cbn42

Observed this situation play out on a flight last week.

Background: Turbo prop plane, three across. A is to the left of the aisle, B and C to the right.

6B and 6C were occupied. A lady comes on, points at 6B, and says "I think you're in my seat".

The guy there replies "I would like to sit by my friend, would you mind moving?" He points to 7B.

She agrees and sits down one row behind him. Plane takes off.

About 30 minutes into flight, 6B gets up to use the bathroom. Lady moves up to 6B. 6C objects but she ignores him. 6B gets back and looks confused.

Argument ensues. Flight attendant comes and checks boarding passes and tells the guy to move to 7B.

I am a bit torn on this one, so I want your opinions. On one hand, it was her assigned seat, but on the other hand, she willingly gave it up.

SF Traveler

It would seem to me that there's nothing the FA could have done except what he or she did. The female passenger was clearly disturbed or worse but the airline and its staff can't be the arbitrator of manners, even when they fail as abysmally as hers did.

Boraxo

That's awesome, kudos to the lady for putting the seat poacher in his place. Delayed reckoning is ok in my book. ^

DFWsakp

I think she just could not say "No" earlier. It was her seat and she got it back. I hate it when people occupy others seats prior to taking permission from the person who is assigned the seat.

It'sHip2B^2

All I can think is "lousy, rotten, karmic retribution" in Homer Simpson voice. I love that lady! She's awesome!

Kagehitokiri

i think i would have FA engage person for me

chicagocat

Were the two talking loudly? Perhaps she thought it would be more restful to give the friends some space or found their friendship unworthy of the request to move... Who knows? In truth, it's all in poor taste and just another day of herding cats for the FAs.

dtshakuras

I think if she had insisted on sitting in 6B in the beginning and he had refused, then taking her seat back later in this fashion was perfectly justified. But since she had agreed to switch seats, then I think she was in the wrong and since the seat she agreed to switch to was no worse than her previous one.

will2288

I agree. I wonder why she wanted to switch back, as the seats are basically equal.

I bet there is more to this story. I think there must have been some reason she wanted the seat back. Maybe not a good reason.

By the time the argument happened the flight must have been pretty close to over. I can't think of a 1x2 turbo prop that has much range.

dtshakuras

Wild guess, maybe she didn't enjoy the company of her seat mate in 7C.

abmj-jr

Sounds like this occurred on an EMB-120. Row 6 is marked as "exit row" so she may have thought there would be more room. She would be wrong but that might have had something to do with it.

I don't really get forcing yourself into a seat next to someone you have just pi$$ed off but people are weird. It is a short flight, maybe she thought she would get off quicker than from row 7.

duchy

Or maybe she felt intimidated into switching and after some thought decided to restore the balance. Some women aren't basically assertive and some men don't realise how they come across .

I have no sympathy for the guys if they wanted to sit together then they should have booked that way. Seat poachers are a pain and I've had guys think they can intimidate me into swooping either by arguing or dismissively telling me I can sit in theirs ......in that last scenario not a snowballs chance in hell would I reward such crassness with my seat!

Fraport

This. I have been speechless upon encountering people like this dude and my first instinct is "keep the peace" and then i go back and sit and realize what happened. I was on a flight once where the person in front of me, before we even sat down, told me to "make sure you don't touch my seat". I just sort of stared and nodded and then was pissed off for the next 8 hours. His "seat" includes my tray and inflight screen so eff him. I wish i was sharper in these situations to have an awesome comeback to put him in his place immediately for such a ridiculous request, but ultimately, i am a mother first and foremost and my first instinct is to make sure other people are happy and comfortable before myself.

(in case anyone is wondering, i certainly did touch "his seat" in the form of the screen/tray)

highpeaklad

The men were clearly at fault. If you want to switch seats you sit in the assigned seat, then ask politely.
If it was me if someone asked me to swap , I would. But if they were already sat in my seat then I would refuse.

celle

You bet she was disturbed - by the man who took her seat. I agree that she probably was not the assertive sort and initially complied, to prevent an argument, but later decided that she wanted her assigned seat back - as was her right.

"Disturbed or worse"- was the original poster of this remark implying that the woman was mentally unbalanced? Unusual behaviour admittedly, but no more than that.