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Original poster

Plane seat drama

387 replies

itstoohotnow · 02/08/2024 12:29

Just returned from a European break, booked 4 plane tickets for DH and 2 DS (19 &16) and I, eldest DS decided too old to go away with mum and dad so stayed at home. I contacted the airline as cheap non refundable ticket but said I can use it as a spare seat between DH and I so all good.

On return flight, only 2 hours long and we have seats A (me) B (spare) C (DH) and D (DS) then a couple with a baby in E & F

Couple with baby realised we were together and pretty much demanded DS moved to seat B - I politely pointed out it wasn't a random spare seat but a booked and paid for one, now I have 2 kids so appreciate it's hard to travel with a little one and would have offered the seat but they were so bloody rude and entitled. I pointed out we had paid for 4 seats and they had only paid for 2 - so asked for a contribution towards cost £30 (by this point they are just demanding the seat because they have a child)

They got pretty rude and offensive (called me a fat b**ch) so I said no, stewardess said was up to me

Should I have given them the seat?

OP posts:
Oldfatandfrumpy · 02/08/2024 13:21

Why do people think that being abusive will make you more inclined to do them a favour? No OP you weren't being unreasonable, there is no way I would have considered it if they spoke to me like that either

Drigante · 02/08/2024 13:21

I feel a bit sorry for your DS if he wasn't involved in the conversation, and you and the couple were fighting it out for which of you had to put up with him. Was he happy to keep his aisle seat or did he spend the flight being crowded/kicked and wishing he'd been allowed to move?

Izzynohopanda · 02/08/2024 13:19

If they’d asked nicely, I would have moved seats without question.

However, being demanding would have put me off. I wouldn’t my have asked for money though .

BettyBardMacDonald · 02/08/2024 13:19

CalmaLlamaDown · 02/08/2024 13:11

Going against the grain here, but I would have offered the spare seat once I saw they had a baby. It’s only a two hour flight, so personally the extra space wouldn’t have made that much difference to me.

But your seat, your decision.

So you'd let your own family be cramped so strangers who actively chose to only pay for two seats could ride in comfort??

IncompleteSenten · 02/08/2024 13:18

No way would I do anything to help out anyone who was rude to me.
You owed them nothing.

FinalInstructionstotheAudience · 02/08/2024 13:17

Usually I'd say you were not unreasonable. However, saying no, then saying yes but only in return for money, quered your own moral pitch.
It should have been a definite no; your optiom sadly, was petty

notimagain · 02/08/2024 13:17

AnnieMcFanny · 02/08/2024 13:09

I wasn’t aware you could claim the seat if one of the passengers decided not to fly. It would surely be a ‘no show’ and the seat would then go back into the system to be allocated to another passenger.

Edited

It may depend on the airline, and according to the OP the airline OK’d it:

I contacted the airline as cheap non refundable ticket but said I can use it as a spare seat between DH and I so all good.

Bear in mind these days with on-line check-in and lots of folks traveling hand baggage only the no-shows might only become obvious once the aircraft doors are closed, so most occasions the airline doesn’t have the time or opportunity to reallocate empty seats.

Leanmeansmitingmachine · 02/08/2024 13:17

No fucking way. Rude cunts.

BettyBardMacDonald · 02/08/2024 13:17

sweeneytoddsrazor · 02/08/2024 12:46

I wouldn't if they had been rude but I probably would have offered when I saw them with a little one

Why? They could have booked three seats, but chose not to. They aren't special.

Chairmanmeoow · 02/08/2024 13:16

No way! Similar situation when travelling alone with my baby. (Me, couple, then their son and an empty seat across the aisle). Didn't cross my mind to ask them, but they said they'd left granny behind (!!!) so offered to move and then declined when I offered to pay for the extra seat. It's all in the way you approach these things

Spinet · 02/08/2024 13:16

The trouble is that then DS ended up sitting next to a couple who were fucked off and had a small child!

I think I would have said 'you can if you ask nicely' before it got to the fat bitch part of the conversation but ultimately done whatever felt better for you and DS. I doubt this was him having to sit next to them.

BettyBardMacDonald · 02/08/2024 13:15

princesspadam · 02/08/2024 12:36

I agree I wouldn't have asked for money as it's a bit cheeky
But I wouldn't have given up the seat either especially as they were so rude

Why is it cheeky to ask for reimbursement?

OP paid for the seat, she didn't just luck out to be next to an extra unreserved seat.

CatMum27 · 02/08/2024 13:14

Nope. Resorting to insults tells you what kind of people they are and that they know they’re wrong.

As someone who often travels alone I get some form of this on every single trip. I used to try and be accommodating but it was always more trouble than it’s worth. I realised that other people’s inability to plan for their needs was not my problem. Makes travel much easier, well done for saying no.

Sunnydiary · 02/08/2024 13:14

YANBU

BettyBardMacDonald · 02/08/2024 13:14

MrsSkylerWhite · 02/08/2024 12:32

Absolutely not. Awful, rude people.

(I’d happily give up the seat to people who asked politely)

I wouldn't. Why should OP give up extra comfort she had paid for?

The couple could have purchased a seat for their child but chose not to.

TheMightyWanderer · 02/08/2024 13:14

No fucking way. You did the right thing. People need to learn some manners and not that you get what you want by being a c*. I feel all riled up on your behalf!

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 02/08/2024 13:13

venusandmars · 02/08/2024 13:03

I don't know what you achieved but not letting them have the spare seat. I'd have given it up.

So you would be out of pocket for a rude stranger?!

BettyBardMacDonald · 02/08/2024 13:12

Nope. We don't move seats for rude, entitled people.

They should have purchased three seats if they wanted three seats.

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 02/08/2024 13:12

God no they sound vile op well done for saying no. People need to realise they shouldn't be arseholes

OlympicsFanGirl · 02/08/2024 13:11

No absolutely not.

Especially as they were so rude.

CalmaLlamaDown · 02/08/2024 13:11

Going against the grain here, but I would have offered the spare seat once I saw they had a baby. It’s only a two hour flight, so personally the extra space wouldn’t have made that much difference to me.

But your seat, your decision.

NeedthatFridayfeeling · 02/08/2024 13:11

CharlotteUnaNatalieThompson · 02/08/2024 12:31

Like you I'd have given them the seat if they'd asked nicely but as soon as they were rude and demanding no fucking chance

Same here. What arseholes behaving like that!

viques · 02/08/2024 13:10

Prawncow · 02/08/2024 12:32

They were rude and entitled and I know you paid for the seat but it feels a bit greedy to ask for money for it. Either give it to them or don’t.

By the same token isn’t it greedy to expect someone to give you something for free that they have paid for?

“ Nice shoes, what size? Great, give them to me.”

CloudywMeatballs · 02/08/2024 13:09

venusandmars · 02/08/2024 13:03

I don't know what you achieved but not letting them have the spare seat. I'd have given it up.

They achieved a much higher level of comfort.
When my husband and I fly together we always book the window seat and aisle seat. Most of the time there is someone in the middle seat, but occasionally we get lucky and have the seat free.. We can stretch out more, put stuff on the seat, use the middle seat's tray table, etc. It does make a difference.

sugarbyebye · 02/08/2024 13:09

Hell no.