Travel etiquette in seeking airline aisle seat.
Mar 26, 2013, 5:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1
Travel etiquette in seeking airline aisle seat.
My husband and I were on a recent flight and were in first class. We were getting all settled in when the guy across the aisle asked us to trade seats with his wife and their other child...she was in row 1 (we were in row 3). I didn't want to move, but my husband acted like we should, so off we went - to the seats I hate!! I like to have my bag close since it has ereaders, chargers, etc. Of course all that had to go overhead. What does everyone else do when faced with seat changes...Any other row would not have been such an issue for me, but row 1 !!
Mar 26, 2013, 5:56 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 640
You're probably right to be upset with your husband. He should have solicited your opinion privately before assuming you'd move.
If the other passengers asked politely they committed no breach of etiquette in my opinion. (Etiquette is pretty much subjective anyway, right?) There's nothing wrong to responding to this type of question with "No thank you, I prefer my seat. That's why I selected it."
If the other passengers asked politely they committed no breach of etiquette in my opinion. (Etiquette is pretty much subjective anyway, right?) There's nothing wrong to responding to this type of question with "No thank you, I prefer my seat. That's why I selected it."
Mar 26, 2013, 6:13 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 9,537
You're probably right to be upset with your husband. He should have solicited your opinion privately before assuming you'd move.
If the other passengers asked politely they committed no breach of etiquette in my opinion. (Etiquette is pretty much subjective anyway, right?) There's nothing wrong to responding to this type of question with "No thank you, I prefer my seat. That's why I selected it."
If the other passengers asked politely they committed no breach of etiquette in my opinion. (Etiquette is pretty much subjective anyway, right?) There's nothing wrong to responding to this type of question with "No thank you, I prefer my seat. That's why I selected it."
Mar 26, 2013, 6:57 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
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Posts: 41,109
My husband and I were on a recent flight and were in first class. We were getting all settled in when the guy across the aisle asked us to trade seats with his wife and their other child...she was in row 1 (we were in row 3). I didn't want to move, but my husband acted like we should, so off we went - to the seats I hate!! I like to have my bag close since it has ereaders, chargers, etc. Of course all that had to go overhead. What does everyone else do when faced with seat changes...Any other row would not have been such an issue for me, but row 1 !!
I've never seen this one on FT
What do you guys think?
Mar 26, 2013, 7:05 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,342
Exactly what others said. I don't mind it if someone politely asks me if I would change seats with them. But if I like my seat, I will politely decline. I wouldn't feel bad at all.
If the guy just wanted to sit with his wife and child, you might have politely suggested to him to ask someone in row 1 to switch with him, instead of having two people switch with his wife and child.
If you agreed to switch, you only have yourself to blame
If the guy just wanted to sit with his wife and child, you might have politely suggested to him to ask someone in row 1 to switch with him, instead of having two people switch with his wife and child.
If you agreed to switch, you only have yourself to blame
Mar 26, 2013, 7:24 pm
#10
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
In my opinion, a family sitting together is more important than you not having your bag close and having to put it in the overhead. Of course you would have had the right to refuse without explanation, and they couldn't have forced you to do anything, but I would consider anyone who did that to be a self-centered jerk. I'm glad your husband did the right thing.
Mar 26, 2013, 7:26 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: United, Cathay, Delta, Priority Pass (gold), SPG
Posts: 100
Travel etiquette
Don't think anything wrong in etiquette here. Can very easily refuse if you do not want to move. Hope he helped youove your baggage though? But then again... How bad can a seat in first class be?
Mar 26, 2013, 7:34 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,342
In my opinion, a family sitting together is more important than you not having your bag close and having to put it in the overhead. Of course you would have had the right to refuse without explanation, and they couldn't have forced you to do anything, but I would consider anyone who did that to be a self-centered jerk. I'm glad your husband did the right thing.
)If you can't get seats together, you shouldn't expect to sit together. If you do, be thankful to the other passengers that moved for you. Don't expect others to inconvenience themselves to accommodate you.
OP doesn't say what plane and what airline, but AA's 738s have less legroom in the bulkhead. I have relatively long legs, and would much prefer a non-bulkhead F seat. Especially if I was in a window, I'd get cramps if I can't stretch my legs out fully for a few hours.
Mar 26, 2013, 7:42 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,366
Why? Are the family members going to spontaneously combust or something if they don't get to sit together? This wasn't a need, this was a desire, and a family's desires don't trump those of anyone else.
Mar 26, 2013, 8:03 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Houston, Texas
Programs: United, Hilton, Avis, & AMEX
Posts: 73
If you can't get seats together, you shouldn't expect to sit together. If you do, be thankful to the other passengers that moved for you. Don't expect others to inconvenience themselves to accommodate you.[/QUOTE]
I actually dislike that people ask this. It puts people in an awkward situation and I have a feeling more people say yes than no because they do not want to come across as an ........
-Nathan
I actually dislike that people ask this. It puts people in an awkward situation and I have a feeling more people say yes than no because they do not want to come across as an ........
-Nathan