Originally Posted by tfar

Great story.

You should have said something like this with a big smile: "See? Some guys got all the luck. Not only do I have the better seat with more legroom, I am also sitting next to your wife." That would have totally killed him and the discreet compliment would have probably earned you the good graces of his wife who would have calmed her husband.

The more aggressive version would be:"Look, is this about the seat or about the wife? I suggest I keep my seat and you can keep your wife!"

Since this happens to you often, maybe you can use it in the future.

Till