I can't tell if this article is a poor attempt at humour or just another attempt at misguided airplane etiquette demands. The author suggests that you shouldn't sleep if you're in an aisle seat. https://travelupdate.com/dont-fall-asleep-in-the-aisle-seat/
Do you feel obligated to stay awake in an aisle seat?
I think the author was just trying to score some points. It was a ridiculous demand and just about everyone in the comments called him out on it.
I certainly would not feel obligated to stay awake in any seat (although I usually do, but not by choice).
You're free to fall asleep, but if I need to get out, I am free to wake you up. Just common sense.
I was the sleeping aisle person on a very early flight from Vancouver to Dallas. The middle guy woke me up so he could get out to use the restroom. But he felt that I moved in the wrong direction. Even though we were in coach, he wanted me to move to the other side so he could access the First Class toilet. If I had been less exhausted, I would have lectured him more.
Of course people in aisle seats should sleep if they want. I usually sit in an aisle seat and I expect that I will need to move at times for my fellow passengers. I do subscribe to the theory that when the window goes, we all go. If the entire row goes at once it really reduces the number of disruptions. I just follow along to the bathroom and the middle seat person usually figures it out and comes too.
As long as I dont have un-recline my seat, I dont mind getting up. Ive been stuck in the middle a few times. I understand. But I always feel better if the middle seat person is young with a good bladder.
A ridiculous article to say the least. Just be an adult and gently wake them to let you out. If they get mad, do what!
This is the reason I always pick an aisle seat. I enjoy drinking my coffee, and I also try to drink water often on the plane to stay hydrated. Both of those will send me to the bathroom more often. I also purposely get up every few hours and walk the length of the plane for my legs.
”I always go into the bathroom even if I don’t have to go. It’s nice. It’s like your own little apartment in the plane…” - Jerry Seinfeld
Click bait article.
Getting emotionally wound-up over someone sleeping and being afraid to wake them so you can get out...ridiculous.
Brought to you by the author of "WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR AIRLINE AMENITY KITS?"
Just BS to me. I do love these etiquette articles since they're great at outing the petty authoritarians that really want to tell everyone else what to do -- I'll just worry about myself. Being the person that sits at the window seat I am quiet happy to let the aisle person sleep and not be disturbed. If it's important enough I can gently wake the individual -- we are all supposed to be adults.
Or reach over and hand him a tube and a bottle.
I'm with Carol...take advantage of every opportunity. Whenever the aisle seater got up, I (window) told my husband (middle) we needed to go whether we felt the immediate urge, or not. Fortunately, she got up a few times and we didn't need to wake her at all...she slept most of the time, but we were awake watching a series. Previous trips, I've suffered in silence as long as possible before waking the aisle seater.
The author's basic premise is that one in that aisle seat should refrain from sleeping on a trans-Atlantic flight, which for me amounts to 11 hours, ie, I should not do that on the overnight flight from SFO ? Unheard of.
First of all, I totally reject that position. My basic premises is totally at variance with his since choosing and sometimes paying for that desired aisle seat is for the exact purpose of falling asleep. I rely on falling asleep and the aisle seat in Basic Economy is the best to do that.
If the middle person wakes me up as s/he needs to get by, I usually stand up to let him by. When he's back, I'll fall right back to sleep. If he just squeezes on by (such is Basic Economy) jostling and waking me up, I don't like it , still a minor inconvenience , since I know I'll fall right back to sleep.
I've had people behaving in a civil manner in this regard, no real problems.
I’m not going to bother to read this Clickbait, but I will tell you that I always select the aisle seat. And I also early on the flight tell the people in the middle and windows seat that they are welcome to wake me up if I’m asleep and they need to get out.
Oh, and please don't eat a meal because you will have to fold your tray down. Please don't watch a movie becaus the light may bother them. And never recline your seat and hinder the person behind you. And most importantly, please ask to hold any trash for them while waiting for the fligt attendant, this gives them more time to sleep, enjoy a movie, or to post to their blog about what a great row mate you are.
