Book your flights earlier babes.. But I digress. On flights, seatmates (strangers near my seat) have asked me to swap my aisle seat (reserved in advance, sometimes paid for), usually to my disadvantage as their seat has some snag (dirtier, narrower, too close to lavatory). There were, however, a few people who sided with Mr Kloss. @LisaMM Here was a young woman asking a much older woman to take a much less desirable sear so that it would be easier for her (the younger woman) to work on her computer. If the other person is persistent, then further explain that you daren't leave your lucky seat as you have had recurring dreams of being involved in a plane crash flight incident. If I was asked to switch, I would do it if it was an equal seat, ie, aisle, not right by the bathroom. I am keeping the seat I paid for.'". I think that you having specifically chosen that seat is a strong argument, which many will simply accept. If they do, book early and pick your seats like I do. Read a book. It was my one and only time to travel in first class. Don't give them even an inch. While another reply said: "People need to learn to take the first no graciously. I trust that most fellow-flyers will then be sympathetic enough to withdraw from the confrontation. My total ticket, including seats, fees, and taxes, was $972.85. I hope you are able to have this situation resolved.". When I watched. For example I am generally happy to swap seats if it helps someone out, but also have no inhibition against asking someone for a swap if it means I can be closer to a friend of family member (sometimes booking seats together just doesn't quite work out for one reason or another). Some people will of course become argumentative, but I am of the opinion they would have become so regardless of what you said. Otherwise no dice., While one recalled: So funny people are like this. We handed over our boarding passes, which she kept (!). The man was traveling from Athens (ATH) to either Newark (EWR) on Sorry, but crew getting premium seats should be the exception. Then came the looks. WebAfter her video went viral, it reignited a plane etiquette debate that keeps blowing up on TikTok. The turbulence was wicked on descent and she not only held my hand but she dug her nails into my arm. ESPECIALLY when your flight is canceled and the airline is responsible for your choice seat loss on your rebooked flight. Is it okay to ask someone to swap seats on a plane? I think the flight crews should be more proactive about that when they see an uncomfortable seating arrangement, when they have crew on travelling on board. Have you been in a similar situation where someone requested you to switch places on a flight? Re: Seat Switch Refusal-Part 2 (or 3) u got to hold your ground, rise above the nastiness and get into your zen zone. While some said they had previously felt disappointment when other passengers turned down their requests to move seats, others said that as parents, they felt it's solely their responsibility to ensure they booked seats together with their children. When folks have asked me to move, I am very polite but explain that I paid for my seat in advance so that I could have extra leg room or movement. by Eric Spring. In the video, which has received 1 million views, the influencer appears to be sitting on a plane as she raises a glass in the air while an on-screen caption reads, "When a family asks me to switch seats on a plane so they can sit together. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone. How about arriving at your seat and finding someone already sitting there, all settled in, who then asks if I mind him taking my seat so he could sit next to his wife? Seating arrangements in planes are first-come, first-served, and in some cases, youd get some added perks like extra legroom. Its safe to say that most people wont be, Photo credit: via @ohhappydani on Instagram This has been a challenging year, month and week for the United States of America. Now, with respect to the scowling and hostility: stay polite. When they asked a passenger seated near them if they were willing to switch seats, he refused. To be fair, sometimes when you book with points for example, you cannot book the entire family together at the same time, one explained. If they persist, maintaining that they are graciously offering to trade but you must decline as you're fine where you are. How can I refuse tactfully, without causing this bitterness? It has been a turbulent few years for the aviation industry, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt to worldwide travel. Man refuses to swap plane seats for a mother and her baby because he paid extra to sit there 2 Passenger with no experience lands private plane after pilot incapacitated Palm Beach International Airport/Live ATC Recordings So thats why, if I couldnt get seats together, I would at least assign us an aisle and a window so we had some leverage and a better chance of enticing someone to move. After reading these posts, maybe next time I wont move:). Was boarding my flight when a teenage girl was siting in my aisle seat to sit next to her friend in the middle seat. All others should just settle in and endure. In a TikTok post which has now garnered more than 900,000 views, Audrey Peters toasts the camera with a glass of fizz.. But with Southwest, there are no seat assignments, I would gladly switch if the airlines priced all seats the same like they used to but am not giving up a AA PREFERRED MAIN CABIN SEAT that I either paid extra for or got thru my loyalty to AA. Ive been on both sides of this multiple times. The next time she tries to pressure you, assert yourself: Ive already said I dont want to go. You could also change the way you respond to her invitations, from Im busy which suggests you would go if you werent busy to No, thanks. That way, your message will be clear. Many passengers