'I'm a flight attendant

Cabin crew members who work on flights have spoken out about the etiquette rules you should follow when using armrests, reclining seats or trying to swap where you sit

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Flying can be cramped and uncomfortable when you’re sitting in economy. The seats are small, the legroom non-existent and you’re often sitting next to strangers.

One of the most frustrating parts of the small quarters is figuring out who has the right to use which armrest. Some folk are armrest hoggers who leave those in the middle seat cramped into the centre while others try to use the outer rest only freeing up space.

Well, now flight attendants have spoken out about who they think has the right to the middle arm rests that cause so much contention. Esther Sturrus, 22, a flight attendant who has worked for TUI and KLM shared her thoughts on TikTok.

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She said: "When you are sitting in the middle, the two armrests are yours. The person at the window has his armrest at the window and the other at the aisle, so the middle two are yours."

But, Esther, from the Netherlands, isn’t the only cabin crew member to offer her opinion. Kristie Koerbel has been a flight attendant for over 20 years and revealed plane etiquette rules, including where you can rest your elbows.

She told the Irish Times: "The middle seat gets both armrests. It’s the consolation prize for being squished between two people with nowhere to lean. Case closed."

So there you have it. If you’re in the aisle or window seat it’s best to lean into your single armrest and allow the two centre options for those in the middle.

After all, they have neither easy access to the loo nor a great view from the window. Having two armrests might just make up for that.

There are other rules of plane etiquette that airline workers and experts have said we should all try to follow. Whether you should recline your seat is another bone of contention among travellers.

Andrew Kothlow of the blog "Two Guys on a Plane" said: "It's definitely not rude to recline your seat. I personally think it's rude to believe that a person will not try to get as comfortable as possible if the option exists to them — especially on a long flight."

Rich Henderson, a flight attendant for a US carrier noted: "I do understand there might be certain circumstances where a passenger may want the seat in front of them in the upright position, like while eating a meal, but I think in general, passengers should be allowed to use the features of the seat that they paid for.

"Telling a passenger that they can't recline their seat is like saying they can't use their tray table."

Leysha Perez, a stewardess, said: "When you're eating your food you're going to be sitting up anyway, so it would be good etiquette to bring your seat up while you're eating."

Meanwhile, there are also certain things you should do when asking to swap seats with someone. Anton Radchenko, Travel expert and founder of AirAdvisor, previously revealed that if you want to swap seats during a flight, there are unofficial guidelines to follow.

He explained: "If you do still want to swap seats, the general consensus is that only similar or better exchanges should be offered. So, if you want to move from an aisle seat to another aisle seat just to be closer to your friends that would be okay. If you want to move from a middle seat to someone’s aisle seat, this probably isn’t going to go down too well.

"The best way to approach it is to ask the person nicely. Be polite, explain your reasoning and highlight the seat that you’re currently in. Even if they say no, it’s important to thank them for considering.

"Flight attendants do occasionally help and will initiate the conversation for you but remember they can’t force someone to move. In the event that a child and parent are sitting separately, it’s more likely that a flight attendant will get involved."