The man asked another male passenger to swap seats with Wolfson. My kid could be seated five rows away. We handed over our boarding passes, which she kept (!). 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. I made friends with a woman whom I see at my kids play dates and in the park. 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. Twice. I indicated if I switched seats with the elderly lady she would not be sitting next to her husband. I really enjoy the views. However, in one case the couple wanted to keep their seats (their choice) and I spent the entire flight between them. ), then I would almost always move, except to a location one poster mentioned abovenear the bathroom. 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. But would you trade your comfort for someone who wants to sit with their kid? I have no children, hence no grandchildren. In the end, she switched places to avoid any delay to the flight. 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. Typically, people are even willing to pressurize co-passengers for swapping out their aisle seat for a window or vice versa. If the airline assigned the seats and the parent is separated from the child, and asks someone to switch so they can sit next to their child, and the person wont For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here. It turned out that the gentlemen beside me now was her husband. Marra Shubyann Lindstrom Steininger Has Faced Many Difficulties - Facts about Jeffree Star's Mother, Single Dad Phil Donahue Prayed 5 Kids Would Accept Childless Marlo Thomas in the Family At First It Was a 'Disaster', Blake Lively's Dating History before She Married Ryan Reynolds, Millionaire Mocks Poor Woman with 3 Kids on Business Class Flight until Pilot Interrupts Him Story of the Day, Man Mocks Boy Reading Aloud on Plane, Begs Pardon by the End of the Flight Story of the Day, Drunk Guy Mocks Old Lady on the Bus and Grabs Her Purse, Teen Boy Decides to Interfere Story of the Day. I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. 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 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. With Southwest I always pay extra to be sure to get an aisle seat near the front of the airplane. Sorry, but crew getting premium seats should be the exception. WebAfter her video went viral, it reignited a plane etiquette debate that keeps blowing up on TikTok. 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. How can I refuse tactfully, without causing this bitterness? Beware: the exchange is not always worth it. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? I remember once, I was flying from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and I had an aisle seat. My moving would allow them to sit together. The passenger said the woman continued to "make a scene" and call him out in front of other passengers. Whats your take on switching seats on a plane? My first officer was flying, and he experienced problems when he rotated the aircraft: It was very heavy. How can I properly refuse my mother's help? 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! After deciding to remain in her seat, she reflected: I dont want to look like an a-hole, but I dont think Im an a-hole in this situation. Our wedding is approaching. But with Southwest, there are no seat assignments, I would gladly switch if the airlines priced all seats the same like they used to but am not giving up a AA PREFERRED MAIN CABIN SEAT that I either paid extra for or got thru my loyalty to AA. No Im not switching for a middle seat. 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. (Edit in response to Wildcard's comment) Be gracious in your response and the scowling and glaring is their problem, not yours. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. The traveler stated that they despise aisle seats due to always being bumped by trolleys and other people. Replacing broken pins/legs on a DIP IC package, How to handle a hobby that makes income in US. 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. I asked why and was told the elderly lady wanted to sit with her husband. There were, however, a few people who sided with Mr Kloss. Any number of passengers could have done so to accommodate those families. WebYes a flight attendant can make you switch seats with or without reason. I hope you are able to have this situation resolved.". Not really. This is what the family of the elderly lady (see below) probably did. Commenters said they supported his decision, adding that it would be good for the child to learn they couldn't have everything their way. To be fair, sometimes when you book with points for example, you cannot book the entire family together at the same time, one explained. 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? "but this was a time not to be tactful." Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been, Perhaps rather than "thank-you, for asking." And I always ask if an upgrade is available. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. The first step in my opinion is to assume the person making the request is doing so with good intentions. As you feel using "sorry" carries the wrong connotation, how would you succinctly express sympathy for someone's situation, without taking responsibility for it? So, I politely refused. Terms apply. Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. Several passengers made nasty comments. Separated 3 travelers to different areas: myself, wife, n teenage niece. 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. But I didnt want to move! Don't give them any opening which would allow them to argue with you that their "need" might be greater than yours. (They could have booked in advance, too.) I dislike the implication that taller travellers automatically deserve the more comfortable seats. If I was younger and with no brace, I would consider swapping. 