Flight attendant says there's a hidden lever you can use for extra legroom
A flight attendant has revealed where a small button is hidden which could make your journey much comfier.
When stuck aboard a plane, particularly if you're an anxious flyer or struggle to find comfort on budget airline seats, every extra inch of room you can bag is a big plus. Unfortunately the mechanisms of a plane seat are a little mystifying and rarely come with an instruction manual.
Luckily, one Virgin Australia crew member has revealed a hidden button you can use to try and get a little more room in the aisle seats. The little lever sits under the armrest, so once the latter has been lifted, you can push the lever to hold it in place.
This makes it much easier to get in and out of your seat, and to adopt positions which may help you get some shut-eye on a longer flight. You can also use it to move your seat back, creating more space and putting an end to carry-ons catching on the way down the aisle.
She said: "Have you ever struggled with the aisle seat armrest? Struggle no more with this seat hack." "Like a pro," she added in the caption of the video, which was shared on the brand's verified TikTok account.
Brit uses browser hack to bag business class seat for less than price of economyThe video was an instant hit with passengers who thanked the crew member for sharing the secret - and relating to some of the issues she highlighted in the video. One user said: "The bag getting caught on the chair is so real."Another added: "Life changed!" A third commented: "More people need to see this." "Aisle seat is my favourite," a fourth wrote.
The politics of armrests are complex and fraught. Many an argument has been had about who is entitled to which rest. Recently an American Airlines pilot weighed into the debate by laying down the law on his flight.
A video of the captain's pre-flight announcement captured him telling passengers not to be "selfish and rude." Amid his stern but humorous speech, he gave a “gift” to all the people stuck in the middle seats of the rows. He finished up by saying: "Middle seaters, I know it stinks to be in the middle . . .You own both armrests. That is my gift to you. Welcome on board our flight."
Amanda Pleva, a veteran flight attendant, has a slightly more nuanced take. She told FlyerTalk: "This one has always been a hot topic, and the etiquette needs to be put out there in black and white so we can put it to bed for good. Ladies and gentlemen, here are your armrest assignments.
"Should the row not be configured with a window armrest, then the window passenger gets the one closer to the aisle, and the middle passenger forfeits that one. And only that one."
It's not just Amanda who holds the belief - there seems to be a general consensus amongst flight attendants that the person in the middle seat has priority for using the two middle armrests. Although the rule is not set in stone, it's generally accepted as proper plane seat etiquette.
Of course if you're sat on the aisle or window seat and spot that they're not using them, you could always ask politely and see if they mind you using one. After all, you are sitting in what is arguably the least comfortable of the three seats; you don't get a view or wall to lean on, and you don't get the aisle space to stretch your legs or feel a little less enclosed.