Perhaps we could help educate the flying public AND the flight crews by carrying seat maps with us when we fly. Before boarding we could circle all of the seats that are equal to or superior to the one we are assigned. In some cases that might be one seat, in others it might be 50.

Then if one is asked to swap one can truly be helpful by saying, "I'd be glad to move and will accept any seat that is at least equal to the one I'm sitting in. Here's a seating chart with acceptable seats circled. Just let me know which one you'd like me to take."

This way you can be helpful and let seat-swappers know that they can't expect to just demand any seat on the plane. Everybody happy and more educated. Something tells me the look on these people's faces would be worth seeing.

Of course, the way this works in real life is you painstakingly prepare the seat maps for 20 flights in a row and nobody asks to swap seats. On the 21rst flight you are in a hurry and forget, and in walks the Kettle family.