Sorry. I was asked to switch seats with the elderly lady. "We switched recently to help out a family," one commenter wrote. Was I wrong to hold my ground? "Can I call the flight attendant? Twice. 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. Thanks for reading! I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. A seat swap request might look too good to be true | Photo: Pixabay/lukasbieri. Flying is already stressful, so be sympathetic not combative. For instance, another Redditor faced a similar scenario where a parent tried negotiating a seat trade so that her son got the window seat to look outside. 2. Meanwhile, some offered an explanation as to why seats can often split groups up. But you may be able to short-circuit these annoying conversations. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? What should I do? ", With more than 9,000 upvotes and thousands of comments, the passenger explained: "I traveled home today from Greece. 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}". The New York Times recently featured a story titled: I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. Now I couldnt disclose that at the time of the request and had to decline. Don't suggest you have a preference or specific need. Can you explain this part? Attempting to interfere with the duties of a flight crew member. FYI the old boyfriend was so embarrassed by her he stayed in his seat and looked sheepish the whole tripHold your ground! If they wanted that seat, they could have done the same thing. I told the crew member that unless they [American Airlines] gave me a first-class seat near a bathroom and immediately refunded the $164.00 I paid for my seats to and back from London, I was staying where I was. Despite feeling inconvenienced, some people agree to switch places in exchange for another comfortable seat. The same happened to the lady beside me. We would just suck it up and sit apart. As we finalized our guest list, it was obvious to me that his single sister would not get a plus one for the wedding. Ive changed with families but it was always to another aisle and it kept me from sitting next to some small children! The U.S. Transportation Department issued a notice to airlines in July urging them to do everything in their power to ensure that children who are age 13 or younger Don't give them any opening which would allow them to argue with you that their "need" might be greater than yours. 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." It's an unspoken rule when it comes to seat swaps | Photo: Unsplash/chrisbrignola. Its best to put others before yourself, despite what some others may think. Euler: A baby on his lap, a cat on his back thats how he wrote his immortal works (origin? Stewardess and elderly lady went to front of plane, knocked on pilots door and got what I assume was the assistant pilot. I usually answer 'Sorry, but I prefer mine, thanks'. Of course, I agreed. My total ticket, including seats, fees, and taxes, was $972.85. This will clearly explain the other person that you are not refusing to switch seat because you don't like her, but because you have some real issue with other seats. Also, our wedding is taking place across the country, and including this man in wedding events over several days doesnt sit right with me. Once on board the plane, which was a packed flight, I was approached by a crew member stating they had a couple who wanted to sit together and asked if I would give up my seat for them, I refused telling her I was handicapped and I chose my seat based on the closeness of the bathroom which was still a short walk. Redoing the align environment with a specific formatting, Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers). I would simply never ask. ), Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Johnny Jet receives compensation. People blurt especially about weather in the middle of winter. 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. Even the longest flight on earth is 16 hours and however much you love your husband, kids, sister, uncle, or fourth degree cousin am sure most people can survive being separated by five meters of seat rows for the duration of a flight. My mum literally ditched us when her seat got upgraded to first class.. 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. ", Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture Credit Card Review 2023, The Best Travel Credit Cards For February 2023, Chase Sapphire Preferred Review 2023 60,000 Bonus Points, Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits and Perks 5 Reasons I Love Mine, 9 Best Credit Cards For Excellent Credit in 2023, The Best Chase Credit Cards For Rewards In February 2023. However, she refused to swap seats, and the two ultra-Orthodox men switched places with female passengers. Passenger Praised (And I Praise Him Too) For Refusing To Change His Seat For Rude Family. I book my travel well in advance and select my seat at the same time. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Our wedding is approaching. In a similar incident in 2020, Wolfson faced the same dilemma during her flight to London. While the base action is the same as other suggestions - saying no and calling the attendant if pressured - the wording is designed to give them no way to argue with you, and immediately tells them what will happen if they continue to pressure you. A passenger has been praised online after refusing to swap seats twice on a 10-hour flight. I like it here. Just let it be part of your calculation. Some people realize the seat isnt for them after booking in advance and mostly walk to someone in the aisle seat requesting an exchange. 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. She got in my face and continued her tirade at lower volume but I took then took the opportunity to say loud enough everyone could her me included 3 stewards standing frozen waiting to jumpdont threaten me again or I will scream and you wont be sitting anywhere other than the police room at the airportI got almost a 100% standing ovation from all within earshot. On TikTok, Peters typically posts fashion and lifestyle content, filming herself putting together an outfit for the day or showing viewers some of her recent purchases from designer brands. I really enjoy the views. She threw a fit when I refused to give up the window seat next to my husband so she could lean against the wall and sleep. In a TikTok post which has now garnered more than 900,000 views, Audrey Peters toasts the camera with a glass of fizz.. I didnt think fast enough to make that request. How to react to a students panic attack in an oral exam? Have you been in a similar situation where someone requested you to switch places on a flight? Johnny Jet does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. I remember once, I was flying from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and I had an aisle seat. Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. "Offering" implies something that is more of a gift and not as easily refused. 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. I am not sure I understand: they want you to take their worse seat (dirty, middle or whatever), just like that? WebWoman Called Rude B*tch For Refusing To Give Up Her Window Seat On Plane For Disabled Child. It is crazy to expect people to give up an aisle seat for the middle seat. What video game is Charlie playing in Poker Face S01E07? I fully agree with your stance., One added: Its not my fault you guys didnt plan it better., Another added: If youre asking to switch seats my new seat has to be equal or better than where I am now. I happily switched when they offered to move me to first class! The man was traveling from Athens (ATH) to either Newark (EWR) on We were just about to close the door, when an overweight man boarded and headed for the center seat next to me. This is a powerful position to take. But in the last year as restrictions have eased, travelers have begun booking vacations and business trips again and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that U.S. airlines carried over 71.2 million scheduled service passengers in May 2022. I am 75 and mildly handicapped (cerebral palsy mild) and mildly arthritic. As more people travel for work and leisure, discussions about airplane etiquette and passenger comfort have gained traction online once again. Perhaps they might be able to accommodate your needs.". Unless theres a very good reason I will not switch and even then only to an aisle seat. He came back and asked me to switch seats. "[He] said that 'she hates traveling, but giving her the seat would've made things easier in the end,'" explained the poster. When I travel, I book my flights well in advance. Ideally, the passenger with a pressing, real need (not just a want) for a seat UPDATED: Heres some good insight from a reader, which will make you think twice about giving anyone attitude for saying no. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone. (Lets put aside rules about emergency exit rows and other Very rarely would I change seats. Of course, that never happens. And generally a worse seat is not a gift I want. That should be the end of it.". 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 In Deltas first class to NYC I encountered a young woman who, because she met an old boyfriend according to her in the line waiting to get into the plane, wanted to sit next to him, also in first class. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. No one in their right mind would go from a window or an aisle seat to a middle seat. Of course, I said yes. | doubt the flight attendants even think about this what I call flight attendant gender targeting. If you disagree, downvote or write your own answer. Another revealed: I remember when I worked my a** off to fly first class for the first time and I got made out to be the villain because I didnt wanna move., One wrote: Its so not fun when you reserve a seat and people ask you to move to a middle seat., Another agreed, saying: 100 per cent, it blows my mind that people sometimes then proceed to give you an attitude because you dont want to switch., While one suggested: I paid for my seat. Don't give them even an inch. Usually I would switch, it depends on the situation. I cant stand people like this if it was their honeymoon, they likely booked way in advance and just didnt take the extra 60 seconds to find seats together. I suggest that stewards look elsewhere for volunteers if fellow passengers try to shame me from the sidelines. "Turns out we were seated in front of kids that kicked the seat for the entire 8 hour flight. The influencer also posts content about her designer purchases on Instagram, where she has 94,000 followers. Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. An influencer has been applauded for refusing to swap seats on a flight so a family could sit together.. Do we really have time to ascertain and give judgement on the circumstances surrounding their seat separation? A PASSENGER refused to swap seats so a husband could sit with his wife and child on a plane. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. The last time I bought tickets for a flight I did so in advance and chose seats then when preparing to board, was assigned a completely different seat! But my fianc objected. Web1. Friedman later said another reason she did not want to move seats was that she had a disability, which led more commenters to take her side in the debate on flight etiquette that her video created. 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. I asked where he was and stewardess pointed out the husband in the very back of first class. Especially if a longer flight. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Well, it sounds nice. I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. An aisle seat with just one seat beside me. Many passengers have divided opinions after a downright refusal to switch places. WHAT KIND OF [expletive] WONT LET A MOTHER SIT WITH HER SON?!?!?!?!. rev2023.3.3.43278. Now, with respect to the scowling and hostility: stay polite. She stated I could call customer service and they would handle it. This was decades ago and I cant remember why I wasnt in an exit row but a mother sat next to me in the middle and her little boy sat across the aisle in the other middle seat. I was in the window seat, my husband in the aisle seat. Its not my fault the couple didnt reserve seats together. A polite decline will leave you in the seat you reserved. (Edit in response to Wildcard's comment) Be gracious in your response and the scowling and glaring is their problem, not yours. We were in our mid-70s at the time. Shall I press the call button so they can help you?". Commenters said they supported his decision, adding that it would be good for the child to learn they couldn't have everything their way. I trust that most fellow-flyers will then be sympathetic enough to withdraw from the confrontation. Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. A viral TikTok has reignited a debate about whether or not to swap seats on an airplane when asked. It is not my fault the couple decided to wait for the last possible minute so they would be assigned free seats. 