Eventually a steward helped me clamber over her via the seat arms and I spent the rest of the flight in the kitchen ... until she finally woke up as we were about to land.
But it could have been worse ... and one day it probably will be.
Online travel search site Skyscanner recently did a survey to find out who passengers most dread to sit next to and, interestingly, top of the list with 35 per cent of the votes was someone with bad body odour. I think the nearest I've got to that is sitting beside a woman who was smothered in bad perfume.
Second on the list, chosen by 20 per cent of respondents as the type to avoid at all costs, was an overweight person. That's a problem that's often raised.
A few airlines have tried to deal with it by requiring passengers over a certain size to buy two seats. But large people counter that airlines are trying to squeeze people into too small a space.
Third equal, shunned by 15 per cent, was a drunk adult or a sober baby/child. I have sat next to a few drunks but every time they fell asleep pretty quickly and were no trouble at all.
Children are more of a mixed bag. I've sat beside some who were perfectly charming and others in need of a bit of discipline.
All in all I'm not sure what kind of neighbour I most dread? I'll have another think and come back to you.
What seat neighbours would you most like to avoid?
