A savvy traveller's ingenious, yet fiercely debated, tactic to secure an entire row on a packed flight has sent the internet into a spin, dividing opinion on what constitutes acceptable plane etiquette.
The clever passenger, determined to avoid the cramped middle seat on his Ryanair flight from Budapest to London, employed a simple but effective strategy. He laid his jacket and a blanket across the two vacant seats beside him, creating the illusion they were occupied.
The Blanket Fortress Strategy
As other passengers boarded the busy aircraft, they naturally bypassed the 'taken' seats, allowing the man to enjoy a luxurious amount of personal space for the duration of the journey. The move was captured in a now-viral photo, showing him relaxed with his legs stretched out across the extra room.
While undeniably effective, the stunt has ignited a fiery debate online. Many hailed the man as a "genius" for his cunning approach to navigating the often uncomfortable reality of budget air travel.
Divided Opinions: Genius or Deeply Rude?
However, not everyone was impressed. A significant portion of critics slammed the move as "incredibly selfish" and "downright rude," arguing that it deprived other travellers of the chance to find a more comfortable spot on the full flight.
The discussion quickly expanded beyond this single event, touching on the unspoken rules of air travel. Comments ranged from sheer admiration to outright fury.
"Absolute legend. Well played, sir," wrote one supporter. Conversely, a detractor countered, "The entitlement is staggering. We all paid for one seat, not three."
The Unwritten Rules of Airplane Seating
The incident highlights the grey area in airline policies. While passengers are technically assigned a specific seat, many frequent flyers have their own strategies for securing extra space once the cabin doors close.
This 'blanket trick' sits in a moral grey zone. It's not explicitly against the rules, but it certainly challenges the principles of common courtesy and fair play at 30,000 feet. The debate continues to rage, proving that when it comes to airplane etiquette, there's no such thing as a simple journey.
