refusing to switch seats airplane

Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation, The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. To his dismay, he was the womans husband, and he never bothered to give up his seat either. 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. Peters did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 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. When I travel, I book my flights well in advance. 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. 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. Again, as I figure, a family who had not been willing to pay for three seats together. 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. This is a powerful position to take. This is what the family of the elderly lady (see below) probably did. The Redditor lost his cool when the mother couldnt control her child from grabbing his phone. If its the same type of seat, Ive willingly switched. 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. I also think that anyone should realize that switching seats may be against the contract of carriage, airline rules, or country-specific regulations. 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 Instead of being seated in the aisle seat right across from them, her husband was in the window seat across the aisle. In most cases folks are pretty understanding. RELATED: How to Get the Exit Row For Free. 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. Sign up for notifications from Insider! That was a HARD NO. 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. In a TikTok post which has now garnered more than 900,000 views, Audrey Peters toasts the camera with a glass of fizz.. I chose an aisle seat in both directions as close to the bathroom as I could get which cost me $81.00 each. This is your wedding. You could claim that you chose your seat due to it being your favourite/lucky number. You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. No Im not switching for a middle seat. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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. It was a bit awkward, but we all survived and arrived safely at our destination. 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. 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. Jay Kloss and his wife Zoe were travelling with Virgin Now, none of this obliges you to change seats. Is it possible to create a concave light? Attempting to interfere with the duties of a flight crew member. 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. 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 dont know why they let her stay on the plane as she caused problems before we left and for several hours during the flight. 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. I will never take a window seat in an exchange unless its in first class. She complained about me all the way to her seat and I was stared at/ glared at. I also try to keep our rows close together so people dont have to move their bag in the overhead if I dont reach them in time. Justin Kase zsixz / Alamy Stock Photo. Perhaps a flight crew An influencer has been applauded for refusing to swap seats on a flight so a family could sit together.. I would also get on the plane early and ask the passenger before they got settled in. Well, it sounds nice. There were several conversations between the young woman, the lady next to her trying her best to sit in the seat she was assigned and the stewards, including the head steward from first class and the co-pilot. How can I tactfully refuse to tell my loving brother my home address? Can you explain this part? 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. In the video, which has received 1 million views, the influencer appears to be sitting on a plane as she raises a glass in the air while an on-screen caption reads, "When a family asks me to switch seats on a plane so they can sit together. Disagreeing with an answer is not a reason to comment. He was crying, I want to sit next to you, Mom! so before she even asked, I volunteered to switch. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Travellers unfair seat swap request. She shut up, was taken into the kitchen area and probably got a warning. UPDATED: Heres some good insight from a reader, which will make you think twice about giving anyone attitude for saying no. No Im not switching for a middle seat. 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. I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. Airlines oversell their scheduled flights to a certain extent in order to compensate for no-shows.. All others should just settle in and endure. How did you react? "Offering" implies something that is more of a gift and not as easily refused. One guy downright refused to swap his seat with a mother who didnt stop condemning him. But when they boarded the plane, a family of four approached the Redditor and asked if they could switch spots. Unfortunately, I had to endure the smells for the rest of the trip. The internet has backed a Redditor who refused to give up their plane seat so a family could sit together. "I'm sorry you were not assigned the seat you needed. Terms apply. 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. I get up a lot of flights and dont want to annoy my seatmates, so I always book an aisle seat, and I often fly alone without my husband. Answer politely and succinctly, give reasons, but don't belabor them. Thanks for reading! A couple embarking on their honeymoon failed to book seats together on the plane ride. With Southwest I always pay extra to be sure to get an aisle seat near the front of the airplane. Stay up to date with what you want to know. 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. 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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. Keep in mind, though, that his sister may be very important to him. Hundreds of commenters said they agreed with her decision and would have done the same. 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. Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. (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. These sorts of comments inevitably lead to arguments. On January 13, a Seattle-based TikToker with 140,000 followers named Arleen For more Lifestyle related news and videos check out Lifestyle >>. I am sorry but I am just as important as you are. So Ill reemphasize not to get made at the person who refuses. 