Apparently there is a new airline slang term floating around called “mermaiding.” I had never heard the word before this week, but after reading about it, I realized I may be guilty of one version of it…though certainly not the other.

Airline “Mermaids” Are Apparently A Thing Now…And I Might Be One

A recent Travel + Leisure article that popped into my news feed highlighted the term “mermaid” as unofficial airline slang used by flight attendants to describe certain annoying passenger behaviors onboard aircraft.

But interestingly, the term seems to have evolved to mean two very different things.

One version describes passengers who spread themselves across multiple empty seats on lightly loaded flights, almost like a mermaid stretched across a rock. The other refers to “manspreading” passengers who invade the personal space of neighboring travelers.

One of those definitions applies to me. The other absolutely does not.

Yes, I Absolutely Try To Claim Empty Rows In Economy Class

If I’m flying economy class on a lightly loaded flight and there is an empty row available, I absolutely will try to claim it.

No shame whatsoever.

In fact, I actively strategize for this:

• I often ask gate agents if they can move me to an empty row before boarding that will “stay empty” after standbys are cleared
• Sometimes I board last to maximize my odds of finding a fully empty row
• I will spread out across multiple seats to discourage others from sitting next to me
• I have occasionally turned down upgrades because I would rather have an entire economy row to myself

That last point may sound ridiculous to some readers, but an entire row in economy can honestly be more comfortable than a domestic first class recliner, especially on a redeye.

And yes, part of the strategy is territorial. Once I find an empty row, I absolutely want to keep it empty.

If that makes me an airline “mermaid,” fine…guilty as charged.

But There’s A Huge Difference Between Claiming Empty Space And Invading Shared Space

What I do not do is invade someone else’s personal space.

That is where this newer “manspreading” interpretation of “mermaid” horrifies me.

If I’m seated next to someone:

• I try to stay tightly within my own seat boundaries
• I avoid using the shared middle space if the middle seat is open
• If all seats are occupied, I firmly believe the middle-seat passenger gets both armrests

That last point is simply the civilized thing to do, even if it is not a written rule. The middle seat is objectively the worst seat onboard and the armrests are the small consolation prize.

To me, sprawling across empty seats on an empty flight and physically encroaching on another passenger’s space are two totally different behaviors.

One is opportunistic, the other is rude and always unacceptable.

CONCLUSION

I had never heard the term “mermaid” used in an airline context before now.

But if it means trying to secure an empty economy row and stretching out across it on a lightly loaded flight, then yes, I’m absolutely guilty. If it means invading someone else’s personal space and sprawling into neighboring seats, then absolutely not.

There is a huge difference between protecting unused space and taking space that belongs to somebody else.

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

SUBSCRIBE!

You have Successfully Subscribed!