‘This is not real’: Passenger films what older woman does to her during Emirates flight and viewers are baffled

A content creator’s first long-haul flight on Emirates turned uncomfortable when her seatmate used her as a human body pillow for the entire 15-hour journey. Most people hope for decent rest and personal space on lengthy flights, especially when paying for premium seating.

According to Bro Bible, the creator, Hayley (@slotbottom), captured the bizarre situation in a TikTok video that quickly went viral, getting over 15 million views. The clip shows the cabin lights dimmed as passengers settle in for the long flight. Then, the older woman sitting to Hayley’s right, completely covered in a blanket, makes her move.

Hayley captioned the TikTok clip with disbelief, writing, “TBT to when this old lady spooned me for an entire 15 hour flight.” The next shot reveals the blanketed passenger lying completely horizontal, sprawled not just across her own seat but fully invading Hayley’s space as well. Hayley noted, “This is not real. Her face is literally in my a—.”

The situation seems especially strange given Emirates’ luxury reputation

Emirates is famous for its luxury travel experience, known for spacious cabins, top-tier service, and perks like onboard showers on the A380 and Dom Pérignon champagne in first class. Paying for such a premium experience should guarantee basic personal space, but this woman decided the best sleeping arrangement involved using her neighbor as a human bolster.

The viral video has split viewers in the comments section. One viewer shared their own similar experience, writing, “Happened to me & I pushed her off I was so mad, this was after.” Another commenter offered a different perspective, saying, “She wasn’t trying to spoon you, the middle seat was empty and you simply took it over as if it was yours, so she was also trying to get a share of it to be more comfortable (which is fair), you could have sat normally on your seat if you didn’t want to get close.” 

While this incident didn’t escalate to that level, some passengers have had experiences so bad they called the police while still airborne. This scenario raises serious questions about basic airplane etiquette. Most people agree that the middle seat passenger gets both armrests because they drew the short straw. 

If you need to recline your seat, you should look back first and do it slowly to avoid spilling drinks or crushing laptops. One commenter noted the woman’s assertiveness, saying, “She was like “I hope you’re ready… cause I’m going in”.”

If you want to sleep well on a long trip without spooning a stranger, experts say the main goal is shutting out distractions. A good pair of noise-canceling headphones can drown out engine noise. Use an eye mask to block out cabin light, and a travel pillow to support your neck. 

Uncomfortable flight situations aren’t always about personal space violations; sometimes, crew members create awkward moments for passengers, too. If possible, grab a window seat for a solid surface to lean against and control over the shade. Keep your legs uncrossed while sitting to improve circulation and reduce stress on your lower spine. Skip the pre-flight coffee or cocktail, as caffeine keeps you wired and alcohol reduces your sleep quality.