I suspect that the answer is "no". That one I turned down with "Do I look stupid? Usually I would switch, it depends on the situation. Her seat was an aisle seat two rows behind my husband. We were in our mid-70s at the time. But when this passenger refused to move, the family was not pleased: "The woman said that I was being an a**hole and should just give up my seat so she could sit with her husband and kids. Offer another interpretation right away: Sounds like you need a vacation. refuse to switch airplane seats Stewardess and elderly lady went to front of plane, knocked on pilots door and got what I assume was the assistant pilot. Book your flights earlier babes. Audrey Peters has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a family to sit together. "I'm sorry, I selected this seat in advance. 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. No one in their right mind would go from a window or an aisle seat to a middle seat. What seemed like a peaceful flight turned into a nightmare when a mother approached the guy and asked him to trade his seat so that she could sit with her kid. That should be the end of it.". If I was asked to switch, I would do it if it was an equal seat, ie, aisle, not right by the bathroom. I will never take a window seat in an exchange unless its in first class. 'No': Internet Backs Couple Refusing to Swap Plane Seats But when they boarded the plane, a family of four approached the Redditor and asked if they could switch spots. 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! 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. I book my travel well in advance and select my seat at the same time. 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. 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. Because I am handicapped, I paid the difference and chose the Main Cabin rate to be a little more comfortable. Audrey Peters, a content creator from the US, said a stranger had asked her to move to a middle seat - leaving her laughing over the unfair request. 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 Ideally, the passenger with a pressing, real need (not just a want) for a seat On planes, the best seat is in the eye of the beholder. But let me ask this: will you ever see these people again? Audrey Peters via TikTok and Richard Sharrocks/Getty Images. This dear, young woman ended up sprawling all over the poor lady sitting next to her. So far so good. refuses The Redditor lost his cool when the mother couldnt control her child from grabbing his phone. 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. Worst Seatmate Ever: Frequent Flyers Reveal Their Worst Experiences, The 7 Dirtiest Things on an Airplane, According to a Flight Attendant. When I travel, I book my flights well in advance. Shortly before take off three flight attendants showed up, called my name and when I identified myself I was LITERALLY pulled off my seat by my arm and given a new boarding pass. 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. This is rude, one said. "Offering" implies something that is more of a gift and not as easily refused. Influencer refuses to switch business class seats so family can sit When I watched. The pilot and flight crew needed to know where I was in the event of an emergency. 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 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. My future husband has four siblings, one of whom is single. I definitely wouldnt do it to sit in seat I dont want window or middle. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! I happily switched when they offered to move me to first class! First, when I was traveling in my USAF uniform, they asked if I would be interested in moving to first class and travel with an unaccompanied minor. The thing that really bothered me, was that a crew member was dead heading and was seated in an empty middle seat in the exit row. However, in one case the couple wanted to keep their seats (their choice) and I spent the entire flight between them. But my fianc objected. 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. Commenters said they supported his decision, adding that it would be good for the child to learn they couldn't have everything their way. "Sorry, but I just didn't like moving from my chosen seat once I am settled". Like S. Kincaid, I am an older woman as well. However, a pilot made a shocking revelation why switching seats before a takeoff can be very dangerous. Now, with respect to the scowling and hostility: stay polite. 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. Web1. I asked why and was told the elderly lady wanted to sit with her husband. And I'd leave it at that. In a TikTok post which has now garnered more than 900,000 views, Audrey Peters toasts the camera with a glass of fizz.. I dislike the implication that taller travellers automatically deserve the more comfortable seats. When Ive seen elderly couples board late and be likely to be separated, Ive offered without being asked. Respond appropriately depending on their 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. Book your flights earlier babes.. ALWAYS ask for your money back if you dont get the seat you PAID for. I cannot help you, but perhaps one of the attendants can. 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. 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. @LyndonWhite "Asking" implies that they are making a request of me - one that I am free to either accept or refuse. 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. 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. Pretty much an exact duplicate of this question on Travel SE. You have to sit next to someone? The first step in my opinion is to assume the person making the request is doing so with good intentions. If you decide to turn down the request to switch seats, doing it politely and in a friendly tone may help soften the blow even though you dont owe an explanation for why youre not okay with swapping. 