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 have long legs, and those seats tend to provide more legroom not that I have to justify myself. This approach communicates that I have a specific preference (that I arranged for). 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. This puts the interaction on a positive footing. 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. Refuses To Switch Seats The flight attendant asked if I wanted her to ask people to move so we could sit together, and before I could reply my kids declined saying they were all set they behaved as angels sitting alone. 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I always feel that prefacing a statement with 'sorry' might give the other person a feeling that they have a slight upper hand. And I, as well, really dont care how adorable your kids are. Maybe they glare at you. Would I move to the bulkhead aisle with a screaming baby next to me. Its best to put others before yourself, despite what some others may think. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Do whatever you would normally do. This is a powerful position to take. Audrey Peters has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a family to sit together. Debate rages over airplane etiquette after Virgin passenger (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. @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. A handful of people who commented on the post said they were parents themselves. Others said you are never obligated to switch seats (even though in some situations it might be the nice thing to do). When Garg refused to switch seats, her seatmate began 'muttering profanities' about her for the duration of the flight. If it Southwest, I always preboard and will not give up my aisle seat. However, not everyone was on Audreys side with her seat refusal. It was usually an individual request. The business practice of bumping is not illegal. 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. 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. Flying is already stressful, so be sympathetic not combative. My first officer was flying, and he experienced problems when he rotated the aircraft: It was very heavy. The turbulence was wicked on descent and she not only held my hand but she dug her nails into my arm. But after some firm words, she gave in and sat down, with the husband apologizing. Not the first person to refuse to swap seats on a flight, a couple earlier this year was praised for refusing to swap seats with a frightened girl, and another woman was cheered after she didn't give up her seat for a "rude" mom and child. In this case, my response to "why?" Our wedding is approaching. "Can I call the flight attendant? In a TikTok post which has now garnered more than 900,000 views, Audrey Peters toasts the camera with a glass of fizz.. But does the person who first requested a seat swap approve? But they will make time to deal with an urgent request involving the very old, the disabled, and young children. 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. WebYes a flight attendant can make you switch seats with or without reason. I trust that most fellow-flyers will then be sympathetic enough to withdraw from the confrontation. The window seat was occupied, but the center seat was open. seat Terms apply. Four passengers seated themselves forward from their assigned seats before takeoff. The passenger said the woman continued to "make a scene" and call him out in front of other passengers. 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. 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. On planes, the best seat is in the eye of the beholder. I had booked a flight and paid for my seat on an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Frankfurt for August 31, 2022. With a packed flight you get what you get. A reader seeks reassurance after declining to move for parents flying with children. After reading these posts, maybe next time I wont move:). Audrey Peters via TikTok and Richard Sharrocks/Getty Images. Different people have different levels of willingness to move. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/03/style/airplane-seat-etiquette-social-qs.html. And I'd leave it at that. I am keeping the seat I paid for.'". The pilot kept asking in different ways/ I kept saying no. Several passengers made nasty comments. Whats your take on switching seats on a plane? Commenters said they supported his decision, adding that it would be good for the child to learn they couldn't have everything their way. It turned out that the gentlemen beside me now was her husband. The first step in my opinion is to assume the person making the request is doing so with good intentions. I book my travel well in advance and select my seat at the same time. My kid could be seated five rows away. An influencer has been applauded for refusing to swap seats on a flight so a family could sit together.. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 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. Ive changed with families but it was always to another aisle and it kept me from sitting next to some small children! Are You Obligated to Switch Seats on a Plane? - JohnnyJet.com Refuses To Switch That doesn't mean you need to agree to a bad trade, but don't add to the aggravation by being harsh with them. In most cases folks are pretty understanding. It's been my experience that when people want a reason, it's to argue. My mum literally ditched us when her seat got upgraded to first class.. Disagree, its just compassion for others. A Woman Defends Her Refusal To Switch Airline Seats To Help 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. However, if a co-passenger requests you to switch places and you find a valid point in it, the decision is entirely up to you. Passenger Applauded for Refusing to Swap Seats So Family So I dont have any sympathy. 