refusing to switch seats airplane refusing to switch seats airplane

The pilot kept asking in different ways/ I kept saying no. I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. Perhaps a flight crew Book the right seat first.' I am not your sweet old gray haired grandmother, and I dont care how cute your kids are, Im not moving. The caption when a family asks me to switch seats on the plane so they can sit together, followed by a raised In that case, who cares if they are scowling at you or glaring? Stay up to date with what you want to know. 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Stock photo of passengers on a crowded airplane. WebAnswer (1 of 4): You are under no obligation to switch seats if asked. Other people can do so as well. But after some firm words, she gave in and sat down, with the husband apologizing. We will not stop that. Just let it be part of your calculation., RELATED: Worst Seatmate Ever: Frequent Flyers Reveal Their Worst Experiences. But cmon, I have kids but have always paid extra to be together. I travel alone quite frequently, plan ahead and select my seat for a reason and hold my ground. The crew member was relentless and insisted I give up my seat and I stood my ground. An influencer said she refused to swap seats on a plane so a family could sit together. The same happened to the lady beside me. "Can I call the flight attendant? unfortunately for her loud enough so everybody in first class could hear her. Bumping, also known as denied boarding, happens when there are more passengers scheduled to fly on an airplane than available seats. Others said you are never obligated to switch seats (even though in some situations it might be the nice thing to do). Grow up. My future husband has four siblings, one of whom is single. I said, Look, Im sorry, no. Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been, Perhaps rather than "thank-you, for asking." 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 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. 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. 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. RELATED: The 7 Dirtiest Things on an Airplane, According to a Flight Attendant. The pilot and flight crew needed to know where I was in the event of an emergency. Last year I was taking American Airlines to London. 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." I didnt think fast enough to make that request. 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. However, Mr Kloss was still On planes, the best seat is in the eye of the beholder. 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. 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". Sorry but NO..parents with children should plan better and if seating apart is an issue BOOK ANOTHER FLIGHT.your children are not my problem..Sorry but not sorry. And if there were none left, they could have called the airline and figured it out ahead of time. 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. 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. Now, its getting annoying. In sporadic cases, people are forced to move seats, and this time, the pressure doesnt come from co-passengers. Instead of being seated in the aisle seat right across from them, her husband was in the window seat across the aisle. When I watched. TikTok user Surya Garg shared a story about being asked to switch seats on a plane. As we finalized our guest list, it was obvious to me that his single sister would not get a plus one for the wedding. ", Another wrote: "A mom asked me to give her two ish year old daughter my water bottle that I had ALREADY opened.". The influencer also posts content about her designer purchases on Instagram, where she has 94,000 followers. One positive story and one crazy one. The traveler stated that they despise aisle seats due to always being bumped by trolleys and other people. 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. 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}". 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. Bulkhead seats usually have ample legroom than the other seats of the as in, "this can be their problem, not mine". Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. They asked if Id be willing to switch, I asked to which seat, they said the same rows other middle seat. Would I move to the bulkhead aisle with a screaming baby next to me. In most cases folks are pretty understanding. 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. After all its a short flight. Well the young woman thru a fit, called me a bitch, etc. I was also asked by a mother to switch seats. Audrey Peters has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a family to sit together. She would be sitting next to my husband. My kid could be seated five rows away. So I never offer a reason. I like it here. My total ticket, including seats, fees, and taxes, was $972.85. Meanwhile, some offered an explanation as to why seats can often split groups up. Its happened far too many times for it to be a coincidence. I just avoid the bulkhead. Paying extra didnt count for Jack!!! The 25-year-old said a stranger had asked her to move to a middle seat - leaving her laughing over the unfair request. 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. Yes, I was single back then and when she asked if she could hold my hand if there was turbulence, I couldnt reply fast enough with a resounding yes! But, you gotta be careful what you wish for. It is not my fault the couple decided to wait for the last possible minute so they would be assigned free seats. A man sparked a debate amongst passengers after refusing to move from his seat on a 10-hour flight for a mum and a baby - but he paid extra for his seat that had extra legroom I am an older woman who generally travels solo. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Because I am handicapped, I paid the difference and chose the Main Cabin rate to be a little more comfortable. Passenger Praised (And I Praise Him Too) For Refusing To Change His Seat For Rude Family. 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 You will never be T A for refusing to switch seats. 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. Thats a hard no. ", 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. Redoing the align environment with a specific formatting, Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers). Even on Southwest, this has happened when I had early boarding because I paid extra or checked in literally at 24 hours before and the C boarding category folks get pushy demanding that I move 15 rows to the back of the plane kind of thing. Was boarding my flight when a teenage girl was siting in my aisle seat to sit next to her friend in the middle seat. 75,000 bonus miles, at least 2x miles on everything. Its an added advantage to passengers, especially if the flight is considerably long and tiring. WebYes a flight attendant can make you switch seats with or without reason. 