In literally hundreds of flights, I have been asked only twice to change seats, once by the flight attendant to allow a very elderly and frail woman to sit next to a member of her family, who was seated next to me. Keep in mind, though, that his sister may be very important to him. However, there are many reasons why people who want to benefit out of extra legroom refuse to trade their seats. The man asked another male passenger to swap seats with Wolfson. 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. Maybe they glare at you. The complimentary wine and warm nuts of business class are a balm to many wounds. This puts the interaction on a positive footing. Bulkhead seats usually have ample legroom than the other seats of the Requests to change seats should be made to the flight attendant not to the passenger. He came back and asked me to switch seats. Hundreds of commenters said they agreed with her decision and would have done the same. Tim Nickerson has learned just how aggressive the commandeering of seats can be. 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. A PASSENGER refused to swap seats so a husband could sit with his wife and child on a plane. We asked why and were told we were in the wrong seats. Would I move to the bulkhead aisle with a screaming baby next to me. 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. Personally, Im a softy for switching where children are involved, and less so for adults (if I have a great seat). It only takes a minute to sign up. Its not fair for flight attendants to move or let people move to these seats when one or more paid extra to sit there.. Any number of passengers could have done so to accommodate those families. I was very upset but it was too late to complain. You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. 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. Instead of being seated in the aisle seat right across from them, her husband was in the window seat across the aisle. I recently moved from Denver to Saint Paul, Minn. We were unable to verify the details of this case. However, not everyone was on Audreys side with her seat refusal. 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. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Just let it be part of your calculation. unfortunately for her loud enough so everybody in first class could hear her. You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. To his dismay, he was the womans husband, and he never bothered to give up his seat either. For more engaging lifestyle content, visit 7Life on Facebook. For me its like watching the sunset, they dont get old. In Deltas first class to NYC I encountered a young woman who, because she met an old boyfriend according to her in the line waiting to get into the plane, wanted to sit next to him, also in first class. While another reply said: "People need to learn to take the first no graciously. I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. So I dont have any sympathy. Drop a comment below! Requests to change seats should be made to the flight attendant not to the passenger. For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here. 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. Some people will be bad tempered about having their request declined, however polite, however reasonable you are, and however good your reasons for declining. One guy downright refused to swap his seat with a mother who didnt stop condemning him. Tone is important the aim is to sound firm, but not irritated by the request. My husband and I were seated in a 2X2 first class section, all settled in. Then came the looks. 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. That doesn't obligate me to sit in a less-comfortable seat by other criteria. 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. The man was traveling from Athens (ATH) to either Newark (EWR) on travel.stackexchange.com/questions/48775/, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. You could claim that you chose your seat due to it being your favourite/lucky number. ), Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. 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. However, a pilot made a shocking revelation why switching seats before a takeoff can be very dangerous. 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. Book your flights earlier babes.. Now, none of this obliges you to change seats. Beware: the exchange is not always worth it. The lady in that seat was moved one row back. No Im not switching for a middle seat. 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! How can I refuse tactfully, without causing this bitterness? I would say "Sorry, but I specifically booked this seat because { characteristics which made you pick that seat}". How did you react? We will not stop that. The caption when a family asks me to switch seats on the plane so they can sit together, followed by a raised Never again. Terms apply. Unless otherwise requested by a crew member, you arent required to switch places with anyone else. But cant control cancellations and sh**** rebooking. 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. And generally a worse seat is not a gift I want. A seat swap request might look too good to be true | Photo: Pixabay/lukasbieri. Newsweek has reached out to u/Unlikely-Strategy596 for comment. I agreed to do so, but her seat was next to the toilet. WebAITA for refusing to switch airplane seats twice? The internet has backed a Redditor who refused to give up their plane seat so a family could sit together. 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. She complained about me all the way to her seat and I was stared at/ glared at. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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. A passenger in a middle seat has asked for your coveted aisle one. | doubt the flight attendants even think about this what I call flight attendant gender targeting. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Did the parents book a trip at the last minute for an emergency or did they book far in advance and didnt spend the time to get seats together? Sign up for notifications from Insider! Plus, 3x points on gas and $100 annual hotel savings. They can even offer you a reason to switch. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. For me, it probably wouldnt be worth the emotional energy (and possible fallout at future play dates) to stage a formal breakup with a casual acquaintance. How can I tactfully refuse to switch seats on flights? Youre seated next to a kid or spouse of someone whos sitting several rows away, and theyd wonder if youre ready to switch so they can spend the flight together. 