Looking for ways to bag a bit more personal space on a plane? A hidden plane seat feature that not a lot of people know about might do wonders on your next flight.
Charlie Silver is a flight attendant for TUI in the U.K., according to previous videos shared from her TikTok account @silvercharlie. In a viral TikTok clip posted three days ago, she revealed an “airplane hack” that could help you sit more comfortably. The video has had more than 432,000 view since it was shared.
The footage shows the flight attendant sitting in an aisle seat on a plane. She attempts to lift the armrest up and fails. She later touches the bottom side of the armrest, which then releases upward. The camera then shows a closer view of the bottom of the armrest, near the hinge, where a button can be seen.
The latest post comes as a June 2023 survey, conducted on behalf of the travel booking website Kayak, found that travelers had plenty to say when it comes to personal space on a plane.
The survey, which asked 1,000 plane passengers age 18 and over in the U.S. and Canada about how to behave when flying, found that travelers believe you are “not allowed to claim both armrests just because you’re [in] the middle seat” because 57 percent of passengers think “everybody has arms that need resting.”
You are also “not allowed to grab the front seat when getting up” because 76 percent of travelers “don’t like to literally get taken aback,” according to the survey.
You are, however, “allowed to recline your seat” because 88 percent of the flyers surveyed believe “the button is there for a reason.”
‘Not a Lot of People Know About It’
A caption shared with the latest viral post reads: “This video is for people who didn’t know that the aisle seat armrest moves too, it’s like this on most aircraft types.”
In a later comment, the original poster said: “I’ve flown on a 737, 787, 767 [model numbers for different Boeing aircraft], 321, 330 and 350 [model numbers for various Airbus aircraft] and they have all done this.”
User code_name_anoobis asked, “is it a hack or just the design of the armrest?” and the original poster said, “Not a lot of people know about it.”
When Katie Alice wondered, “do you know if this is in premium cabin too?…,” the original poster replied, “yes they do, just a bit stiffer.”
Jezza 82 said: “Please don’t show this. It’s not for passenger knowledge. It’s [the armrest is] locked for a reason.” The original poster replied: “It only has to be down for [taxiing], take-off and landing.”
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Several TikTokers were grateful for the latest plane hack, such Colin Smith, who said: “Thanks for this, always try to move it up but couldn’t.”
Some wished they’d known about it sooner, such as @gazzab_essex, who said: “After all these years, please don’t do this to me.”
Legend said: “I wish I knew about this 3 months ago when I had 6 flights when I went to South Africa.”
Aaron Guerra wrote: “Nah! Needed to see this at the beginning of the year! Why’s it so hidden.” The original poster replied: “I’m not sure.”
Newsweek has reached out to the original poster via TikTok and email for comment. This video has not been independently verified.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.