An American Airlines passenger’s petty hack turned their seat back into a closet, leaving their neighbor fuming.
Of all the bad behavior on planes – like bare feet, propped up on the bulkhead, or walking barefoot into the lavatory – perhaps the worst is draping your hair or jacket over the behind you. That’s because it isn’t just rude or disgusting, it also encroaches onto the limited space of another passenger nearby.
Here, the passenger sitting in back asks American’s twitter team if this is now acceptable? They got told to speak with the crew, which of course is correct. The twitter team can’t help him during the flight really, they can just respond to passive aggressive comments online.
@AmericanAir Guess this acceptable when flying American Airlines pic.twitter.com/a5P6KsfO4x
— Brandon Miller (@urban_buckeye) December 9, 2025
The behavior at issue here is rude and disruptive, but people do what makes them comfortable, blissfully unaware of the consequences their actions have on others. And it happens often, especially as we enter colder periods where people want a place to hang their jacket. The overhead bin isn’t clean, but then again the seatback probably isn’t either.
Here, a Delta Air Lines passenger complains that the person in front of them draped their jacket over their seat back. This took up the passenger’s space who was seated behind. In the jacket owner’s defense, however, someone suggests,
I don’t see why this is a problem. The passenger ahead has generously provided you with a cloth napkin!
Nope
byu/Evelyns_Human indelta
And here, a woman whose big jacket was tied around her seat back took up space from the passenger behind them, and covered that passenger’s screen too.
Like when passengers drape their hair over the seat back behind them, people always want to sabotage the passenger in front of them (glue, gum, scissors, coffee). Normally the best bet is asking a flight attendant for assistance. I’d follow up with a note to the airline about not getting the seat space paid for with the ticket. Perhaps they’ll throw a few miles at the problem.
Gum strategically placed will break this behavior.
Darn, I spilled my coffee all over your coat! So sorry, but I couldn’t access my tray.
Top-notch content, Gary! Aren’t we due for a ‘dogs on plane’ post?
“Normally the best bet is asking a flight attendant for assistance. I’d follow up with a note to the airline about not getting the seat space paid for with the ticket. Perhaps they’ll throw a few miles at the problem.”
Well, since it’s Delta, it will be very few miles.
I would just tell them to move the jacket….this is a very simple request. Only IF they refuse to allow you to see the screen or get your tray table would you need a FA. This really isnt something for even the twitter team….
I understand this is annoying but a kind word to the person would propbably take care of it and if not. ask the FA. Not a big deal… unless the person is a dofuss then the gloves come off. 😉
CONFRONT these a**holes! They know what they’re doing. This is the only way their inappropriate behavior may stop. Allowing these turds to continue this behavior only emboldens them. So what if the flight is delayed…if everyone doesn’t act right, everyone suffers!
@1990 — If only we had a dog bite its toe nails and deposit them into the coat, we’d’ve hit a trifecta!
@Trickywars — Ah, the ole ‘escalate’ and ‘brinksmanship’ approach… ‘like a glove!’
The dogs are usually better behaved than the humans.
Flip anything in your space out of the way if you don’t like where it is.
@1990 – Are you surprised there are adherents to a time honored approach?
Look mate, i appreciate that rainbows and smiles work for some sheeple however there are people for which such methods are wholly ineffective. If they were likely to respond well to lollipops and kisses we wouldnt be having this discussion in the first place. I can whole heartedly state that diplomacy and kind words did not end WWII or the American Civil War. Sometimes you have to escalate.
Alternately hack a loogie on it and then shift it out of the way. If questioned say you thought it was a cloth wipe for you.
Inconsiderate and discourteous, Americans are turning into ferral selfish creatures.
Hair, jackets, feet, even used diapers all attach to the underlying airplane easily with superglue, helping to make sure that all stray belongings and body parts stay together.
@ Trickywars. I think you are giving these women, as it appears more often to be, too much credit. Some are just plain ignorant of anyone else being in their sphere. A simple “let me put this in the overhead compartment for you so that it isn’t in my face” might work. And if that doesn’t work then “No, the front of the seatback is yours…the back of it is mine…b”
Of course asking somewhat nicely is the first approach. Those advocating for immediate escalation either have internet cajones or need anger management. People aggressive from the start think it makes them look strong. No, it makes them look like a jerk. They’re like happy little handbag dogs.