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. Its not fair for flight attendants to move or let people move to these seats when one or more paid extra to sit there.. An aisle seat with just one seat beside me. Travellers response to familys mid-flight request sparks furious I really enjoy the views. Some people will be bad tempered about having their request declined, however polite, however reasonable you are, and however good your reasons for declining. I agreed to do so, but her seat was next to the toilet. While another reply said: "People need to learn to take the first no graciously. refusing Attempting to interfere with the duties of a flight crew member. My moving would allow them to sit together. @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. Was I Wrong? This is what the family of the elderly lady (see below) probably did. "We switched recently to help out a family," one commenter wrote. My total ticket, including seats, fees, and taxes, was $972.85. This puts the interaction on a positive footing. Well the young woman thru a fit, called me a bitch, etc. Passenger Praised For Refusing To Change Seats On 10-Hour 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. seat switch Its hard for most passengers to say no to someone who wants to sit beside their loved one. But this spurs more questions, or silent but detectable hostility and scowling from some of these rejected seatmates. I select mine well in advance esp. Last year I was taking American Airlines to London. Think you might be having a bad day with a delayed flight or uncomfortable seat? All others should just settle in and endure. The most coveted coach seats are the exit row and bulkhead so you cant ask someone to switch rows from one that has extra space to one that doesnt. For more Lifestyle related news and videos check out Lifestyle >>. Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? When I was an armed federal officer on the flight (plain clothes), I could not switch seats. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. A passenger's story about refusing to switch plane seats with a Paying extra didnt count for Jack!!! Would you change seats to accommodate a disabled person? Re: Seat Switch Refusal-Part 2 (or 3) u got to hold your ground, rise above the nastiness and get into your zen zone. My buddy Robert Rose, who hosts the popular travel show Raw Travel, which airs nationwide on a variety of networks including CBS, NBC and Fox, posted a message on Facebook, By now, Im sure youve seen all of the terrible images and graphics of states and hospitals being overwhelmed by COVID-19. Our wedding is approaching. I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. Twice. Was I Wrong? 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). I recently had an AA flight from Atlanta to LA, and paid for a preferred seat on the aisle as I usually do. Flying with young children is challenging; doing so while sitting in separate rows, or under unexpected circumstances (a distant family member falling ill, for instance), is far more difficult. It was funny at first. I suggest that stewards look elsewhere for volunteers if fellow passengers try to shame me from the sidelines. Was boarding my flight when a teenage girl was siting in my aisle seat to sit next to her friend in the middle seat. 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. Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation, The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Needless to say, she walked away defeated and I kept my seat. Different people have different levels of willingness to move. The Reddit user u/Unlikely-Strategy596 shared a story Saturday, asking: "AITA (Am I the a**hole) for not giving up my plane seat so a family could be all together? 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 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. Instead of being seated in the aisle seat right across from them, her husband was in the window seat across the aisle. Beware: the exchange is not always worth it. RELATED: How to Get the Exit Row For Free. The lady in that seat was moved one row back. Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? How to refuse someone asking for additional help "while you're at it"? In this case, my response to "why?" 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. Can you explain this part? refusing to switch 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. I personally hate travelings so I spent a bit more money to be closer.". I travel to 20+ countries a year sharing my firsthand knowledge of reward travel, travel credit card deals, travel tips and more. To Switch Seats To his dismay, he was the womans husband, and he never bothered to give up his seat either. I chose an aisle seat in both directions as close to the bathroom as I could get which cost me $81.00 each. Airline seat switch debate heats up as influencer refuses family's @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. Would I move to the bulkhead aisle with a screaming baby next to me. UPDATED: Heres some good insight from a reader, which will make you think twice about giving anyone attitude for saying no. 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. This usually lets me claim my preferred seat: on the aisle in the bulkhead row. Still, you have an equal vote here. switch Book your flights earlier babes. Audrey Peters has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a family to sit together. I usually answer 'Sorry, but I prefer mine, thanks'. 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. If the request does not come from a flight attendant, just say. You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. Other people can do so as well. Obviously, there are a lot of variables involved. Have you been in a similar situation where someone requested you to switch places on a flight? Some people realize the seat isnt for them after booking in advance and mostly walk to someone in the aisle seat requesting an exchange. I'm short enough that my legs fit in just about any airline seat. I certainly wasnt happy with that situation, particularly because I had paid extra for my original seat. ignore the intimidation. tactfully refuse to switch seats 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. "[He] said that 'she hates traveling, but giving her the seat would've made things easier in the end,'" explained the poster. Especially lately, I noticed the trend are folks who have basic economy tickets and board last on legacy carriers and seem to be annoyed that they have a bunch of middle seats assigned. They asked if Id be willing to switch, I asked to which seat, they said the same rows other middle seat. refuses 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 I meet new people, they often apologize on behalf of Minnesota (Sorry about the winters! as if I didnt know it was cold here before I came) or express shock that I chose to move (I would love to live in Denver!). I have long legs, and those seats tend to provide more legroom not that I have to justify myself. 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.