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. @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. And if there were none left, they could have called the airline and figured it out ahead of time. My first officer was flying, and he experienced problems when he rotated the aircraft: It was very heavy. Terms apply. If I'm dead-set on not moving, I'd say "Thank you for offering, but I'll keep my seat" which implies they were trying to do you a favor and you've (politely) declined, while asserting your claim to the seat in question. On other occasions when flying alone, I found myself in the middle seat between a married couple who hoped the seat would remain vacant. After reading these posts, maybe next time I wont move:). Its an added advantage to passengers, especially if the flight is considerably long and tiring. WebNTA. (They could have booked in advance, too.) 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 Be better., One suggested: To be honest - this mindset p***es me off., While another added: God forbid we be expected to make anyones life easier!. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. I was a little shook up but my response made my daytill she accosted me again when getting my luggage so I notified the police in the area at LaGuardia and they walked her to their office. Im happy to be cordial when I see her, but she isnt taking the hint when I respond to her invitations by saying Im busy. They keep coming. This approach communicates that I have a specific preference (that I arranged for). 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. If you truly do not wish to, you can simply look at the person, smile, and say, Im sorry, but I specifically chose Just before takeoff the flight attendant told me I had to switch seats. He asked if the man seated in the aisle would mind switching with his wife in the window seat. You're probably not, as if you were. I travel alone quite frequently, plan ahead and select my seat for a reason and hold my ground. The turbulence was wicked on descent and she not only held my hand but she dug her nails into my arm. In sporadic cases, people are forced to move seats, and this time, the pressure doesnt come from co-passengers. The flight attendant asked if I wanted her to ask people to move so we could sit together, and before I could reply my kids declined saying they were all set they behaved as angels sitting alone. A flight passenger has sparked a big debate after a man refused to swap seats with him so he could sit next to his wife on her birthday. 75,000 bonus miles, at least 2x miles on everything. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek. How should I respond when people question my life choices after just meeting me? "You don't ask someone to downgrade for your convenience," said one top comment with 46,000 likes. Was I Wrong? The reader submitting the question wrote: I am an organized person. Bulkhead seats usually have ample legroom than the other seats of the 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. Bumping, also known as denied boarding, happens when there are more passengers scheduled to fly on an airplane than available seats. I booked my ticket specifically to be closer to the front of the plane so I can be closer to the gate when it's time to get out. 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). Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! How can I find out which sectors are used by files on NTFS? Obviously if the other person is way taller than you, give her the seat ;). I think that you having specifically chosen that seat is a strong argument, which many will simply accept. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. If its the same type of seat, Ive willingly switched. A COUPLE have sparked debate after they asked to move seats during a flight - only for a passenger to refuse. for long transcontinental or international flights. Obviously, there are a lot of variables involved. @Tim I think that may be cultural, I grew up in a culture where the sympathy meaning of sorry is far more emphasised than the personal responsibility meaning, so that may have shaped my view. Can airtags be tracked from an iMac desktop, with no iPhone? How can I refuse tactfully, without causing this bitterness? Avoid continuing the argument unless you are willing to be persuaded/come to a compromise. 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). If the request comes from a flight attendant, consider the reasons and either say yes, of course (as I did for the old, frail lady) or no, sorry, I'd much rather not. Its unclear whether the 25-year-old booked an aisle or a window seat - but she made it abundantly clear she wasnt going to give up her spot to be wedged between two passengers. 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. Re: Seat Switch Refusal-Part 2 (or 3) I do not think anyone expects ( except the person doing the asking) someone to change an aisle sit for a middle seat! You refused. Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. Im tall as well but sitting next to screaming children isnt worth it.. Just get an aisle and suck it up if exits and other opportunities dont exist. The crew member was relentless and insisted I give up my seat and I stood my ground. My code is GPL licensed, can I issue a license to have my code be distributed in a specific MIT licensed project? Its hard for most passengers to say no to someone who wants to sit beside their loved one. | Photo: Amomama, I PAID FOR THAT EXTRA LEGROOM & IM NOT MOVING. I had settled into my aisle seat. An airline can refuse to transport a passenger for the reasons listed in its contract of carriage, a legal agreement between the passenger and airline, so long as the refusal is not discriminatory, such as: Being intoxicated or under the influence of illegal drugs. When the flight was over, the elderly ladys husband was in the deboarding area and really gave me a glare. Was I Wrong? I said, Look, Im sorry, no. A handful of people who commented on the post said they were parents themselves. The anonymous passenger said they had started refusing to switch seats altogether unless it was for an upgrade. I will never take a window seat in an exchange unless its in first class. Book your flights earlier babes.. A PASSENGER refused to swap seats during a flight with a family so they could all sit together - but people are saying the same thing. Wow, can you believe that? sighed one passenger after a parent started fussing about his refusal. And upon refusal, theyre mostly treated differently and are often lashed at for no reason. Instead of being seated in the aisle seat right across from them, her husband was in the window seat across the aisle. When a family asks me to switch seats on the plane so they can sit together, she said in a TikTok video - as she filmed herself sipping a glass of champagne after the seat rejection.