Often1

No, I do not get annoyed and it is not a pet peeve. That is because it is perfectly fine to ask another passenger to switch seats. It is just fine to say "no".

I don't pay attention to tone or any of that silliness because it is irrelevant. Sometimes if you listen, you can do a lot better. Sometimes, it doesn't matter, e.g. swapping aisle seats and sometimes it is for the worse. But, only you know what is "better" and "worse" so you be the judge.

I also don't make up immature retorts to people who ask. If someone asks me and the answer is "no" I respond, "no thanks" and that is the end of it. It doesn't matter whether the seat assignment is based on my winning lottery number, it was paid for, I have a bad back, or whatever. That is all my business.

Conversely, if you board and someone is in your seat and a polite, "I think that you are in my seat" does not achieve it's purpose, the next move is to have the crew handle it. The goal here is to get your seat, not win the seat war.

goodml

I thought so too.

KevinDTW

^ I would have done exactly the same as you. And although I'm usually not amenable to seat swap requests, if asked nicely in advance by someone not already sitting in my seat I would probably have agreed to it for this short a flight, but the way she went about it -- no way.

goodml

Duplicate due to thread merge.

CJKatl

About eight years ago, flying the first leg of an Asian trip, ATL-LAX, I'm in 6C, settled in after boarding, when a gentleman gets on the plane and tells me I'm in his seat, 6D. In my firmest voice, I told him he was in the window seat. He insisted, so I showed him the picture above his head and explained to him that his seat was next to the window, but I was happy to get up so he could get to his window seat. While he was getting into the seat, I had a glint of recognition... He tries to be nice, after all we will be sitting next to each other for the next six hours. To break the ice, he asks, "What kind of work to do you?" I say, "I work for an insurance company. You?" Him, "I am a professional boxer." Me, "Umm, so you are Evander Holyfield?" Him, "Yes."

Point: I am willing to pick a fight with a world heavyweight champion over seat poaching.

PS: He may be the greatest person I've ever met. I'm not a fights fan, but wow, just wow, does he understand himself. He was fascinating.

jalves

Put me in the side that says if the request is polite and the swapped seat is equivalent then I have no problem helping out a couple who couldn't select adjacent seats because of when they booked.

miraclebear2003

Since my wife and I have often tried to switch seats (though it has probably been over 2 years since the last time), I'll be understanding. When we got upgrades sometimes it would not be next to each other. We always asked politely and were able to get someone to switch (easier with no middle seat).

But if someone is in my seat and tries to insist they want the seat, I don't have tolerance for the "entitlement" they feel. If they don't immediately move, I'll let the FA take care of it.

knit-in

Great story! ^

pvn

when have you ever been forced to accommodate someone else?

holy moly

obviously this is quite frequently not possible

Bear4Asian

Agree with polite requests to swap if equivalent seats. But be sure you're in your correct seat before you say no. From personal experience. Embarrassing.

Tizzette

When people wind up with separated seats, I wish they would just accept that's their luck and accept it unless there is a really good reason to need seats together, such as traveling with a small child. Not just want seats together but NEED seats together. It imposing on people to ask them to change seats and putting them on the spot. If you refuse, you are the bad guy. If you don't refuse and wind up with a lesser seat, you feel like a chump.

nystateofmind

If asked politely and I am getting a comparable or better seat then I am totally fine with moving.

Once was on an intra-Europe flight on Air France in "J" and I specifically had chosen my seat because the position of the bulkhead meant I had extra legroom versus the seat the other person wanted. Plus the guy was nasty about it so no dice.

Different story on JetBlue when I had a standard coach aisle seat and was asked if I would move to the standard coach aisle seat a few rows ahead. From my seat I could not see precisely the overhead bin space by the new seat. Not only did the Flight Attendant say there was enough space, she went up the aisle so that nobody would take the space before I had an opportunity to move my bag. In that case, absolutely I would move.

CJKatl

It's always entertaining when it becomes an issue and an FA requests everyone take their original seats claiming it's necessary for weight and balance. In fact, I've heard an FA say this within the past week. Most of us choose our seats online. A 350 pound person has the same ability to choose a particular seat as a 45 pound child (assuming equal status and access to the seat) and the system has no way of knowing the weight of the selector, so how could weight and balance be impacted by moving seats?

dinanm3atl

I'm in the if polite and equal or better I am fine. Demanding it... I'm not moving. IE taking my seat and then recommending I move...

ATOBTTR

I don't disagree. I just wish people would admit that it's about "no thanks - I prefer my preferences over yours; tough luck for you" but reverting to "you should have planned ahead" makes them feel that they look less selfish to others. Sometimes it's a no-win situation. Parent with a small child (toddler - old enough for their own seat by law but not old enough to be able to sit by themselves) gets split up due to IROPS or whatever. Both have middle seats. What's the right call on the seat swap?

Part of the reason the FA is saying it is to play to the advantage of the ignorance of much of the public with "well I don't fully understand that it guess I better comply with this aircrew member who knows what they're talking about because it sounds serious".