As I’m typing this, literally 2 people have asked me to switch seats with them on a trans-atlantic flight. One was a mom whose son is in a middle seat (my seat is aisle as I hate sitting middle, I get claustrophobic) in another row. Now if he was 5 I’d consider sucking it up and switching but a grown man (20-25yrs) waves at me. Wtf? No I’m not switching seats, I bought these airline tix like 6 months ago and pre planned
the second time literally a min later (after this lady finds 2 other seats somewhere), another lady comes by and she asks me to move into a middle seat. Wtf, she doesn’t even have a kid! She’s a grandma I think but seems there are two adults traveling with her and she seems functional
what is up with people asking this? I get it if you have a small child / disabled family member but otherwise what are you doing? Pre plan for godsakes. Like no, I planned months in advance for this and paid extra to get a good seat closer to the plane exit. I feel crappy when I say no though I know I’m in the right. Definitely not the first time it’s happened
This seems to happen a lot less when you fly on planes with no other people on them. Why haven't you considered a private jet?
In all seriousness, I've had this happen to me so many times over my tenure. I'm not a people pleaser, but hey - I've got no issue with improving someone's day at minimal cost to myself. However, that doesn't really extend to airlines - I think the most egregious story that I've heard (not experienced) was an attempt made on my coworker to switch seats so that the person asking could sit next to their mother. Seems reasonable, until you realize that the woman asking had a coach ticket. He had first class. Yeah, probably not.
Personally, I'm the same as you - if it's a kid or a clearly disabled person, I don't mind. I'm an aisle guy since I like to stretch my legs every now and then and usually have to piss in the middle of the night. But if it's a grown-ass wo/man requesting a switch, just not gonna happen. If they throw a fit, they'll probably get thrown out of business class to. Have yet to see it happen, maybe one day!
It was one thing when we were in the days where your seats were assigned and all were same cost in economy class. But nowadays where they have monetized the hell out of all these different types of seats…someone could have paid an upwards of $50 additional for their seat
In addition, there are seat maps now. If you want to sit next to your friend / family…pick it in advance.
Part of me wants to say the elderly people who asked you may have been more used to flying in a time where your seats were randomly assigned and this was more commonplace.
I almost always say no, even for small kids (except if they are literally young toddlers and they are offering me an equal seat). There is a seat map and it's not my fault if they don't use it.
100% in the same boat as everyone else here. Fine if they ask nicely I guess because I can always just say no (which I almost always do), but the worst is when they ask in an entitled manner and then huff and puff if you don't agree.
I booked the aisle, I'm keeping the aisle. Simple as.
Congrats on holding your ground in such dreary circumstances lol.
Many people think very highly of themselves and simply "go ahead" and ask for things they haven't deserved. Even if they didn't knew that your seat costs more - opting to bother a fellow passenger out of the blue with a pointless request is a shite thing to do. All grown ups should live with their choices - if they failed to properly plan out their trip, that's of no concern to anyone else.
Thanks bro, it’s not a fun situation to be in. Sad thing is when you say no it may be perceived as you lacking empathy when in fact it’s really the other way around
I have a kid, I don't book a flight where I am not sitting next to my kid.
Because there is a small but meaningful minority of people who are selfish, entitled assholes.
Or you could take the more charitable interpretation that asking politely hurts no one, and as long as they're willing to say "no problem!" and go back to their assigned seat quietly there hasn't been any damage done. But we've all been out in public, and most people are fucking infants who think the world revolves around them.
The problem with ‘politely asking’ is immediately it puts you on the spot, esp in front of a dozen other passengers who are watching what’s happening. It’s a subtle form of social pressure and there’s silent (and sometimes not so silent) judgement when there’s a kid or old person involved. So unless it’s truly exceptional, people should not be asking IMO
That is a good point, and well taken.
Best idea is just to have a price in mind - like, for $50 bucks I'd be happy to move back 3 rows or something like that.
LOL at this. People traveling can be such jerks. I generally get bumped to first due to airline status. The bumped me and my 3yo daughter to first. I had an aisle and she had a window on the other side of the same row. I asked the 70yo grandfather looking guy if he would switch me, and he said he only flies on the right side of the plane (wtf ?). I’m like dude, it’s still an aisle first class seat in the same row. Do you really want to talk to a 3yo for the next 4 hours and fix her iPad constantly? Fortunately the window guy next to me overheard it and offered to switch her. I would have been fine staying as we were and having her talk the old guys ear off for hours on end.
Free babysitting for four hours? Sign me up! Enjoy your "right side of the plane!"
It is pretty obnoxious to ask for a seat someone bought. The only way I would ever consider moving would be the person was elderly or disabled in some way and even in these situations, the person should have planned a bit better
If you're approaching me with a trade that is clearly negative for me, you're a dick. You claim you're "just asking." But are you just asking? No. You're putting me on the spot in front of a dozen or so other people within earshot of the conversation. If I reject you, they might think I'm the dick. When in fact, you're the dick. It's sociopathic.
why do people ask? because people suck
couple of ideas
Wait? You dont have noise-cancelling headphones on the entire time you're on a plane? I put them on during the walk down to the plane and take them off after I deboard lmao. I usually take a window seat to limit interactions, but I've never had anyone ask to switch if I had noise-cancelling headphones on.
I actually prefer the window seat. I've got a massive fucking bladder so I never need to take a leak on flights and I can fall asleep against the side. Plus I control the window privileges. Window seat is way underrated.
Every time I sit in the aisle some 'sassy' flight attendant wrecks my kneecap with their solid steel drink cart from the days before metal alloys (no wonder they were able to rush the cockpit with that thing, it's like a battering ram) and some lady the size of lizzo rubs her cheeks against my face as she frantically waddles to the bathroom because she's dealing with an emergency from whatever god-forsaken food she ate during her layover from Duluth. Then when it's time to depart everyone has their ass in my face, the person in the middle seat is practically inside of me trying to get off the plane, and the geriatric patient behind me nearly drops her 80 lbs bag on my face when she gets it from the overhead compartment. Honestly aisle seats are a horrendous experience.
Same.
tl;dr - window seats are prestigious
feel. I've always liked the window more. When I was young kid I liked looking out the window, but now it's way more about being able to lean against the wall and not having to get up every time someone has to take a piss
I prefer window seats so that I can guarantee that nobody will ever talk to me or ask me to move so that they can go to the bathroom. I get situated and I'm done for the rest of the flight.
Am I crazy to say that it's just a seat and being nice to people for no reason isn't a bad thing?
Yes, you are crazy.
OP paid and booked a specific seat that he wanted. There’s a pretty big difference between aisle/window/middle and which location you are placed on the plane.
if it's a longer flight, it's not "just a seat." Middle seats are by far the worst of the 3 and they're usually priced to reflect that.
If you pay extra for a window seat up front or exit row seat, how is it fair to give up the seat for free? It's insulting that someone would ask.
just say ''i paid for this seat during check-in, sorry''
I don't mind if someone asks, but I'm going to say no if they aren't offering an equal or better seat. But that is usually not the case. They want you to move farther back to sit in a middle seat. I have no issues saying no if the trade isn't at least even. I don't think it makes you a jerk to ask and also not a jerk to say no.
like the pilot's seat?
Ha, the view would be great, but not a good idea for anyone. Maybe the co-pilot's seat? Or if there is a seat behind the pilot's?
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