"Do you know how tall I am ?"

[legroom]

Hi friends,

I just wish to relate to a true event happening on a return trip from NRT recently.

My son (180 cm, 5' 11) & I (175 cm, 5'9) were sitting in an exit row in Y (QF body) which we had purchased when tickets were bought.

His tiny backpack containing his mini laptop was stashed under his seat for the take-off as he did not wish to stand up & down to access the overhead locker.

Lo and behold ! The backpack was pushed out under his seat by the guy sitting behind.

At first, I thought it was an accidental occurrence so it was re-placed under the seat.

Again, it was pushed out from behind ... with some force.

When I looked back and asked why he (yes, it was a XY Aussie) was doing it.

The surprise reply was "Do you know how tall I am ?" and further, "This space is mine".

To be honest, I am the sort of guy who would have said yes if a polite request had been made.

However, I tend not to give away free points to any transgressors. In this case, I explained to him that the seats (and its under-spaces) were paid for and to be used as I saw fit which in this instance it was for my son's mini laptop.

He started to yell & growl attracting the FAs' attention. In addition, he demanded my carry-on be inspected as he charged that I was carrying too many items.

The FAs firmly confirmed my interpretation of right of access.

However, they very politely asked me to consider moving the laptop after take-off to avoid creating "a scene". Considering the polite request from the FAs and being aware they were in a difficult spot trying to "maintain the peace", I did not place the mini laptop under seat after take-off.

What would you have done in that case ?

PS: after landing, I stood next to him waiting to disembark and guess what, the yobbo was shorter than mine !

 

[TonyHancock]

The space was his. I would be pretty, actually very, annoyed if the person in front of me placed their carry on under their seat, thus reducing my legroom. Poor form I'm afraid.

 

[Trashy]

I always believed the space under my seat belonged to the person behind...given the rules around 2 items of carry on allow for one in the overhead locker and one for under the seat in front.

 

[Hvr]

I reckon he was right and you were wrong. You get the space under the seat in front of you, not under your seat.

Maybe he didn't have the manners you expected but your son took his leg room while maintaining all of his own leg room.

 

[The Rok]

I agree with TH, I thought the space under your seat was his?

Anyway, doesn't all hand baggage have to be stowed in the over head lockers while seated in an exit row? That forms part of the briefing.

 

[Ansett]

I have been in the gentlemens position with a passenger considering the space under her seat was her space along with the space under the seat infront of her very inconsiderate. It ended up that the FA told her to remove the items from under her seat and place them in the over head. She complied with this but made a point of continously reclining back and forth for about an hour till the FA came down and moved me to Business class

I politely wished them a pleasant flight and thanked them for the upgrade from Singapore to London. But yes the space under the seat infront of you is definitely your territory not the passenger who is sitting in that seat.

 

[Happy Dude]

Isn't there a bit of the safety announcement that says place carry-on in overhead bins or under the seat in front of you?? Or does it say under your own seat??

 

[munitalP]

I have pushed items back on a few occasions when it has ended up at my feet. One insistent lady on a MEL/BNE flight kept pushing her large handbag under her seat, I pushed it back 2 or 3 times before I leaned forward and told her to remove any breakables as my work boots were about to be resting on her bag. It was quickly removed.

As with the other posters, space in front is yours, not the space below, and I would bet that if the FA's did agree with you, it was to pacify a situation rather than inflame it. I am also surprised they didn't just tear you one as NO item of luggage can be left in an exit row on the floor for take off or landing.

 

[samh004]

Agree with everyone else, the space under the seat in front is yours, not under your own seat.

NO item of luggage can be left in an exit row on the floor for take off or landing.

This!

 

[Ewing]

Echoing the sentiment in this thread, the space under your seat most certainly belongs to the person sitting behind you.

I would be most annoyed if the person in front of me put their belongings under their seat, as that's where my feet go. I would be asking that they move their items.

