What to do if seatmate falls asleep and invades your space

[aikman]

This happened to me last week so I was wondering what people do in this situation.

The stranger sitting on a middle seat next to me fell asleep. Slowly but surely his arms and head moved more and more into my seat space.

Do you move away from them to avoid body contact, use your body as a shield, let them sleep on your shoulder, push them back into their seat or wake them up?

 

[SydneySwan]

I always inadvertently wake them up.

 

[serfty]

I had this early this month on an Alaska Air red eye SEA-ORD. In "First" and they a upgraded military dude on compassionate leave to the seat beside mine. He had apparently been travelling for two days without sleep and was all over the place (not inebriated, just out of it due to grief/lack of sleep).

At one stage he rolled right across me and I couldn't wake him up, so I rang the call bell. It was sorted.

(Two days later, unprompted, I received an email apologising and advising 3K points had been placed into my MileagePlan account - which on checking were there.)

 

[offshore171]

I'll put on some popcorn

 

[Pushka]

I don't think anyone would actually want to sleep on top of someone else - I would want to be woken - and I'd definitely be waking up the sleeping person.

 

[Seat0B]

Yes I agree with those suggesting to wake the person up. It's uncomfortable both physically and emotionally to have a stranger sleeping on you. It's not really their fault - seat space being as limited as it is, and once they are asleep it's not like it is deliberate, but it is uncomfortable, and they won't know about it if you don't wake them. I would try to be kind and gentle though, remembering that I have just pulled them from their sleep.

 

[Guvner]

I'd get up and go to the bathroom. Hopefully their head doesn't hit the armrest too hard.

 

[bam71]

 

[Hvr]

Farting, and then waking the person to ask if they've defecated themselves has been known to work.

 

[anat0l]

Some pax - and I'll go and say it, males - have tried on this tactic to creep on female passengers.

(Note: I am male. No, I have never slept leaning on a stranger)

Stories have ranged from FAs being summoned but then shrugging shoulders, or FAs helping to wake the passenger and advise them, but once the FA goes away the passenger goes back to sleep, trying it on again.

 

[kpc]

Wake them up! No Q!!

 

[Warragul]

On red eye flights where this would be more common, before lights out I'll mention to my neighbour not to hesitate to wake me up if I do something like that or to climb over me to go the lavs etc. That has always been met with permission to do likewise.

These days its usually Mrs W next to me so its par for the course to be a partial pillow at some point for both of us.

 

[Forg]

Just ask the FA to use the airline-branded machete they use for dealing with the feet on blukheads from the thread of the same name, and remove the invading body part or parts?

 

[adammarcos]

This happened to me last week so I was wondering what people do in this situation.

The stranger sitting on a middle seat next to me fell asleep. Slowly but surely his arms and head moved more and more into my seat space.
Speed Test
Do you move away from them to avoid body contact, use your body as a shield, let them sleep on your shoulder, push them back into their seat or wake them up?

I would want to be woken - and I'd definitely be waking up the sleeping person.

 

[JohnK]

If I ever do that then please wake me up and please make sure to tell me not to do that again until next time!

 

[Quickstatus]

This happened to me last week so I was wondering what people do in this situation.

I've been waiting and waiting for people to give the complete answer answer. Must be a slow weekend when only partial answers given.

Wake them up

But next time don't fly in Y

Ok?. Thank you