Should You Keep Your Bag On An Empty Airport Seat? Reel Sparks Etiquette Debate

Any travel via public transport in a place can turn into a social experiment or a litmus test for the civic and social sense of the country. People can sometimes be oblivious to their fellow travelers' struggles and commit certain faux pas that highlight their lack of consideration for others. One such thing is putting bags on empty seats and blocking others from sitting there. A vlogger recently shared an advisory video regarding this that ended up sparking a debate online.

Should You Keep Your Bag On An Empty Airport Seat?

The video shows a man demonstrating where you shouldn’t keep your bag while sitting at an airport. The initial part of the video shows him putting the bag on the empty seat next to him, after which he looks to the camera and gestures that this is something you shouldn’t do.

The next part of the video shows him taking the same seat again, but this time, putting the bag below the seat he’s sitting on. The next moment, another person comes and takes the seat, highlighting the thesis of the video, which is to keep seats vacant for other travelers.

The message of the video is basically that even if there isn’t anyone occupying the seat next to you, that doesn’t mean you should keep your bag there. Seats are for humans and, as such, keeping your bags there can be perceived as inconsiderate and distasteful.

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What Do The Comments Say?

The reel, which was shared on the social media platform Instagram, so far, has managed to garner more than two million views and 22.5k likes. A number of users took to the comments to express their opinions.

Some brought up cultural nuances and said that in their culture, keeping bags on the floor is thought to bring financial bad luck. Others astutely pointed out that there was a table right beside the seat, seemingly dedicated to the express purpose of keeping bags.

Author’s Take

The point made in the video is well-taken, and I think it would be better if people were mindful of the spaces they’re occupying. It is always a sign of good civic sense if you don’t occupy an entire other seat just for your bag.

That being said, if the airport sitting area is relatively empty and if not many people are standing, keeping your bag on another seat is perfectly justifiable, as long as you're prompt in moving your luggage when someone does want to occupy that seat.

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Summing Up

The main message of the video remains sensible. Occupying more space than you have to in a public setting can leave others worse off. However, unless someone else is evidently being deprived of space, the move of occupying more than one seat, perhaps, does not warrant harsh criticism. One may frown upon it, but it can also be an understandable and excusable act.