If you're in the exit row (along with bulkhead seats), all of your items must go in the overhead locker during take-off and landing.

 

[Austman]

...and QF always ask that exit row passengers place all items in the overhead locker and NOT even under any seat in front of you. You are so wrong here, sorry to tell you.

 

[legroom]

Echoing the sentiment in this thread, the space under your seat most certainly belongs to the person sitting behind you.

I would be most annoyed if the person in front of me put their belongings under their seat, as that's where my feet go. I would be asking that they move their items.

If you're in the exit row (along with bulkhead seats), all of your items must go in the overhead locker during take-off and landing.

Misunderstanding accepted !

At no stage the FAs said I was in error.

But I accept the consensus here with grace.

So, that was a small price to pay for an exit row after all.

Thank you all

 

[JohnK]

As everyone else has mentioned you are not allowed to have anything stowed under your seat in an exit row.

And space under your seat actually belongs to the person behind except for when you want to rest your foot there. I do it all the time and the person behind can play footsies all they like but my foot is going to rest there. Sometimes that is the only way I can be comfortable.

 

[legroom]

As everyone else has mentioned you are not allowed to have anything stowed under your seat in an exit row.

And space under your seat actually belongs to the person behind except for when you want to rest your foot there. I do it all the time and the person behind can play footsies all they like but my foot is going to rest there. Sometimes that is the only way I can be comfortable.

It is not an excuse but it was my (wrong) impression at the time.

Hopefully, this post would "educate" someone else and that would serve its purpose on AFF.

I only fly 2-3 times a year so in many ways I remain "uneducated" in what is right.

Hey, that's why I joined AFF - to learn about what I need to learn and to share stories so that we can all relate to.

I am not sure why the FAs gave me 2 J PJs as a thank-you for my cooperation, thereby perpetuating my erroneous knowledge.

Thank you all, again

 

[atreides]

This thread didn't turn into the full blown war I expected What a nice surprise for a Sunday evening!

 

[Gold Member]

Entirely agree with the concensus opinion. But, I will also say that you get what you pay for. Coach pax (other than Aff'ers and elites) don't understand the rules. So if you don't like it, either pay for a higher cabin or stop complaining. And nice to see the OP understands ans accepts.

Btw, If someone put their hand luggage above my luggage compartment in First class, I'd prepare a fire extinguisher nearby, order the Dom Perignon '98, fill my mouth and blow it back in their face while lighting it up with a cigarette lighter (ala Lock stock and two smoking barrels movie). Lesson learnt...

 

[Sprucegoose]

Entirely agree with the concensus opinion. But, I will also say that you get what you pay for. Coach pax (other than Aff'ers and elites) don't understand the rules. So if you don't like it, either pay for a higher cabin or stop complaining. And nice to see the OP understands ans accepts.

Btw, If someone put their hand luggage above my luggage compartment in First class, I'd prepare a fire extinguisher nearby, order the Dom Perignon '98, fill my mouth and blow it back in their face while lighting it up with a cigarette lighter (ala Lock stock and two smoking barrels movie). Lesson learnt...

You would be fully justified in that course of action Sir and there is no judge in the land that would convict you otherwise.

 

[tuapekastar]

Understand that this thread has been amicably done and dusted (a good thing ) but thought I'd recount when on a 738 in Y, the pax in front of me (apart from recli... - let's not go there :shock placed his newspaper under his seat. A few seconds later it ended up in the aisle (I've no idea how). Then later in flight he was reading a book - when he decided he'd had enough he reached down and placed it directly on top of my tootsies! Swift action required and a gentle pushback of my feet while his hand was still attached to the book gave him the message quicksmart.

 

[trooper]

I suspect the OP either misinterpreted the FA's comment OR the FA decided to "keep the peace" and "request" the OP put the gear in the overhead... where it should have been all along.

 

[amaroo]

Agree with all the others......that space is for legs/feet not bags.