Passenger Kicking Chair Back? "Ultimate Etiquette Guide" Teaches You How to Handle 10 Awkward Situations on a Plane

By Rita

According to research by UK flight booking website kayak.co.uk, most passengers have been victims of poor airplane etiquette. To address these concerns, the UK's Daily Mail sought advice from etiquette expert William Hanson, who shared theUltimate Etiquette Guide", informing travelers about proper in-flight behavior and how to handle the following scenarios.

▲ Understanding flight etiquette shows respect for yourself and other passengers (Image / Daguan / Illustration)

1. Armrest Occupied
Who does the armrest between two seats belong to? It's a long-standing debate. A better solution is to stop thinking of it as "the armrest"—it's actually just a "divider." Don’t hog the entire thing; share some space with your neighbor.

2. Seatmate Wants to Chat, But You Want to Rest
If your neighbor suddenly wants to chat but you really want to doze off, simply tell them, "Sorry, I’d like to rest for a bit." It’s not rude.

3. Used as a Pillow
If your seatmate falls asleep and uses you as a pillow, you can gently cough or nudge them awake. Some people deliberately cough repeatedly to make the other person think they’re contagious and keep their distance.

4. Seat in Front Leans Back, Reducing Your Space
The only solution to this problem is to "lean your seat back too," but first check whether the passenger behind you is using a laptop or eating.

5. Loud Snoring Next Door
Try not to elbow the person to wake them up. The best solution is to use earplugs or wear noise-canceling headphones.

▲ When someone nearby is snoring, wear earplugs (Image / Daguan / Illustration)

6. Need to Use the Bathroom, but Blocked
If you need to get up to use the bathroom but the aisle-seat passenger is sound asleep and blocking your way, the only thing you can do is tap their shoulder and ask them to move—don’t climb over them.

7. What to Do if Your Neighbor Is Drunk?
Avoid making eye contact with a drunk passenger. If there’s an issue, it’s best to inform a flight attendant and let them handle it.

8. Dealing with Inattentive Flight Attendants
It’s best to avoid direct confrontation. If there’s a problem, speak to the cabin manager or write a complaint letter after the flight.

9. Unruly Children
Statistically, encountering unruly children on a plane is quite common. If there’s an empty seat nearby, you can ask a flight attendant if you can switch seats. If not, then you might have to pull out your headphones or earplugs.

10. The Chair-Kicker
When dealing with someone who kicks the back of your chair, you can turn around with a smile and politely ask them to stop. Never show anger—kids often react worse when they sense tension.

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