CIHY I don't think that would have solved the problem. He'd still be in another seat encroaching on someone else. I think the ideal situation would have been to put him in the window seat, his companion in the middle, and then split the OP's mum/neighbour (unless there was someone else willing to move). I'm sure the OP's mum/neighbour wouldn't have minded losing the window seat in order to assure themselves of more comfort. Wouldn't really have helped the smell situation, but there's not much BA can do about that.