A Connecticut woman realized the there was no one in the window seat of her flight’s seating row and was excited to spread out. However, the passenger in the middle seat didn’t react how she hoped.
In a video with over 288,000 views, TikToker Jaclyn (@sortofjaclyn) films herself sitting in the seat. While she doesn’t show the passenger next to her, she looks annoyed and blinks rapidly.
On-screen text gives more context, reading, “When you hit the air travel jackpot and have a free seat in your row but your middle seat buddy won’t move over.”
The caption continues, “Guess we’ll just be unnecessarily bumping elbows the next five hours.”
Should Passengers Spread Out In Partially Empty Rows?
While passengers can usually make the decision to scoot over into an empty window seat to free up the middle, other moves may need flight attendant permission.
According to Reader’s Digest, flight attendants have to take into account airplane balance, which requires weight to be distributed evenly on the plane for safety.
Passengers should also try to stay in their assigned seats for record keeping reasons, since some passengers may need additional assistance in emergencies. Plus, not all passengers are eligible to sit in an exit row. So, it’s best practice to always ask a flight attendant before moving around.
Is The Middle Seat Occupant In The Wrong?
Viewers debated whether Jaclyn’s assumption that her seat neighbor would scoot over is reasonable. Many said that the middle seat passenger should have just moved to the window.
“As an FA I’ve literally asked people like, ‘Are you traveling together? No? Please move over,'” one wrote.
A second said, “If I am stuck in the middle and a seat is open. As soon as the door closes I am moving. I don’t want to touch anybody.”
“This happened to me and I asked the guy to move over and he did. Cause why are you sitting next to me and there’s an open seat. This is basic common sense,” another remarked.
In a video responding to a comment, Jaclyn said she believes that the middle seat should be empty if there are only two passengers in a three-seat row. “It’s just courteous to give extra room,” she said.
Others suggested that Jaclyn should have been more direct with the middle seat passenger.
“I wouldn’t move unless you asked because it wouldn’t even occur to me honestly lol. This is my assigned seat. I’m not allowed to move seat,” a commenter said.
Another traveler suggested, “Let’s solve this: ‘hey! looks like there’s only two of us in this row so let’s spread out, do you want aisle or window?'”
However, some said they wouldn’t move from the middle seat.
“There is no circumstance I will willingly sit in the aisle so if that means we’re sitting next to each other, so be it,” a viewer noted.
“I wouldn’t move unless it was for the window seat. I’m not sitting in the aisle seat and having people bump into me,” another said.
@sortofjaclyn Guess we’ll just be unnecessarily bumping elbows the next five hours. #airtravel #flying #wompwomp
BroBible reached out to Jaclyn via email and TikTok direct message for further comment. We will update the story when she replies.