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. No Im not switching for a middle seat. How to refuse someone who would like to borrow our baby? This usually lets me claim my preferred seat: on the aisle in the bulkhead row. | Photo: Amomama, I PAID FOR THAT EXTRA LEGROOM & IM NOT MOVING. In a similar incident in 2020, Wolfson faced the same dilemma during her flight to London. This will clearly explain the other person that you are not refusing to switch seat because you don't like her, but because you have some real issue with other seats. And upon refusal, theyre mostly treated differently and are often lashed at for no reason. 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. Certainly not!" This is your wedding. I pick my seats carefully because of my joint condition. Stewardess and elderly lady went to front of plane, knocked on pilots door and got what I assume was the assistant pilot. 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. Williams with the infant and her two older children, three-year-old Theodore and two-year-old Gigi, were seated together in a row. Its unclear whether the 25-year-old booked an aisle or a window seat - but she made it abundantly clear she wasnt going to give up her spot to be wedged between two passengers. WebIn the caption under a video posted Tuesday, Audrey Peters, a 25-year-old influencer from Miami with 653,000 TikTok followers, said she refused to give up her assigned seat on a flight for a middle seat when asked to by a group of passengers. What am I doing wrong here in the PlotLegends specification? How about arriving at your seat and finding someone already sitting there, all settled in, who then asks if I mind him taking my seat so he could sit next to his wife? In this case, my response to "why?" The first step in my opinion is to assume the person making the request is doing so with good intentions. Twice. Bulkhead seats usually have ample legroom than the other seats of the same fare class. Now, none of this obliges you to change seats. Another option is to say, "Thank you for asking! 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. WebYes a flight attendant can make you switch seats with or without reason. However, he refused and said hed paid for the extra legroom, but the woman didnt stop condemning him: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! My total ticket, including seats, fees, and taxes, was $972.85. Many passengers are downright with their refusal | Photo: Pexels/athena, SEAT SWAPS BEFORE TAKEOFF CAN BE RISKY, CLAIMS PILOT. But thank you for asking!" No, thank you. A New York woman who was on a flight recently said she was asked by a young family sitting across the aisle from her if she would swap her aisle seat meaning, 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. Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? And if there were none left, they could have called the airline and figured it out ahead of time. OK, this wasn't tactful, but this was a time not to be tactful. You politely declined the offer to switch and now are staying polite. Some folks like the window seat. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone. 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. The fares were $531.00 for a Basic Economy seat and $688.00 for a Main Cabin seat a price difference of $157.00. A cabin crew member explained her thoughts on this, saying: Most airlines make people pay upwards of 50 extra bucks to sit in those seats and charge them when they book the ticket. ": I don't understand the suggestion of offering to call an attendant for them, as if the person's insatisfaction with their seat and interest in your seat would mean that their problems have somehow also become your problem. 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. Another wrote: I love you! They asked if Id be willing to switch, I asked to which seat, they said the same rows other middle seat. I said, 'respectfully ma'am, your travel issues are not my problem. 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. And I always ask if an upgrade is available. WebNTA. Sometimes, aircraft swaps are beyond your control | Photo: Pixabay/tstrong20. But I didnt want to move! Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. As you feel using "sorry" carries the wrong connotation, how would you succinctly express sympathy for someone's situation, without taking responsibility for it? But they will make time to deal with an urgent request involving the very old, the disabled, and young children. Several passengers made nasty comments. 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. How can I politely refuse to help classmates with their work? "We switched recently to help out a family," one commenter wrote. Is it okay to ask someone to swap seats on a plane? Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation, The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. But you reserved THAT seat, in advance, and may have paid more for it. 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 since kids under 15 cant sit there. And if I paid extra for better leg room, I would only do it if it was a short flight (less than 3 hours) AND I got a refund on the extra I paid for the better seat. (They could have booked in advance, too.) 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. He shared his experience, saying: I just simply raised my hand so the child couldnt reach, so I said in a louder tone, please control your child, which made the mom grab the boy and freak out at me and her screaming at me that I shouldnt be such an [expletive] and only think about me.. I love it here, and Im delighted I moved! Ill bet that changes these chats. Several passengers made nasty comments. For help with your awkward situation, send a question to SocialQ@nytimes.com, to Philip Galanes on Facebook or @SocialQPhilip on Twitter. by Eric Spring. Obviously, there are a lot of variables involved. ESPECIALLY when your flight is canceled and the airline is responsible for your choice seat loss on your rebooked flight. "Offering" implies something that is more of a gift and not as easily refused. (I consider this a harmless lie. 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. From what I've seen, last-minute requests to change seats are usually because of factors beyond the person's control, like a family got rebooked after their original flight was canceled. Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. Despite feeling inconvenienced, some people agree to switch places in exchange for another comfortable seat. I am not your sweet old gray haired grandmother, and I dont care how cute your kids are, Im not moving. How can I find out which sectors are used by files on NTFS? When folks have asked me to move, I am very polite but explain that I paid for my seat in advance so that I could have extra leg room or movement. 