A Flight Attendant Reveals the Secret Rules for Empty Middle Seats

The proper manners could astonish you.

An empty middle seat in your airplane row is a gift, especially when the hustle and bustle of the airport can make you feel like you’re inside a pinball machine. When the cabin crew finally announces those magic words — “boarding complete” — and the seat next to you is left unfilled, you know you won’t be bumping elbows with a stranger for the duration of your flight. Plus, you now have bonus real estate: more underseat storage, extra leg room, additional tray table space, a spare seatback pocket, and even another seat to put some miscellany, like the airplane pillow or your jacket. Or, do you?

The discussion around empty middle seat manners is frequently seen on Reddit, where travelers speculate about it. what is fair When the area next to you and another passenger remains empty.

As someone who travels often, I recently encountered a situation that challenged my beliefs regarding respectful conduct around an unoccupied middle seat. Sitting by the window—with another passenger in the aisle seat and both of us engrossed in our laptops—I extended the middle-seat tray table as the refreshment trolley approached. In such scenarios, I've typically thought it was fair game for either of us to utilize this additional area for our beverages. Nonetheless, my neighbor courteously sought permission before placing their drink on that shared surface.

Did I accidentally imply exclusive rights to the tray table by folding it down?

I would say she probably traveled extensively," remarked John, a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines, choosing to remain anonymous. "This indicates strong situational awareness.

John, along with a travel etiquette specialist Dean Foster , the writer behind "The Global Etiquette Guides," had a conversation with Travel + Leisure Regarding what is recommended — and secure — concerning extra room between passengers in the middle seats.

It's not first-come, first-served.

John points out that many travelers mistakenly believe they just have to be quicker than others to secure an empty middle seat. "Being the first one isn’t actually a rule," he explained. The individual who initially took over the entire row or was quickest to place their belongings under the middle seat doesn't automatically get the spot.

There’s no protection for that kind of reasoning, like 'I arrived first, so I should be allowed to use it,'" he said. Therefore, if a flight attendant is asked to resolve a conflict over additional legroom, you shouldn’t count on successfully using that argument.

Stay mindful of safety precautions.

Do not presume that splitting the additional space evenly allows one person to utilize the underseat storage while the other uses the seat.

It's fine if you want to leave your airplane pillow or blanket on the seat, provided you aren't planning to use them," explained John, noting that doing so would allow both travelers to benefit from the extra space. Jackets could similarly be draped over the empty middle seat; however, heavier items cannot remain there indefinitely due to safety concerns, particularly when taking off or landing. "Occasionally, individuals might try placing their hefty backpacks on the seat with a seat belt around them—it won’t pass muster either," he added. "In case of sudden turbulence, those bags can go airborne and possibly strike someone.

Consider personal space.

Although having an entire row to oneself allows for maximum comfort, occupying just an empty middle seat should be done minimally, according to Foster. He noted that significantly shifting towards the middle could seem invasive to the other passengers, even if those passengers had no intention of lying down or resting their feet.

With the center seat vacant, you each gain some additional room to stretch out, cross your legs, or rest your head against the unused headrest. However, refrain from encroaching too much into this area to avoid generating bad vibes or conflict over what ought to be communal space.

Communication is key.

Regardless of whether you enjoy talking to your co-passengers, some courteous interaction can significantly help in fairly dividing extra legroom.

Whether or not you’re speaking with them directly, it isn’t too presumptuous to inquire if they’d be okay with you using the under-seat area or placing a small object on the seat," explained John. "Anyone would appreciate that you didn’t automatically presume it was fine.

For actions that could potentially help both of you, such as sharing the center overhead bin or displaying the inflight entertainment on an additional armrest monitor, "do not presume that others will interpret your good intentions correctly; instead, make sure to communicate clearly," advised Foster.

When language poses an obstacle, employing gestures and non-verbal cues can be both helpful and courteous. "It’s possible to convey your intentions effectively," noted Foster. "Your discussion isn’t centered around complex topics like astrophysics; instead, it revolves around something simpler, such as figuring out where to place your luggage."

Enjoy the flight.

A greater sense of modesty and making extra efforts for others, especially when flying and space is limited, can prevent many conflicts," explained Foster. "Therefore, being proactive about this matters greatly, as I've found it's always well-received. Consequently, flights become far more pleasant and relaxed since all tensions related to these potential issues vanish.