I would also get on the plane early and ask the passenger before they got settled in. When a family asks me to switch seats on the plane so they can sit together, she said in a TikTok video - as she filmed herself sipping a glass of champagne after the seat rejection. Twice. The anonymous passenger said they had started refusing to switch seats altogether unless it was for an upgrade. The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. On planes, the best seat is in the eye of the beholder. Or I would switch if I was offered a better seat biz or first, or more legroom. would be "I do not wish to change" or "I reserved this seat" or (again) "This seat is just fine". Instead of being seated in the aisle seat right across from them, her husband was in the window seat across the aisle. 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. 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. An airline can refuse to transport a passenger for the reasons listed in its contract of carriage, a legal agreement between the passenger and airline, so long as the refusal is not discriminatory, such as: Being intoxicated or under the influence of illegal drugs. Videos about seat switching continue to stir controversy and debate on TikTok. My total ticket, including seats, fees, and taxes, was $972.85. 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. You refused. Beginners Guide to Credit Card Points & Miles, Booking Tool for Flights, Hotels, Cruises and Cars. 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. Would you change seats to accommodate a disabled person? 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. You're probably not, as if you were. (They could have booked in advance, too.) The lady in that seat was moved one row back. 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. Thats a hard no. In 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. For the world, for that matter. Some people realize the seat isnt for them after booking in advance and mostly walk to someone in the aisle seat requesting an exchange. Don't give them even an inch. OK, this wasn't tactful, but this was a time not to be tactful. No Im not switching for a middle seat. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. 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 But after some firm words, she gave in and sat down, with the husband apologizing. This is what the family of the elderly lady (see below) probably did. Newsweek has reached out to u/Unlikely-Strategy596 for comment. "Offering" implies something that is more of a gift and not as easily refused. If they pressure you, or ask why you can't help them, simply move forward with the only thing you can help them with: "Again, I can't help you, but I'm pressing the call button and someone will be here shortly who may be able to help you. How to tactfully refuse to provide academic help? I just avoid the bulkhead. Nap. Web1. On "Are You Obligated to Switch Seats on a Plane? I didnt say anything but thought after that I should have said no but didnt want to cause a scene. Some folks like the window seat. 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. As we finalized our guest list, it was obvious to me that his single sister would not get a plus one for the wedding. Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Of course, I agreed. 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. To be fair, sometimes when you book with points for example, you cannot book the entire family together at the same time, one explained. But most of the time, one of our seatmates would switch and thats because I made sure we had something to offer. Replacing broken pins/legs on a DIP IC package, How to handle a hobby that makes income in US. Usually, 1 would move and it didnt matter whether I had the window or aisle seat. 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. A PASSENGER refused to swap seats during a flight with a family so they could all sit together - but people are saying the same thing. @LyndonWhite "Asking" implies that they are making a request of me - one that I am free to either accept or refuse. Terms apply. This is your wedding. And upon refusal, theyre mostly treated differently and are often lashed at for no reason. It is not my fault the couple decided to wait for the last possible minute so they would be assigned free seats. 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. For help with your awkward situation, send a question to SocialQ@nytimes.com, to Philip Galanes on Facebook or @SocialQPhilip on Twitter. There were, however, a few people who sided with Mr Kloss. 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. 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. For me its like watching the sunset, they dont get old. 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. 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. "We switched recently to help out a family," one commenter wrote. If you truly do not wish to, you can simply look at the person, smile, and say, Im sorry, but I specifically chose Its not fair for flight attendants to move or let people move to these seats when one or more paid extra to sit there.. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. The pilot and flight crew needed to know where I was in the event of an emergency. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. My moving would allow them to sit together. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. 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. He was crying, I want to sit next to you, Mom! so before she even asked, I volunteered to switch. The first step in my opinion is to assume the person making the request is doing so with good intentions. While another reply said: "People need to learn to take the first no graciously. I am 80+ years old and have a brace on my left leg. I like this seat just fine." RELATED: The 7 Dirtiest Things on an Airplane, According to a Flight Attendant. Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. Anyone can read what you share. As more people travel for work and leisure, discussions about airplane etiquette and passenger comfort have gained traction online once again. But I didnt want to move! See how keen they are to move you after that! Disagree, its just compassion for others. I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. I told the crew member that unless they [American Airlines] gave me a first-class seat near a bathroom and immediately refunded the $164.00 I paid for my seats to and back from London, I was staying where I was. A handful of people who commented on the post said they were parents themselves. A seat swap request might look too good to be true | Photo: Pixabay/lukasbieri. Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor. This usually lets me claim my preferred seat: on the aisle in the bulkhead row. 