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.. After all its a short flight. There have been times when our flight was cancelled or missed a connection and there werent seats together. Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. One of the male passengers climbed over the seats to avoid any physical contact with her. (Lets put aside rules about emergency exit rows and other special circumstances.) Works for us. 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 Flying is already stressful, so be sympathetic not combative. Respond appropriately depending on their situation. Another overweight passenger had booked two seats BUT when he got on the plane, only middle seats were left. One person explained on Reddit how his five-hour-flight journey kickstarted with a mother cussing him mid-flight. A couple embarking on their honeymoon failed to book seats together on the plane ride. Redoing the align environment with a specific formatting, Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers). Commenters said they supported his decision, adding that it would be good for the child to learn they couldn't have everything their way. The anonymous passenger said they had started refusing to switch seats altogether unless it was for an upgrade. Make it clear that you are not up for argument. 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. 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. I asked why and was told the elderly lady wanted to sit with her husband. 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. Another commented: 'Bro I'm sick of people asking to switch seats. 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 Meanwhile, some offered an explanation as to why seats can often split groups up. But when they boarded the plane, a family of four approached the Redditor and asked if they could switch spots. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Don't give them even an inch. If the request does not come from a flight attendant, just say. If you are a tall person you may use this explanation: I'm sorry but I chosen the aisle seat because I'm too tall to seat comfortably in the other seats. Im happy to be cordial when I see her, but she isnt taking the hint when I respond to her invitations by saying Im busy. They keep coming. With Southwest I always pay extra to be sure to get an aisle seat near the front of the airplane. The flight was roughly ten hours and around this time of year, it's extremely hectic. ignore the intimidation. I paid extra for this seat', she recalled. TikTok user Surya Garg shared a story about being asked to switch seats on a plane. Why are trials on "Law & Order" in the New York Supreme Court? 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! It was usually an individual request. RELATED: The 7 Dirtiest Things on an Airplane, According to a Flight Attendant. @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. Now I couldnt disclose that at the time of the request and had to decline. ??? Of course, that never happens. 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. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. dear Johnny Jet, it is my understanding that for identification and tracing purposes in case like pandemics and serious aviation or other accidents/incidents, passengers are to remain in their assigned seats; in fact prior to takeoff announcements are made to take the assigned seats in my experience; quite surprisingly to me, i have not seen any reference made to this reason in the comments nor in your own remarks. Very rarely would I change seats. 60,000 bonus points. For the world, for that matter. I think it's safer to phrase this as "Have you tried asking a flight attendant whether they can accommodate your needs?" I suggest that stewards look elsewhere for volunteers if fellow passengers try to shame me from the sidelines. Do we really have time to ascertain and give judgement on the circumstances surrounding their seat separation? I politely declined. Just before takeoff the flight attendant told me I had to switch seats. This is a powerful position to take. Either give me the money or book earlier. 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. 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. Its not my fault the couple didnt reserve seats together. I happily switched when they offered to move me to first class! say instead "Thank you for. Beginners Guide to Credit Card Points & Miles, Booking Tool for Flights, Hotels, Cruises and Cars. It has been a turbulent few years for the aviation industry, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic putting a halt to worldwide travel. 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). 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. It has been a On planes, the best seat is in the eye of the beholder. Its happened far too many times for it to be a coincidence. Its hard for most passengers to say no to someone who wants to sit beside their loved one. I select mine well in advance esp. 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. If they persist, maintaining that they are graciously offering to trade but you must decline as you're fine where you are. One other thought on switching. Im so sick of people thinking its ok to disrupt someone for their lack of planning, one said. 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. Worst Seatmate Ever: Frequent Flyers Reveal Their Worst Experiences, The 7 Dirtiest Things on an Airplane, According to a Flight Attendant. A COUPLE have sparked debate after they asked to move seats during a flight - only for a passenger to refuse. Whats your take on switching seats on a plane? 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.). We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 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. But in the last year as restrictions have eased, travelers have begun booking vacations and business trips again and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that U.S. airlines carried over 71.2 million scheduled service passengers in May 2022. It is crazy to expect people to give up an aisle seat for the middle seat. 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. The New York Times recently featured a story titled: I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. The turbulence was wicked on descent and she not only held my hand but she dug her nails into my arm. 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.

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