The dreaded middle seat. No matter how hard you try to avoid it if you’re a frequent traveler, you’re bound to end up sitting in the middle seat on occasion. This past weekend my dad was in town for a visit and got stuck with a middle seat on his way here. In my life, there have been times when I’ve been happy to have a middle seat (or any open seat really) and times when it has made for a miserable trip. No matter which type of seat I end up with, I always practice proper etiquette. However, just what is proper etiquette when it comes to the middle seat or air travel in general? For me, whoever has the middle seat is entitled to both armrests. My seat of choice is a window seat and, even when typing on a laptop, I go out of my way to stay clear of the middle armrest. I also never use the seat in front of me as a handle to get up. Have you ever had the person behind you grab your seat as they get up? Suddenly you find your seat being pulled back and then as they let go, the seat springs forward and bops your head forward like a punching bag. Ughh…

What are your rules of etiquette when it comes to the middle seat? Once you’ve tightened your seat-belt and stashed your carry-on, how do you practice proper etiquette on an airplane? We want to know. Please leave a comment.

This article was originally posted at Brilliant Tips From BrilliantTrips.com.