refusing to switch seats airplane

It is crazy to expect people to give up an aisle seat for the middle seat. The business practice of bumping is not illegal. Its not fair for flight attendants to move or let people move to these seats when one or more paid extra to sit there.. Attempting to interfere with the duties of a flight crew member. 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. 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. Certainly not!" Travellers response to familys mid-flight request sparks furious I remember once, I was flying from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and I had an aisle seat. 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. Especially if a longer flight. 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. Separated 3 travelers to different areas: myself, wife, n teenage niece. Its an added advantage to passengers, especially if the flight is considerably long and tiring. To be fair, sometimes when you book with points for example, you cannot book the entire family together at the same time, one explained. In a TikTok post which has now garnered more than 900,000 views, Audrey Peters toasts the camera with a glass of fizz.. Different people have different levels of willingness to move. 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. We asked why and were told we were in the wrong seats. 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. Flight fright: Family asks person to switch plane seats, he refuses To his dismay, he was the womans husband, and he never bothered to give up his seat either. Seats We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. The traveler stated that they despise aisle seats due to always being bumped by trolleys and other people. switch However, a pilot made a shocking revelation why switching seats before a takeoff can be very dangerous. Just let it be part of your calculation., RELATED: Worst Seatmate Ever: Frequent Flyers Reveal Their Worst Experiences. 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. 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. Your comments are much appreciated! Passenger Praised (And I Praise Him Too) For Refusing To Change His Seat For Rude Family. refuses 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. as in, "this can be their problem, not mine". 'You Are Truly Heartless': Man Refused to Swap Seats with a How can I tactfully refuse to tell my loving brother my home address? 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. seat switch Thanks for reading! In most cases folks are pretty understanding. You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. 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. The complimentary wine and warm nuts of business class are a balm to many wounds. She complained about me all the way to her seat and I was stared at/ glared at. This dear, young woman ended up sprawling all over the poor lady sitting next to her. We were in our mid-70s at the time. And generally a worse seat is not a gift I want. I definitely wouldnt do it to sit in seat I dont want window or middle. So I never offer a reason. TikTok user Surya Garg shared a story about being asked to switch seats on a plane. 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. And I'd leave it at that. WebWoman Called Rude B*tch For Refusing To Give Up Her Window Seat On Plane For Disabled Child. Except, of course, your actual reason for calling an attendant is because they are being insistent and you would need help to make them stop @a3nm "for you". 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. It's been my experience that when people want a reason, it's to argue. A man sparked a debate amongst passengers after refusing to move from his seat on a 10-hour flight for a mum and a baby - but he paid extra for his seat that had extra legroom This is a powerful position to take. If you truly do not wish to, you can simply look at the person, smile, and say, Im sorry, but I specifically chose Nope, thats not a good enough excuse, Im staying hereI think Id get fewer dirty looks and side comments by simply and politely saying no, then trying to figure out whether they have a good enough reason or can incentivize me to move to a worse location. 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. 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. 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. After all, maybe youd paid extra for this particular seat or chose it after careful research. Unless otherwise requested by a crew member, you arent required to switch places with anyone else. I have long legs, and those seats tend to provide more legroom not that I have to justify myself. 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. Now, none of this obliges you to change seats. Still, you have an equal vote here. Woman Refuses To Switch Seats on Plane With a 'Karen' How did you react? 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 am not your sweet old gray haired grandmother, and I dont care how cute your kids are, Im not moving. I asked why and was told the elderly lady wanted to sit with her husband. You are allowed to be as old-fashioned as you and your fianc agree to be. In that case, who cares if they are scowling at you or glaring? flight You're probably not, as if you were. I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. If it was just me and my wife traveling, we would politely ask if one of our seatmates would be kind enough to switch but if they didnt, we certainly wouldnt press them. I dont give up my seats. How can I refuse tactfully, without causing this bitterness? Some people realize the seat isnt for them after booking in advance and mostly walk to someone in the aisle seat requesting an exchange. 