So I just get into the Air China business class lounge in Beijing on a 5 hour layover. The lounge was busy. It took almost a full lap to find a free pair of seats at a table adjacent to a power outlet. I put my bag next to the front of the seat and head off for a pit stop and then pick up some food.

When i get back there is a couple sitting at the table. My bag has been moved to the back of the seat. I said excuse me but I was sitting here and pointed to my bag. They claimed to have not moved it, though I don't know who else would. They say I should've put the bag on the seat however have an objection to putting things on a seat that get dragged around on the ground, especially in China!

So the woman gets up grabs my bag, takes it to an adjacent occupied table with no free power supply and says problem solved. I grabbed the bag sat down where she was sitting and nodded my assent and proceeded to start eating.

I received a short winded tirade about bad manners, giving priority to a couple wanting to sit together and that bags shouldn't be left unattended at airports before finally succumbing to my indifference and disappearing to some other place.

I guess it all sounds a bit juvenile for a group of plus 50 yo's to act but how else does a lone traveler hold their spot in this circumstance? Custom in this lounge is leaving a bag, why would you think you will not be called out on it if you ignore that?

Out of interest, what nationality were the seat snatchers?

go to the washroom with your bag before claiming a seat? usually you can keep an eye on the bag while grabbing food/drink

were you looking for a pair of seats by power outlets, or one seat and happened to find two?

It's possible someone moved your bag that was "next to in front of" a seat as it was a tripping hazard.

I agree that it was probably rude to start an altercation over this.

Op, sounds like you have created another boost to international relations. Classy move. One wrong does not beget another.

Seriously, your behavior is worse then that of my 8 year old child having a tantrum. Are you an over entitled Brit or US citizen by chance. I would suggest next time talking a deep breath and acting like a mature adult. additionally and I am serious you may want to check on anger management classes. You could have created an event that could easily have escalated and the outcome could have been worse. Imagine if it resulted in fisticuffs and you as the foreigner were arrested, incarcerated, and held for for trial. Would you be so smug and proud add you are in your OP?

Sounds more like you need the
Anger management class. Calm down. What is your problem with UK/US? .....

Overreact much?

no problem with UK or US. I am US. problems with with entitlement. I never would behave as OP did. Hence not sure where your comments on my need for anger management class are founded. It is the sense of entitlement and acceptance that is in large part the reason for the decline in civility in our modern society. To take a wrong situation and escalate it is by default uncivilized.

Not like the OP. Are you condoning his actions?

I see by your handle you feel you are Elite and from London only adding to my assumptions being valid.

You probably have not read the OP in full. I suggest you do, there is nothing there that seems out of line to me. Sounds like he was at the receiving end of some grief.

OP was done an injustice. However, he responded by escalating the situation not deescalating the conflict. Enough said.

My point was just proven with your reply. Have an entitled day. You are superior and I can only bask in your glory, superior birth right, education , career, and social standing.

See, Just did what the OP did and escalated it. Seriously, let's agree to disagree. I feel the OP could have taken a different course of action. He was done an injustice as stated but then could have walked away being the better man. It was however not to be.

Get some help! Seriously.

Dude....

Chill....

To the OP:

Lounges feel safe, but things can still get stolen. You might reconsider leaving things where you can't keep an eye on them.

You can't "save" seats in a lounge by placing personal items on them.

Since when? I'll frequently set my bag down on a seat and go get myself a drink or something to eat. What else am I supposed to do if I'm traveling alone?