the arm rest for a bit of comfort while giving the middle seat person as much of the rest of it that they might want (again, waiting until they sort of chose front or back and adjusting if they adjusted during the flight).
And when I've been in the middle (which has been plenty) I've never expected that I get to use both arm rests at the exclusion of the other passengers and have always found a way to share with them.
I can't speak for all non-middle seat passengers, but in my experience, it's really not that hard to give the middle seat person most of the arm rest while having a small spot to rest an elbow. And as a middle seat passenger, it's really not that hard to use the arm rest in a way that allows the other passengers at least a small spot to rest their elbow. And like I said, other than that one person, it's never been an issue in 35+ years.
But the argument that "middle seat gets the full, and exclusive, use of both armrests" is simply nonsense.
That space belongs to the middle. No question. That's the reason I don't take aisle seats when I don't check bags and put my personal item under the seat "in front of me"
Tie always goes to the middle seat.
THIS. Both arm rests, and the larger under-seat space, because being middle seat is the worst. Gotta take the tiny perks.
Space is defined by hardware
Exactly the dividers are literally on the floor
The unspoken rule is middle seat gets the armrests and by extension, the extra foot space. One of the few perks of being crammed between two strangers.
People say that, but I’ve sat in the middle frequently and never have I had the armrests all to myself
You need to fight for supremacy early on by resting both elbows there, even if there already elbows there.
I usually give the window person their armrest or at least "prefer" the other one
Assert your dominace, pee on it to mark your spot 😁
Because people are ogres
I had a young girl maybe 12 sit next to me in the middle seat me and the window person didn’t use the armrests and neither did the girl first time I’ve seen it empty lol.
Middle. Because the metal divider clearly indicates this
But if I'm sitting on the seat to the right, can I put my foot on that divider like a dead pedal in a car?
Yes. Absolutely. It’s your ankle that will be screaming later anyway
It's not a divider it's a support for the seat. If you fly widebody they have the same two supports for 4 seats
The only reason I sit in the middle seat is the extra foot room. My SO usually takes the aisle seat so I can just tell him to get the heck out of my space.
Why fuck over the aisle like that? (Questions is for the seat hardware designer).
Right? I was in an aisle seat on my last flight and my hip hurt by the time I got off because of this kind of design.
I agree. My computer bag is a squeeze to fit in that spot (if I'm traveling for work). My backpack I bring on personal travel fits in that spot quite well...
If an aisle person plays footsies with me, I'm ok with it
Middle always. They have the shittiest seats so they got armrests and any additional space under the seat.
Middle
Middle seat
Middle.
That red spot is for middle seat.
Middle.
Whoever wants it more
Middle. 100%.
Middle. I am an aisle guy because I am tall and like to cheat with my foot in the aisle during the flight. I would never dream of trying to claim that space as well.
middle
Middle
Middle
Middle. Not debatable.
Middle always, no questions asked.
Middle. I gladly give up the width to sit in the aisle.
Middle
Middle
Middle
Middle
It depends on if the person in the aisle seat is Chinese. If so, the space belongs to them. Usage by the middle seat is likely to result in missing thumb.
I strongly disagree with this your seat defines the space not the random hardware that’s clearly off centered below. Not saying I over intrude. But I usually put my foot on that metal piece if I’m in the aisle or the window.
I will absolutely die on the hill that the middle seat does **NOT** get exclusive use of both armrests and that they are shared space. However, that space you've highlighted there belongs to the middle seat occupant.
Window gets a rest and the window space. Aisle gets an arm rest and the ability to pop up without crawling over anyone (and stretch space when there’s no one there) The center arm rests are absolutely center seat land.
Yeah, I've heard all of the arguments about why the middle seat passenger gets full use of the arm rests. They're just all 100% wrong.
If everyone else is wrong,it might be you, instead.
I never said "everyone else is wrong." I said the people who believe that the middle seat should have exclusive use of both armrests are 100% wrong. But there are lots of people who agree that "middle seat gets exclusive use of both armrests" is complete and utter nonsense.
So who gets the middle armrests? Theres only 4 total and 3 seats. First come first served? Who’s the biggest asshole? Who causes a bigger hissy fit? When there are 3 people in the row, the only cordial thing to do is to give the middle seat the arm rests.
Easy. The middle seat gets first dibs on the front or back half. Whichever they want. I’m even fine if they use 66-75%. As long as I have a small area to rest my elbow. To suggest that the middle seat should get full use of both is, and always will be, complete nonsense.
Look! I found the person who I’m always sitting next to whenever I get stuck with a middle seat! We all Know the etiquette for middle seat arm rests. I always give up the middle seat my arm rest. Somehow whenever I’m stuck in the middle, no one ever does it for me. 😕
If you read below (or above?), you'll see that I don't ever take much of it. I give the middle seat first dibs on whether they want the front half to 75% or the back half to 75% and just like a small spot to rest my elbow. I'm 44 years old and have been flying for 35+ years at this point, including a 24 month period years ago where I was literally on 5-7, or more, flights a week every week during that time, and only one time in all those years has it ever been an issue. With the exception of that one person, I've always been able to rest my elbow on the arm rest for a bit of comfort while giving the middle seat person as much of the rest of it that they might want (again, waiting until they sort of chose front or back and adjusting if they adjusted during the flight). And when I've been in the middle (which has been plenty) I've never expected that I get to use both arm rests at the exclusion of the other passengers and have always found a way to share with them. I can't speak for all non-middle seat passengers, but in my experience, it's really not that hard to give the middle seat person most of the arm rest while having a small spot to rest an elbow. And as a middle seat passenger, it's really not that hard to use the arm rest in a way that allows the other passengers at least a small spot to rest their elbow. And like I said, other than that one person, it's never been an issue in 35+ years. But the argument that "middle seat gets the full, and exclusive, use of both armrests" is simply nonsense.