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. Do we really have time to ascertain and give judgement on the circumstances surrounding their seat separation? Across TikTok, the audio in the video has been used by many to discuss the experience of being asked to look after or pander to the needs of another person's kids. 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. "Sorry, but I just didn't like moving from my chosen seat once I am settled". Euler: A baby on his lap, a cat on his back thats how he wrote his immortal works (origin? Disagree, its just compassion for others. Reddit user u/throw44245t363 explained that they initially said yes, but after they saw the seat they wo ": 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. 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. 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 A stewardess with an elderly lady came to us and asked to check our boarding passes. 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. And I always ask if an upgrade is available. 75,000 bonus miles, at least 2x miles on everything. When it comes to small children, the rules do get thrown out because you cant expect little kids to sit alone. The worst part was that her boyfriend, who could have doubled for The Rock, was waiting for her at the gate when we arrived. Any number of passengers could have done so to accommodate those families. How can I refuse tactfully, without causing this bitterness? I personally hate travelings so I spent a bit more money to be closer.". Little did the guy know the womans husband was watching from a corner. If someone wants to take a chunk of their life to be mad at a perfect stranger who is being polite, that's their problem, not yours. However, the bizarre requests didnt stop there. I suspect that the answer is "no". Sorry, but crew getting premium seats should be the exception. Four passengers seated themselves forward from their assigned seats before takeoff. Plan ahead or drive. Others shared complaints about negative experiences they'd had on flights when parents asked them to sacrifice their own comfort for the sake of a child's. I have long legs, and those seats tend to provide more legroom not that I have to justify myself. 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. 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. I always feel that prefacing a statement with 'sorry' might give the other person a feeling that they have a slight upper hand. I cannot help you, but perhaps one of the attendants can. 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 wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. Stock photo of passengers on a crowded airplane. Nap. I do not know what exactly was going on, but I do not think it appropriate to ask a passenger to give up his/her seat and really not appropriate to get a pilot to ask. 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. However, not everyone was on Audreys side with her seat refusal. So, I politely refused. Just let it be part of your calculation. The flight was roughly ten hours and around this time of year, it's extremely hectic. 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. How to react to a students panic attack in an oral exam? My moving would allow them to sit together. 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. I cant believe 2 adults HAVE to sit together on a plane flight. For the world, for that matter. Now, with respect to the scowling and hostility: stay polite. Our wedding is approaching. Would you change seats to accommodate a disabled person? My future husband has four siblings, one of whom is single. On "Are You Obligated to Switch Seats on a Plane? Well, wouldnt you know it for my good deed, a few minutes later, a Hawaiian Tropics model who was terrified of flying, sat in the seat next to me. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. I dislike the implication that taller travellers automatically deserve the more comfortable seats. Shall I press the call button so they can help you?". ", She also lip-synched to a popular TikTok audio clip that says, "Girl, fuck them kids, and fuck you, too.". Don't give them any opening which would allow them to argue with you that their "need" might be greater than yours. The same happened to the lady beside me. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. The crew member was relentless and insisted I give up my seat and I stood my ground. How can I find out which sectors are used by files on NTFS? with her boyfriend makes you uncomfortable or you just dont want to see this guy at your wedding. I remember once, I was flying from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and I had an aisle seat. Very rarely would I change seats. Use this approach only if you're willing to move to a different aisle/window/front/whatever seat if they find you one. 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. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. In that case, who cares if they are scowling at you or glaring? Your comments are much appreciated! "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.". Anyone can read what you share. So, I politely refused. But the one thing thats really upsetting is the sense of entitlement by the folks who have literally demanded or told me that I needed to move to accommodate them with me as a single traveler. Just before takeoff the flight attendant told me I had to switch seats. You will never be T A for refusing to switch seats. Web1. Twice. But I didnt want 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. 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. I certainly wasnt happy with that situation, particularly because I had paid extra for my original seat. 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 fares were $531.00 for a Basic Economy seat and $688.00 for a Main Cabin seat a price difference of $157.00. 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. 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. Also, our wedding is taking place across the country, and including this man in wedding events over several days doesnt sit right with me. 