Other people's things in your space

[aikman]

About an hour into my economy class flight, I decided to stretch my legs forward only to discover that the person in front of me has placed her handbag under her seat. She has a blanket over her body and appeared to be asleep or trying to. I did notice that she had stretched her legs into the underseat space in front of her.

What is the best way to handle this situation, especially for someone who prefers to be non-confrontational?

 

[Hvr]

Use it as a footrest.

 

[AIRwin]

Kick it forward since her legs are already stretched out?

 

[aikman]

Kick it forward since her legs are already stretched out?

I tried very hard but the bag needed to be lifted to clear the metal foot stand thing / barrier.

 

[Guvner]

Pick it up, smile, hand it over to the FA and say "Hi, I think that passenger may have dropped this". Then stretch out.

 

[blackcat20]

Either push it forward, pop it in the overhead, or call the FA to move it.

 

[NickCorr]

This has happened to me, and I generally push the bag back over the bar so it can return to its owner. I think I am helping them from losing their bag.

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

Same answer from me. Happens often if the seat in front is a bulkhead seat.

The easiest approach is to call the FA and mention the matter. They then ask the passenger to put it in the overhead locker. This saves the possibility of confrontation, which would probably cause the passenger to argue with the FA and/or resent you for the remainder of the flight.

 

[Mattg]

On EY a few weeks ago, I was in the second row of Y and the flight attendant asked the passengers in the row in front (at the bulkhead) to stow their bags for takeoff. Now that's totally fine, but I wasn't impressed that the FA actually *instructed* them to put the bags under their seats!

 

[stm1sydney]

Hand it to FA and say "hey I found this under the seat, it must have been left from the previous flight."

 

[Port Power]

I was on a B737 window seat with the middle seat vacant. I’m pretty sure this was “my” ghost seat as it was shown as being unavailable on the seat map not long after I booked. Nevertheless I always think of it as shared between the two adjoining seats. The person in the aisle seat no sooner sat down than she had her tablet, phone and cardigan covering the middle seat! No sharing for her. I did push her stuff to the side later on so I could put my book down during meal service.

 

[Quickstatus]

I would put it in the aisle next to the passenger's seat

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

This was a personal favourite of mine... guy on the aisle set up his food, drink, laptop, ipad, kitchen sink etc...

Not like I would ever want any of the blocked seat between us, or heavens forbid need the bathroom.

 

[BAM1748]

It can happen as a habit, we're all used to putting things under our own seat everywhere else except an aircraft.

However, I'd just use as a foot rest as HVR mentioned.

 

[Happy Dude]

This was a personal favourite of mine... guy on the aisle set up his food, drink, laptop, ipad, kitchen sink etc...

Not like I would ever want any of the blocked seat between us, or heavens forbid need the bathroom.

I'm guilty of doing this to some extent but it's our space so would not object to you putting stuff there and/or on the seat too. If it's a short flight, expect a good eye rolling from me if you wanted to get out after I'd set up though.

WRT stuff in my foot space, I'd do what @Guvner suggests. Pretty sure I could resist rummaging through it first.