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Woman Exposing Man Invading Her Space On Plane Sparks Debate On “Flying Etiquette”
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Woman Exposing Man Invading Her Space On Plane Sparks Debate On “Flying Etiquette”

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Repeatedly being kicked in your chair? Nearly crushed to death by a sudden reclining chair in front of you? Your nostrils are under attack by a smelly odor? Your eyes are burning after seeing someone clipping their toenails? Not everyone understands airport and flying etiquette.

But this particular passenger has documented an offender of poor manners on board her flight for the whole TikTok-sphere to see.

Taking to her TikTok page, Savannah Sterling, who had the window seat on her flight, shared a clip where she exposed a passenger who invaded her private space so he could take photos of her view out the airplane window.

Savannah Sterling filmed herself on a plane while a man sitting next to her kept invading her space to take pictures of the window view

Image credits: Killian Pham/Unsplash

Image credits: sterlingsavannah

The video of the nightmare in-air moment amassed over 4.7 million views on TikTok. In it, Savannah wrote: “Do people not know personal space? And that you can choose a window seat?” 

The footage showed an uncomfortable Savannah staring at the plane’s window as an older man in the middle seat repeatedly reached past her face so he could snap photos of the view outside with his phone.

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Being a non-confrontational person, Savannah admitted that her “only option was to stare out the window”.

Image credits: sterlingsavannah

A TikToker was so shocked that they asked the content creator: “I refuse to believe this isn’t your dad. WHO DOES THAT?” to which Savannah replied: “Can confirm is NOT my father.”

Other people rushed to the comment section to share their confusion and push others to speak up when faced with such a situation.

“It’s very important to be able to advocate for ourselves when someone is making us uncomfortable,” a person wrote.

Another individual penned: “I don’t understand how someone could not speak up in a situation like this.”

A separate commentator chimed in: “That’s when you ask, ‘Can I take the photo for you instead of you reaching into my personal space?’”

“Do people not know personal space? And that you can choose a window seat?” Savannah said

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Image credits: sterlingsavannah

The viral clip prompted a debate over flying etiquette, with Business Insider writer and frequent flyer Monica Humphries weighing in.

“While I think everyone should be able to enjoy the view from the plane, I’d do a couple of things differently,” Monica wrote.

She continued: “First, I’d never enter someone else’s space or lean over them to look out the window.

“I’d also politely ask the passenger sitting next to me if I could take a photo — especially if the view was spectacular. 

“I also make a point to say hello to the person sitting next to me before a flight anyway, so I’d feel comfortable asking them if I could snap a photo or lean over for a closer view.

“And if I were in the TikToker’s position, I’d probably just point out to my seatmate that they were in my space and ask them nicely to wait until I used the restroom to take a photo.”

“That’s when you ask, ‘Can I take the photo for you instead of you reaching into my personal space?’” one user advised

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Image credits: sterlingsavannah

Watch the viral video below

@sterlingsavannahOnly option was to stare out the window😭♬ Funny – Gold-Tiger

There are unspoken rules on airplanes to help travelers be more comfortable. And although the middle seat might lose free mobility and impressive sky views, it gains priority for armrests, Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert, told CNN.

She said: “I always say the middle person gets both armrests – gets to choose, let’s put it that way.”

Samantha Brown, a TV host and travel expert, echoed this principle and also said that the middle seat occupant gets both armrests. “The middle seat — they get anything they want.”

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Andréa Oldereide

Andréa Oldereide

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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Andréa Oldereide

Andréa Oldereide

Writer, BoredPanda staff

I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

Karina Babenok

Karina Babenok

Author, BoredPanda staff

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As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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Karina Babenok

Karina Babenok

Author, BoredPanda staff

As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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Breadcrumb.
Community Member
11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you think that man in the video would fee comfortable getting into another man's space? Doubt it.

Daniela Lavanza
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's astonishing how people can't just ask for something politely...

Seb Benson
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very true... some people lack awareness of others, some simply don't care about others... and what Charlie said is spot on, food or retail are an entirely different league for this sort of thing!

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The 0roburos
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have taught my daughters to stand up for themselves. A simple Excuse me would have shut this all down.. I thank my Mother and 2 Older Brother for my self-confidence and ability to stand up for myself.. Shame on you oldman..

Rostit. .
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that is awesome! I worked with a woman who was early 20s and kept getting overlooked in her area. I was not her supervisor but we did work together for some projects and I talked to her about advocating for herself more. finally one day she called out her supervisor for not paying attention and she got her day off approved. Then she started to speak up for herself more and found the confidence to take some courses online. She finally quit this job and got a new job in the cybersecurity field making 3x what she was. this was not a all at once thing. it took her a year or so to get there but seeing her speak up versus how she would just take whatever was said to her was awesome to see.

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Breadcrumb.
Community Member
11 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you think that man in the video would fee comfortable getting into another man's space? Doubt it.

Daniela Lavanza
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's astonishing how people can't just ask for something politely...

Seb Benson
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very true... some people lack awareness of others, some simply don't care about others... and what Charlie said is spot on, food or retail are an entirely different league for this sort of thing!

Load More Replies...
The 0roburos
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have taught my daughters to stand up for themselves. A simple Excuse me would have shut this all down.. I thank my Mother and 2 Older Brother for my self-confidence and ability to stand up for myself.. Shame on you oldman..

Rostit. .
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that is awesome! I worked with a woman who was early 20s and kept getting overlooked in her area. I was not her supervisor but we did work together for some projects and I talked to her about advocating for herself more. finally one day she called out her supervisor for not paying attention and she got her day off approved. Then she started to speak up for herself more and found the confidence to take some courses online. She finally quit this job and got a new job in the cybersecurity field making 3x what she was. this was not a all at once thing. it took her a year or so to get there but seeing her speak up versus how she would just take whatever was said to her was awesome to see.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
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