When Flying on a Plane, what's the etiquette in this scenario?

[NotYou]

So, I was on vacation for a long time, all of October.

This was my very first international long flight. The flight itself there and back were fine and great.
On the way home, though, it was an awkward moment, and I had no idea what to do.

As soon as we got in the air, the three ladies in front of me reclined their seats and fell asleep. That's fine; I have no problem with reclining seats.
Shortly after, the 2 ladies next to me did the same. I was in the window seat because I had never flown during the day so I wanted the views coming back to London.

The "aisle" lady had noise-cancelling headphones and an eye mask, and the woman in the middle seat next to me didn't but she did put the blanket on immediately.

I desperately needed to go to the toilet, and I could not try to get up and squeeze past them because the reclined seats in front made it so there was NO space for me to put my feet, plus it'd be a bit weird anyway with the women next to me both being strangers.
I didn't want to wake them up either, as I felt it was a bit rude.

I just waited and waited as much as I could and eventually, the woman next to me did wake up, but the other one did not. So I took my chance to ask her.
Luckily me and her kind of laughed about it and at how awkward it was. She couldn't get out either because of the other sleeping woman, so she leaned back and also opened her legs as much as possible so I could step between her, but then I had the awkward moment of trying to completely do a big step over the other woman, or awkwardly waking her up to ask her to move. I chose the former option and luckily I didn't fall on her.



But yeah, what would you all do in this situation? What is the etiquette here? You have 3, or maybe 4 options I guess.
1) Wait and wait and hope they don't sleep all the flight or you don't pee yourself.
2) Awkwardly try to step over them and risk falling on them.
3) Try to gently wake them up and ask nicely for them to move.
4) Call a steward and ask them to wake them up for you (I feel this would have been the most weird, rude and awkward to be honest, so I didn't even think about it for more than a split second)


When I did get to the queue an American woman had seen me squeezing past them both and she had a laugh with me about it too, so that was nice haha

 

[rockin_rod]

Option 3 - although I would not be too 'gentle' about it, some people are very deep sleepers and you have as much entitlement to use the facilities, stretch your legs, whatever else, as all other passenger on that plane.
Option 4 would be a last resort if the person got salty and refused to budge - I'm happy to get to grips with rude folk myself, but it can sometimes backfire/ So I'd ask, ask once again bluntly if needed, and then hit that call button.

If I'm on an aisle/center seat on a flight, I usually just say to the people outboard of me, if you need to get out, just wake me up.

One time I heard a guy tell others in his row that he was getting over food poisoning and might need to get out in a hurry - they quickly offered to swap seats with him so he could be on the aisle - guy winked at me as he moved seats. Guess he used that excuse often.

 

[cbhours]

yikes for long international flights i always pay a little extra to get a seat with nothing in front of it or plenty of space like an emergency exit seat. Its annoying that they make you put your backpack in the compartment above but at least you got plenty of space.

 

[MarieElise]

I'm with Rod on this one. I wouldn't care about doing it gently either. I need to piss, either they move, or I'm peeing on them lol
I wouldn't say it that bluntly, but you get the drift.
I knew that was gonna be a good one 3 lines in

So sorry you experienced this though, and I hope you had a lovely travel/ holiday/ time, despite the awkward pee thing
I'm sorry, this whole scenario just has me rolling

 

[Maxi]

It’s a good question. Mate, just tap them and wake them up. You’re not in their bedroom they’re on a public flight!

Flight attendants do it all the time, too - wake people up to check seatbelt or when it’s food time.

It can be annoying though. I used to get the window seat but usually when flying with someone I knew and they didn’t want it.

Nowadays I always go aisle seat if I’m solo because it’s easier to get up and move around a bit on a long haul flight. Small price to pay for being woken up when I’m just dozing anyway.

 

[Slapstick]

Option 3. On long flights that is just the price the aisle and middle-seater have to pay, and they should be aware/ok with it. That is also why I always choose an aisle seat; I'll have a few beers during the flight so I will be up several times to use the toilet.

 

[AmberCutie]

4) Call a steward and ask them to wake them up for you (I feel this would have been the most weird, rude and awkward to be honest, so I didn't even think about it for more than a split second)

I guess I am weird, rude and awkward enough to choose this option.

However, I always get an aisle seat for this reason. Bathroom anxiety is too real. I need to know I can get to it ASAP if I need it.

