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. The now vacant two seats were given to a lady and her little boy. There have been times when our flight was cancelled or missed a connection and there werent seats together. I pick my seats carefully because of my joint condition. 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!). to Switch Seats Was I wrong to hold my ground? For more Lifestyle related news and videos check out Lifestyle >>. After reading these posts, maybe next time I wont move:). I have long legs, and those seats tend to provide more legroom not that I have to justify myself. Respond appropriately depending on their situation. Audrey Peters via TikTok and Richard Sharrocks/Getty Images. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. A handful of people who commented on the post said they were parents themselves. Thanks for reading! Another commented: 'Bro I'm sick of people asking to switch seats. Unless you have special access to some kind of reservation system, they had the same chance you did of getting that seat. After all its a short flight. 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. So, I politely refused. Attempting to interfere with the duties of a flight crew member. This dear, young woman ended up sprawling all over the poor lady sitting next to her. 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. Plan ahead or drive. I am not your sweet old gray haired grandmother, and I dont care how cute your kids are, Im not moving. (Lets put aside rules about emergency exit rows and other special circumstances.) When I was an armed federal officer on the flight (plain clothes), I could not 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. In most cases folks are pretty understanding. Precisely! 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. There were, however, a few people who sided with Mr Kloss. 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. 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. This approach communicates that I have a specific preference (that I arranged for). Instead of being seated in the aisle seat right across from them, her husband was in the window seat across the aisle. Euler: A baby on his lap, a cat on his back thats how he wrote his immortal works (origin? 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. 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! 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. I dont give up my seats. Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation, The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. This is a powerful position to take. Influencer applauded for refusing to swap seats so family can sit @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. However, he refused and said hed paid for the extra legroom, but the woman didnt stop condemning him: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! You politely declined the offer to switch and now are staying polite. Williams with the infant and her two older children, three-year-old Theodore and two-year-old Gigi, were seated together in a row. Though some people can vaguely guess their request for a seat exchange would be turned down, they keep trying. Web1. In a TikTok post which has now garnered more than 900,000 views, Audrey Peters toasts the camera with a glass of fizz.. Do not engage with a pushy passenger. The worst part was that her boyfriend, who could have doubled for The Rock, was waiting for her at the gate when we arrived. Of course, that never happens. But cant control cancellations and sh**** rebooking. The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. They can even offer you a reason to switch. 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. Because of that, you owe someone else nothing. seat Think you might be having a bad day with a delayed flight or uncomfortable seat? I, too, book my flights way in advance and always get to the airport early. He asked if I would sit in the middle so he could have the aisle since he was anxious about flying. Another revealed: My parents purposely booked my whole family apart so we couldnt fight., One suggested: As a mum, I fully agree. If the request does not come from a flight attendant, just say. This is what the family of the elderly lady (see below) probably did. 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. I like this seat just fine." refuses 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 Now, with respect to the scowling and hostility: stay polite. 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. "Offering" implies something that is more of a gift and not as easily refused. How to refuse someone asking for additional help "while you're at it"? We were in our mid-70s at the time. Melanie Wolfson paid for an aisle seat but was shocked to find two men in the window and middle seats. Book the right seat first.' "but this was a time not to be tactful." Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Then came the looks. A Woman Defends Her Refusal To Switch Airline Seats To Help Bumping & Oversales | US Department of Transportation So I never offer a reason. Reddit user u/throw44245t363 explained that they initially said yes, but after they saw the seat they wo 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. 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. "[He] said that 'she hates traveling, but giving her the seat would've made things easier in the end,'" explained the poster. You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. I was also asked by a mother to switch seats. That should be the end of it.". 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. That was a HARD NO. Four passengers seated themselves forward from their assigned seats before takeoff. The anonymous passenger said they had started refusing to switch seats altogether unless it was for an upgrade. How can I tactfully refuse to switch seats on flights? On other occasions when flying alone, I found myself in the middle seat between a married couple who hoped the seat would remain vacant. You could claim that you chose your seat due to it being your favourite/lucky number. 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. I didnt say anything but thought after that I should have said no but didnt want to cause a scene. Seats Passenger Applauded for Refusing to Swap Seats So Family "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.". Justin Kase zsixz / Alamy Stock Photo. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. They asked if Id be willing to switch, I asked to which seat, they said the same rows other middle seat. I am 80+ years old and have a brace on my left leg. When I travel, I book my flights well in advance. I have only added it to my answer as a non-verbal alternative to my original gambit. I made friends with a woman whom I see at my kids play dates and in the park. You Never Have to Swap Seats on a Flight Grow up. Jay Kloss and his wife Zoe were travelling with Virgin I trust that most fellow-flyers will then be sympathetic enough to withdraw from the confrontation. I am 75 and mildly handicapped (cerebral palsy mild) and mildly arthritic. His sister occasionally brings a male friend to family events, and they engage in public displays of affection that are awkward for everyone. I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. Answer politely and succinctly, give reasons, but don't belabor them. The same happened to the lady beside me. Talk to the flight attendant if you don't like your seat. Now, its getting annoying. There may be another reason.. "Turns out we were seated in front of kids that kicked the seat for the entire 8 hour flight. Was I Wrong? I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. ), Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. travel.stackexchange.com/questions/48775/, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Just let it be part of your calculation., RELATED: Worst Seatmate Ever: Frequent Flyers Reveal Their Worst Experiences. Plane Passenger Says Seatmate Kept 'Mumbling Profanities' After One of the suggested responses is perfect: I paid extra for this seat because (insert reason here). However, there are many reasons why people who want to benefit out of extra legroom refuse to trade their seats. Usually, 1 would move and it didnt matter whether I had the window or aisle seat. It's an unspoken rule when it comes to seat swaps | Photo: Unsplash/chrisbrignola. My husband and I sit aisles with me in front of him as I dont recline my seat but one notch. How can I tactfully refuse to switch seats on flights? Credit: Audrey Peters. Hundreds of commenters said they agreed with her decision and would have done the same. 