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. 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. 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). 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. 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. Don't give them any opening which would allow them to argue with you that their "need" might be greater than yours. 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. I said, 'respectfully ma'am, your travel issues are not my problem. For help with your awkward situation, send a question to SocialQ@nytimes.com, to Philip Galanes on Facebook or @SocialQPhilip on Twitter. I agreed to do so, but her seat was next to the toilet. Also, our wedding is taking place across the country, and including this man in wedding events over several days doesnt sit right with me. But my fianc objected. On "Are You Obligated to Switch Seats on a Plane? @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. I select mine well in advance esp. His sister occasionally brings a male friend to family events, and they engage in public displays of affection that are awkward for everyone. Your frustration mid-flight wouldve hardly started until you hear a screaming kid near your seat. Terms apply. An influencer has been applauded for refusing to swap seats on a flight so a family could sit together.. RELATED: The 7 Dirtiest Things on an Airplane, According to a Flight Attendant. If I was younger and with no brace, I would consider swapping. Melanie Wolfson paid for an aisle seat but was shocked to find two men in the window and middle seats. "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.". to switch Tone is important the aim is to sound firm, but not irritated by the request. Just let it be part of your calculation. She would be sitting next to my husband. WebAnswer (1 of 4): You are under no obligation to switch seats if asked. 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. flight The New York Times recently featured a story titled: I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. The same happened to the lady beside me. Does ZnSO4 + H2 at high pressure reverses to Zn + H2SO4? 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 Its hard for most passengers to say no to someone who wants to sit beside their loved one. In the end, she switched places to avoid any delay to the flight. Was I Wrong? The reader submitting the question wrote: I am an organized person. I usually answer 'Sorry, but I prefer mine, thanks'. This dear, young woman ended up sprawling all over the poor lady sitting next to her. If that doesn't deserve a slapdown, what does? A passenger in a middle seat has asked for your coveted aisle one. We handed over our boarding passes, which she kept (!). "Turns out we were seated in front of kids that kicked the seat for the entire 8 hour flight. How can I politely refuse to help classmates with their work? 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!). This was a very critical situation because the runway was very short, and we would not have been able to stop, pilot Magnar Nordal explained. Disagreeing with an answer is not a reason to comment. Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. Drop a comment below! Requests to change seats should be made to the flight attendant not to the passenger. Passenger Praised For Refusing To Change Seats On 10-Hour Jay Kloss and his wife Zoe were travelling with Virgin How can I tactfully refuse to switch seats on flights? Now I couldnt disclose that at the time of the request and had to decline. 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. Anyone can read what you share. How should I respond when people question my life choices after just meeting me? "You don't ask someone to downgrade for your convenience," said one top comment with 46,000 likes. Videos about seat switching continue to stir controversy and debate on TikTok. 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. Meanwhile, some offered an explanation as to why seats can often split groups up. The anonymous passenger said they had started refusing to switch seats altogether unless it was for an upgrade. No Im not switching for a middle seat. But for others, no. We were unable to verify the details of this case. I really enjoy the views. Viewers readily assured Garg she was hardly in the wrong here, as people expressed their own frustrations with fellow airplane passengers who not only ask people The now vacant two seats were given to a lady and her little boy. Airline passenger says he wanted to slap man who refused to Sign up for notifications from Insider! My code is GPL licensed, can I issue a license to have my code be distributed in a specific MIT licensed project? I am 75 and mildly handicapped (cerebral palsy mild) and mildly arthritic. Bumping, also known as denied boarding, happens when there are more passengers scheduled to fly on an airplane than available seats. Justin Kase zsixz / Alamy Stock Photo. I politely declined. I just avoid the bulkhead. Would you change seats to accommodate a disabled person? They asked if Id be willing to switch, I asked to which seat, they said the same rows other middle seat. I would also get on the plane early and ask the passenger before they got settled in. Usually, 1 would move and it didnt matter whether I had the window or aisle seat. 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.