The Airplane Armrest Trick Flight Attendants Swear By For A More Comfortable Flight

If there’s one truth about flying in the modern era, it’s this: The space is never enough. That’s especially true if you’re stuck in the dreaded middle seat, but even the more coveted aisle seat can feel too cramped in an era of shrinking seat widths and jam-packed planes. But a sneaky little trick just might come to your rescue when you find yourself in one of these tight spots: a secret button buried beneath the armrests that can magically lift them out of the way. Even seasoned travelers often fly without knowing it exists.

This hack has been quietly circulating among frequent flyers for years, but many casual flyers don’t know that many economy-class aisle or middle-seat armrests feature a lever or button near the hinge; slide your finger underneath and press or pull to release the lock. Once you engage it, the armrest lifts and stays flush with the seat, which in turn frees up valuable space. It’s one of those small details that, when you find it, makes a big difference on a cramped flight.

According to a flight attendant for a major U.S. airline, this feature isn’t just about comfort. It actually exists primarily as an accessibility feature. “There’s usually a little button underneath the armrest that allows it to lift, mainly for passengers that require a wheelchair,” she told Southern Living. “It makes boarding easier when someone needs transfer assistance.”

However, just because you can lift the armrest doesn’t mean you always should. “Aisle armrests need to be down for takeoff and landing,” she said. “And when they’re up, it allows the aisle passenger to spill into the aisle even more during service, which can cause elbows, knees, and feet to get knocked by the cart.”

Her advice aligns with FAA safety regulations, which generally require aisle armrests to be down during critical phases of flight for emergency egress and safe movement in the cabin. So while the trick can make your ride more comfortable, it’s best reserved for cruising altitude—and, like all things, it’s best executed with healthy doses of awareness and common sense.

Frequent flyers on Reddit back up how helpful the feature can be. “I do it so I can turn and put both feet in the aisle before standing up,” one passenger wrote in a 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 noted that on some older planes, the button isn’t underneath but rather on the back of the armrest, so it pays to feel around or do a quick Google search of your aircraft’s seat map before takeoff.

Aside from boosting elbow room, the ability to lift the armrest also makes it easier for passengers to board or deplane, especially if they need to assist kids, an elderly seatmate, or anyone with limited mobility. And if you’ve ever had to shimmy sideways into a narrow row, you know how much difference even a few extra inches can make.

It’s important to note that not all seats have this feature. Some budget airlines or newer aircraft designs may have fixed armrests in all rows. Others restrict movement for safety reasons, so if you don’t feel a button, don’t force anything. Still, for those who discover it, this tiny design detail can turn an uncomfortable seat into a slightly more bearable one.

Read the original article on Southern Living