All others should just settle in and endure. 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.. @LyndonWhite "Asking" implies that they are making a request of me - one that I am free to either accept or refuse. My mum literally ditched us when her seat got upgraded to first class.. "Turns out we were seated in front of kids that kicked the seat for the entire 8 hour flight. Use this approach only if you're willing to move to a different aisle/window/front/whatever seat if they find you one. Of course, I agreed. 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. Her seat was an aisle seat two rows behind my husband. At the last second, two young women came on board and were frustrated that they had middle seats and not together, so the one next to me said Why dont you go back there and take her seat so she and I can sit together? as if it was expected that I would just jump up and do that. When Ive seen elderly couples board late and be likely to be separated, Ive offered without being asked. Requests to change seats should be made to the flight attendant not to the passenger. 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. So I dont have any sympathy. The man was traveling from Athens (ATH) to either Newark (EWR) on Our wedding is approaching. 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. Just let it be part of your calculation. However, not everyone was on Audreys side with her seat refusal. I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. The internet has backed a Redditor who refused to give up their plane seat so a family could sit together. In that case, who cares if they are scowling at you or glaring? Four passengers seated themselves forward from their assigned seats before takeoff. If you disagree, downvote or write your own answer. When I travel, I book my flights well in advance. This usually lets me claim my preferred seat: on the aisle in the bulkhead row. Re: Seat Switch Refusal-Part 2 (or 3) u got to hold your ground, rise above the nastiness and get into your zen zone. Shall I press the call button so they can help you?". 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. 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. 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. An influencer has been applauded for refusing to swap seats on a flight so a family could sit together.. In sporadic cases, people are forced to move seats, and this time, the pressure doesnt come from co-passengers. I have only added it to my answer as a non-verbal alternative to my original gambit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Credit: Audrey Peters. Travellers response to easy request from Aussie airline passenger sparks raging debate, Passengers very weird act during three-hour flight leaves traveller shocked, Aussie traveller furious after passenger refuses to switch seats with him, Never felt uglier: Why experts fear new TikTok filter could spark mental health crisis, How a girls weekend saved Aussie lawyers life after strange feeling leads to shock diagnosis, Viewers done with living in Australia after battle with Huntsman spider caught on camera, Just 11 minutes of daily exercise could have a positive impact on your health, study shows, Mum makes horrifying discovery about super nice babysitter after hiding GoPro in house, This week in news: 27 February to 3 March, Behind the scenes at our Ute of the Year mega test, Podcast: Cayenne Turbo GT, Jolion S reviews. But most of the time, one of our seatmates would switch and thats because I made sure we had something to offer. I cannot help you, but perhaps one of the attendants can. I am 80+ years old and have a brace on my left leg. You refused. Disagree, its just compassion for others. Ive changed with families but it was always to another aisle and it kept me from sitting next to some small children! It's been my experience that when people want a reason, it's to argue. I am not moving. Im so sick of people thinking its ok to disrupt someone for their lack of planning, one said. 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. As more people travel for work and leisure, discussions about airplane etiquette and passenger comfort have gained traction online once again. But the one thing thats really upsetting is the sense of entitlement by the folks who have literally demanded or told me that I needed to move to accommodate them with me as a single traveler. So I never offer a reason. One guy downright refused to swap his seat with a mother who didnt stop condemning him. I am an organized person. NOW, if the airlines want to offer an upgrade OR an incentive to accommodate someone who is whining to the flight attendants, I MAY consider such an offer, but more than likely not. I like this seat just fine." "I'm sorry, I selected this seat in advance. My husband and I sit aisles with me in front of him as I dont recline my seat but one notch. However, a pilot made a shocking revelation why switching seats before a takeoff can be very dangerous. My future husband has four siblings, one of whom is single. I traveled from Boston to Key West with three kids between 6 and 10, and we were not seated together. WebIn the caption under a video posted Tuesday, Audrey Peters, a 25-year-old influencer from Miami with 653,000 TikTok followers, said she refused to give up her assigned seat on a flight for a middle seat when asked to by a group of passengers. Garg says she was asked to move seats so a mom could sit with her teenager, but 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. And if I paid extra for better leg room, I would only do it if it was a short flight (less than 3 hours) AND I got a refund on the extra I paid for the better seat. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. 75,000 bonus miles, at least 2x miles on everything. This is a powerful position to take. I had booked a flight and paid for my seat on an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Frankfurt for August 31, 2022. If its not me its another male flying alone being asked to move and I find myself chuckling under my breath that that guy got it and I didnt get picked. You politely declined the offer to switch and now are staying polite. 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. Requests to change seats should be made to the flight attendant not to the passenger. The caption when a family asks me to switch seats on the plane so they can sit together, followed by a raised @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. Don't take it personally, just feel slightly sorry for them ( their attitude is only hurting themselves) as you pick up your book, put on your headphones or do whatever it is you like to do to get ready for a long journey. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone. This is what the family of the elderly lady (see below) probably did. Do not engage with a pushy passenger. (I consider this a harmless lie. 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!. For the world, for that matter. 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. How did you react? Many said they were fed up with passengers attempting to switch seats. Any number of passengers could have done so to accommodate those families. Its hard for most passengers to say no to someone who wants to sit beside their loved one. The window seat was occupied, but the center seat was open. 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. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider My moving would allow them to sit together. Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. One of the male passengers climbed over the seats to avoid any physical contact with her. 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. However, Mr Kloss was still You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. Bulkhead seats usually have ample legroom than the other seats of the WebYes a flight attendant can make you switch seats with or without reason. Works for us. Interpersonal Skills Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people looking to improve their interpersonal communication skills. 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 Avoid continuing the argument unless you are willing to be persuaded/come to a compromise. (Lets put aside rules about emergency exit rows and other special circumstances.) I travel to 20+ countries a year sharing my firsthand knowledge of reward travel, travel credit card deals, travel tips and more. 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. The fares were $531.00 for a Basic Economy seat and $688.00 for a Main Cabin seat a price difference of $157.00. A traveller has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a family to sit together. 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. I love it here, and Im delighted I moved! Ill bet that changes these chats. 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. Drop a comment below! The pilot and flight crew needed to know where I was in the event of an emergency. 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. 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 the request does not come from a flight attendant, just say. An influencer has been applauded for refusing to swap seats on a flight so a family could sit together.. However if their request is reasonable (i.e. 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. On the Internet Viral Reddit Trending Online The internet has backed a Redditor who refused to give up their plane seat so a family could sit together. Its best to put others before yourself, despite what some others may think. How can I tactfully refuse to tell my loving brother my home address? There may be another reason.. I'm short enough that my legs fit in just about any airline seat. He ignored her and looked at the guy at the window in the same row. 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.