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. But after some firm words, she gave in and sat down, with the husband apologizing. And I'd leave it at that. Your frustration mid-flight wouldve hardly started until you hear a screaming kid near your seat. 75,000 bonus miles, at least 2x miles on everything. Despite feeling inconvenienced, some people agree to switch places in exchange for another comfortable seat. Another commented: 'Bro I'm sick of people asking to switch seats. She would be sitting next to my husband. I always feel that prefacing a statement with 'sorry' might give the other person a feeling that they have a slight upper hand. 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. I will never take a window seat in an exchange unless its in first class. Little did the guy know the womans husband was watching from a corner. I traveled from Boston to Key West with three kids between 6 and 10, and we were not seated together. Unless otherwise requested by a crew member, you arent required to switch places with anyone else. 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 All others should just settle in and endure. 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. Its hard for most passengers to say no to someone who wants to sit beside their loved one. Another overweight passenger had booked two seats BUT when he got on the plane, only middle seats were left. Have you been in a similar situation where someone requested you to switch places on a flight? 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. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Im so sick of people thinking its ok to disrupt someone for their lack of planning, one said. We would just suck it up and sit apart. Now, none of this obliges you to change seats. Make it clear that you are not up for argument. He ignored her and looked at the guy at the window in the same row. I empathize with people traveling together who wish to sit together, including families, but every legacy carrier has a flexible seating chart that you can monitor from booking time literally until almost boarding time. Several passengers made nasty comments. My future husband has four siblings, one of whom is single. Don't give them even an inch. 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. Unless theres a very good reason I will not switch and even then only to an aisle seat. They should have had the crew member move out of that premium seat and let either me or this guy sit there. Another revealed: My parents purposely booked my whole family apart so we couldnt fight., One suggested: As a mum, I fully agree. 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. 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. Stock photo of passengers on a crowded airplane. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Do not engage with a pushy passenger. That should be the end of it.". Now, with respect to the scowling and hostility: stay polite. So far so good. So Ill reemphasize not to get made at the person who refuses. The man was traveling from Athens (ATH) to either Newark (EWR) on 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. Peters did not immediately respond to a request for comment. How can I politely refuse to help classmates with their work? Perhaps they might be able to accommodate your needs.". Its not your job to placate anyone though I recognize that women often feel pressured to. Finally, the elderly lady said she would just sit elsewhere. A man who was unable to book two airline seats next to each other, so he could sit next to his wife became frustrated after a fellow passenger refused to swap Some readers will correctly object that flight attendants are too harried on today's crowded flights to do much seat-rearranging. But does the person who first requested a seat swap approve? Attempting to interfere with the duties of a flight crew member. 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). Advertiser Disclosure: The card offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Johnny Jet receives compensation. 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. If they wanted that seat, they could have done the same thing. Ive been on both sides of this multiple times. Book your flights earlier babes.. The window seat was occupied, but the center seat was open. Can airtags be tracked from an iMac desktop, with no iPhone? Johnny Jet does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. 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 As we finalized our guest list, it was obvious to me that his single sister would not get a plus one for the wedding. 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'm short enough that my legs fit in just about any airline seat. The complimentary wine and warm nuts of business class are a balm to many wounds. This puts the interaction on a positive footing. I travel alone quite frequently, plan ahead and select my seat for a reason and hold my ground. 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. @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. There may be another reason.. 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. 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. But cmon, I have kids but have always paid extra to be together. Use this approach only if you're willing to move to a different aisle/window/front/whatever seat if they find you one. One guy downright refused to swap his seat with a mother who didnt stop condemning him. For help with your awkward situation, send a question to SocialQ@nytimes.com, to Philip Galanes on Facebook or @SocialQPhilip on Twitter. TikToks about whether adults should make sacrifices for children they encounter often spark debate, especially in the context of flight etiquette and whether it's fair to be asked to swap seats on planes so families can sit together. 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.. An influencer has been applauded for refusing to swap seats on a flight so a family could sit together.. And if there were none left, they could have called the airline and figured it out ahead of time. Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation, The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. The crew member was relentless and insisted I give up my seat and I stood my ground. Would I move to the bulkhead aisle with a screaming baby next to me. My total ticket, including seats, fees, and taxes, was $972.85. But when they boarded the plane, a family of four approached the Redditor and asked if they could switch spots. When the flight was over, the elderly ladys husband was in the deboarding area and really gave me a glare. A viral TikTok has reignited a debate about whether or not to swap seats on an airplane when asked. 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. "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.". I love it here, and Im delighted I moved! Ill bet that changes these chats. I, too, book my flights way in advance and always get to the airport early. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. When they asked a passenger seated near them if they were willing to switch seats, he refused. In that case, who cares if they are scowling at you or glaring? A passenger has been praised online after refusing to swap seats twice on a 10-hour flight. I select mine well in advance esp. 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 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. The second step is to listen to their reason for wanting to move (usually this will be given when someone makes such a request). A reader seeks reassurance after declining to move for parents flying with children. After all its a short flight. 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. My moving would allow them to sit together. 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. Another wrote: I love you! We will not stop that. This usually lets me claim my preferred seat: on the aisle in the bulkhead row. You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. Respond appropriately depending on their situation. 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. The flight was roughly ten hours and around this time of year, it's extremely hectic. It doesn't work on everyone, but it's been surprisingly effective for me. by Eric Spring. I usually answer 'Sorry, but I prefer mine, thanks'. Different people have different levels of willingness to move. I recently moved from Denver to Saint Paul, Minn. That one I turned down with "Do I look stupid? Are you willing to pay me X dollars for me to give up a seat I paid extra for? (Added note: X dollars can be more than you paid, if you want to do so.). However, he refused and said hed paid for the extra legroom, but the woman didnt stop condemning him: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! Either give me the money or book earlier. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Last year I was taking American Airlines to London. We asked why and were told we were in the wrong seats. I was asked to switch seats with the elderly lady. On planes, the best seat is in the eye of the beholder. 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. How can I refuse to kiss my mother while minimizing the hurt feelings? He asked if the man seated in the aisle would mind switching with his wife in the window seat. How to tactfully refuse to provide academic help? But thank you for asking!" Can I call the flight attendant? The same happened to the lady beside me. UPDATED: Heres some good insight from a reader, which will make you think twice about giving anyone attitude for saying no. If they persist, maintaining that they are graciously offering to trade but you must decline as you're fine where you are. This is a powerful position to take. Also, it doesnt matter if you paid extra or chose the most appealing freebie seat, the seat allotment printed on your boarding pass belongs only to you. "We switched recently to help out a family," one commenter wrote. My husband and I were seated in a 2X2 first class section, all settled in. 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. Rudy Dong/Unsplash. Sadly, it will not be the last compromise you two have to reach. Basic economy states exactly that issue if you want to save a few bucks and not pay for the seats. 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. Was I wrong to hold my ground?, 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. I was in the window seat, my husband in the aisle seat. According to The New York Times, Laura Heywood, 42, was flying to London when she was asked to swap her middle seat with her husband so a man with the window (Lets put aside rules about emergency exit rows and other special circumstances.) The 25-year-old said a stranger had asked her to move to a middle seat - leaving her laughing over the unfair request. 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. No Im not switching for a middle seat. Maybe they glare at you. The Redditor lost his cool when the mother couldnt control her child from grabbing his phone. I suggest that stewards look elsewhere for volunteers if fellow passengers try to shame me from the sidelines. How to refuse someone who would like to borrow our baby? Audrey Peters has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a family to sit together. with her boyfriend makes you uncomfortable or you just dont want to see this guy at your wedding. However, a pilot made a shocking revelation why switching seats before a takeoff can be very dangerous. But you reserved THAT seat, in advance, and may have paid more for it. Book the right seat first.' But let me ask this: will you ever see these people again? "I'm sorry you were not assigned the seat you needed. Am I being old-fashioned? "[He] said that 'she hates traveling, but giving her the seat would've made things easier in the end,'" explained the poster. If you disagree, downvote or write your own answer. I personally hate travelings so I spent a bit more money to be closer.". However, the bizarre requests didnt stop there. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone. Disagree, its just compassion for others. You refused. It was usually an individual request.
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