A video posing a simple yet divisive question—Should passengers be obligated to stand up when someone in their row needs to use the bathroom?—has sparked debate over airplane etiquette on TikTok.
The clip, posted by @livinlavidaniki, has garnered 1.5 million views since it was uploaded on February 23, drawing in thousands of comments from viewers who shared their own experiences—from the mildly inconvenient to the outright bizarre.
The video shows a passenger’s seat view on a plane, with an overlaid note that reads: “I know people refuse to switch seats sometimes but has anyone ever been told they won’t move so you can’t go to the bathroom? This never happened to me but I’m curious.”
While the video does not show an actual encounter, the prompt set off a flood of responses from TikTok users who recounted incidents of fellow passengers refusing to move—or making the situation even worse.
With planes operating at near capacity, the issue of seat-sharing etiquette has become more relevant than ever. The viral post comes amid a boom in post-pandemic air travel.
According to a February report from the International Air Transport Association, the airline load factor—the percentage of available seats sold on flights—hit a record 82.6 percent in January, marking an all-time high for the month.
‘Where Did He Think I Was Going? Skydiving?’
Hundreds of TikTok users chimed in to share their experiences, and while some found the situation humorous, others recalled genuine frustrations.
One commenter, @SummerLove, wrote: “I don’t ask another adult if I can go to the bathroom. I stand up and start moving and saying excuse me.”
But not all passengers have found it that easy. User @alien 🇬🇧 described an unusual interaction: “I got up to use the toilet and when I came back the guy next to me had spread his stuff over my side. He was like, ‘I didn’t know you were coming back.’ Like where did he think I was going??? Skydiving???”
Others shared experiences where their seat mates refused to move, forcing them to resort to creative or confrontational methods.
Another user, known as @Im just lurking, recalled a flight from Croatia to Ireland, saying: “Our middle seat was free, and it was me and a teen girl. She would scoot her legs to the side but not get up, so I tooted when I climbed over.”
Flight Attendants Step In
For some, the situation escalated to the point where flight attendants had to intervene. Jessica, a passenger on a seven-hour flight from London to Boston, explained: “The middle lady refused to get up. Both me and the aisle guy were like ‘ma’am, you gotta get up.’ The flight attendant came over.”
Similarly, user @nkregal said they opted to ring the flight attendant rather than climb over another passenger, writing: “I didn’t feel comfortable climbing over another passenger, and they made him get up.”
Frustration and Confrontation
For some, waiting too long to use the restroom resulted in messy consequences. User @melina.aq recalled an incident where a passenger ignored her request and put her headphones back on. After asking again, the passenger finally stood up, but in anger, spilled hot coffee all over herself and her book, saying that the request was an “inconvenience.”
Others took a less patient approach. User @nat shared: “Yes. Crawled over him and knocked the stuff off his tray table after waiting 20 min and asking several times.”
Just Rude or a Basic Courtesy?
While many were appalled at the idea of someone refusing to move, some users debated whether passengers are actually required to stand up.
User @Noa stated: “Technically they can’t be compelled to move. If you bought a seat, you have the right to sit on it for the entire flight.” However, user @syd knee strongly disagreed, responding: “This is an insane take, what the hell.”
User @alex weighed in on the legal aspect, writing: “I’m pretty sure it’s illegal for them to keep you blocked.”
For many, the idea of denying another passenger access to the restroom is simply beyond comprehension.
User @Jayme Lee summed up the general sentiment: “I’m appalled at how rude some people are based on these stories!!! It would never cross my mind to say no or be resistant to someone needing to use the bathroom!!!”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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