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When you are on a longer flight and want to enjoy a meal or use your laptop for either work or to watch a movie, few things are more frustrating than the above situation, that is, a tray table that sags in the middle. You will find this “type” of tray table on most of Delta’s regional jets (not tested yet on newer style like the one’s on 737-900ERs).
Now on the regional jet I was in the tray extends all the way across (unlike the others mentioned above) and when the tray is sagging all you can try to do (or so I thought) is either do the pillow trick or the pillow + magazine trick to try to make it level so you can enjoy your meal or get work done. But this is not an ideal fix as your lap tends to get hot from the pillow and it still does not really “fix” the issue. Well, if this happens to you, here is a quick fix you can try.
Simply ask for the top opener bit from a soda can from your friendly flight attendant. This one is bent as I had already used it but you get the idea just get one from the can. Next, do this:
Simply insert the metal bit in the space where they tray folds down basically creating a wedge in the open gap.
You are then ready to fold down the tray and low and behold once you slowly put it in place you will notice that something wonderful has happened. Take a look:
Yep, you have a perfectly flat tray table that you can enjoy your 1st class meal on (in this case a hot turkey sandwich that was quite good really) or get some work done without the sag in the middle of the tray.
I find this little tip to be a lifesaver for me as well as a few other tiny tips I employ along my travels. Did you know about this quick fix? Do you have any other amazing little tips you can share with readers? Please do so in the comments below! – René
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
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Awesome tip! A first-world problem for sure, but I will use this next time I have a floppy table. Thanks!
Works very well when a tab from a “skunky beer” is used as in the photo …
THANKS FOR THE TIP…
Read this weeks ago thought nothing of it. Flying on a 175 from SLC to DFW right now and I remembered this post. Works great! Thank you!