Henla

*portmanteau of berate and education

jrl767

nice, I'll need to remember that

sg1phileshipper

WOW! What a truly beautiful story. It gave me goosebumps.... Thank you for sharing that, you put a huge smile on my face.

cindy

HMO

This is the point. You had decided that it was fair to you be two rows ahead, not for the lady.

For the majority, be upfront, even a couple of rows, is a premium. It seems to you and your wife too, since your first attempt was to be ahead, instead of she moving back.

KevinDTW

+1. No explanation, no debate. Just "no thanks" if I'm not interested in the trade.

mordy2000

My favorite seat swap story of all time was a few weeks back on a full flight when a guy in a window seat ended up sitting next to a woman traveling with a baby and a young child. The man walked up to the front of the plane to talk with an FA and prior to door close, the FA got on the PA and made the following announcement:

"Attention everyone. The gentleman in seat 17F -- a window -- is interested in swapping seats WITH ANYONE ELSE ON THE PLANE REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT IS".

The sad part is that no one bit and the poor guy had to then face that woman the entire flight.

On a related note, I was once offered $20 to swap a seat (I took it -- it was 'an aisle for an aisle' -- sorry for the bad pun)

Mordy

bubbashow

An equipment sub landed me on a different version 757 than booked. Of course seats randomly reassigned. Traveling companion and I were split up. I was in 1B...asked 1a if he would mind switching with 2A. His line (in an OLD pm dl 757 with no cut out) "I am in row 1...I have the best seat on this plane. You are out of your freaking mind". Mmmmmm ok....Enjoy absolutely zero legroom. He tried to strike up conversation with me in the flight. Nah....no thanks

ATOBTTR

Why didn't you ask 2B if they wanted to switch with you then? I know I personally prefer the bulkhead (even if it means less legroom) because it also means no one in front of me reclining into me. When traveling alone, I always select 1B/C (assuming those are bulkhead aisles) when available.

jamesteroh

I get up a lot so like aisles. But if only windows are available when I'm upgraded I prefer a bulkhead window because it's possible to crawl over your seatmate in the aisle to use the lav without them getting up.

If I were asked to swap out of 1b into 2b I would in a heartbeat but not from 1a to 2a

bubbashow

I thought 1B was the lesser seat. Legs had to be angled around the closet. I felt liked id be giving 2b the worse seat

gooselee

I feel like rows 1/2 on most planes are the most subjective re: better or worse.

I almost always want an aisle, but in row 1 I actually prefer a window. If choosing 1B vs. 2B, I'll take 2 for the extra legroom (usually), but I know many others who put a priority on not having someone recline into them.

All a matter of personal preference.

gungadin

On our way back from California, I am in a middle seat because I want my husband to have the window which has a bit more foot room. POS sits in the aisle and says"You don't mind if I put the armrest up, do you?" " As a matter of fact", I say, "I do". POS is embarrassed for me and makes some comment about preferences then fights me for the armrest while grabbing the best banana from the basket that I had my hand on . Thanks to FT, I stood my ground. I have had this sort of thing happen in Economy Comfort several times and think that maybe POS customers think they are getting more width as well as that luxurious extra 2 inches. Or maybe it was just holiday rudeness😐

Osmo

I swear, every time I read POS I think Piece of S***, which makes my Point of Sales report meetings always fun.

Proudelitist

Here is how the etiquette should work in a civilized society: Take the seat you are given, shut up, and don't bother anyone else. Oh, and don't travel with kids unless you are fleeing a dictatorial regime or relocating for good.

If we all did that, the issue of how to refuse wouldn't be a problem. If there were no kids, the problems of self entitled parents being separated from their crotch fruit and demanding strangers accommodate them would be rare indeed.

BOSTransplant

That's unnecessarily hostile, and this is coming from someone who is childfree and has every intention of remaining so.

Also, in my experience, seat poaching is much more commonly an issue with adult couples who want to sit together than it is with parents wanting to sit next to their children. I'm not familiar with the process, as it doesn't affect me at all, but I know there are all kinds of regulations about how a minor has to be seated next to a guardian unless he's unaccompanied or something. The gate agents can see all the tickets that belong to minors, so it's usually never an issue.

Oh and lastly, my father worked for Delta when I was young, so my brother and I grew up flying all the time, and we behaved just fine. There's nothing wrong with traveling with kids, as long as parents don't let them run wild in the airport or on the plane. Sure I've seen obnoxious children, but I've seen obnoxious adults, too, and I unfortunately can't stop them from flying either. I feel sorry for children who grow up never flying anywhere, because they're missing out on the invaluable experience of seeing other countries or remote parts of their own country.