Woman covers airplane seat with 'seat bag,' completely blocks neighbor's tray table: 'I'd have that bag torn a minute after takeoff'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jun 24, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

On a plane, there are few creature comforts. It's kind of the bare minimum if you're in coach. They give you a seat (kind of) and they give you a ride to your destination. On some airlines, they give you a free soda. On others, they give you a free meal. And if you're super lucky, you get to watch a movie or two up there. There are so few stimuli on planes that you hold on dear to whatever they give you. You want that meal. You want that movie. And you want the full use of your tray table so you can hold everything.

Planes are also places where some people are more on edge than they usually are. Maybe they're a little afraid of flying. Maybe they've been through stressful airport situations with the people they love and now they're ready to leave them there. Maybe there's a baby crying at a pitch that makes everyone uncomfortable. 

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  • So it's no wonder that all sorts of altercations happen on planes. You've heard of them, I don't have to spell them out for you here. But everyone is a little antsy. Like in this story, where one woman's germaphobia got in the way of her fellow passenger's comfort. Read on for the story. 

  • 01

    Lady covers seat with "seat bag" - tray table cannot be opened...

    LIFE VEST IN PANEL ABOVE YOUR HEAD FRESHLY BREWED LAVAZ
    via u/island_architect
  • 02

    Commenters gave ideas of possible solutions.

    Intelligent_Pop1173 • 9h ago Flight attendants would make her remove it. Just call them.
    via u/Intelligent_Pop1173
  • 03
    _ephemeral_edge • 9h ago The bag s ks, but why are we not talking about the fact that she's sitting next to a giant?
    via u/_ephemeral_edge
  • 04
    Certain_Passion1630 9h ago Maybe she should just wear a poncho
    via u/Certain_Passion1630
  • 05
    zizop 9h ago You absolutely can open it, ripping a plastic bag is easy.
    via u/zizop
  • 06
    ziggypalffykings • 9h ago Ripppppp
    via u/ziggypalffykings
  • 07
    ResolveResident118 8h ago • Aside from the inconvenience of not being able to use the tray table, it is also covering up the safety instructions. That's enough of a reason for the flight attendants to get her to remove the bag.
    via u/ResolveResident118
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10520766464
    via Unsplash+ (Tahir osman)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 09
    ProperEarwig • 9h ago How is this allowed? I would just rip it open from the back
    via u/ProperEarwig
  • 10
    Nicki3000 • 8h ago . "Excuse me, your seat cover is blocking my tray table." Chances are, she'll say "Oh, sorry. Hadn't noticed."
    via u/Nicki3000
  • 11
    Tomokin 8h ago • Just get the attention of a flight attendant: "Excuse me theres something wrong with my tray table"
    via u/Tomokin
  • 12
    The_Final_Barse ⚫ 8h ago Why does she even have a bag over the seat in the first place? Surely that makes the fight even more unbearable? Imagine the sweaty arse!
    via u/The_Final_Barse
  • 13
    PropertyActual8761 • 9h ago I would honestly try to move the plastic upwards just enough to uncover the tray. If that doesn't work, I'm ripping the sh out of it. Some people really have no consideration for others
    via u/PropertyActual8761
  • 14
    . jane-anon-doe • 8h ago I'd just ask her to remove it because I can't open my tray anymore. Maybe she literally didn't think of that. If that doesn't work, I'd tell a flight assistant to please take care of it.
    via u/jane-anon-doe
  • 15
    Slalom44 9h ago • I'd have that bag torn a minute after takeoff.
    via u/Slalom44
  • 16
    meatheadmommy. 8h ago Annoying bag aside, why tf is that giant having to sit in the middle seat?! That doesn't seem comfortable at all.
    via u/meatheadmommy
  • 17
    Psychological_Day_1.9h ago This is not mildly infuriating, this is how wars start.
    via u/island_architectPsychological_Day_1
  • 18
    . dgabrielm 7h ago Just pointing out, that even though there might be a relatively easy solution to this problem, it is still mildly infuriating. Typical example of people going nuts in the comments on this subreddit and missing the entire point of it.
    via u/dgabrielm
  • 19
    • Lost-Upstairs333 · 8h ago The amount of comments telling OP to destroy the bag...Why people decide on violence instead of a conversation so fast? This is why this world is sh
    via u/Lost-Upstairs333
  • 20
    • Potential_Can_9381 9h ago Ripping things apart ist fun, as everybody suggests. But maybe talk to her first and find out what's the reason for that bag. And if it's possible to slide it up for a bit to open the tray. On the other hand, she should have talked to you about it in the first place.
    via u/Potential_Can_9381
  • 21
    th3bucch 8h ago • It's Rayanair, there isn't enough space to open it anyway.
    via u/th3bucch
  • 22
    beaniebee11 · 7h ago I never get this level of germ phobia. I hate it when people do that thing where they wrap a bunch of toilet paper around the seat in public restrooms so it ends up all stuck to the bowl. Doesn't even make sense cos you're touching the toilet way more by doing that.
    via u/beaniebee11
  • 23
    NoWinged HussarsToday · 8h ago What is proper response in such case? 1. Tell woman this is not OK and she should remove it 2. Inform flight attendant about it and ask them to do something about it 3. Take photo of it and post on Reddit
    via u/NoWingedHussarsToday
  • 24
    FistedBone9858 7h ago The comments here are such an interesting insight into 'social skills' in 2025.. some would rather suffer, some would rather get into a confrontation etc.. it seems there is no middle ground where you can just.. ask nicely?
    via u/FistedBone9858
  • 25
    howlermonk3y • 7h ago . The women is concerned the seat isn't clean, not that big of a deal. You can easily split the bag and open your tray. The only issue I see here is your inability to overcome basic adversity.
    via u/howlermonk3y

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air travel ask reddit fly flight attendant FAIL planes airport flight plane reddit story Travel mildly infuriating reddit thread flights Reddit airplanes airplane flying
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