Funny how this 'compassion' thing only goes one way: towards the parents travelling with kids.

Does a honeymoon couple trump a family with (school age) kids who want to sit together? Do the needs of someone with medical reasons for choosing an aisle seat count for nothing compared to a family that wants to sit together?

Do we distinguish between a family who 'wants' to sit together and a family that genuinely 'needs' to sit together?

When are folks (with or without families) going to learn rule number one for improving your chances at a successful seat swap: do NOT ask me to surrender what I consider a 'good' seat for a lesser one!

Example: I'm seated in the aisle seat of a 2-seat exit row. Row behind has three seats, is actually less pitch than other rows in coach (I've made the mistake of sitting there!). Rows are slightly offset, so the window seat of the full row only has 'half' a seat in front - one leg can stretch out, and the window pax can squeeze out alongside the fuselage.

Pax in row 2 window seat comes up to me. He tells me that the lady next to him is his wife and we (he and I) have to switch seats so they can sit together. I politely say 'no, thanks'. Guy goes on and on, louder and louder - she's his wife (middle-aged), they have to sit together, his seat is plenty of extra legroom (I have about 6 feet of 'legroom' in front of me, so this is a real joke). Interestingly, during the entire discussion, the wife never says a word.

Never crossed the guy's mind that he might have had much better luck asking the middle seat pax in his row to swap with the wife's exit row, unlimited leg room seat.