Flight attendant reveals sneaky plane trick to make your seat more comfortable
Flying is never a comfortable experience, unless perhaps of you're at the front of the plane.
Economy seats are notorious for being cramped, with barely enough space for your elbows, especially if you're a bigger person.
But there's a hidden feature on most plane seats to make them more spacious, that you probably didn't even know about.
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Plane seats can be very cramped. Getty
Armrests on plane seats typically can be raised and lowered to give you more space, and to make it easier to slide across to the window when needed.
But the armrest on the aisle seat is locked in place - unless you know about the button hidden underneath.
This trick has been quietly circulated amongst frequent flyers for years, but not many casual travellers know about it.
If you encounter an armrest that doesn't lift, feel around on its underside for a lever or button near the hinge. Press that, and the armrest should raise up.
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A flight attendant showed off the hack on TikTok. TikTok
This unlocking mechanism actually exists primarily as an accessibility feature.
It's "mainly for passengers that require a wheelchair," a US-based flight attendant told Southern Living. "It makes boarding easier when someone needs transfer assistance."
She does point out that passengers still need to make sure they keep their knees and arms out of the aisle, so use the 'hack' with caution.
And of course, keep the armrest lowered during take-off and landing.
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The armrest trick makes it easier to get up on a full flight, Getty
Lifting up the aisle armrest can be really handy when you're getting in and out of your seat.
"I do it so I can turn and put both feet in the aisle before standing up," one passenger wrote in a Reddit thread dedicated to the seat hack.
"Trying to get out of my seat when the one in front of me is reclined is a real challenge."
Another commenter pointed out that on some older planes, the button is actually at the back of the armrest, not underneath.
Cathay Pacific has the most comfortable economy cabin. Supplied
If you're taking a longer-haul flight and you want to be comfortable, consider booking on Cathay Pacific.
The airline was crowned the winner for the 'World's Best Economy Class Airline' in the recent Skytrax awards.
Qatar Airways came in second place and Singapore Airlines in third.
A little closer to home, Qantas was awarded the Best Economy Class Airline in Australia/Pacific region for 2025.
The Aussie airline recently unveiled its brand new aircraft - a bigger, more fuel efficient model that has plenty of extra baggage space for passengers.
A flat water bottle fits in the seat-back pocket. Instagram
Another frequent flyer trick to stay comfortable on planes is to invest in a flat water bottle.
It's not exactly breaking news that being on a flight really dehydrates you.
Travel and food writer Lindy Alexander previously told 9Travel: "When you're flying economy, every inch of space is precious."
"A water bottle that sits flush against the seat in front is a godsend."
Another great flight-friendly option is a collapsible silicone bottle. While they may have initially been designed for camping or hiking, it's great being able to squash down your bottle when it's empty, until you're ready to refill.