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. The first step in my opinion is to assume the person making the request is doing so with good intentions. They'd still all be together," said one commenter. The anonymous passenger said they had started refusing to switch seats altogether unless it was for an upgrade. 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. Credit: Audrey Peters. If they do, book early and pick your seats like I do. Jay Kloss and his wife Zoe were travelling with Virgin rev2023.3.3.43278. Melanie Wolfson paid for an aisle seat but was shocked to find two men in the window and middle seats. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All others should just settle in and endure. I happily switched when they offered to move me to first class! 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. 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. Why say you're sorry? Beware: the exchange is not always worth it. I recently had an AA flight from Atlanta to LA, and paid for a preferred seat on the aisle as I usually do. 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. 80,000 points bonus, 5x points on select travel. I have read similar columns like this one. | doubt the flight attendants even think about this what I call flight attendant gender targeting. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? Another option is to say, "Thank you for asking! 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.. Do whatever you would normally do. Terms apply. 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. they have reason to believe that a swap would be more beneficial to them than inconvenient to you), then I would take a more polite, understanding approach. You are allowed to be as old-fashioned as you and your fianc agree to be. (Lets put aside rules about emergency exit rows and other special circumstances.) If it was really about sitting together, why didn't they ask the people 20 rows back if they'd like the better seats upfront? WebAfter her video went viral, it reignited a plane etiquette debate that keeps blowing up on TikTok. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. I said, 'respectfully ma'am, your travel issues are not my problem. Shall I press the call button so they can help you?". Id be like well, See ya in arrivals, one mum said. Your frustration mid-flight wouldve hardly started until you hear a screaming kid near your seat. ALWAYS ask for your money back if you dont get the seat you PAID for. Offer another interpretation right away: Sounds like you need a vacation. RELATED: How to Get the Exit Row For Free. The turbulence was wicked on descent and she not only held my hand but she dug her nails into my arm. Another overweight passenger had booked two seats BUT when he got on the plane, only middle seats were left. Book your flights earlier babes. Audrey Peters has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a However, the bizarre requests didnt stop there. Very rarely would I change seats. I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. Commenters said under Peters' video that they would have done the same thing if they were in her position, adding that they didn't think passengers should ever feel pressured to move from the seat they booked, especially when they're not being offered better seat. But not everyone would be willing to move from their comfort zone, and one guy proved hes no exception either. 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. 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. Little did the guy know the womans husband was watching from a corner. 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. Some people will be bad tempered about having their request declined, however polite, however reasonable you are, and however good your reasons for declining. Garg says she was asked to move seats so a mom could sit with her teenager, but If I was asked to switch, I would do it if it was an equal seat, ie, aisle, not right by the bathroom. Airlines oversell their scheduled flights to a certain extent in order to compensate for no-shows.. 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. As a non family-attached member of society, who travels a lot and was faced with this more than once, it really bugs me when families put single travelers in this situation. I politely said no, that I was comfortable where I was, but she became disrespectful and wouldnt let up even after the plane had taken off and the pilot had turned off the seatbelt sign. An influencer who said she refused to move seats on a plane so a family could sit together is being met with a wave of support from viewers who said they thought she's completely in the right. Williams with the infant and her two older children, three-year-old Theodore and two-year-old Gigi, were seated together in a row. 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 you feel using "sorry" carries the wrong connotation, how would you succinctly express sympathy for someone's situation, without taking responsibility for it? My first officer was flying, and he experienced problems when he rotated the aircraft: It was very heavy. Some people realize the seat isnt for them after booking in advance and mostly walk to someone in the aisle seat requesting an exchange. No Im not switching for a middle seat. A reader seeks reassurance after declining to move for parents flying with children. And I'd leave it at that. 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. And generally a worse seat is not a gift I want. Basic economy states exactly that issue if you want to save a few bucks and not pay for the seats. The passenger stood his ground and politely asked the woman to see if someone in her row volunteered to switch places with her kid. Different people have different levels of willingness to move. 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. 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. When it comes to small children, the rules do get thrown out because you cant expect little kids to sit alone. I didnt say anything but thought after that I should have said no but didnt want to cause a scene. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. UPDATED: Heres some good insight from a reader, which will make you think twice about giving anyone attitude for saying no. My mum literally ditched us when her seat got upgraded to first class.. These sorts of comments inevitably lead to arguments. 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. A viral TikTok has reignited a debate about whether or not to swap seats on an airplane when asked. I cant believe 2 adults HAVE to sit together on a plane flight. 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. My moving would allow them to sit together. 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 asking Reddit users if they were in the wrong for refusing to move, commenters started leaving their thoughts overwhelmingly siding with the poster. Several passengers made nasty comments. But Im not going from an exit row or bulkhead seat I paid for just because someone wants to sit next to their special someone. This approach communicates that I have a specific preference (that I arranged for). When Ive seen elderly couples board late and be likely to be separated, Ive offered without being asked. 