Seating arrangement on flight abroad

I think that being next to a friend who knows you should be OK, and if you do take up slightly more room than some people, do not be ashamed of this.

My DH and I had 2 seats in Economy flying to Barbados with Virgin.

If something is important do it yourself.

I leave seat booking to Mr Monkey and he always does it late and therefore I have just flown back from New York in economy, behind Mr Monkey between two strangers. Didn't care.

If I did I would do it myself.

BTW on our flight to get two together you would have to have booked premium economy.

If you'd said in your first post that the reason was you are overweight you would have more sympathetic responses I think. Yanbu. But I guess your friend prefers being squashed to sitting alone so it's ok

have you looked into purchasing a seat for comfort? It often works out cheaper than you expect as you don’t need to pay tax.

Oh well then LTB!

🙄

Good point! I had discounted that as I thought it read as if OP’s DH had booked a row of 3 and those planes don’t have 3s. If he’s done that though then that’s the worst possible seat configuration and it does change things. On that aircraft OP I would done a pair for you and DH then friend across the aisle so you’re with your mate and can chat but it avoids anyone getting middles and your friend gets the direct aisle access. But that’s what you get for not doing it yourself I guess!! If you can, change it. If you can’t because you’re checked in then not ideal but you’ll be fine. You’re next to a friend who you like enough to go on holiday with, it’ll be fine.

This!

Or FFS either sit in the window seat?

Get a grip!

It’s pretty important information that you are self conscious about your size and that’s why you wanted the seat configuration. You may have had more understanding if you had mentioned that earlier on.

This. 'People won't do as their told, why can't they just do as they're told, how awful to expect me to do the task I'm complaining about!' ??

Where is the other single sitting?

So is there still a friend sitting alone?

Your sat between your husband and your friend then? Can't see the issue. You sound like hard work.

I think you are getting a hard deal here OP. We all have our quirks and things that make us more concerned than others. Your reasoning totally makes sense. It also means you have to go in the middle which is the worst! I agree that your husband should have respected your wishes and tried to alleviate your concerns. Your friend may not even want to sit with you both anyway and saying yes to be polite. He could have reserved a two and then the one across the aisle for example. Hope the flight is ok. (ps. I would still get your partner to sit in the middle, 6ft 3 or otherwise)

Normally when you select allocated seating you have to choose seats for the whole party at the same time - are you, your DH and the other person on the same booking?

If so, it wouldn't have looked very good on him if he chose a row of two seats for you and him and sat her somewhere where else would it?

Maybe he had to book three seats together because you are a group of three?

If you aren't all on the same booking how did he access the friend's booking to select her seat? Or did they book over the phone together at the same time, in which the case the friend might have persuaded your DP to book a row of three?

“I see no reason to have made my own reservations as many have suggested”

but you’re the one being difficult/having particular preferences about the seating arrangements so that’s a very good reason to have made your own reservations

Well surely if you’re big then the friend next to you will understand more and not make a comment. Most people would. I would definitely complain if someone big took over part of my seat. Tell your partner to go back onto the seat reservations and move your seats. Depends on the airline though as most are 3-3 or 2-4-2.

Plenty of planes have a two seat configuration. I'm in the Middle East and the planes used by Lufthansa and KLM from here are 2-4-2 in economy. Turkish have it too on some planes. They won't be the only ones. Attached image is the KLM A330-300.

Sometimes there's also a random two seat configuration towards the back of economy, on 3-3-3 and 3-4-3 configured aircraft.

Are you an introvert? I am and find being stuck with people draining, even if I love them. So I’m with you.

But it’s nice to include your friend and it’s done now so if it can’t be changed I’d try and make the most of it and have a good time.

The only time I have ever been on a plane with only 2 seats together in economy was on a fairly small turbo prop. I've never known it on a long haul flight, so unless you're in business class or possibly premium economy I doubt it was an option. Surely better to be between people you know than with a stranger?

Seriously YABU.

He did you a favour. There is zero way of knowing if the third seat would of been taken by stranger, the last four flights I have been on I have refused to pay for a “seat” and just accept where they stick me.

you have had a lucky escape

Sorry am missing something.

You want to just sit with your husband on a flight where it's impossible that only two people sit together.
So instead of either of you sitting with a stranger, you sit with a friend
So that friend, who isn't in a couple, will now have some to sit with.

What a bastard...I'd leave him

You sound controlling...your "express" wishes! I think you are a little odd.

Is this just a work up so you can say to the group ' I just can't possibly travel like this'.... and guilt the friend in 1st class to switch as you're like soooo distraught?

I'm with pp, is it you don't want to sit with ANYONE but your husband, or just not with people you know??