I’m a flight attendant…here’s my strategy for elbow support when sitting in the middle seat
The battle for armrest space is a common frustration for many airline passengers, but one flight attendant has revealed a clever strategy for those stuck in the middle and caught between two neighbors taking up the armrests.
Almost a third of passengers flying on British airlines say fixing armrests is one of the most annoying inflight habits, research has found.
Mary, a flight attendant at a major US airline, recently shared her tip for reclaiming coveted armrest space, especially when sitting between two passengers on a work transfer with no seat choice.
A flight attendant has shared the ‘elbow rest’ strategy passengers need to know when flying – especially for those sitting in the middle seat
Speak with BBC newsMary explained how she is often placed in the middle seat between two passengers – usually men – who occupy both armrests.
She admitted she had to “wrestle with elbows” in an attempt to secure an armrest, but revealed her own personal strategy for reclaiming the space.
Maria’s solution? Patience and a well-timed move, as she revealed: “I wait for them to get a drink and grab the armrest.
‘A [guy] I kept trying to push my arm, and all I had to do was look at him and say, “We’re not doing that today.”
To resolve any tensions, William Hanson, an etiquette coach and author, also suggested an on-boarding mindset.
The expert says people should adapt to the idea of ’elbow rests’ instead of armrests – and distribute them equally.
Meanwhile, a flight attendant has shared three ways customers can get themselves a free upgrade to the first class cabin.
Mary, a flight attendant at a major US airline, revealed that she waits for her fellow passengers on the aisle to grab their drinks before moving closer to place her elbow on the armrest
Cierra Mist, who posts videos on TikTok about her life as a flight attendant, gave viewers some helpful advice on how to make an upgrade.
She shared her first tip, advising that the simple gesture of being nice to your gate agent or flight attendant could earn you a golden ticket to a more luxurious part of the plane.
She said, “We can do wonders if we get some Starbucks or a bag of chocolate when we haven’t even had time to stop for food on back-to-back flights.”
Moving on to her second tip, Cierra shared one that is somewhat out of your control, but may still be achievable.
Cierra said, “Another common way is that we move people all the way to the front of the plane when the flight is not full to make sure the plane is balanced.”
This means that if you are sitting at the back of the plane in an area that is heavily booked, you might get lucky and be asked to move to the very front of first class.
