Passengers Toe Nails Start Scratching At Your Arm. What Do You Do?

When the passenger in front of you drapes their long hair over your seat back screen, your choice are scissors, gum, or coffee. But what do you do when a passenger pushes their bare feet through your arm rest and starts scratching your arm?

To be clear, I’d first say “excuse me” but someone that’s doing this may not be embarrassed when called out for doing it. More drastic measures may be necessary, as some comments on that photo suggested while I add others myself.

  • Use a blanket as a shield between your arm and their foot
  • Kiss their feet
  • Sneeze on their feet
  • Dump bottle of water (or soda) on their foot
  • Draw lewd body parts on their foot
  • Stand up and loudly ask, to no one in particular, “what is that smell?”

If you had to take matters into your own hands, what would you do?

(HT: T.P.)

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. Nails aren’t the worst thing. People fart on board while their first class lavatory is a few steps away.

  2. I would call the FA as a witness and then I would turn around and chew them out. But on the other hand, I never travel on Spirit Airlines

  3. Pull the lancet device from my blood sugar tester and four lancets. Set to maximum pressure, fire right into the webbing between the toes, reload, repeat..

  4. @Alan,

    When reading these comments almost daily and when contributing here , I am sure my facts are correct . Spirit Airlines does not have any 10 hour flights ( as stated above it was a 10 hour flight ) and the seats in the picture of the seats , with the foot and toes showing are not Spirit’s seats . The seats appear to be some type of cloth/canvass but I cannot say for sure because I do not have the facts about the seat covering in the picture .

    To the point , to choose ANY airline and not choose to fly them is all good and a personal choice . But to imply Spirit Airlines , American Airlines , Delta Airlines or any specific carrier condones this behavior or is the norm is totally not a fact .

    P.S. I am not connected to any of the carriers listed but have flown them all and without a doubt , I know the seat coverings on each carrier .

  5. I second beckoning the FA. They are in legal control/authority and would know how to best handle it. if not able to be helpful, I’d request a seat change if possible. I cannot believe the nerve of some people!

  6. I’ve found an “accidently” spilled cup of hot coffee with extra sugar usually resolves the issue. The hotter the better.

  7. My thoughts exactly, must have been one of those WalMart air lines. Since Spirit charges for every little thing you should have told the person behind that it’s an extra $100 bucks to put your foot on my arm rest

  8. I would let out a blood-curdling scream as I leaped out of my seat. I’d be babbling hysterically and pretend I thought it was a reptile or big bug or whatever … I’d be much too scared to be coherent.

  9. Ringing for the FA? It’s not a safety issue so don’t expect much.
    Sneeze on their feet? I’d caught up the nastiest phlegm and sneeze that on their feet.

  10. There can be no excuse for that passenger’s bad manners. But don’t do anything that might get *you* into trouble (e.g. spilling hot coffee or screaming). Start by asking politely or nudging the offending feet out of the way. If that doesn’t work, contact a FA. You are entitled to safe and reasonably comfortable passage, and having naked clawed feet shoved in your space is neither safe nor healthy. No matter what you paid for your fare, no matter which airline, no matter what destination.

  11. I might uncontrollably vomit; at the very least I would be repulsed and call the FA as a witness and ask them to deal with it, preferably with a PA announcement regarding the health dangers and inappropriateness of this action.
    And, I agree with Robb that suggesting this activity would be expected on certain airlines is without basis. (Even in the best places, disgusting actions occur: I was sailing on the Regent Navigator in May and encountered a man clipping his fingernails in the library.)

  12. Years ago I had a passenger put one his bare feet between the seats to stretch out! I faked a sneeze and splashed water on his foot.. Problem solved! He got bitchy and I explained I pad for my armrest..He didn’t!

  13. Write “call me” on the back of a business card and slip it between her toes.

    (Of course, it doesn’t have to be your own business card.)

  14. Scream, then say loudly, “Oh, I’m so sorry, I thought that was a BUG but it’s YOUR FOOT!! Would you mind moving it?” Or….TICKLE IT.
    Tickle the foot, then if no response, say something like, “Tickle, tickle, your foot is poking me, I bet you didn’t know you were touching my arm with your foot, mind moving it?” All while looking between the seats back at the foot’s owner, smiling.
    I’m from a more Southern state.
    I would use niceness first.

    If they didn’t move it, then I’d keep tickling it. 🙂 Most people have ticklish feet.

  15. Since I always carry a Sharpie with me, I’d draw a huge, veiny weiner on her foot and tell her it’s a self portrait and ask her if she wants to hook up after the flight. That should do it…. if not, SCORE!

Comments are closed.