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. 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. The internet has backed a Redditor who refused to give up their plane seat so a family could sit together. Ive changed with families but it was always to another aisle and it kept me from sitting next to some small children! I happily switched when they offered to move me to first class! So far so good. 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. Its happened far too many times for it to be a coincidence. Stock photo of passengers on a crowded airplane. The business practice of bumping is not illegal. I have no children, hence no grandchildren. They asked. For more engaging lifestyle content, visit 7Life on Facebook. 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. Never again. Passenger refuses to give up his plane seat so a man could sit 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 It was a bit awkward, but we all survived and arrived safely at our destination. Justin Kase zsixz / Alamy Stock Photo. Airplane Seat 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. WebAfter her video went viral, it reignited a plane etiquette debate that keeps blowing up on TikTok. Bulkhead seats usually have ample legroom than the other seats of the same fare class. OR your ESA (emotional support animal). Refuses To Switch Seats The crew member was relentless and insisted I give up my seat and I stood my ground. It may seem impolite to downright refuse a parents request to sit next to their child, but others would consider it rude to even ask in the first place. Any number of passengers could have done so to accommodate those families. 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. 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! The internet has backed a Redditor who refused to give up their plane seat so a family could sit together. A holidaying couple has been commended for refusing to bow to pressure from another passenger who asked them to switch seats so her young daughter, who is 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. Despite feeling inconvenienced, some people agree to switch places in exchange for another comfortable seat. On January 13, a Seattle-based TikToker with 140,000 followers named Arleen Your frustration mid-flight wouldve hardly started until you hear a screaming kid near your seat. I chose an aisle seat in both directions as close to the bathroom as I could get which cost me $81.00 each. 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. Now, none of this obliges you to change seats. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. WebWoman Called Rude B*tch For Refusing To Give Up Her Window Seat On Plane For Disabled Child. Don't give them even an inch. 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. Don't suggest you have a preference or specific need. However, not everyone was on Audreys side with her seat refusal. UPDATED: Heres some good insight from a reader, which will make you think twice about giving anyone attitude for saying no. 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. 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. How can I find out which sectors are used by files on NTFS? My total ticket, including seats, fees, and taxes, was $972.85. IF it was possible to have a civil discourse on the subject AND a convincing enough excuse was given (e.g., death in the family, emergency, not enough money, etc. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. We were just about to close the door, when an overweight man boarded and headed for the center seat next to me. You refused. Paying extra didnt count for Jack!!! But after some firm words, she gave in and sat down, with the husband apologizing. 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. 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. How Hard Is It to Get the American Express Platinum Card? We handed over our boarding passes, which she kept (!). Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? 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. Interpersonal Skills Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people looking to improve their interpersonal communication skills. She told me I HAD to move to a middle seat near the back of the plane. airplane I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. refusing The complimentary wine and warm nuts of business class are a balm to many wounds. Man refuses to give up his seat on flight to let passenger sit next What am I doing wrong here in the PlotLegends specification? I just avoid the bulkhead. One guy downright refused to swap his seat with a mother who didnt stop condemning him. I suggest that stewards look elsewhere for volunteers if fellow passengers try to shame me from the sidelines. How can I properly refuse my mother's help? But they will make time to deal with an urgent request involving the very old, the disabled, and young children. No Im not switching for a middle seat. Disagreeing with an answer is not a reason to comment. Of course, I agreed. I am not giving up my seat I paid $82.00 for. 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. And if there were none left, they could have called the airline and figured it out ahead of time. Different people have different levels of willingness to move. ", 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. I would say "Sorry, but I specifically booked this seat because { characteristics which made you pick that seat}". Its one of the most common excuses of all. Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? The Redditor lost his cool when the mother couldnt control her child from grabbing his phone. 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. A few years ago the passenger next to me was overweight and had booked two seats so Im happy with the extra elbow room. And generally a worse seat is not a gift I want. To be fair, sometimes when you book with points for example, you cannot book the entire family together at the same time, one explained. 75,000 bonus miles, at least 2x miles on everything. I also think that anyone should realize that switching seats may be against the contract of carriage, airline rules, or country-specific regulations. switch No Im not switching for a middle seat. If they do, book early and pick your seats like I do. I have read similar columns like this one. It has been a A passenger has been praised online after refusing to swap seats twice on a 10-hour flight. I am an organized person. They'd still all be together," said one commenter. Certainly not!" 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. Works for us. How to refuse someone who would like to borrow our baby? One of the male passengers climbed over the seats to avoid any physical contact with her. Some people realize the seat isnt for them after booking in advance and mostly walk to someone in the aisle seat requesting an exchange. She stated I could call customer service and they would handle it. For help with your awkward situation, send a question to SocialQ@nytimes.com, to Philip Galanes on Facebook or @SocialQPhilip on Twitter. 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. Many passengers have divided opinions after a downright refusal to switch places. would be "I do not wish to change" or "I reserved this seat" or (again) "This seat is just fine".

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