In a bold move that has taken social media by storm, a United Airlines flight attendant recently addressed one of the most contentious issues in air travel: the battle over armrests. This announcement, shared by a passenger on Reddit, has reignited the age-old debate about the etiquette of armrest sharing on flights, particularly in rows with three seats.
For decades, passengers have grappled with the unspoken rules of armrest allocation. This has often led to countless silent (and sometimes not-so-silent) skirmishes at 30,000 feet. However, according to the Reddit post, the flight attendant’s proclamation offered a clear directive.
“This was a first for me on my current flight,” the passenger onboard posted. “FA [flight attendant] made an announcement right after boarding to clarify who gets to use which armrest on the flight. To my surprise, he was very emphatic that no person gets two armrests. He explained that every person is supposed to use the armrest on their right (and the left for the other side) (of the plane) and keep the armrest on the aisle clear for carts and people walking down the plane. He emphatically stated that no armrest drama would be tolerated.”
Some People Disagree
Though not an official United Airlines policy, the flight attendant’s statement has triggered various responses. Some feel relieved and supportive, while others express skepticism and outright disagreement. While the ongoing debate is not new, the flight attendant’s explicit stance has reignited it.
One Reddit user disagreed with the flight attendant and wrote, “That’s a “no” for me. I’m an aisle seater, and that aisle armrest is mine. The middle seat gets his/her two, I get mine on the aisle.”
A different Reddit member was a little more forgiving, writing, “I always assumed the middle seat got both armrests because let’s be honest, the middle seat SUCKS. I always felt like it was the least I could do for their troubles.”
As the conversation continues to unfold online, it’s clear that the flight attendant’s announcement has sparked a dialogue about respect, consideration, and the shared experience of flying. Whether this will lead to a change in behavior or merely a more spirited debate remains to be seen.
