‘I think she didn’t expect me to push back’: Entitled airplane passenger places her feet on the back of another passenger's seat during a long-haul flight, then has a meltdown when the passenger doesn't back down

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Sep 29, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

Airplanes are too darn small for people to be acting up in any way they please. Though flight attendants are typically hyper-aware of impolite passengers, it's also important for slighted passengers to stand up for themselves. How are we supposed to move about in this world if we let strangers treat us like a cheap doormat? Luckily, the passenger in this next story shows the entitled person who the big dog is.

Plane etiquette is simple. Don't intrude on the little space another passenger has and paid for. Simple. You'd think so, at least.

The woman in this next story places her feet on the back of another passenger's seat for nearly four hours on a long-haul flight, and even starts a conflict with the passenger when she asks her to stop. When the passenger has finally had enough, she refuses to back down. So much so that the woman's partner asks her to move her feet, too. You know it's bad when loved ones can't take their side.

What is your worst airplane story? How did you make it through?

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  • "After about 4 hours of this, I'd had enough."
    via Eliot Wolfert for Unsplash

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "AITA for telling the woman behind me on a long flight to move her feet off my seat?"

    I was recently on an 8hr flight from the Middle East to London. The woman behind me had her feet,
    via Individual-Title-770
  • shoes and all, propped up on the back of my seat, wedged into the narrow gap between the window and the seat.
    via Individual-Title-770
  • The first time I tried to address it, I just pointed to her feet and said, "Excuse me?" She immediately snapped, "What??
    via Individual-Title-770
  • WHATT??" in a really r de tone. I was so taken aback that I just sank back into my seat and said nothing. She kept her feet there the entire time.
    via Individual-Title-770
  • After about 4 hours of this, I'd had enough. I stood up on my seat, turned around, and told her to move her
    via Individual-Title-770
  • feet. She started arguing with me, but this time I raised my voice. I think she didn't expect me to
    via Individual-Title-770
  • push back, because eventually her partner (who had been laughing at my earlier attempt) told her to remove her feet, and she reluctantly did.
    via Individual-Title-770
  • woman sitting down in her seat on an airplane near the plane's window
    via Adolfo Félix For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • For context: I had already been traveling 6+ hours from Asia before this flight, I had a massive headache, and every time
    via Individual-Title-770
  • I leaned my head toward the window to sleep, I was terrified my hair would touch her shoes (I have
    via Individual-Title-770
  • OCD about that sort of thing). I couldn't rest the whole time until she finally moved them.
    via Individual-Title-770
  • So, AITA for raising my voice and insisting she move her feet after hours of putting up with it?
    via Individual-Title-770
  • Edit 1: Someone actually shared this idea with me, and I thought it might help. introverts or anyone in a similar situation, who feel too anxious to speak up:
    via Individual-Title-770
  • "Next time, just pretend you need to use the lavatory, AND THEN notify the flight attendant who will (have to) handle it for you. That way, we don't have to worry about their retaliation or childish outbursts."
    via Individual-Title-770
  • Edit 2: Thanks to everyone who replied and shared their thoughts!♥
    via Individual-Title-770
  • Physical_Ad5135 Oh wow. NTA. This is disgusting. You could have called the steward at the beginning and they would have addressed this quickly though.
    via Physical_Ad5135
  • bishopredline Hot coffee or tea works well.
    via bishopredline
  • Normal_Meat_5500 People now are so r de and entitled. I would have asked once, you shouldn't need to ask but once then rung the bell. If that failed I'd have poured my drink on her dirty feet
    via Normal_Meat_5500
  • chronicducks NTA. You're all stuck in the cabin together, the least anyone can do is be considerate to those seated around them, it's seriously not that hard.
    via chronicducks
  • paulglosuk The earlier flight and headache are irrelevant and would only matter if you needed to excuse being a bit short tempered. You don't need an excuse. You are absolutely NTA here and I think you showed remarkable patience to put up with this woman for 4 hours. She's an AH and her partner is frightened of her.
    via paulglosuk
  • Individual-Title-770 Honestly, I was silently d ng inside. As an introvert traveling solo, I tolerated it, hoping and praying she would eventually take her feet down. It really wasn't about patience. ☺
    via Individual-Title-770

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