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. Certainly not!" For more engaging lifestyle content, visit 7Life on Facebook. I said no and told him my switching would not solve the elderly ladys request to sit next to her husband. I usually answer 'Sorry, but I prefer mine, thanks'. No, not happening. (They could have booked in advance, too.) I had to lean into the aisle the entire flight. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. My moving would allow them to sit together. Another wrote: I love you! Do not engage with a pushy passenger. Pretty much an exact duplicate of this question on Travel SE. Otherwise no dice., While one recalled: So funny people are like this. 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. 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! (Edit in response to @M.Mat) And you can conclude the whole interaction by offering to help: "I understand your need to find a different seat; I'm sorry I can't help you with this. Can airtags be tracked from an iMac desktop, with no iPhone? See how keen they are to move you after that! Interpersonal Skills Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people looking to improve their interpersonal communication skills. It really edges on entitlement in my book for families coming onboard and somehow feeling theyve earn the right to seat privileges, disturbing other passengers and peer pressuring them into giving up their seat. In this case, my response to "why?" One guy downright refused to swap his seat with a mother who didnt stop condemning him. I will only change from one aisle to another aisle in Economy Plus. 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. She shut up, was taken into the kitchen area and probably got a warning. But does the person who first requested a seat swap approve? 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. Answer politely and succinctly, give reasons, but don't belabor them. The Redditor lost his cool when the mother couldnt control her child from grabbing his phone. Unless theres a very good reason I will not switch and even then only to an aisle seat. On other occasions when flying alone, I found myself in the middle seat between a married couple who hoped the seat would remain vacant. I personally hate travelings so I spent a bit more money to be closer.". We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. I fly often and I usually choose the aisle because it's the only seat where my legs have a chance to fit, because I'm going to put them in the aisle. When they asked a passenger seated near them if they were willing to switch seats, he refused. Don't give them any information they don't need to know - and the only thing they need to know is that you cannot help them resolve their problem. I asked why and was told the elderly lady wanted to sit with her husband. Shockingly, the crew never intervened in Wolfsons matter both the times until she sued them. OR your ESA (emotional support animal). 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. "NTA (not the a**hole). Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. But for others, no. Re: Seat Switch Refusal-Part 2 (or 3) u got to hold your ground, rise above the nastiness and get into your zen zone. 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. Maybe they glare at you. The complimentary wine and warm nuts of business class are a balm to many wounds. But would you trade your comfort for someone who wants to sit with their kid? "[He] said that 'she hates traveling, but giving her the seat would've made things easier in the end,'" explained the poster. Separated 3 travelers to different areas: myself, wife, n teenage niece. No Im not switching for a middle seat. I am keeping the seat I paid for.'". If the request does not come from a flight attendant, just say. You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. Tim Nickerson has learned just how aggressive the commandeering of seats can be. Now I couldnt disclose that at the time of the request and had to decline. I think that you having specifically chosen that seat is a strong argument, which many will simply accept. Disagreeing with an answer is not a reason to comment. You're probably not, as if you were. 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. Our wedding is approaching. It only takes a minute to sign up. If that doesn't deserve a slapdown, what does? In a TikTok post which has now garnered more than 900,000 views, Audrey Peters toasts the camera with a glass of fizz.. The second step is to listen to their reason for wanting to move (usually this will be given when someone makes such a request). After reading these posts, maybe next time I wont move:). Rudy Dong/Unsplash. Reddit user u/throw44245t363 explained that they initially said yes, but after they saw the seat they wo 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. In a similar incident in 2020, Wolfson faced the same dilemma during her flight to London. But most of the time, one of our seatmates would switch and thats because I made sure we had something to offer. I politely declined. Im so sick of people thinking its ok to disrupt someone for their lack of planning, one said. For more Lifestyle related news and videos check out Lifestyle >>. Commenters said they supported his decision, adding that it would be good for the child to learn they couldn't have everything their way. Whats your take on switching seats on a plane? However, a pilot made a shocking revelation why switching seats before a takeoff can be very dangerous. 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. Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? Can I call the flight attendant? 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. However if their request is reasonable (i.e. If they say something minor like "I like an aisle seat", you can dismiss their question fairly lightly: "I like an aisle seat too, unfortunately, that's why I booked this one", they are unlikely to be much offended, because they know the request was cheeky. If you have a similar dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. I would not use the approach of pretending to think the request was an offer (as suggested in other answers), unless the asker phrased it as such, because to me it sounds obviously disingenuous. A passenger in a middle seat has asked for your coveted aisle one. But I digress. He asked if I would sit in the middle so he could have the aisle since he was anxious about flying. 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! They asked the netizen if they could change seats with them, to which they politely refused, while also giving them a couple of reasons why. 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 Its not my fault the couple didnt reserve seats together.