Woman teaches passenger a lesson with ‘petty revenge’: ‘She looked so offended’

Imagine you're settled into your window seat, looking forward to enjoying the views from 30,000 feet in the air.

But then, your peace is disrupted by the middle-seat passenger who repeatedly invades your space to close the window shade without so much as a 'please' or 'thank you'.

It's a scenario that recently played out on a flight, and the window-seat passenger's response has sparked a conversation about aeroplane etiquette and personal space.



The frequent flyer, who took to social media to share her experience, found herself in a battle of wills with a fellow traveller who seemed determined to control the window shade.

The middle-seat passenger's repeated breaches of personal space left the window-seat flyer feeling disrespected and invisible.


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A passenger beside the frequent flyer violated her personal space while controlling the window shade. Credit: Shutterstock


The story, which unfolded on a short-haul domestic flight, saw the window-seat passenger devising ‘petty revenge’.

'I pulled out my book and turned on the reading light, despite there being ample natural light from the open window for me to read. I then positioned my hands in such a way that my watch would reflect the reading light directly into her eyes,’ she said.

'I read like that for an hour, jiggling my hand the entire time, so it would shine the light back and forth across her eyes and be super distracting and annoying.’



When the flight landed, the window-seat passenger didn't hold back in expressing her displeasure, delivering a sharp rebuke to her seatmate.

'Once we landed and she took her headphones off, I turned to her and said, “Next time you fly, book a window seat if you want to control the window. Or at least treat me like a human and ask me before you violate my personal space. What you did is unbelievably rude,”’ she said.

‘'She looked SO OFFENDED. And naturally, she walked two mph. Being a city walker, I easily got in front of her, then once we were on the moving walkway I stopped immediately in front of her.’

‘Did the same on the escalator to the curb, before flipping her off the entire way to my ride.'



The internet's reaction was swift and supportive, with many siding with the window-seat passenger and condemning the middle-seat flyer's behaviour.

'I’m with you. As far as I’m concerned, whoever has the window seat controls the shade,’ one said.

Another wrote, 'Agreed. Also, it's just really simple to ask if someone can shut it or partially shut it. They don’t have to by any means, but just a simple question is polite.'

‘Definitely, unless the sun is absolutely blinding you. In which case, you just ask politely. The sense of entitlement so many people have these days is shocking,’ a third added.



This incident is just one of many that highlight the ongoing debates over aeroplane etiquette.

In a previous story, a disagreement between a woman and her seatmate escalated into a heated argument when the woman accused the passenger behind her of repeatedly pushing her seat when she reclined it. You can read more about it here.
Key Takeaways
  • A plane passenger took to social media to share her story of 'petty revenge' against a fellow traveller who was closing the window shade without permission.
  • As a form of retaliation, the window-seat passenger used her book's reflection to shine light into the middle-seat passenger's eyes.
  • The story sparked debate about aeroplane etiquette, with many users agreeing that the person in the window seat controls the shade.
  • The social media post concluded with the window seat passenger confronting her seatmate about personal space and etiquette once the plane landed.
Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation, and how did you handle it? Share your stories and advice in the comments below.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: PattiB
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The middle seat passenger was ignorant and rude but why didn’t the window seat passenger politely ask not to have her personal space invaded without a by-your-leave? Both people behaved like children and both exhibited entitled behaviour. Seriously, grow up!
 
Have never flown Etihad, so glad I did this time. I was doing a crossword, as you do and can, when just before lunch, in front passenger reclined so hard and fast, nearly took my teeth out (not dentures btw)
I said whoa! Not so fast
She had earphones on, but hubby told her. Didn’t make the slightest difference.
Lo and behold, lunch arrived, told off by attendant, and up the seat went.
Afterwards, bang, down it came onto my food tray, plastic went everywhere.
This time I moved along, Bang! Hubby wants his reclined too! I asked attendant for me to be moved. I got a seat a row up, no problem after that. People agreed I was right in asking. No May I? Can I? Do you mind? Travel Etihad for the helpful attendants.
 

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