- A video went viral of a plane passenger leaning over their seatmate to take photos from the window.
- Some TikTokers commented on the video saying that they would've told the passenger to stop.
A viral TikTok video of a plane passenger leaning over their seatmate to take photos out of the window is igniting a debate over flying etiquette.
On Monday, TikTok user @sterlingsavannah posted a 43-second video about her experience on a flight. The footage purportedly shows a passenger leaning over the TikToker, who is sitting near the window and has her camera phone pointed upwards to show the altercation. (The person sitting next to the TikToker doesn't appear to be aware that they're being filmed.)
The onscreen text reads, "Do people not know personal space? And that you can choose a window seat??"
@sterlingsavannah Only option was to stare out the window
♬ Funny - Gold-Tiger
As of Wednesday, the video has 2.9 million views and thousands of comments from users on the platform.
The TikToker who posted the video didn't respond to Business Insider's requests for comment.
TikTokers were quick to comment on how they'd handle the situation
Over 9,700 people have commented on the TikTok video sharing their thoughts and how they would've handled the situation.
Commenters seemed to agree that the passenger taking photos was in the wrong, with one writing: "The way I would have closed the shade so fast."
Some also were surprised that the TikToker didn't tell the stranger to stop in the video.
"I don't understand how someone could not speak up in a situation like this," one TikTok user wrote.
"Another option is to look him in the eyes and let him know he is making you uncomfortable. try it. it's liberating to stand up for yourself," another person commented.
Others pointed out that this could've been the passenger's first time flying or that he may not have been aware you could pay extra to choose a window seat ahead of time.
"Let people enjoy the view as well," one person wrote. "As they maybe couldn't book a window seat or at the check-in all window seats were unavailable."
Another person agreed and said "this could be this man's first time flying with no window seats left."
As a frequent traveler, I wonder if I've ever been wrong in this situation
Whether I'm flying home or to a new city, it's thrilling to look out of the window at your destination. In Colorado, I can spot mountaintops from new perspectives, and when I fly home to Orlando, I peer at the perfectly positioned suburban neighborhoods.
But as much as I love the window seat, I don't love paying for it. So even if I'm in the middle or aisle seat, I often find myself glancing out the plane's window during takeoff and landing.
After watching this TikTok video, though, I wonder if I've been wrong to look out of the plane's window if I wasn't seated next to it.
While I think everyone should be able to enjoy the view from the plane, I'd do a couple of things differently.
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.