What to do when sitting next to an angry passenger?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Posts: 18
What to do when sitting next to an angry passenger?
I was on a flight from the very small Appleton Wisconsin ATW airport going to LasVegas LAS on the discount airline Allegaint Air. Full flight.
Passenger comes down the isle to sit in middle seat next to me so I stand and move into th isle and a bit back to allow him to get to the middle seat. He asked me if I would swap seats with his wife so they could sit together. I asked where she is sitting. She is several rows forward, also in a middle seat. I said I'm sorry but at my size I need and paid extra for a isle seat then sat down.
He badgered me, said I was rude, that I should swap to keep them together because I'm just traveling alone. I asked him why he did not not book seats together. He blamed the airline (insert several swearwords here.) After a few more questions from me it turns out he would not pay the extra fee Allegiant charges for a seat assignment.
I put in my ear buds and started working on my ipad as I ignored him, but his badgering went on. His comments would stop for a bit then resume as I kept ignoring him. It was one long, non-enjoyable flight.
I'm open to your suggestions on how to better handle this situation.
Passenger comes down the isle to sit in middle seat next to me so I stand and move into th isle and a bit back to allow him to get to the middle seat. He asked me if I would swap seats with his wife so they could sit together. I asked where she is sitting. She is several rows forward, also in a middle seat. I said I'm sorry but at my size I need and paid extra for a isle seat then sat down.
He badgered me, said I was rude, that I should swap to keep them together because I'm just traveling alone. I asked him why he did not not book seats together. He blamed the airline (insert several swearwords here.) After a few more questions from me it turns out he would not pay the extra fee Allegiant charges for a seat assignment.
I put in my ear buds and started working on my ipad as I ignored him, but his badgering went on. His comments would stop for a bit then resume as I kept ignoring him. It was one long, non-enjoyable flight.
I'm open to your suggestions on how to better handle this situation.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
"STEWARDESS!!!! This man can't control himself"
That kind of passengers usually can't handle themselves and will escalate things meaning:
http://nypost.com/2017/01/02/unruly-...ted-off-plane/
or
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...ly-passengers/
or
http://wkrn.com/2017/01/04/police-un...ville-airport/
or
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/56348196.cms
or
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/unru...rport-44461223
or
http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/...NsGadwsUM.html
If he's looking for trouble, let him have trouble.
That kind of passengers usually can't handle themselves and will escalate things meaning:
http://nypost.com/2017/01/02/unruly-...ted-off-plane/
or
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...ly-passengers/
or
http://wkrn.com/2017/01/04/police-un...ville-airport/
or
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/56348196.cms
or
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/unru...rport-44461223
or
http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/...NsGadwsUM.html
If he's looking for trouble, let him have trouble.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: MAN
Programs: None anymore
Posts: 220
Pepper spray?
You did the right thing. You needed and paid for the seat. He evidently wanted the money in his pocket more than he wanted to sit with his wife. He took a gamble on being able to coerce you into giving him something for free that he had the opportunity to obtain by paying for it. He learned a valuable life lesson.
You did the right thing. You needed and paid for the seat. He evidently wanted the money in his pocket more than he wanted to sit with his wife. He took a gamble on being able to coerce you into giving him something for free that he had the opportunity to obtain by paying for it. He learned a valuable life lesson.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,148
I doubt it. People who are old enough to be married and still behave like this generally stopped learning from these types of situations a long time ago - if they ever learned at all. For them, it's always somebody else's fault. For this guy to continue to badger you throughout the flight is as telling as it is inexcusable. Since logic and patience failed to assuage him, I would've read him the riot act and alerted a flight attendant to the situation, preferably before push back. Perhaps the threat of being put off the flight might have finally gotten his attention. Sadly, the whip and chair are probably all that'll work with chaps like this any more.
Last edited by Seat 2A; Jan 6, 2017 at 9:15 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
I was on a flight from the very small Appleton Wisconsin ATW airport going to LasVegas LAS on the discount airline Allegaint Air. Full flight.
Passenger comes down the isle to sit in middle seat next to me so I stand and move into th isle and a bit back to allow him to get to the middle seat. He asked me if I would swap seats with his wife so they could sit together. I asked where she is sitting. She is several rows forward, also in a middle seat. I said I'm sorry but at my size I need and paid extra for a isle seat then sat down.
He badgered me, said I was rude, that I should swap to keep them together because I'm just traveling alone. I asked him why he did not not book seats together. He blamed the airline (insert several swearwords here.) After a few more questions from me it turns out he would not pay the extra fee Allegiant charges for a seat assignment.
I put in my ear buds and started working on my ipad as I ignored him, but his badgering went on. His comments would stop for a bit then resume as I kept ignoring him. It was one long, non-enjoyable flight.
I'm open to your suggestions on how to better handle this situation.
Passenger comes down the isle to sit in middle seat next to me so I stand and move into th isle and a bit back to allow him to get to the middle seat. He asked me if I would swap seats with his wife so they could sit together. I asked where she is sitting. She is several rows forward, also in a middle seat. I said I'm sorry but at my size I need and paid extra for a isle seat then sat down.
He badgered me, said I was rude, that I should swap to keep them together because I'm just traveling alone. I asked him why he did not not book seats together. He blamed the airline (insert several swearwords here.) After a few more questions from me it turns out he would not pay the extra fee Allegiant charges for a seat assignment.
I put in my ear buds and started working on my ipad as I ignored him, but his badgering went on. His comments would stop for a bit then resume as I kept ignoring him. It was one long, non-enjoyable flight.
I'm open to your suggestions on how to better handle this situation.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
You definitely did the right thing - if it escalates or you have had enough, the best thing to do is excuse yourself to the "restroom" and let a flight attendant know what's going on.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,013
#15
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: LAX/FAO
Posts: 355
Very true- I happen to be one of those non-confrontational people and probably would have done the same as OP. But no one should have to put up with that for an entire flight and there's clearly no reasoning with someone who feels entitled to someone else's paid-for aisle seat in exchange for a middle seat.