How to handle this...woman in my seat!
Jun 20, 2011, 8:22 am
#16
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Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
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I'm flying JFK-MIA and I end up in coach...no upgrades. But the check in clerk did manage to get me an aisle seat. When I board I get to my seat and there is a woman, middle class, dressed casual, neat about herself... and she is in my seat.
I point out that I have that particular seat. She replies "they put me in the middle and I can't sit there, I need the aisle".
I continue to pester her and she just ignores me.
I then ask her to get up so I can take her middle seat and she refuses. "I'm not moving".
So I'm stuck squished in the middle seat for 3+ hrs.
I didn't want to cause a scene. Has this ever happened to anyone and what should be done about it?
I point out that I have that particular seat. She replies "they put me in the middle and I can't sit there, I need the aisle".
I continue to pester her and she just ignores me.
I then ask her to get up so I can take her middle seat and she refuses. "I'm not moving".
So I'm stuck squished in the middle seat for 3+ hrs.
I didn't want to cause a scene. Has this ever happened to anyone and what should be done about it?
Jun 20, 2011, 8:31 am
#17
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: JMB Diamond, Hilton Silver, UAL
Posts: 251
To Flight Attendant "Can you assist me? I thought this was my seat but perhaps I was upgraded to first class and the agent gave me the wrong boarding pass."
I did that once when someone did not want to move... and guess what, I got first class. That other passenger was so peeved... they quickly said "Oh wait, I will take that seat." The flight attendant politely said "Oh, I would not want you to have to get up and move, you are apparently too comfortable to move when you knew you had the wrong seat... just stay there...". It was priceless.
I did that once when someone did not want to move... and guess what, I got first class. That other passenger was so peeved... they quickly said "Oh wait, I will take that seat." The flight attendant politely said "Oh, I would not want you to have to get up and move, you are apparently too comfortable to move when you knew you had the wrong seat... just stay there...". It was priceless.
Jun 20, 2011, 8:53 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
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I would be concerned that the FA might take the side of the woman squatter passenger. Perhaps the better way would be to find another good seat, sit there, and when the rightful seat owner comes to get the FA to sort it out. If the squatter woman can keep your seat, you can keep the other person's seat.
Better yet, how about squatting in first class? However, that might create a scene and cause the FA to say you are wrong but not the woman squatter.
Better yet, how about squatting in first class? However, that might create a scene and cause the FA to say you are wrong but not the woman squatter.
Jun 20, 2011, 9:03 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 82
To Flight Attendant "Can you assist me? I thought this was my seat but perhaps I was upgraded to first class and the agent gave me the wrong boarding pass."
I did that once when someone did not want to move... and guess what, I got first class. That other passenger was so peeved... they quickly said "Oh wait, I will take that seat." The flight attendant politely said "Oh, I would not want you to have to get up and move, you are apparently too comfortable to move when you knew you had the wrong seat... just stay there...". It was priceless.
I did that once when someone did not want to move... and guess what, I got first class. That other passenger was so peeved... they quickly said "Oh wait, I will take that seat." The flight attendant politely said "Oh, I would not want you to have to get up and move, you are apparently too comfortable to move when you knew you had the wrong seat... just stay there...". It was priceless.
I have had some success with not talking at all, just standing there looking at my boarding pass and at the seat. And waiting patiently. Eventually person moved or FA comes by to see why I haven't sat down and person taking up my seat moved before getting booted. Part of my thinking is that they may actually have the seat as well, so let them indicate it is their seat or realize I'm not moving.
Jun 20, 2011, 9:05 am
#20
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Agreed (redux) ^ and if any "scene" is goign to be made, it will be made by the woman in your seat when she is told to move (and afaic, let her make a scene as [sadly] in this day and age, many flight crews do not take kindly to those making "scenes")
Jun 20, 2011, 9:24 am
#21
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Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
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I would be concerned that the FA might take the side of the woman squatter passenger. Perhaps the better way would be to find another good seat, sit there, and when the rightful seat owner comes to get the FA to sort it out. If the squatter woman can keep your seat, you can keep the other person's seat.
Jun 20, 2011, 9:33 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
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I've had squatters who were assigned the middle and hoping for my aisle seat, but luckily never one obstinate enough to need to get an FA involved. The last one was a woman who pouted "I was hoping I could have the aisle seat". I told her I did more than "hope" for an aisle, I planned far enough ahead to be assigned one.
Jun 20, 2011, 9:37 am
#23
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
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Remember, folks, there could be a genuine mistake with the exact same seat printed on two passengers' boarding passes. The other person could be legitimately sitting in their BP assigned seat. And, there's always the possibility (shudder) that YOU (shudder) read your own BP incorrectly.
After a brief "I believe that is my seat" "No it ain't" interchange, just call a FA.
You could have the added bonus of the FA requesting the squatter move to a different part of the plane, thus not making you sit next to some unpleasant person.
After a brief "I believe that is my seat" "No it ain't" interchange, just call a FA.
You could have the added bonus of the FA requesting the squatter move to a different part of the plane, thus not making you sit next to some unpleasant person.
Jun 20, 2011, 9:41 am
#24
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Remember, folks, there could be a genuine mistake with the exact same seat printed on two passengers' boarding passes. The other person could be legitimately sitting in their BP assigned seat. And, there's always the possibility (shudder) that YOU (shudder) read your own BP incorrectly.
If she was a middle eastern looking male they would have had the TSA and police drag her off the plane for questioning.
Jun 20, 2011, 9:44 am
#25
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Jun 20, 2011, 9:46 am
#26
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Join Date: Mar 2004
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Well of course -- everyone knows that Flying While Muslim is a prosecutable offense. The nerve of those Muslims -- actually practicing a Different Religion in the United States.
Jun 20, 2011, 9:53 am
#27
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I strenuously disagree. First, if the FA refuses to help, call the purser or Senior. If the purser or Senior refuses to help, ask for the pilot. If the pilot refuses to help, simply stand in the aisle and refuse to move until a ground customer service supervisor is called. It is never acceptable to squat in someone else's seat.
Jun 20, 2011, 9:56 am
#28
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
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I'm flying JFK-MIA and I end up in coach...no upgrades. But the check in clerk did manage to get me an aisle seat. When I board I get to my seat and there is a woman, middle class, dressed casual, neat about herself... and she is in my seat.
I point out that I have that particular seat. She replies "they put me in the middle and I can't sit there, I need the aisle".
I continue to pester her and she just ignores me.
I then ask her to get up so I can take her middle seat and she refuses. "I'm not moving".
So I'm stuck squished in the middle seat for 3+ hrs.
I didn't want to cause a scene. Has this ever happened to anyone and what should be done about it?
I point out that I have that particular seat. She replies "they put me in the middle and I can't sit there, I need the aisle".
I continue to pester her and she just ignores me.
I then ask her to get up so I can take her middle seat and she refuses. "I'm not moving".
So I'm stuck squished in the middle seat for 3+ hrs.
I didn't want to cause a scene. Has this ever happened to anyone and what should be done about it?
Jun 20, 2011, 10:15 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
While other FTers have mentioned excellent ways of not allowing seat poachers to take your seats, and others mentioned you need to be more pro-active instead of backing down, another way to ensure she's not going to do that again is to actually go back and forth to the lavatory as much as you can just to annoy her. If she later comments on that, just say "You're in my seat, and my bladder happens to be the size of a grape, your mistake."
Jun 20, 2011, 10:44 am
#30
Join Date: Nov 2008
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