A plane passenger has shared an ingenious way of utilising a sick bag as an iPad and phone holder for hands-free viewing during a flight.
Annie Lengo, from New York City, US, uploaded a video to her TikTok account @annie.lengo in January, in which she praised a fellow flyer for the ‘smartest hack ever’.
In the clip, the content creator noticed a passenger sitting nearby watching a movie on her iPad, but was shocked to see it had been seamlessly attached to the back of the seat in front.
After closer observation, Annie discovered the passenger had used a sick bag to ‘hang’ the iPad to the tray table latch, keeping it in a stable position for hands-free viewing.
But many of the comments were from people still confused about how this technique actually works.
According to a flight attendant, there has been a rise in passengers ‘cleverly’ using the sick bags to support their smartphones and devices for more enjoyable viewing.
And the easyJet cabin crew member demonstrated just how to replicate it on the airline’s TikTok page, as reported by Express.
In the clip, she explained: ‘Take the bag and place it between your cover and your phone. Then simply connect it to the tray table latch.’
Annie Lengo discovered a fellow plane passenger had used a sick bag to ‘hang’ her iPad to the tray table latch, keeping it in a stable position for hands-free viewing
The flight attendant then showcased how the phone is secured to the latch so that passengers can easily watch movies on their phone without holding it.
She added: ‘If you want to try it make sure you return the bag for the next passenger to reduce waste.
‘Remember to save any viewing until after your crew has delivered the inflight safety demonstration.’
The majority of easyJet’s tray tables already have a little ledge at the back so that people can rest their phones, no sick bag required.
Despite the hack becoming commonplace on flights, some jetsetters have warned of a number of airlines that prohibit the use of sick bags for hands-free viewing.
On TikTok, one person wrote: ‘Flight attendants have made me take it down 2 out of 3 times I tried.’
Another said: ‘Could damage the chair. It happened to me too sadly. Only some airline takes down. So far ANA and JAL. United and American would let you do it.’
A third commented: ‘Those latches holding the tray tables aren’t always secure due to the amount of usage/wear.
According to a flight attendant, there has been a rise in passengers ‘cleverly’ making use of inflight tools and accessories to support their devices for more enjoyable viewing
Despite the hack becoming commonplace on flights, some jetsetters have warned of a number of airlines that prohibit the use of sick bags for hands free viewing
‘They could slip over time causing them to disengage in high turbulence situations – the tablet could be yeeted into someone’s forehead.’
Another agreed, writing: ‘It’s a hazard, after all the only thing holding the iPad is a paper bag under the cover, a really bad turbulence could send it flying, but I should love to do this to avoid neck cramps looking down.’
Meanwhile, one person shared their relief after learning the sick bag had an alternative use, writing: ‘I was once on the plane, at mid air the guy next to me asked me if he can borrow my vomit bag.
‘I was so freaked like I thought he will vomit near me and I was so disgusted, but he just wanted to watch Netflix on his phone.’
