Oh, it is common knowledge and etiquette among frequent flyers that the middle seat gets the armrest.

I once had a passive-aggressive fight with a seatmate over the middle seat (where I was sitting). I got there first, I sat with headphones on, reading a book with elbows on the armrest.

Pax #2 doesn't immediately claim it, but later starts "sharing" it - propping his elbow in front of mine on the same armrest, assuming, perhaps, that his man-hair will annoy me enough to remove my elbow.

Nope. I decide to nap and let my arm relax where it is. He gives up and dozes off too, and I slowly and gently nudge his elbow out of place as if that is just how my arm decided to settle as I was napping.

etc, etc.

(We ended up sharing, but never overtly discussing it.)

I've also had grown men kick and pound my seat back like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum when I reclined it ever so slightly. Or, open the newspaper and turn the pages ever so violently so they slap the top of my head with the paper. Sometimes they don't know they're doing it, but I act like I'm slapping at the paper in my sleep (like swatting a fly away) and it usually stops.

LawyerChick

Reply