NYT: Aboard Flights, Conflicts Over Seats and Religion
Apr 9, 2015, 7:32 am
#1
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NYT: Aboard Flights, Conflicts Over Seats and Religion
This will probably end up in OMNI, but let the discussion begin:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/us...=top-news&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/us...=top-news&_r=0
Apr 10, 2015, 1:06 pm
#3
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I'd probably switch but only if seat was a like for like. Why should it be the woman's problem to find a new seat, not the Orthodox man? There was an example of one man sitting between two women who moved but most stories seem to be an Orthodox man insisting someone else move to satisfy their religious practices. 
Apr 10, 2015, 5:21 pm
#4
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I'll swap with anyone for an equivalent seat. No worries. I hope the nice orthodox man now beside me doesn't mind if I eat treif.
What happens if an orthodox Jewish woman is travelling? Does the same apply to her if she is pressed against a man who is not her husband?
What happens if an orthodox Jewish woman is travelling? Does the same apply to her if she is pressed against a man who is not her husband?
May 23, 2015, 6:26 am
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May 24, 2015, 1:54 am
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I'd probably switch but only if seat was a like for like. Why should it be the woman's problem to find a new seat, not the Orthodox man? There was an example of one man sitting between two women who moved but most stories seem to be an Orthodox man insisting someone else move to satisfy their religious practices.
It should be addressed at check in, not when they get on the plane. Surely the airline would possibly have experienced that with planes going to certain countries and be a bit more proactive.
May 24, 2015, 8:52 am
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Passengers with special requirements need to make the preparations and inconvenience themselves, not others. If it means shelling out the cash for an empty seat or not traveling alone so that they and their travel partner can choose seats that prevent such issues from happening, then they need to do that. I'm with the woman who refused to switch with her husband due to his anxiety- why should someone be expected to inconvenience themselves due to a lack of planning on the part of someone else? Whatever happened to personal responsibility?
May 24, 2015, 9:18 am
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Some people don't want to sit next to:
1. People of the opposite sex
2. Children
3. Adults
4. Windows
And so on. The underlying reason is not relevant. The problem is that by the time you toss them all into the mix, the prospect of rearranging an entire cabin to suit everybody's preference is either impossible or hard and certainly causes delay.
Carriers are generally private entities. Other than government-mandated rules, e.g. for the disabled, if you choose a carrier, you live by its rules. If you don't agree with the rules, you either fly another carrier or you work to change the rules.
1. People of the opposite sex
2. Children
3. Adults
4. Windows
And so on. The underlying reason is not relevant. The problem is that by the time you toss them all into the mix, the prospect of rearranging an entire cabin to suit everybody's preference is either impossible or hard and certainly causes delay.
Carriers are generally private entities. Other than government-mandated rules, e.g. for the disabled, if you choose a carrier, you live by its rules. If you don't agree with the rules, you either fly another carrier or you work to change the rules.