Flyers warn air travel is becoming unbearable as passenger seats keep shrinking

Across multiple platforms, passengers have posted videos and detailed accounts about situations in which they were literally pressed against windows or armrests on fully booked flights.

In one widely discussed Reddit post, a passenger said he or she was crushed against the side of the plane during a cross-country flight after the middle-seat passenger fell asleep shortly after takeoff. 

The user said attempts to push back were unsuccessful - and the person eventually asked for help from flight attendants.

The post prompted hundreds of responses from users who said they, too, had encountered situations like that.

One user wrote, "United has a policy for this - [passengers] must be able to sit in their own seat with the armrests fully down, otherwise they need a second seat. If there aren't extra seats, they need to change to a flight that has some."

Many people urged other passengers to raise seating concerns during the boarding process rather than after a flight departs - while others said the airlines often fail to enforce their own policies.

On TikTok, users have posted videos describing feeling squeezed into their seats during flights and debating who bears responsibility when space becomes an issue.

In one video, a man described sitting next to a larger passenger and suggested the person may have needed two seats. 

"Instead of shaming them, you [should] keep your opinion to yourself," one user wrote.

Others defended those speaking out about the issue. 

"Put the armrest down," several users wrote.

"The seats on airplanes seem to be getting smaller for everyone, which makes awareness essential," Whitmore told Fox News Digital.

"No one should be pressed, leaned on or crowded out of their seat."

"When space becomes a problem and boundaries are crossed, the solution isn't to suffer in silence," she also said.

"It's best to address the situation calmly, thoughtfully and appropriately."

The airlines also state that passengers must be able to sit within their own seats, with armrests fully lowered.

They recommend addressing seating needs in advance, as same-day accommodations may be limited on full flights.