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. Was I Wrong? The reader submitting the question wrote: I am an organized person. In February, a TikToker received more than 9 million views on a post in which he used the audio to document the moment he refused to let a crying child take the last spot on a Formula 1 test ride. In this case, my response to "why?" See how keen they are to move you after that! When they asked a passenger seated near them if they were willing to switch seats, he refused. 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). 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. And I'd leave it at that. RELATED: The 7 Dirtiest Things on an Airplane, According to a Flight Attendant. But for others, no. At the last second, two young women came on board and were frustrated that they had middle seats and not together, so the one next to me said Why dont you go back there and take her seat so she and I can sit together? as if it was expected that I would just jump up and do that. 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. I happily switched when they offered to move me to first class! It was usually an individual request. Videos about seat switching continue to stir controversy and debate on TikTok. Williams with the infant and her two older children, three-year-old Theodore and two-year-old Gigi, were seated together in a row. If it Southwest, I always preboard and will not give up my aisle seat. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Because of that, you owe someone else nothing. If I was asked to switch, I would do it if it was an equal seat, ie, aisle, not right by the bathroom. Do whatever you would normally do. I was in the window seat, my husband in the aisle seat. Whats your take on switching seats on a plane? There may be another reason.. ", With more than 9,000 upvotes and thousands of comments, the passenger explained: "I traveled home today from Greece. I like this seat just fine." Read a book. Credit: Audrey Peters. Now a flight attendant wouldnt ask that because they know the reason. 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. A passenger in a middle seat has asked for your coveted aisle one. Its one of the most common excuses of all. For a family with a small child, I would seriously consider moving as a courtesy, however since the airlines are all charging you in some way if you want a good seat, they should compensate you for that. 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 Another revealed: My parents purposely booked my whole family apart so we couldnt fight., One suggested: As a mum, I fully agree. I would say "Sorry, but I specifically booked this seat because { characteristics which made you pick that seat}". 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. I suggest that stewards look elsewhere for volunteers if fellow passengers try to shame me from the sidelines. Travellers response to easy request from Aussie airline passenger sparks raging debate, Passengers very weird act during three-hour flight leaves traveller shocked, Aussie traveller furious after passenger refuses to switch seats with him, Never felt uglier: Why experts fear new TikTok filter could spark mental health crisis, How a girls weekend saved Aussie lawyers life after strange feeling leads to shock diagnosis, Viewers done with living in Australia after battle with Huntsman spider caught on camera, Just 11 minutes of daily exercise could have a positive impact on your health, study shows, Mum makes horrifying discovery about super nice babysitter after hiding GoPro in house, This week in news: 27 February to 3 March, Behind the scenes at our Ute of the Year mega test, Podcast: Cayenne Turbo GT, Jolion S reviews. 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. Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. It was funny at first. Wow, can you believe that? sighed one passenger after a parent started fussing about his refusal. What should I do? 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 Twice. Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. Johnny Jet does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. 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. You may be going on vacation with your band, but that one person maybe going to a dreaded funeral or a new job theyre already stressed about without you adding to their stress level because you need your emotional support humans next to you. 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. How to refuse someone asking for additional help "while you're at it"? 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. In a similar incident in 2020, Wolfson faced the same dilemma during her flight to London. If the request does not come from a flight attendant, just say. This was decades ago and I cant remember why I wasnt in an exit row but a mother sat next to me in the middle and her little boy sat across the aisle in the other middle seat. You are allowed to be as old-fashioned as you and your fianc agree to be. 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. Requests to change seats should be made to the flight attendant not to the passenger. 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. (I consider this a harmless lie. Her husband was seated some rows behind. The man was traveling from Athens (ATH) to either Newark (EWR) on The window seat was occupied, but the center seat was open. I am an older woman who generally travels solo. Why are trials on "Law & Order" in the New York Supreme Court? But cmon, I have kids but have always paid extra to be together. They should have had the crew member move out of that premium seat and let either me or this guy sit there. Plus, 3x points on gas and $100 annual hotel savings. A reader seeks reassurance after declining to move for parents flying with children. Bulkhead seats usually have ample legroom than the other seats of the On TikTok, Peters typically posts fashion and lifestyle content, filming herself putting together an outfit for the day or showing viewers some of her recent purchases from designer brands. Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. 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. Id be like well, See ya in arrivals, one mum said. Her seat was an aisle seat two rows behind my husband. Garg says she was asked to move seats so a mom could sit with her teenager, but The 25-year-old said a stranger had asked her to move to a middle seat - leaving her laughing over the unfair request. I have only added it to my answer as a non-verbal alternative to my original gambit. 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.