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. WebNTA. One person explained on Reddit how his five-hour-flight journey kickstarted with a mother cussing him mid-flight. My moving would allow them to sit together. RELATED: The 7 Dirtiest Things on an Airplane, According to a Flight Attendant. I travel alone quite frequently, plan ahead and select my seat for a reason and hold my ground. A viral story about helping a stranger refuse to switch plane seats "We switched recently to help out a family," one commenter wrote. I was asked to switch seats with the elderly lady. Very rarely would I change seats. My total ticket, including seats, fees, and taxes, was $972.85. Do we really have time to ascertain and give judgement on the circumstances surrounding their seat separation? I am an older woman who generally travels solo. I travel to 20+ countries a year sharing my firsthand knowledge of reward travel, travel credit card deals, travel tips and more. Requests to change seats should be made to the flight attendant not to the passenger. I wouldnt be doing my job, though, if I didnt encourage you to empathize with the parents. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Plus, 3x points on gas and $100 annual hotel savings. How can I tactfully refuse to switch seats on flights? We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Audrey Peters has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a family to sit together. What video game is Charlie playing in Poker Face S01E07? 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. 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. 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. The pilot and flight crew needed to know where I was in the event of an emergency. Your frustration mid-flight wouldve hardly started until you hear a screaming kid near your seat. Man refuses to give up his seat on flight to let passenger sit next The crew member was relentless and insisted I give up my seat and I stood my ground. ESPECIALLY when your flight is canceled and the airline is responsible for your choice seat loss on your rebooked flight. Offer another interpretation right away: Sounds like you need a vacation. Drop a comment below! She shut up, was taken into the kitchen area and probably got a warning. Debate rages over airplane etiquette after Virgin passenger Would I move to the bulkhead aisle with a screaming baby next to me. Garg says she was asked to move seats so a mom could sit with her teenager, but 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. He came back and asked me to switch seats. I would simply never ask. Her husband was seated some rows behind. A few years ago the passenger next to me was overweight and had booked two seats so Im happy with the extra elbow room. Justin Kase zsixz / Alamy Stock Photo. But when they boarded the plane, a family of four approached the Redditor and asked if they could switch spots. It was funny at first. But cant control cancellations and sh**** rebooking. Airline seat switch debate heats up as influencer refuses family's seat Passenger Applauded for Refusing to Swap Seats So Family 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. 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 in a middle seat has asked for your coveted aisle one. 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. You've now cast their request (for their benefit) as an offer (for your benefit), which is much easier to refuse: They then have to violate the implication and admit they are asking for their own benefit, rather than yours, in order to push the issue and from my experience most people won't. According to The New York Times, Laura Heywood, 42, was flying to London when she was asked to swap her middle seat with her husband so a man with the window 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 first officer was flying, and he experienced problems when he rotated the aircraft: It was very heavy. The man was traveling from Athens (ATH) to either Newark (EWR) on In this case, my response to "why?" Assume the best about those making the request. I just avoid the bulkhead. Some folks like the window seat. refuses My husband and I were seated in a 2X2 first class section, all settled in. A reader seeks reassurance after declining to move for parents flying with children. "Sorry, but I just didn't like moving from my chosen seat once I am settled". Usually, 1 would move and it didnt matter whether I had the window or aisle seat. Often times members of said family will spend using their phones, watching their screens or sleeping. 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. (Lets put aside rules about emergency exit rows and other special circumstances.) The Redditor lost his cool when the mother couldnt control her child from grabbing his phone. You will never be T A for refusing to switch seats. I fly often and I usually choose the aisle because it's the only seat where my legs have a chance to fit, because I'm going to put them in the aisle. refusing 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. Book your flights earlier babes. Audrey Peters has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a I like this seat just fine." Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. He asked if I would sit in the middle so he could have the aisle since he was anxious about flying. It doesn't work on everyone, but it's been surprisingly effective for me. An aisle seat with just one seat beside me. rev2023.3.3.43278. I paid extra for this seat', she recalled. Then came the looks. I am not moving. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek. 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. I pick my seats carefully because of my joint condition. 