Taking ownership of the middle seat on a QF 737-800

[katiebell]

If I'm fortunate to have an empty seat next to me I do like to make use of the space but only ever use the half of the seat and table on my side. As some pax spread their stuff over the whole seat I either gently move it back to their side of put my stuff on top. Unless the other pax has paid for 2 seats then (s)he is not entitled to the whole space.

This is also a problem in QFi J when the pax next to me spreads his/her drinks, books and food across the narrow space between the seats (i.e. (s)he does not make any effort at all to respect my space and I do realise that it is narrow: it is the lack of any attempt to be courteous that is the problem).

More annoying is the pax in the seat next to mine who is expert at manspread. There is absolutely no entitlement to encroach on my side of the armrest or the invisible line extending from it to the floor and the back of the seat in front. And if the pax is too fat to fit in a seat then (s)he should buy a J seat or 2 Y seats or fly with an airline that has wider seats. No one should have to suffer being squashed in a seat and then further squashed by another pax bulging over the armrest

 

[Awesom Andy]

I only ever use my half of the free seat. The other half is considered to be theirs whether they choose to use it or not, and it remains available to them should they choose to make use of it at a later part of the flight.

 

[leetripper]

I only ever use my half of the free seat. The other half is considered to be theirs whether they choose to use it or not, and it remains available to them should they choose to make use of it at a later part of the flight.

I agree AA - the unoccupied spare middle seat is to be shared equally by the occupants of the seats to either side. Ditto with the tray. After more than 1000 flights I take this to be unwritten etiquette. I always use exactly 50% of the tray for my food (which makes it a pretty obvious arrangement since it has to be placed fairly neatly to take up only that proportion). If i need to use the seat for my stuff I pull it over on my half of the seat which again makes it obvious I think that I'm only claiming half. In the unusual circumstance that I want to use the seat but the other passenger has claimed it all, I simply push their stuff over to the imaginary dividing line and use my half. I think in almost every case it's just that they haven't thought about it. If it's deliberate - well I'm quite happy to explain the etiquette to them! As for the late arrival who sees the clear space in my overhead locker after I've just spent 2-3 minutes rearranging it to fit in my cabin bag - they only get one warning!

 

[dadevo]

you just need to claim some space as well!

+ 1 for this.

 

[katiebell]

As for the late arrival who sees the clear space in my overhead locker after I've just spent 2-3 minutes rearranging it to fit in my cabin bag - they only get one warning!

Yes quite annoying when late arrivals seeks to disrupt everyone's carefully place items to suit them.

the worst case of this was LHR -ROM when a pax with a massive bag boarded well after everyone else and then proceeded to move everyone else's bags into other bins to fit his massively oversized bag into the overhead bin without an excuse me or other recognition of htis breach of etiquette

 

[legroom]

Yes quite annoying when late arrivals seeks to disrupt everyone's carefully place items to suit them.

the worst case of this was LHR -ROM when a pax with a massive bag boarded well after everyone else and then proceeded to move everyone else's bags into other bins to fit his massively oversized bag into the overhead bin without an excuse me or other recognition of htis breach of etiquette

What should one do in that case ?

Let it pass ?

Quiet words to the late arrival while sitting down ?

Call for the FA ?

Or... mano a mano ???

What's the correct etiquette to the etiquette breacher ?

Back on topic, the vacant middle space is to be shared if / when required IMO. It is not a case of first-come, first-served. No need to be antsy about it really, just a nod and proceed to rearrange stuffs.

 

[FrustratedQP]

I usually put a book or newspaper on 'my' half of the middle seat, if the other person has already taken all of the seat with their stuff, I use my stuff to nudge theirs over to their side. They get it usually, as it's only fair. It's usually the same sort of person who sits with their knees way out sideways who think the extra seat space must also be theirs.

Have you commenced any conversation prior to nudging their stuff over to their side, if not, how have you determined that they haven't purchased a comfort seat and therefore have every right to use all of the empty seat with their knees way out sideways into the empty seat space?

 

[snabbu]

Have you commenced any conversation prior to nudging their stuff over to their side, if not, how have you determined that they haven't purchased a comfort seat and therefore have every right to use all of the empty seat with their knees way out sideways into the empty seat space?

As that scenario would be the exception to the norm I would assume once you started to move their stuff the person that purchased to comfort seat would pull out the BP (or evidence) the seat is in fact theirs.

I personally have never been in the scenario where the middle seat has been purchased as a comfort seat (or if it was actually purchased I've never been made aware after taking the 50% of the space) so I think it's crazy to ask every time.

 

[get me outta here]

If a person had purchased the middle seat too, I would expect them to politely say that immediately. But, as pointed out this is a rare occasion. So, no, I do not say, 'have you purchased that seat too', as it sounds quite accusatory.

Have you commenced any conversation prior to nudging their stuff over to their side, if not, how have you determined that they haven't purchased a comfort seat and therefore have every right to use all of the empty seat with their knees way out sideways into the empty seat space?

 

[boomy]

the worst case of this was LHR -ROM when a pax with a massive bag boarded well after everyone else and then proceeded to move everyone else's bags into other bins to fit his massively oversized bag into the overhead bin without an excuse me or other recognition of htis breach of etiquette

The pax moved your bag?! This is totally unacceptable, only the cabin crew is allowed to do that.
If can't find room for luggage in the overhead bins do what everyone else does, put it on the floor, sit down and wait for the FA to come and sort it out.

 

[Caversham04]

The pax moved your bag?! This is totally unacceptable, only the cabin crew is allowed to do that.
If can't find room for luggage in the overhead bins do what everyone else does, put it on the floor, sit down and wait for the FA to come and sort it out.

I've had this before on several occasions - people board late (or at an interim stop on an intra-Caribbean flight) and then try to move your bags in order to minimise their own inconvenience. Some pointed comments were required

On the other hand, I've also been sat in row 20-something and seen a poor bloke from Row 3 or 4 being required by the FA to leave his bag above my seat due to a lack of locker space further forward. On that occasion, I was happy to help out by proactively asking the passengers in front of me to pass his bag forward to him when we landed. Always nice to be able to do an unexpected good deed

 

[leetripper]

What about the pax with a seat further back who dumps one or more of his bags in a forward overhead locker on the way through - presumably so he doesn't have to carry it all the way back when we land or to save himself the bother of finding space for all his luggage in the rear lockers. I'm uncertain whether it's OK to comment because the real issue isn't apparent until all the forward pax are in - now with insufficient space for their bags.

 

[NFF]

At least there wasn't a big person in the middle.

 

[katiebell]

What about the pax with a seat further back who dumps one or more of his bags in a forward overhead locker on the way through - presumably so he doesn't have to carry it all the way back when we land or to save himself the bother of finding space for all his luggage in the rear lockers. I'm uncertain whether it's OK to comment because the real issue isn't apparent until all the forward pax are in - now with insufficient space for their bags.

The more aware airlines now have the front overhead bins closed before boarding so that it is not so easy just to fling a bag in the bin and keep walking

 

[fersea]

seems like much ado about nothing. If the middle seat is free use it. If the other passenger uses the middle seat too then that's fine. I mean you are only going to have a book newspaper or iPad there aren't you or even a ladies handbag. It is not as if you are going to have a pile of stuff there.