are downright with their refusal | Photo: Pexels/athena, SEAT SWAPS BEFORE TAKEOFF CAN BE RISKY, CLAIMS PILOT. So, I politely refused. Others said you are never obligated to switch seats (even though in some situations it might be the nice thing to do). Well, wouldnt you know it for my good deed, a few minutes later, a Hawaiian Tropics model who was terrified of flying, sat in the seat next to me. My mum literally ditched us when her seat got upgraded to first class.. It is not my fault the couple decided to wait for the last possible minute so they would be assigned free seats. This brings me to my problem: The last two times Ive flown, a steward asked me to change seats to accommodate a parent flying alone with small children. Man Refuses To Switch Plane Seats With Newlyweds But Feels Like A 'Villain' After Passengers & Crew Turn On Him By Megan Quinn Written on Mar 01, 2023 Photo: DavideAngelini / Shutterstock I am sorry but I am just as important as you are. After all, maybe youd paid extra for this particular seat or chose it after careful research. This was a very critical situation because the runway was very short, and we would not have been able to stop, pilot Magnar Nordal explained. Book the right seat first.' Others shared complaints about negative experiences they'd had on flights when parents asked them to sacrifice their own comfort for the sake of a child's. Typically, people are even willing to pressurize co-passengers for swapping out their aisle seat for a window or vice versa. If you want to avoid having to cave to peer pressure or looking like the bad guy by not switching seats to accommodate families, then book a seat in the exit row I would simply never ask. In October, a woman named Maresa Friedman defended herself for not moving seats in a TikTok that went viral, eliciting a response from another creator who urged her to "do better" and have "compassion" for families. How to tactfully refuse to provide academic help? The pilot and flight crew needed to know where I was in the event of an emergency. ), Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. And I, as well, really dont care how adorable your kids are. If it was just me and my wife traveling, we would politely ask if one of our seatmates would be kind enough to switch but if they didnt, we certainly wouldnt press them. One person explained on Reddit how his five-hour-flight journey kickstarted with a mother cussing him mid-flight. Im so sick of people thinking its ok to disrupt someone for their lack of planning, one said. Imagine being called heartless and cussed for not switching your seats with a mother who wants to sit with her kid in a long-haul flight. If you are someone trying to get a fellow passenger to switch seats, then make sure you have something to bargain with and if you dont, cash helps. When I was an armed federal officer on the flight (plain clothes), I could not switch seats. It's the same as leading with "thank you for your patience" tends to make people more patient, or telling a child you've just met about how well-behaved you've heard they are. Was I Wrong? Are you willing to pay me X dollars for me to give up a seat I paid extra for? (Added note: X dollars can be more than you paid, if you want to do so.). Avoid continuing the argument unless you are willing to be persuaded/come to a compromise. Now I couldnt disclose that at the time of the request and had to decline. The other time, a woman in her twenties, some 30 years younger than I, travelling alone, asked me to change my aisle seat for her center seat "because it will be easier for me to work on my computer." To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. I remember once, I was flying from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and I had an aisle seat. In most cases folks are pretty understanding. An influencer has been applauded for refusing to swap seats on a flight so a family could sit together.. How should I respond when people question my life choices after just meeting me? And I'd leave it at that. A passenger on Virgin Australia airlines started a debate over airplane etiquette after a man said no to swapping seats so he could sit next to his wife. He shared his experience, saying: I just simply raised my hand so the child couldnt reach, so I said in a louder tone, please control your child, which made the mom grab the boy and freak out at me and her screaming at me that I shouldnt be such an [expletive] and only think about me.. (Edit in response to Wildcard's comment) Be gracious in your response and the scowling and glaring is their problem, not yours. You are allowed to be as old-fashioned as you and your fianc agree to be. Williams with the infant and her two older children, three-year-old Theodore and two-year-old Gigi, were seated together in a row. This usually lets me claim my preferred seat: on the aisle in the bulkhead row. TikTok user Surya Garg shared a story about being asked to switch seats on a plane. Another commented: 'Bro I'm sick of people asking to switch seats. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. say instead "Thank you for. After asking Reddit users if they were in the wrong for refusing to move, commenters started leaving their thoughts overwhelmingly siding with the poster. My husband and I sit aisles with me in front of him as I dont recline my seat but one notch. "We switched recently to help out a family," one commenter wrote. For more Lifestyle related news and videos check out Lifestyle >>. ", Another wrote: "A mom asked me to give her two ish year old daughter my water bottle that I had ALREADY opened.". Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? Finally, the elderly lady said she would just sit elsewhere. Stock photo of passengers on a crowded airplane. There were several conversations between the young woman, the lady next to her trying her best to sit in the seat she was assigned and the stewards, including the head steward from first class and the co-pilot. "Offering" implies something that is more of a gift and not as easily refused. If you have a similar dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. Stay up to date with what you want to know. The New York Times expert replied with: Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. She complained about me all the way to her seat and I was stared at/ glared at. The audio, which originates from a scene in the 2023 thriller movie "The Reading," has been going viral on TikTok in recent weeks and has been used in more than 70,000 videos. What am I doing wrong here in the PlotLegends specification? But would you trade your comfort for someone who wants to sit with their kid? Little did the guy know the womans husband was watching from a corner. I usually answer 'Sorry, but I prefer mine, thanks'. I would say "Sorry, but I specifically booked this seat because { characteristics which made you pick that seat}". They should have had the crew member move out of that premium seat and let either me or this guy sit there. I chose an aisle seat in both directions as close to the bathroom as I could get which cost me $81.00 each. Bulkhead seats usually have ample legroom than the other seats of the @LyndonWhite "Asking" implies that they are making a request of me - one that I am free to either accept or refuse. Twice. "Can I call the flight attendant? Basic economy states exactly that issue if you want to save a few bucks and not pay for the seats. I am 80+ years old and have a brace on my left leg. Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. RELATED: How to Get the Exit Row For Free. ", With more than 9,000 upvotes and thousands of comments, the passenger explained: "I traveled home today from Greece. You politely declined the offer to switch and now are staying polite. Why are trials on "Law & Order" in the New York Supreme Court? Videos about seat switching continue to stir controversy and debate on TikTok. Often times members of said family will spend using their phones, watching their screens or sleeping. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Perhaps a flight crew No one in their right mind would go from a window or an aisle seat to a middle seat. For a family with a small child, I would seriously consider moving as a courtesy, however since the airlines are all charging you in some way if you want a good seat, they should compensate you for that. According to The New York Times, Laura Heywood, 42, was flying to London when she was asked to swap her middle seat with her husband so a man with the window I have long legs, and those seats tend to provide more legroom not that I have to justify myself. Worst Seatmate Ever: Frequent Flyers Reveal Their Worst Experiences, The 7 Dirtiest Things on an Airplane, According to a Flight Attendant. Because of this, not many passengers would be willing to swap seats even if the request is being made from parents who badly want to sit with their kids. Shockingly, the crew never intervened in Wolfsons matter both the times until she sued them. Your frustration mid-flight wouldve hardly started until you hear a screaming kid near your seat. Many passengers have divided opinions after a downright refusal to switch places. I definitely wouldnt do it to sit in seat I dont want window or middle. Its not fair for flight attendants to move or let people move to these seats when one or more paid extra to sit there.. I love it here, and Im delighted I moved! Ill bet that changes these chats. He asked if I would sit in the middle so he could have the aisle since he was anxious about flying. For more engaging lifestyle content, visit 7Life on Facebook. Despite feeling inconvenienced, some people agree to switch places in exchange for another comfortable seat. A handful of people who commented on the post said they were parents themselves. They'd still all be together," said one commenter. She would be sitting next to my husband. My husband and I were seated in a 2X2 first class section, all settled in. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Nope, thats not a good enough excuse, Im staying hereI think Id get fewer dirty looks and side comments by simply and politely saying no, then trying to figure out whether they have a good enough reason or can incentivize me to move to a worse location. (Lets put aside rules about emergency exit rows and other You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. My moving would allow them to sit together. Just before takeoff the flight attendant told me I had to switch seats. Peters did not immediately respond to a request for comment. You could claim that you chose your seat due to it being your favourite/lucky number. Eventually the passenger in the window seat next to Mr Kloss offered to swap with Zoe meaning the couple did sit next to each other. Marra Shubyann Lindstrom Steininger Has Faced Many Difficulties - Facts about Jeffree Star's Mother, Single Dad Phil Donahue Prayed 5 Kids Would Accept Childless Marlo Thomas in the Family At First It Was a 'Disaster', Blake Lively's Dating History before She Married Ryan Reynolds, Millionaire Mocks Poor Woman with 3 Kids on Business Class Flight until Pilot Interrupts Him Story of the Day, Man Mocks Boy Reading Aloud on Plane, Begs Pardon by the End of the Flight Story of the Day, Drunk Guy Mocks Old Lady on the Bus and Grabs Her Purse, Teen Boy Decides to Interfere Story of the Day. Assume the best about those making the request. ), then I would almost always move, except to a location one poster mentioned abovenear the bathroom. An influencer said she refused to swap seats on a plane so a family could sit together. Still, you have an equal vote here. Some people realize the seat isnt for them after booking in advance and mostly walk to someone in the aisle