Flying And The Middle Seat....

[Luv'sTink]

Where does the person who sits in the middle seat put their arms?

On a recent trip I was sitting in the middle seat. Coming home, my husband sat in the aisle and a lady sat by the window. She was trying to sleep and kept moving, bouncing back and forth trying to get comfy. I spent the whole trip, only 2.5 hours, sitting with my hands in my lap or arms crossed to avoid bothering her.

I guess technically we share the arm rest, one inch each I prefer to sit on the aisle, I always kinda thought the center arm rests were the person sitting in the middle because they have no where to go, can't lean against the window or stretch into the aisle, and they have no "designated" arm rest all to themselves.

Anyway, I know no one is going to be "right" but what do you do?

edited: I don't fly often and it just got me wondering what people do when they don't sit next to someone the know.

 

[TiggerTails57]

Put them up......

 

[trip]

That's why no one wants to sit in the middle!!

Why didn't you use the one next to your husband?

 

[Deb & Bill]

The person in the aisle seat gets the arm rest closest to the aisle. The person in the middle seat, gets the next one over. The person in the window seat gets the remaining arm rest. There usually isn't an arm rest right next to the window. You get the one with your seat controls on it.

 

[Luv'sTink]

That's why no one wants to sit in the middle!!

Why didn't you use the one next to your husband?

It was up.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Middle seat gets both armrests.

However, any elbow/forearm/stomach bulge that extends past the armrest will be subject to regular, "accidental" bumps with my elbow until it is removed from my personal space.

 

[themilesfamily]

I fold my arms and try to sleep. Or hold a book/magazine and read.

Both keep your arms more towards your body.

I wish there was more room on airplanes. Unless you're in first-class it's like being jammed in a sardine can.

 

[Judy from Boise]

for sure i would put both arms down and use them.

 

[pigletgirl]

I hate the middle seat. Everything about it. Drives me batty!

 

[Bluestars]

I can't stand the middle seat when I am flying alone. I always end up putting my arms straight in front of me. I hate touching other people, so putting my arm on the same arm rest they are usually hogging is not an option.

If I was traveling with another family member, I would just lean their way.

 

[TiggerTails57]

However, any elbow/forearm/stomach bulge that extends past the armrest will be subject to regular, "accidental" bumps with my elbow until it is removed from my personal space.

Too funny!

 

[Imzadi]

The person in the aisle seat gets the arm rest closest to the aisle. The person in the middle seat, gets the next one over. The person in the window seat gets the remaining arm rest. There usually isn't an arm rest right next to the window. You get the one with your seat controls on it.

Wow, there's actually directions?

However, any elbow/forearm/stomach bulge that extends past the armrest will be subject to regular, "accidental" bumps with my elbow until it is removed from my personal space.

I notice whenever I am forced to sit next to a person in the middle, or I end up in the middle, it always ends up being next to a Pooh size person, who has lots of overhang.

I'm a window person, myself. This way I can lean against the window, or if I am forced to, squash myself against the window.

 

[shortbun]

I have never understood an airline insisting on middle seats. I think 3 sections of two would be much more civilzed.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

The person in the aisle seat gets the arm rest closest to the aisle. The person in the middle seat, gets the next one over. The person in the window seat gets the remaining arm rest. There usually isn't an arm rest right next to the window. You get the one with your seat controls on it.

Uhmmm. . .what airlines are you flying? On all the ones I routinely fly, the window has an armrest - even the emergency exit seat (admittedly, on some planes it's a teensy little nub on the exit row seat. . .) There's no rule for this, I'm afraid. It's a dominance/accomodation game. Or were you joking?

At any rate, the arm rest game is a big part of the reason I like bulkhead seats so much. . .in most bulkhead seats, the armrests are fixed b/c the tray tables are stuffed in 'em. Obviously, you can reasonably lay claim to the armrest your tray table is in!

 

[Luv'sTink]

Originally Posted by Deb & Bill
The person in the aisle seat gets the arm rest closest to the aisle. The person in the middle seat, gets the next one over. The person in the window seat gets the remaining arm rest. There usually isn't an arm rest right next to the window. You get the one with your seat controls on it.{/quote}

Uhmmm. . .what airlines are you flying? On all the ones I routinely fly, the window has an armrest - even the emergency exit seat (admittedly, on some planes it's a teensy little nub on the exit row seat. . .) There's no rule for this, I'm afraid. It's a dominance/accomodation game. Or were you joking?

At any rate, the arm rest game is a big part of the reason I like bulkhead seats so much. . .in most bulkhead seats, the armrests are fixed b/c the tray tables are stuffed in 'em. Obviously, you can reasonably lay claim to the armrest your tray table is in!

I was wondering the same thing, I even Googled to see if the window seat had an arm rest because I thought they did.

As I said, I don't fly often and was curious what others did. Going I was in the middle also but the very sweet girl next to me was no where near the arm rest. I had actually switched the aisle to the middle because her husband was across the aisle so maybe she was just being nice back

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, the Ronda Rule

Person in the aisle seat gets the armrest on the aisle.
Person in the window seat gets the armrest next to the plane's wall (I fly JetBlue, and they DO have an armrest here, at least in the bulkhead row where I most frequently sit due to disability).
Person in the middle seat gets the armrests on both sides of their seat, out of consideration for getting stuck in the middle seat - except momentarily when window seat person needs access to tray table or to put it back.

 

[Imzadi]

Person in the middle seat gets the armrests on both sides of their seat, out of consideration for getting stuck in the middle seat -

Why should middle person get more consideration? I can't stand the aisle seat. I can't tell you how many times I've been whacked in the head or shoulder, (no overhang in the aisle either,) especially when I've just finally dozed off.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I thought I made that clear - it's the Ronda Rule

The middle seat is the least desirable. Aisle seat is good (for most people) for easy access. Window seat is good because nobody's crawling over you when you're trying to sleep, plus you have the added support of the wall.

 

[Luv'sTink]

Why should middle person get more consideration? I can't stand the aisle seat. I can't tell you how many times I've been whacked in the head or shoulder, (no overhang in the aisle either,) especially when I've just finally dozed off.

Do you prefer the middle seat over either the aisle or window?

 

[Imzadi]

Do you prefer the middle seat over either the aisle or window?

In order of preference:
1) Window - I'm a real wallflower.
2) Aisle
3) Try to schedule a different flight before taking a middle seat. Most of my flights are about 5 hours. Sitting that long, with my arms crushed against me like I'm in a straight jacket is rough. )