I saw this on a flight recently.

A woman traveling with a young child asked the gentleman on the aisle to switch with her for her middle seat, as she will need be going to the bathroom often. He politely declined, at which point she looked miffed and said "Are you sure," kinda showing him the child. Again he politely declined.

She let that child, I swear it, she even ENCOURAGED that child sream bloody murder the ENTIRE 4 hour flight.

ROFLMAO UAL Traveler

nlp, this is a tough question. On the one hand, sometimes being nice and helping out people is the right thing to do, yet when people take advantage of you, it is a major annoyance.

What people who ask you to give up your seat must realize is that they are putting you on the spot. If they want to trade seats, I agree that they should be offering the "better" seats to consolidate their seating around the person with the "worst" seat. If seating is that important, why didn't they plan in advance???? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif

Yet on the other hand, being hit with a conscience attack is tough too after you refuse someone's request. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif

Confused,
FewMiles..

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What about passengers that move themselves? Often the airline will try to keep an empty seat next to the higher level preferred FF'ers, and of course this means an open seat in an exit row or bulkhead unless the flight is really full.

A recent flight was slowly filling up and our exit row middle seat was empty. Then someone took it and I didn't think anything of it. A little later another passenger came along and claimed the same seat. The person in the middle row turned a little red and muttered that his real seat was in the back of the plane and left.

That got me thinking: hey, maybe he's onto something here? It's not like I own the empty middle even though the airline tries to leave it open as a "bonus" for being a preferred FF'er. If I find myself with a really bogus seat (or bogus co-passenger) and see an empty middle seat in the exit row should I take it?

FewMiles,

I don't think that this is a tough question at all. Just because someone is willing to pay $XXX for an airline ticket does not mean that they get free pick of the seats.

I've offered money and/or free drinks to switch seats, and everyone is happy. If someone wants something bad enough, they'll make it worth your while rather than play off your guilt.

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LEB,

that's an easy one. Leave a newspaper on the seat. You can easily move it if someone -should- be sitting there, and it will keep most people honest from swiping the seat.

I like it! Subtle yet effective. This explains why I often see other flyers put bags/briefcases in the "extra" seat. I couldn't understand why they didn't just chuck them under their seat.

It's my pet peeve when someone presumptuously sits in the seat I was assigned because they want a better seat or because they want to sit next to someone else. Typically, when I see someone in my seat. I'll flag the flight attendant and quietly tell them there is someone occupying my seat. I let them deal with the person. Usually, the flight attendant will ask them to return to their seat. That removes me from being the bad guy in the situation.

As for kids and switching, that's a tough one. Again, I usually go through the flight attendant. If they know you're moving to help someone else out, specially a kid, and it's on a long flight, you can usually count on a nice perk. Like a free drink or two or a bottle of wine.

However, my boss had the best line. A lady wanted his seat and the flight attendant asked if he would switch. He said I'll tell you what... Let's both hand our tickets to the flight attendant, and whoever paid the most for their ticket will get the seat...He sat where he wanted to sit.

That's a good one! But I would be on the losing end of any such transaction so maybe I will try the line my ex- gave me to use, "I have to sit here because I had a medical condition which requires it", and he said that if they are bold enough to press for details about this medical condition, he says "I'd prefer not to discuss it." I think the secret is just to be ready with some answer. Another thing is, I have been seated near some rude/annoying people before and gone looking in the back for a better seat if I can find one open. Maybe I won't do this anymore after being on the receiving end, aisle in an open row, planning to SLEEP when another person looking for a different seat decided to join my row. I have no right to complain at all since I have done it too.

Here is a related topic that PremEx initiated.

An Onboard Etiquette Question
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/002247.html

My personal view is... I should not have to offer any reason why I want to keep the seat I was assigned. I plan my travel far enough in advance to try and get the seat I want. On those occasions where I have been stuck in a middle seat, I take that seat and don't complain.

I have never asked to be reseated.

William

I get asked to change seats more often in first class than in coach. Perhaps this is more common up front because when two people get upgrades at the airport, they aren't going to be sitting together in most cases.

I usually go ahead and switch if I'm asked nicely. I don't have strong feelings about window vs. aisle in first, so I go ahead and help the people out in most cases.

EXCEPTION: I get on the plane, and somebody is already sitting in my seat. Then I am far more likely to demand my original seat, just because I think this is completely inconsiderate.

As for coach, I've honestly never had somebody ask me to switch into a bad seat. Unless there was a legitimate reason (eldery guy on oxygen, or whatever), I'd say no.

I went to claim my bulkhead aisle seat on National Airlines the other day and there was a uniformed American pilot sitting in it! He seemed a bit miffed when I asked him to move.

I agree with you on that one Empress. I had that happen to me on a flight from ANC-SEA. It was a sunny afternoon in winter and I had specifically asked for a window seat on the left side of the plane so I could admire the view of the mountains. The lady was very persistent and used every excuse in the book. I absolutely refused but was very polite about it and suggested she talk to the FA. Several other pax actually commended me for sticking to my guns. (This was quite a few years ago when I was much younger.) I have asked to switch before but it has always been for like seating.

In nlp's case I would have politely refused and suggested they talk to a FA about being re-seated.

I think these are unreasonable requests.