seat requesting an exchange. A passenger on Virgin Australia airlines started a debate over airplane etiquette after a man said no to swapping seats so he could sit next to his wife. A couple embarking on their honeymoon failed to book seats together on the plane ride. I suspect that the answer is "no". Do not engage with a pushy passenger. For me, it probably wouldnt be worth the emotional energy (and possible fallout at future play dates) to stage a formal breakup with a casual acquaintance. Sometimes, aircraft swaps are beyond your control | Photo: Pixabay/tstrong20. Smile and be polite yet firm. Of course, that never happens. I traveled from Boston to Key West with three kids between 6 and 10, and we were not seated together. Shall I press the call button so they can help you?". Though some people can vaguely guess their request for a seat exchange would be turned down, they keep trying. Other people can do so as well. Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Was I wrong to hold my ground? Probably because I was by myself at the window she asked the steward if I would move so she and her BF could sit together. In these days of having to PAY EXTRA a lot of the time to get a specified seat I agree with everyone who politely says no, weighs ALL of the circumstances and what (everyone has to offer) if I do agree.. And if I dont get a seat I had to PAY EXTRA for, I always request the airline REFUND MY SEAT MONEY! I totally understand both sides but as someone who is extremely organized and who spends hours planning trips and setting seat alerts so that my family and I get the seats were most comfortable in, it bothers me when I hear stories like this. At the time, I was learning Portuguese from cds and decided to spend the rest of the flight with my ear buds and she had to listen to me speak in Portuguese responding to the Portuguese lessons and I made sure she could hear every word all the way across the United States. For the world, for that matter. What should I do? If I was younger and with no brace, I would consider swapping. The traveler stated that they despise aisle seats due to always being bumped by trolleys and other people. Once someone puts their bag in the overhead space, wipes down their seat and puts their stuff in the seatback pocket (not that you want to do the latter since its filled with germs), its more of a hassle for them to switch. The second step is to listen to their reason for wanting to move (usually this will be given when someone makes such a request). But the most common reasons a flight attendant will ask you to change seats is: 1- If the pilot determines that passengers need to be moved due to weight and balance of the aircraft. I acknowledge that this avoidance tactic is perhaps the bottom of the barrel with regard to interpersonal skills! I had a situation a few years ago when the plane was full except for the middle seat next to me and the seat directly behind it and we were all waiting for the doors to close. Except, of course, your actual reason for calling an attendant is because they are being insistent and you would need help to make them stop @a3nm "for you". We were just about to close the door, when an overweight man boarded and headed for the center seat next to me. It leaves the door open for them to propose something different that still satisfies my requirement; if a family is trying to do seat-Tetris to sit together, maybe that information helps them. Another said: People dont realise that airlines make changes to seats you paid and booked for, months in advance., While one added: The airline separates families all the time even though you book well in advance happened to me.. We booked aisle 6 as my husband is handicap and I was having knee problems, we checked in had our boarding passes for row 6 then while waiting they called my husband up and moved u to the very last row where we were crammed w a baby and mom on the outside The people who sat in our seats were friendly w gate attendant it was a dissgrace, I cannot believe they did this and after hours on the phone Jet Blue was terrible to deal with I am still looking as the flight was expensive for us to be treated like that and to be crammed while my family was in row 7 we were split up my family was there to help me w my husband. Its not my fault the couple didnt reserve seats together. The pilot kept asking in different ways/ I kept saying no. I personally hate travelings so I spent a bit more money to be closer.". I find myself bristling at how pushy she is: insisting that I parent like she does or attend events Ive already told her I dont want to go to. Never again. But for others, no. Thanks for reading! Or I would switch if I was offered a better seat biz or first, or more legroom. I dont know why they let her stay on the plane as she caused problems before we left and for several hours during the flight. Just say no, call the attendant if pressured, and ignore them. Stewardess and elderly lady went to front of plane, knocked on pilots door and got what I assume was the assistant pilot. The passenger said the woman continued to "make a scene" and call him out in front of other passengers. Ive changed with families but it was always to another aisle and it kept me from sitting next to some small children! I also try to keep our rows close together so people dont have to move their bag in the overhead if I dont reach them in time. However, a pilot made a shocking revelation why switching seats before a takeoff can be very dangerous. Youre seated next to a kid or spouse of someone whos sitting several rows away, and theyd wonder if youre ready to switch so they can spend the flight together. In the end, she switched places to avoid any delay to the flight. I always pick a right-side aisle seat for the ease of mobilityso I wont have to inconvenience the other 2 passengers if and when Mother Nature calls. 