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. Book your flights earlier babes. Audrey Peters has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a For more engaging lifestyle content, visit 7Life on Facebook. Like S. Kincaid, I am an older woman as well. Euler: A baby on his lap, a cat on his back thats how he wrote his immortal works (origin? But they will make time to deal with an urgent request involving the very old, the disabled, and young children. 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. Especially if a longer flight. Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. 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.. Unless they make a convincing appeal for why they really need my seat, I say something like "sorry, but I specifically reserved {an aisle seat, a window seat, a seat in the front of the plane, etc}". On the Internet Viral Reddit Trending Online The internet has backed a Redditor who refused to give up their plane seat so a family could sit together. 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. You are allowed to be as old-fashioned as you and your fianc agree to be. Re: Seat Switch Refusal-Part 2 (or 3) u got to hold your ground, rise above the nastiness and get into your zen zone. (Lets put aside rules about emergency exit rows and other special circumstances.) If the other person is persistent, then further explain that you daren't leave your lucky seat as you have had recurring dreams of being involved in a plane crash flight incident. But I didnt want to move! You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. 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 I am traveling alone, I will only exchange seats if they are offering a better seat than the one I am in. Her husband was seated some rows behind. (I consider this a harmless lie. That was a HARD NO. Audrey Peters via TikTok and Richard Sharrocks/Getty Images. However if their request is reasonable (i.e. Because of that, you owe someone else nothing. I select mine well in advance esp. 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. Pretty much an exact duplicate of this question on Travel SE. I need to get up and move around so I always pick an aisle seat. 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 was also asked by a mother to switch seats. 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). 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 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! If the request comes from a flight attendant, consider the reasons and either say yes, of course (as I did for the old, frail lady) or no, sorry, I'd much rather not. 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. But let me ask this: will you ever see these people again? 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. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. 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. I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. 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. The Redditor lost his cool when the mother couldnt control her child from grabbing his phone. 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. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek. I agreed to do so, but her seat was next to the toilet. Stock photo of passengers on a crowded airplane. Some readers will correctly object that flight attendants are too harried on today's crowded flights to do much seat-rearranging. A polite decline will leave you in the seat you reserved. 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. (Edit in response to Wildcard's comment) Be gracious in your response and the scowling and glaring is their problem, not yours. Arleen's video sparked a number of duets and stitches from users who shared their own stories about people they have seen refusing to move seats on a flight.. One user called @lizarddame shared a story on January 15 about traveling with a I didnt think fast enough to make that request. It was my one and only time to travel in first class. When I travel, I book my flights well in advance. And since you are asking people to fly across the country to spend several days celebrating your wedding, he may want to offer his sister the courtesy of a companion. Attempting to interfere with the duties of a flight crew member. Whats your take on switching seats on a plane? One guy downright refused to swap his seat with a mother who didnt stop condemning him. A stewardess with an elderly lady came to us and asked to check our boarding passes. The window seat was occupied, but the center seat was open. The internet has backed a Redditor who refused to give up their plane seat so a family could sit 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). There may be another reason.. I have only added it to my answer as a non-verbal alternative to my original gambit. Johnny Jet does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. Unless you have special access to some kind of reservation system, they had the same chance you did of getting that seat. say instead "Thank you for. Drop a comment below! The man asked another male passenger to swap seats with Wolfson. Then came the looks. 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.. I do not give up my assigned seat. 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. I pick my seats carefully because of my joint condition. I happily switched when they offered to move me to first class! For instance, a woman was asked to switch seats owing to ultra-Orthodox beliefs. Peters did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 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 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. You've attributed them with a positive quality and to do otherwise means they explicitly prove they do not possess that quality people will (primarily sub)consciously attempt to live up to it. Requests to change seats should be made to the flight attendant not to the passenger. 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. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Sorry, but crew getting premium seats should be the exception. This puts the interaction on a positive footing. Still, you have an equal vote here. I cant believe 2 adults HAVE to sit together on a plane flight. Think you might be having a bad day with a delayed flight or uncomfortable seat? And I'd leave it at that. The business practice of bumping is not illegal. She would be sitting next to my husband. Id be like well, See ya in arrivals, one mum said. I, too, book my flights way in advance and always get to the airport early. If they wanted that seat, they could have done the same thing. Its hard for most passengers to say no to someone who wants to sit beside their loved one. 