Passenger’s Hair Flop Over TV Screen Causes In-Flight Drama and Social Media Frenzy

Hair today, gone viral tomorrow? One airline passenger found herself in the middle of an internet debate after posting a photo of a fellow flyer’s very relaxed hair etiquette. The image, shared to Reddit’s United Airlines forum, showed long, thick hair cascading over the headrest and totally draping the passenger’s TV screen. If you thought you’d seen every kind of travel mishap, buckle up: this one’s a real tangle.

The poster, caught between amusement and annoyance, asked, "So what’s the standard operating procedure here?" The internet, of course, had a lot to say. Suggestions ranged from hitting the flight attendant call button to the more, let’s say, creative option: scissors. Others recommended tugging the hair or simply asking the owner to move it — always a bold move at cruising altitude.

Most agreed the best option was to politely let the person know her hair was blocking the screen. As one user put it, "I'm sorry, miss, your hair is covering my screen, can you please move it?" And if that doesn’t work? Call in the professionals — aka, the flight attendants.

One Redditor recounted their own hair-raising experience: standing up, calmly alerting the person, and receiving a quick apology. If only all mid-air disputes could wrap up so neatly.

The original poster added an update: after about five minutes of silent observation (and a few giggles shared with a seatmate), they snapped a photo for Reddit’s judgment. Not long after, the hair was moved. Social media justice served — no scissors required.

For anyone wondering how to gracefully handle similar in-flight breaches of etiquette, etiquette expert and former flight attendant Jacqueline Whitmore advised that kindness is key. "Anything can be handled if you say it kindly," she said. If a gentle nudge doesn’t solve the problem, that’s when you should flag down a flight attendant.

Whitmore also stressed the importance of spatial awareness in cramped cabins. "As long as you and your personal belongings aren’t encroaching on someone else’s, then it’s usually not a problem." Words to fly by, honestly.