60,000 bonus points. I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. A man asked if he was in the wrong to ask a fellow airline passenger to switch seats with him so he could sit by his wife. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? One time we were traveling internationally and a woman wanted my window seat. Anyone can read what you share. Was I Wrong? The reader submitting the question wrote: I am an organized person. I was also asked by a mother to switch seats. If someone wants to take a chunk of their life to be mad at a perfect stranger who is being polite, that's their problem, not yours. Since it's somewhat unclear, I want to clarify the tone I aim to set: The intention is to show them I am assuming they have good intentions, not to be patronizing or sarcastic. Yes, they want your seat. Disagreeing with an answer is not a reason to comment. Ideally, the passenger with a pressing, real need (not just a want) for a seat The Redditor lost his cool when the mother couldnt control her child from grabbing his phone. The debate around airplane etiquette has reached fever pitch in recent months - but it has been reignited once again by an influencer who refused to switch seats. If this verbal deception doesn't sit comfortably with your personal moral code then you could infer non-specific discomfort with the request by gripping the seat arms and giving a shake of the head with an ashen look on your face. We asked why and were told we were in the wrong seats. We were unable to verify the details of this case. A viral TikTok has reignited a debate about whether or not to swap seats on an airplane when asked. I do not know what exactly was going on, but I do not think it appropriate to ask a passenger to give up his/her seat and really not appropriate to get a pilot to ask. Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. News.com.au ran a poll asking whether the passenger whom Aussie man Jay Kloss asked to switch seats with should have given it up and a massive 83 percent of the 7,178 readers voted No. Of course, I said yes. Another commented: 'Bro I'm sick of people asking to switch seats. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek. A cabin crew member explained her thoughts on this, saying: Most airlines make people pay upwards of 50 extra bucks to sit in those seats and charge them when they book the ticket. Im a bit taller and try to plan out my travel so that I do have an aisle seat also as I have a bad knee. lve resigned myself to expect it for its predictability, and I do feel a little miffed when Im picked again because of my advanced planning, but I just move. And since you are asking people to fly across the country to spend several days celebrating your wedding, he may want to offer his sister the courtesy of a companion. TikToks about whether adults should make sacrifices for children they encounter often spark debate, especially in the context of flight etiquette and whether it's fair to be asked to swap seats on planes so families can sit together. Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. Unless they make a convincing appeal for why they really need my seat, I say something like "sorry, but I specifically reserved {an aisle seat, a window seat, a seat in the front of the plane, etc}". This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). In that case, who cares if they are scowling at you or glaring? I empathize with people traveling together who wish to sit together, including families, but every legacy carrier has a flexible seating chart that you can monitor from booking time literally until almost boarding time. He asked if the man seated in the aisle would mind switching with his wife in the window seat. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. "Normally I'd be ok with that but switching spots would mean moving back 20 rows down which leaves me at an inconvenience and I would not get my money's worth," they wrote: "I rejected and said that I would like to keep my seat.". On planes, the best seat is in the eye of the beholder. I am 75 and mildly handicapped (cerebral palsy mild) and mildly arthritic. I pick my seats carefully because of my joint condition. But my fianc objected. No Im not switching for a middle seat. A polite decline will leave you in the seat you reserved. The caption when a family asks me to switch seats on the plane so they can sit together, followed by a raised for long transcontinental or international flights. The asker may try to argue, or come up with an alternative solution. Beware: the exchange is not always worth it. I live on the Big Island of Hawaii and when I travel on inter-island hopper flights, I purposely book a window seat on the pertinent side both directions of the plane to view the islands and the coastline. Works for us. I also think that anyone should realize that switching seats may be against the contract of carriage, airline rules, or country-specific regulations. I had settled into my aisle seat. How can I tactfully refuse to tell my loving brother my home address? dear Johnny Jet, it is my understanding that for identification and tracing purposes in case like pandemics and serious aviation or other accidents/incidents, passengers are to remain in their assigned seats; in fact prior to takeoff announcements are made to take the assigned seats in my experience; quite surprisingly to me, i have not seen any reference made to this reason in the comments nor in your own remarks. I dont give up my seats. However, you dont have to swap seats if you dont want to. It only takes a minute to sign up. In this case, my response to "why?" My future husband has four siblings, one of whom is single. I think it's safer to phrase this as "Have you tried asking a flight attendant whether they can accommodate your needs?" Credit: Audrey Peters.
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