We've all been stuck next to THAT person. The one who reclines fully, hogs both armrests, plays videos without headphones, and starts clapping when the plane lands. Don't be them.
The Armrest Rule (Solved Forever)
🪟 Window seat: You get the window and one armrest.
🔵 Middle seat: You get both armrests. This is the unwritten rule. You have no window, no aisle — the armrests are your compensation.
💺 Aisle seat: You get the aisle and one armrest.
Reclining Etiquette
- 📐 Glance back first: Check if the person behind has a drink or laptop
- ⏰ During meals: Don't recline — ever
- ↕️ Half-recline: On short domestic flights (1-2 hrs), full recline is excessive
- 🛫 Takeoff/landing: You literally can't — it's against regulations
Other Rules
- 🎧 Headphones: Always. Nobody wants to hear your Bollywood reel
- 👟 Shoes: Keep them on. Or at minimum, keep socks on. Bare feet = no
- 🧳 Overhead bins: Your bag goes above YOUR row, not 5 rows ahead
- 🚶 Aisle blocking: Don't stand in the aisle during boarding when people are trying to pass
- 👏 Clapping on landing: The pilot can't hear you. Just... don't
When to Ask for a Seat Swap
- ✅ OK: Offering your better seat (window/aisle) for a worse one to sit with family
- ❌ Not OK: Asking someone to give up their window/aisle for your middle seat