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. I was in the window seat, my husband in the aisle seat. Any number of passengers could have done so to accommodate those families. If you have a similar dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. 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. Credit: Audrey Peters. With Southwest I always pay extra to be sure to get an aisle seat near the front of the airplane. For the world, for that matter. I trust that most fellow-flyers will then be sympathetic enough to withdraw from the confrontation. @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. 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. However, he refused and said hed paid for the extra legroom, but the woman didnt stop condemning him: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! 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. Peters did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Edit in response to Wildcard's comment) Be gracious in your response and the scowling and glaring is their problem, not yours. I cannot help you, but perhaps one of the attendants can. 75,000 bonus miles, at least 2x miles on everything. That doesn't obligate me to sit in a less-comfortable seat by other criteria. Paying extra didnt count for Jack!!! Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. A polite decline will leave you in the seat you reserved. A passenger has been praised online after refusing to swap seats twice on a 10-hour 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 dont know why they let her stay on the plane as she caused problems before we left and for several hours during the flight. A viral TikTok has reignited a debate about whether or not to swap seats on an airplane when asked. "but this was a time not to be tactful." My mum literally ditched us when her seat got upgraded to first class.. Was I Wrong? Whats your take on switching seats on a plane? If the request does not come from a flight attendant, just say. The turbulence was wicked on descent and she not only held my hand but she dug her nails into my arm. WebYes a flight attendant can make you switch seats with or without reason. Audrey Peters via TikTok and Richard Sharrocks/Getty Images. Im a bit taller and try to plan out my travel so that I do have an aisle seat also as I have a bad knee. Johnny Jet does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone. 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. The caption when a family asks me to switch seats on the plane so they can sit together, followed by a raised That should be the end of it.". It only takes a minute to sign up. 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. When I watched. Dont forget to do the same if youre found in this situation! Its not your job to placate anyone though I recognize that women often feel pressured to. Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. 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. 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. Book the right seat first.' But with Southwest, there are no seat assignments, I would gladly switch if the airlines priced all seats the same like they used to but am not giving up a AA PREFERRED MAIN CABIN SEAT that I either paid extra for or got thru my loyalty to AA. How Hard Is It to Get the American Express Platinum Card? Have you been in a similar situation where someone requested you to switch places on a flight? I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. Twice. Was I Wrong? No, thank you. The other time, a woman in her twenties, some 30 years younger than I, travelling alone, asked me to change my aisle seat for her center seat "because it will be easier for me to work on my computer." Sorry. 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 ignore the intimidation. We were just about to close the door, when an overweight man boarded and headed for the center seat next to me. I am 80+ years old and have a brace on my left leg. I had to lean into the aisle the entire flight. Refuses To Switch Seats 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. Commenters said they supported his decision, adding that it would be good for the child to learn they couldn't have everything their way. 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. How to tactfully refuse to switch seats on flights - Quora Credit: Audrey Peters. This is your wedding. ALWAYS ask for your money back if you dont get the seat you PAID for. seat switch One guy downright refused to swap his seat with a mother who didnt stop condemning him. 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 Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Euler: A baby on his lap, a cat on his back thats how he wrote his immortal works (origin? If it was really about sitting together, why didn't they ask the people 20 rows back if they'd like the better seats upfront? While another reply said: "People need to learn to take the first no graciously. Any number of passengers could have done so to accommodate those families. I am an organized person. But I didnt want to move! By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Sure, others can ask why. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Influencer applauded for refusing to swap seats so family can sit The same happened to the lady beside me. Anyone can read what you share. 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. refuses to switch Use this approach only if you're willing to move to a different aisle/window/front/whatever seat if they find you one. I do not give up my assigned seat. to Switch Seats Just let it be part of your calculation. I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. 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. How to refuse someone who would like to borrow our baby? Can airtags be tracked from an iMac desktop, with no iPhone? 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