Who would insist on sitting in a middle seat?

The only time I have ever asked anyone to switch was when my friend was in a window and I was in the aisle. The person in the middle happily made the change.

Since she was tagging along on a company trip, I stuck my friend in the middle.

It was exactly like for like. We moved into the seats right behind us; they moved into our seats.

Nobody complained.

Based on some of the comments on this thread, many posters here would not do it.

If was just that, I would have switched with you. I'm talking about situations in which the parent wanted me to give up my E+ window for an E- middle in the back of the plane.

It would pretty much depend on how the request was framed. Someone already in the seat, or the slightest hint of entitlement would probably result in no seat change from many people.

Do you take this same position even for a short haul flight? What if they are traveling as an emergency trip and needed the soonest flight but seats were separate? Would you really be so unwilling to move to accommodate and ruin someone's day? I'm sure a parent would not choose to be separated from a child. I would consider the person to be uncooperative... If it was the same aisle seat but in another row, would that be workable?

I'm just curous what you mean by "another row"? Are you asking would I trade my seat in 24C for 6C? No problem! But trade 6C for 24C? Big problem. Many people, when seeking swaps, somehow always seek swaps that improve their relative position in the airplane.

(I might still make the trade, but I can see how many wouldn't want to be stuck in the back of the aircraft. And if I had paid extra for my seat, I certainly wouldn't give it up to sit in back).

Yes.

Apparently, you haven't read the thread. I always try to help in an emergency.

No, but a parent would either book seats apart and expect strangers to move for them, or run the risk of an equipment change, etc., and rather than take a later flight, expect strangers to move for them.

Whereas I would consider parents in the above two categories to be rude, selfish and entitlement-demanding. Strangers don't have to cooperate with you, and to expect them to solely because you are engaging in discretionary travel with a child is unrealistic and entitlement-demanding.

Which row? If not too far apart, no problem, depending on the attitude of the parent, e.g. I don't respond well to someone already sitting in my seat who says, "You HAVE to move so I can sit with my child." That discussion would never even get to, "where is your seat?"

I guess I see your point - I was asked to move a handful of times last year, and in all cases it was a 'relative' move - 31A to 29F etc - So no skin off my nose.

When I travel with my family we would not mind if I was seated in a different location in the cabin let alone if I was in the First Class cabin. I love the window seat or bulkhead seat so if my Parent's wanted to sit next to each other I would let them sit towards the back and let them have their peace and quiet.

When I was flying with my Mother for a conference I upgraded myself to First Class roundtrip asking her if she would like my seat. She declined like after the 20th time I asked her in the month proceeding the trip. We went to the lounge and she could not believe she could get a coffee for free. She kept asking the agent how much is it for the latte. I roll eyes and laugh to myself.

On one international trip the airline upgraded my seat and I asked my Father if he wanted it he just said no. I could not believe he would decline my First Class Sleeper seat with real Dom P, Steak, Cheese platters, ice cream sundaes, Audio Video on Demand and a great breakfast. I was enjoying myself and asked the cute flight attendant serving me to bring a glass of Dom P to my Father(:

Its usually the other way around where the parents are in First and kids in coach. I once talked the flight attendant to see if she could get my Brother and I into First Class since they needed our seats at the very last minute for two people going to a funeral. There were no two seats together in First but what did we care? I heard the conversation and told her that if you needed our seats please let us know. This was in the days when OP Ups could be done onboard. So before our international flight took off we were moved.

Honestly I've had some of the best flights alone or away from my Parents as they could talk about whatever and not bother me every second about how to turn on the AVOD system , create a playlist lol. Before we took off I already had the Airshow Map up and switched to the camera my Father was bewildered about the camera views. I had some great playlists ready to go.

On short-haul flights, I don't care who I sit next to. Having been married for 42 years, I can stand a few hours without sitting next to DH.

However, on long-haul, I'd rather fall asleep on his shoulder than a stranger's and I'd rather DH encroached on my space than a stranger did.

Nuff said!

On international or cross country flights with my brother (who is a 1K), since we both like window seats, I will just book 2 window seats. I also monitor the seat assignments to try to get as close to an empty full row as possible. On our last flight to China, I had the most comfortable flight, slept 8-9 hours across 3 seats in coach (and still had time to watch a movie and eat). Woke up with almost no jetlag. My brother and I don't feel the need to sit next to each other, and since he was in the row in front of me, I could still talk to him if I wanted to.

As I said, in this case it was a request/order by the FA. We would have preferred not to move at all.

I understand that, I was talking about cbn42's comment, rather than your situation specifically.

This post baffles me. Of course you want to sit next to the person you're traveling with. No?

ESPECIALLY if that person is a friend or family member. If you don't want to sit next to them, you probably shouldn't be traveling with them in the first place!


PS

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