 

[LaceyRoyce]

Hi, i frequently fly with the window seat on 17 hour flights to nz and back to nyc-

when you sit down, it’s a good idea to ask them if they plan on sleeping to let you know so you can go to the bathroom before they go to sleep. They’ll typically tell you to just wake them up if you need to get out and they’re sleeping and it avoids the awkwards.

However in a situation where they are dead asleep and a light tap isn’t working, just call the flight attendant with your button and explain.

I recently had this happen with an older gentleman who couldn’t get out on his own in the isle. It was only a 4 hour flight so I normally would have made it but i suddenly got my period and had to go to the bathroom urgently. I called the attendant, showed her with text on my phone what happened and they brought a guy to help the man get up.. I felt awful but he should have had a disability seat.

He also called me a fatty so I don’t feel as bad lol

 

[Vixxen81]

I guess I am weird, rude and awkward enough to choose this option.

However, I always get an aisle seat for this reason. Bathroom anxiety is too real. I need to know I can get to it ASAP if I need it.

Same. I've only flown round trip three times in my entire life but I have a teeny, nervous bladder. Waiting is usually not an option for me when I need to go.

 

[Slapstick]

He also called me a fatty so I don’t feel as bad lol

I would have had to URGENTLY use the toilet every 15 minutes after that. I hope you told him that it wouldn't be an issue if he weren't a crippled old limp-dicked douche nozzle.

 

[LaceyRoyce]

I would have had to URGENTLY use the toilet every 15 minutes after that. I hope you told him that it wouldn't be an issue if he weren't a crippled old limp-dicked douche nozzle.

Man that flight was the worst I’ve ever been on .. and I’ve flown a LOT.

I was so shocked he didn’t seem like he was fit to fly

 

[rockin_rod]

I was so shocked he didn’t seem like he was fit to fly

It's also concerning from any emergency situation too, that the guy in an aisle seat was incapable of getting up without assistance.

 

[Ozzie_]

Man that flight was the worst I’ve ever been on .. and I’ve flown a LOT.

I was so shocked he didn’t seem like he was fit to fly

If he always behaves like that (calling strangers names) IMO he is not fit to be out in public let alone fit to fly.

 

[sidangelus]

this is why I always choose an aisle seat. But, I would just wake them up! You gotta pee and holding it's not good for you.

 

[yummybrownfox]

So, I was on vacation for a long time, all of October.

This was my very first international long flight. The flight itself there and back were fine and great.
On the way home, though, it was an awkward moment, and I had no idea what to do.

As soon as we got in the air, the three ladies in front of me reclined their seats and fell asleep. That's fine; I have no problem with reclining seats.
Shortly after, the 2 ladies next to me did the same. I was in the window seat because I had never flown during the day so I wanted the views coming back to London.

The "aisle" lady had noise-cancelling headphones and an eye mask, and the woman in the middle seat next to me didn't but she did put the blanket on immediately.

I desperately needed to go to the toilet, and I could not try to get up and squeeze past them because the reclined seats in front made it so there was NO space for me to put my feet, plus it'd be a bit weird anyway with the women next to me both being strangers.
I didn't want to wake them up either, as I felt it was a bit rude.

I just waited and waited as much as I could and eventually, the woman next to me did wake up, but the other one did not. So I took my chance to ask her.
Luckily me and her kind of laughed about it and at how awkward it was. She couldn't get out either because of the other sleeping woman, so she leaned back and also opened her legs as much as possible so I could step between her, but then I had the awkward moment of trying to completely do a big step over the other woman, or awkwardly waking her up to ask her to move. I chose the former option and luckily I didn't fall on her.



But yeah, what would you all do in this situation? What is the etiquette here? You have 3, or maybe 4 options I guess.
1) Wait and wait and hope they don't sleep all the flight or you don't pee yourself.
2) Awkwardly try to step over them and risk falling on them.
3) Try to gently wake them up and ask nicely for them to move.
4) Call a steward and ask them to wake them up for you (I feel this would have been the most weird, rude and awkward to be honest, so I didn't even think about it for more than a split second)


When I did get to the queue an American woman had seen me squeezing past them both and she had a laugh with me about it too, so that was nice haha

You are so nice. Lol. I have a weak (small?) bladder, and at my job (where I get two 15 minute breaks plus one 30-minute lunch break) I use those opportunities to run to the bathroom on every single one of those breaks. I would never, ever deprive myself of using the bathroom just because some other passenger is in the way. Nah, one way or another I AM getting up to get to that bathroom. Either option #3 or #2. I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing option #4 because I’d feel like I’m bothering the steward when I can just speak up for myself…even if it is a little awkward. If you gotta go, you gotta go.