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 What am I doing wrong here in the PlotLegends specification? What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? Ideally, the passenger with a pressing, real need (not just a want) for a seat change thinks ahead and discusses his problem with the agents at the desk in the boarding area, who can alert the cabin crew. Yes, its a tough situation with all the traveling Dynamics but I think youre within your rights to want to keep the seat that you have unless theres not an upgrade or a reasonable alternative or similar seat available. 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. Justin Kase zsixz / Alamy Stock Photo. Do whatever you would normally do. TikTok user Surya Garg shared a story about being asked to switch seats on a plane. 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 We booked aisle 6 as my husband is handicap and I was having knee problems, we checked in had our boarding passes for row 6 then while waiting they called my husband up and moved u to the very last row where we were crammed w a baby and mom on the outside The people who sat in our seats were friendly w gate attendant it was a dissgrace, I cannot believe they did this and after hours on the phone Jet Blue was terrible to deal with I am still looking as the flight was expensive for us to be treated like that and to be crammed while my family was in row 7 we were split up my family was there to help me w my husband. 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. 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. I chose an aisle seat in both directions as close to the bathroom as I could get which cost me $81.00 each. Any number of passengers could have done so to accommodate those families. Don't give them any opening which would allow them to argue with you that their "need" might be greater than yours. The now vacant two seats were given to a lady and her little boy. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. I remember once, I was flying from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and I had an aisle seat. Thanks for reading! This dear, young woman ended up sprawling all over the poor lady sitting next to her. WHAT KIND OF [expletive] WONT LET A MOTHER SIT WITH HER SON?!?!?!?!. Some people will be bad tempered about having their request declined, however polite, however reasonable you are, and however good your reasons for declining. There have been times when our flight was cancelled or missed a connection and there werent seats together. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Why say you're sorry? However, you dont have to swap seats if you dont want to. At the time, I was learning Portuguese from cds and decided to spend the rest of the flight with my ear buds and she had to listen to me speak in Portuguese responding to the Portuguese lessons and I made sure she could hear every word all the way across the United States. If they say something minor like "I like an aisle seat", you can dismiss their question fairly lightly: "I like an aisle seat too, unfortunately, that's why I booked this one", they are unlikely to be much offended, because they know the request was cheeky. Another commented: 'Bro I'm sick of people asking to switch seats. This approach communicates that I have a specific preference (that I arranged for). Works for us. Is it possible to create a concave light? 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. Be better., One suggested: To be honest - this mindset p***es me off., While another added: God forbid we be expected to make anyones life easier!. I dislike the implication that taller travellers automatically deserve the more comfortable seats. They should have had the crew member move out of that premium seat and let either me or this guy sit there. It was a bit awkward, but we all survived and arrived safely at our destination. An influencer said she refused to swap seats on a plane so a family could sit 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 ", She also lip-synched to a popular TikTok audio clip that says, "Girl, fuck them kids, and fuck you, too.". 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. WebAnswer (1 of 4): You are under no obligation to switch seats if asked. The fares were $531.00 for a Basic Economy seat and $688.00 for a Main Cabin seat a price difference of $157.00. I asked why and was told the elderly lady wanted to sit with her husband. ": 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. 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. Obviously, there are a lot of variables involved. Again, as I figure, a family who had not been willing to pay for three seats together. Avoid continuing the argument unless you are willing to be persuaded/come to a compromise. Man Refuses To Switch Plane Seats With Newlyweds But Feels Like A 'Villain' After Passengers & Crew Turn On Him By Megan Quinn Written on Mar 01, 2023 Photo: DavideAngelini / Shutterstock With a packed flight you get what you get. If you don't, you could actually make it the truth by applying a personal policy to book seats with a number which is suitably relevant to you, thereby maintaining a clear conscience.). Finally, the elderly lady said she would just sit elsewhere. Bulkhead seats usually have ample legroom than the other seats of the 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. Sure, others can ask why. I will only change from one aisle to another aisle in Economy Plus. She stated I could call customer service and they would handle it. How can I tactfully refuse to tell my loving brother my home address? Different people have different levels of willingness to move. A PASSENGER refused to swap seats so a husband could sit with his wife and child on a plane. Am I being old-fashioned? Many said they were fed up with passengers attempting to switch seats. But being male and flying alone, it seems that the likelihood of being picked by a flight attendant to give up ones seat so a family may sit next to each other on a 30-minute flight is VERY high. 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? 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. In a TikTok post which has now garnered more than 900,000 views, Audrey Peters toasts the camera with a glass of fizz.. "[He] said that 'she hates traveling, but giving her the seat would've made things easier in the end,'" explained the poster. I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. It's the same as leading with "thank you for your patience" tends to make people more patient, or telling a child you've just met about how well-behaved you've heard they are. (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. Answer politely and succinctly, give reasons, but don't belabor them.