Air travel can be a mixed bag of experiences.

On one hand, it's a marvel of modern engineering as it lets Aussies traverse vast distances in hours.

Meanwhile, it could also be a test of patience and personal boundaries.

A recent incident aboard a Delta flight reignited a debate over acceptable behaviour when travelling.

The passenger took to social media to express her frustration after a fellow traveller's actions during the flight.

'Seat 27F on A321s is my go-to seat, but half of my last six flights, this happened,' she shared in a post.

The woman shared her experience with another traveller online. Image Credit: Reddit/flavorpuff

Along her post was a photo of her legs, along with her seatmate's leg, spread out into her floor space.

'I'll put my feet where they can't do this but will then move my feet and rearrange, then middle seat scoots their feet right back out.'

'Like, why do you think this is OK?' she asked online.

The post quickly became a hotbed for discussion among frequent flyers.

'It's always men in my experience,' a commenter sympathised.

'I always get a window seat, and dudes in the middle love to manspread.'

'I had to get used to people's legs touching me, and it's exhausting. I feel like a drama queen when I have to summon a flight attendant multiple times on multiple flights,' the comment further read.

'You need to tell them to give you space. Be a d*** about this one,' another commenter encouraged.

'The obvious thing to do here is cross your leg over theirs and into their space,' a third comment said.

Another comment suggested that the space-invader should compensate her by '25 per cent of the ticket' for the inconvenience.

On the other hand, several commenters also criticised the passenger for not directly addressing the issue.

'Good thing you took a picture of it and posted it online rather than being an adult and just, you know, saying something to them,' one sarcastically commented.

'I would speak up!' another commenter exclaimed.

'Speak directly and look them in the eye and say, "Excuse me, your foot is in my space."'

'It's so passive-aggressive to take a pic and post how wrong it is,' one of the comments read.

'Just tell them to move or get a flight attendant. They will keep doing it if you never say anything.'

In related news, a Singapore Airlines passenger shared their experience after sitting next to a 'rude' traveller.

The traveller removed his shoes and socks mid-flight, exposing his bare feet.

The disgruntled passenger asked if it was appropriate to ask to change seats or to ask the other person to put their shoes back on.

So, what can fellow travellers learn from these uncomfortable encounters?

Personal space is important even during travels, and respecting this space should be a basic courtesy all passengers should extend to one another.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, it's important to handle it tactfully.

Moreover, airlines should mitigate these issues by providing clear seating guidelines.

By being considerate of fellow passengers, everyone can have a more pleasant and comfortable flying experience.

Key Takeaways

• A Delta Airlines passenger expressed her irritation online after another traveller's leg encroached on their personal space during a flight.
• The passenger's photo showed the leg invasion, which sparked a conversation about in-flight seating etiquette.
• Opinions were divided on how to handle such situations, with some suggesting confrontation and others recommending involving a flight attendant.
• The incident reignited the debate over personal space and proper conduct while seated in an aeroplane.

Have you encountered similar issues during your flights? How did you handle them? Share your stories in the comments below, and let's navigate the friendly skies with grace and respect together.

 

[PammW]

We live in a small mining town in Western Australia. Flights to and from Perth are often at least 80% FIFO (and that's another GRRR!). My husband and I were flying back home after a left shoulder replacement for me. As the FIFO were boarding, one slammed into my left shoulder, and knocked the pillow the flight attendant had put under my arm, clear out of sight!

What I should have done was scream my head off till the guilty party brought my pillow back and apologized! Not a word of sorry from the idiot, and the flight attendants were very busy so I just leaned away from the aisle as much as I could. My husband was furious, but I asked him just to chill, that karma would get the jerk. I hope it did! And ever since, I request the seat on the opposite side of which part of my body was operated on.

 

[etphhome]

I wasn’t on a plane, but I had an incident at Adelaide Cricket Ground some years back. Middle of summer and 38 degrees, sitting in the member stand when some idiot decided to sit with bare sweaty knees leaning against my shoulders. It only needed one tug of half a dozen leg hairs to shift him.