OK...this happened on a Delta flight but could happen anywhere. I just want to see what people here think of this.

I was boarding a plane (light passenger load) and there was a gentleman in my seat. When I told him it was my seat he, very snotty like, told me there were plenty of open seats elsewhere. So I told him correct you should go find one. He was visibly upset when he realized I was not kidding and he needed to get out of my seat.

Should I have not said anything and just found another seat? If he would have been polite upfront about it I would not have had a problem...

Personally, I think you were full within your rights. The fact is that everytime I give up my seat in this situation, I always end up in a much worse seat (and a whole bunch of people board the flight after me). The last time it happened where I gave up my seat, I ended up catching a cold from someone who was seated in the new row I had to sit in and there was not as much leg room.

The seats I choose are very desirable. If the other people want them, they should reserve them first.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with your request.

i cannot stand people who assume they can have your aisle bulkhead seat just b/c their wife has got the middle one. it pisses me off, but im such a sucker, that i usually switch as long as their seat is not a middle seat.

I admire your Cojones! I guess it depends on the flight. 8-hour international? "Please remove your rear from my seat". One hour RJ...I would have probably chosen another seat..and potentially ended up with something worse.

Attitude says it all for me. If someone really wants my seat to sit next to a spouse, etc...they should wait until AFTER I sit down...and ask politely...then I am a softy. But if they become some squatter that must be evicted...well...



[This message has been edited by Pointfreak! (edited Mar 18, 2004).]

You did the right thing. With any luck, the perp will never try it again.

EXACLY! If they ask nicely I have no problem moving to another seat. But its the people with a chip on their shoulder that I cannot handle.

annerj

He'll do it on his next flight as well. People like this are never cured of their belief that behavior like this is acceptable.

The proof that that you were doing the right thing. A bit of FF chancery is acceptable, but gracious withdrawal is part of the protocol. In different surroundings I might have suggested combustible fluids and cigarette lighters as useful allies.... ;-)

The one other thing to consider is this: He's already got a seat - YOURS! Now you are going to potentially be doing exactly what he has done - plonk down in a seat somewhere, not knowing if it is already assigned or indeed free. Why should his ignorance cause you further hassle beyond the initial encountered at YOUR already reserved seat?

This type of thing wouldn't fly in certain countries in Europe where lots of stuff is reserved, especially trains during peak periods.

Excellent move!

You did exactly what I would have done, and sometimes have to do when people try to poach my exit row seat.

I agree with you totally. After all, you were flying Delta not Southwest.

Since the subject line was a bit misleading, I have to wonder if all the facts are also here. I opened this thread assuming it had something to do with an EMPTY flight and it turns out it had to do with seat assignments.

If the flight was empty (or close to it since there were at least two passengers)... and the seat in question was not a special seat, I would have just plopped my butt into another seat. If this was a special seat, such as bulkhead or exit row, then a polite request might be in order. If the plane was at least half full, the request would be warranted as well.

In defense of the seat poacher, if the plane had only a handful of people and it was known prior to boarding, it would not be beyond MANY OF US to get on and just pick a seat. Though I do not make it a practice to grab a different seat, an empty plane is a different story. I have been on an almost empty plane where the GA said all rows can board and feel free to pick your own row.

This has happened to me a number of times. Someone who asks usually gets it, unless it's a premium seat. Someone who invades -- never. Most irritating were the parents who booked themselves in BE, the kiddies in coach, but wanted my seat so they could come and check on the kids from time to time. Fine -- trade me. That went nowhere.

You go annerj!!! Don't know how many times I have experienced the same situation. I'm really easy going, so I usually don't say anything - I'll just take another empty seat... Until THAT person comes to take his seat. Then I have to move again and hope I don't have to move again. This gets especially tricky if you have bags in the bin as you can easily end up in front of your bags... And then you're sh*t out of luck trying to get off!