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Nobody enjoys being stuck with the middle seat on an aircraft. We all have our favourite spot when flying, and for nearly everyone, that means either the window or aisle seat, with the dreaded middle being the position most passengers desperately want to avoid.

The middle seat on a plane is frequently despised because it lacks any of the benefits offered by the other two options. You miss out on the scenery that window seat occupants can admire, and you cannot take advantage of the additional legroom that comes from extending your leg into the aisle. Plus, if you're flying solo, you're typically squashed between two unfamiliar people.

One woman on social media recently suggested there should be an unwritten "rule" that all aircraft passengers observe to grant those stuck in the middle seat a modest amount of comfort - and whilst many concurred, others insisted she was simply being "cheeky".

Molly Wroe, from Australia, posted a clip on TikTok where she detailed her experience from the middle seat during a flight. Throughout her journey, she found herself trapped between two men who declined to let her use either armrest - which she maintained violated a crucial unspoken aircraft etiquette.

She said: "Who's gonna tell these men I get both arm rests because I'm in the middle? ?" She also reinforced her position in the caption, where she insisted: "Middle person gets both armrests."

This unofficial etiquette is something travellers have discussed previously concerning the middle seat. It's frequently suggested that passengers in the window and aisle positions shouldn't utilise their inner armrests, since they already have access to their own armrest on the exterior, plus all the additional perks that accompany avoiding the middle placement.

Consequently, it's contended that the individual in the middle position ought to be entitled to use the armrests on both sides of their seat, given they lack the benefit of a decent view or additional leg space. This was Molly's point in her video - however, not everybody shared her opinion.

Several commenters on her footage branded her "cheeky" for insisting upon access to both armrests. They maintained that there's no "airline rule" stating the middle seat receives use of the armrests, and suggested it should fall to her to request her fellow travellers if they wouldn't mind shifting their arms.

One person questioned: "Why would you get both, and they both get zero?" Another remarked: "Absolutely not, one each, which is fair; there are no rules regarding arm rests."

A third commented: "Why don't you tell them instead of filming? It's not an official rule that the middle seat gets both armrests."

However, others rallied behind Molly, arguing it's an unwritten convention that's fundamentally about being "polite". Whilst it isn't a regulation or requirement that airlines actually implement, most passengers would generously relinquish the armrest because they're considerate enough to recognise that the middle seat is dreadful and warrants some degree of comfort.

One person remarked: "Everyone in the comments is not getting it, but you're right. It's an unofficial rule, but it's just polite. Middle gets nothing, so they get both armrests. The window and the aisle each get their outer armrest and all the other perks."

Another contended: "The window seat gets one armrest and the window, aisle seat gets one armrest and obviously the aisle to get up whenever they like, and the centre seat gets no window, no getting up when they like and BOTH armrests. THAT'S THE RULE ON ANY AND ALL AIRLINES."

A third commented: "They both have one on the outside, one gets the window, and one has free access to the toilet. Would seem fair to me."