In a row of seats, who owns the middle armrests? Should the person in the middle seat get both armrests?
In a row of seats, who owns the middle armrests? Should the person in the middle seat get both armrests?
![An example full flight summary response from the Flightradar24 API: { "data": [ { "fr24_id": "0987654321", "flight": "SK1415", "callsign": "SAS1415", "operated_as": "SAS", "painted_as": "SAS", "type": "A20N", "reg": "SE-DOY", "orig_icao": "ESSA", "orig_iata": "ARN", "datetime_takeoff": "2023-01-27T05:15:22", "runway_takeoff": "12R", "dest_icao": "EKCH", "dest_iata": "CPH", "dest_icao_actual": "EPWA", "dest_iata_actual": "WAW", "datetime_landed": "2023-01-27T06:15:10", "runway_landed": "27L", "flight_time": 3600, "actual_distance": 1007.74, "circle_distance": 6245, "category": "Passenger", "hex": "4A91F9", "first_seen": "2023-01-27T05:06:22", "last_seen": "2023-01-27T06:18:10", "flight_ended": "true" } ] }](https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Flight-summary-API-cover-768x378.jpg)
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22 Responses
If you are unfortunate to be sitting in the middle seat then I say its fair game to have both armrests.
Usually the two on the outer seats lean away from the middle person thereby giving them access to both.
Is that not the (unwritten) etiquette, anyway?
One has the window, the other can stretch their leg(s)
I hate the feeling of a strangers arms constantly touching mine. I often just sit without using the arm rest to avoid the awkwardness. Don’t get me started on bare feet on planes! Yuck
What Trev said.
What Trev said,
What Trev said.
Three seats, three armrests..You can put your left arm on it, but that’s just for yoga congress trips
What Leslie said.
Whoever gets their elbow on the armrest first!
I agree with Trev that the one in the middle gets both armrests. I also agree with Andrew that as one gets the window, one gets to stretch his or her legs that that is only fair.
Depending who is sitting next to you, use the armrests as you feel comfortable. No fixed rules. Ha.
It should be contested with a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.
The airline owns them… Heheh…
The one with the sharpest elbows.
Share, middle seat gets back half.😄
If flying solo I prefer the window seat in a 2 or 3 seat layout.
I like to watch taxiing and take-off, then get up at least every hour to stretch the legs to help prevent DVTs. I sometimes get some evil looks if someone has set up a mobile office, but if airlines don’t give enough leg room it’s not my problem
What Trev said
I always allow the middle seat guy the armrests. If I am unlucky enough to be that middle seat guy, then I expect my fellow passengers to treat me with the same respect.
I hate armrests and would prefer them upright. If I’m in the window seat I really hate the armrest against the fuselage. It serves no useful purpose whatsoever. It would help of course if the industry cared about passenger comfort rather than cramming us into a cigar tube for hours. Being average height 5ft9in and weight 11st 7lb it’s still an uncomfortable experience. Wish the seats had more padding too.
Didn’t you know? They always belong to me.
me