In a TikTok post which has now garnered more than 900,000 Book your flights earlier babes. Audrey Peters has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a Hundreds of commenters said they agreed with her decision and would have done the same. Some readers will correctly object that flight attendants are too harried on today's crowded flights to do much seat-rearranging. 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 would simply never ask. One person explained on Reddit how his five-hour-flight journey kickstarted with a mother cussing him mid-flight. Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. On January 13, a Seattle-based TikToker with 140,000 followers named Arleen With a packed flight you get what you get. Of course, that never happens. An influencer has been applauded for refusing to swap seats on a flight so a family could sit together.. 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. 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. I travel to 20+ countries a year sharing my firsthand knowledge of reward travel, travel credit card deals, travel tips and more. Personally, Im a softy for switching where children are involved, and less so for adults (if I have a great seat). ), Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. Grow up. I think it's safer to phrase this as "Have you tried asking a flight attendant whether they can accommodate your needs?" I am keeping the seat I paid for.'". Its hard for most passengers to say no to someone who wants to sit beside their loved one. Youre seated next to a kid or spouse of someone whos sitting several rows away, and theyd wonder if youre ready to switch so they can spend the flight together. However if their request is reasonable (i.e. 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. 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. A seat swap request might look too good to be true | Photo: Pixabay/lukasbieri. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. 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. 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. It only takes a minute to sign up. Perhaps they might be able to accommodate your needs.". Don't suggest you have a preference or specific need. For instance, a woman was asked to switch seats owing to ultra-Orthodox beliefs. Was I Wrong? RELATED: The 7 Dirtiest Things on an Airplane, According to a Flight Attendant. Stewardess and elderly lady went to front of plane, knocked on pilots door and got what I assume was the assistant pilot. Sadly, it will not be the last compromise you two have to reach. An influencer said she refused to swap seats on a plane so a family could sit together. 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. I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. Sorry but NO..parents with children should plan better and if seating apart is an issue BOOK ANOTHER FLIGHT.your children are not my problem..Sorry but not sorry. That was a HARD NO. The same happened to the lady beside me. And like her, I am NOT your sweet old aunt or grandmother. 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. 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. 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. They can even offer you a reason to switch. Also, our wedding is taking place across the country, and including this man in wedding events over several days doesnt sit right with me. WebAnswer (1 of 4): You are under no obligation to switch seats if asked. The pilot kept asking in different ways/ I kept saying no. A traveller has ignited a furious airline etiquette debate after she refused to swap seats for a family to sit together. There have been times when our flight was cancelled or missed a connection and there werent seats together. However, she refused to swap seats, and the two ultra-Orthodox men switched places with female passengers. Williams with the infant and her two older children, three-year-old Theodore and two-year-old Gigi, were seated together in a row. Can you explain this part? Usually I would switch, it depends on the situation. Of course, I agreed. I remember once, I was flying from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and I had an aisle seat. would be "I do not wish to change" or "I reserved this seat" or (again) "This seat is just fine". Can airtags be tracked from an iMac desktop, with no iPhone? 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. They'd still all be together," said one commenter. I dont give up my seats. 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. 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. One guy downright refused to swap his seat with a mother who didnt stop condemning him. Re: Seat Switch Refusal-Part 2 (or 3) I do not think anyone expects ( except the person doing the asking) someone to change an aisle sit for a middle seat! We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 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. This usually lets me claim my preferred seat: on the aisle in the bulkhead row. I happily switched when they offered to move me to first class! People blurt especially about weather in the middle of winter. Book the right seat first.' 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. 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 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. Now I couldnt disclose that at the time of the request and had to decline. 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". 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. My moving would allow them to sit together. But for others, no. But I digress. ), then I would almost always move, except to a location one poster mentioned abovenear the bathroom. 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 indicated if I switched seats with the elderly lady she would not be sitting next to her husband. Terms apply. "[He] said that 'she hates traveling, but giving her the seat would've made things easier in the end,'" explained the poster. When I watched. Read a book. 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. ", She also lip-synched to a popular TikTok audio clip that says, "Girl, fuck them kids, and fuck you, too.". Well the young woman thru a fit, called me a bitch, etc. Is it suspicious or odd to stand by the gate of a GA airport watching the planes? To his dismay, he was the womans husband, and he never bothered to give up his seat either. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Book your flights earlier babes.. Justin Kase zsixz / Alamy Stock Photo. Though some people can vaguely guess their request for a seat exchange would be turned down, they keep trying. I asked where he was and stewardess pointed out the husband in the very back of first class. I cannot help you, but perhaps one of the attendants can. A polite decline will leave you in the seat you reserved. 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. The New York Times recently featured a story titled: I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. 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(Edit in response to Wildcard's comment) Be gracious in your response and the scowling and glaring is their problem, not yours. That doesn't mean you need to agree to a bad trade, but don't add to the aggravation by being harsh with them. No Im not switching for a middle seat. 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 However, there are many reasons why people who want to benefit out of extra legroom refuse to trade their seats. Whats your take on switching seats on a plane? On "Are You Obligated to Switch Seats on a Plane? If its not me its another male flying alone being asked to move and I find myself chuckling under my breath that that guy got it and I didnt get picked. After all, maybe youd paid extra for this particular seat or chose it after careful research. 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. Many passengers are downright with their refusal | Photo: Pexels/athena, SEAT SWAPS BEFORE TAKEOFF CAN BE RISKY, CLAIMS PILOT. Her video has been viewed more than 840,000 times - with a majority of people applauding her for refusing to switch seats. for long transcontinental or international flights. Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been, Perhaps rather than "thank-you, for asking." The audio, which originates from a scene in the 2023 thriller movie "The Reading," has been going viral on TikTok in recent weeks and has been used in more than 70,000 videos. Four passengers seated themselves forward from their assigned seats before takeoff. Any number of passengers could have done so to accommodate those families. A cabin crew member explained her thoughts on this, saying: Most airlines make people pay upwards of 50 extra bucks to sit in those seats and charge them when they book the ticket. Generally, you are entitled to sit in the seat that you paid for the one that is printed on your boarding pass. Its one of the most common excuses of all. 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Talk to the flight attendant if you don't like your seat. I have read similar columns like this one. I am sorry but I am just as important as you are. However, a pilot made a shocking revelation why switching seats before a takeoff can be very dangerous. 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. My kid could be seated five rows away. But I didnt want to move! I traveled from Boston to Key West with three kids between 6 and 10, and we were not seated together. as in, "this can be their problem, not mine". Airlines oversell their scheduled flights to a certain extent in order to compensate for no-shows.. I Refused to Switch Seats on a Plane. Now, none of this obliges you to change seats. ??? This is rude, one said. Peters did not immediately respond to a request for comment. I was very upset but it was too late to complain. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. She complained about me all the way to her seat and I was stared at/ glared at. That should be the end of it.". I said, 'respectfully ma'am, your travel issues are not my problem. Maybe they glare at you. Little did the guy know the womans husband was watching from a corner. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. (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. Again, as I figure, a family who had not been willing to pay for three seats together. Because of that, you owe someone else nothing. Can I call the flight attendant? 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 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. Was boarding my flight when a teenage girl was siting in my aisle seat to sit next to her friend in the middle 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. What should I do? 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. Do not engage with a pushy passenger. When the flight was over, the elderly ladys husband was in the deboarding area and really gave me a glare. The worst part was that her boyfriend, who could have doubled for The Rock, was waiting for her at the gate when we arrived. I select mine well in advance esp. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. WebWoman Called Rude B*tch For Refusing To Give Up Her Window Seat On Plane For Disabled Child. Are you willing to pay me X dollars for me to give up a seat I paid extra for? (Added note: X dollars can be more than you paid, if you want to do so.). We asked why and were told we were in the wrong seats. 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. 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. 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 The asker may try to argue, or come up with an alternative solution. The flight was roughly ten hours and around this time of year, it's extremely hectic. UPDATED: Heres some good insight from a reader, which will make you think twice about giving anyone attitude for saying no. We will not stop that. This body language should be enough to re-establish your privacy. 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 certainly wasnt happy with that situation, particularly because I had paid extra for my original seat. On other occasions when flying alone, I found myself in the middle seat between a married couple who hoped the seat would remain vacant. 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 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. 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. The fares were $531.00 for a Basic Economy seat and $688.00 for a Main Cabin seat a price difference of $157.00. After all its a short flight. We were in our mid-70s at the time. A COUPLE have sparked debate after they asked to move seats during a flight - only for a passenger to refuse. The internet has backed a Redditor who refused to give up their plane seat so a family could sit together. 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 most cases folks are pretty understanding. Id be like well, See ya in arrivals, one mum said. 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. Twice. Use this approach only if you're willing to move to a different aisle/window/front/whatever seat if they find you one. Requests to change seats should be made to the flight attendant not to the passenger. I politely declined. Still, you have an equal vote here. She shut up, was taken into the kitchen area and probably got a warning. 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. What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? 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. But most of the time, one of our seatmates would switch and thats because I made sure we had something to offer. 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. I would also get on the plane early and ask the passenger before they got settled in. We handed over our boarding passes, which she kept (!). In sporadic cases, people are forced to move seats, and this time, the pressure doesnt come from co-passengers. Needless to say, she walked away defeated and I kept my seat. 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. Stay up to date with what you want to know. 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. You werent wrong to politely refuse a request to move. 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. 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. In these days of having to PAY EXTRA a lot of the time to get a specified seat I agree with everyone who politely says no, weighs ALL of the circumstances and what (everyone has to offer) if I do agree.. And if I dont get a seat I had to PAY EXTRA for, I always request the airline REFUND MY SEAT MONEY! This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). You could claim that you chose your seat due to it being your favourite/lucky number. ignore the intimidation. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone. In the end, she switched places to avoid any delay to the flight. Is it possible to create a concave light? Its totally up to you to decide. I made friends with a woman whom I see at my kids play dates and in the park. For help with your awkward situation, send a question to SocialQ@nytimes.com, to Philip Galanes on Facebook or @SocialQPhilip on Twitter. If that doesn't deserve a slapdown, what does? And if there were none left, they could have called the airline and figured it out ahead of time. Another commented: 'Bro I'm sick of people asking to switch seats. WebYes a flight attendant can make you switch seats with or without reason. 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. And I, as well, really dont care how adorable your kids are. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek. This will clearly explain the other person that you are not refusing to switch seat because you don't like her, but because you have some real issue with other seats. Flying is already stressful, so be sympathetic not combative. Another overweight passenger had booked two seats BUT when he got on the plane, only middle seats were left. One guy downright refused to swap his seat with a mother who didnt stop condemning him. Unfortunately it was an uncomfortable flight since he could barely fit in his seat. 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.