Booking seats A and C on a plane

[Rhubarbgarden]

Flying home alone on a long haul flight last night I was allocated a 'B' seat. I sat down and shortly afterwards a couple appeared and sat down in the A and C seats. It was obvious they were together, so I straight away offered to swap seats so they could sit together. They declined, saying "no we always do this'. They then spent the rest of the flight talking across me. I felt most uncomfortable and it was very difficult to relax, sitting in the middle of a conversation. Really unpleasant. I know that some people prefer window seats and some prefer aisle seats, but surely it's unreasonable to force a stranger to be piggy in the middle like that?

Op exact same thing happened to me on an internal flight (3 hours though) in the States. A father and his grown up daughter in A and C. Naturally I offered them seats together and got same answer. "I have to have an window/aisle etc". They talked over me to the point where I said "do you mind this is a bit rude" Three of my colleagues were sat in the row behind and found it hilarious...I certainly didnt! You have my sympathy especially on a Lh! Grim!

That's because I was responding to your point!

You asked 'why don't they book C and D if they don't want the middle?'

I was responding 'because maybe they want the window and the aisle hence A and C (although they could have booked A and D). That was all.

Then you started on about the moon and why did I think you were talking to me.

What's that face for?!

Oooh fight!

If, like me, you want to have a roomy flight where you can be assured you can sit together and have space, fly less and pay business. If we can't do that, we accept that, sadly especially with Qatar Airways, the seats will generally be shit and you take it on the chin. Bloody rude people, I don't speak German but could have probably have trawled up a few swear words from my O Level.

@ thenightsky

I'm going to get my big sister, in case it gets rough.

Rhubarb YANBU, no matter where people choose to sit, it is rude to talk over someone.

I hope the funeral went as well as these things can and that you are ok

This is what happens if you have to travel steerage.

My husband and I book A & C because I need the window and he needs the aisle. I always make him move when we get someone stuck in the middle. Husband always gets grumpy - but I always get my way.

We always feel sorry for the poor person who has had the misfortune of being our 'travel buddy' for the trip!

Perhaps is a fear control thing?

Mind you is that worse than my travel buddy in C putting her feet across me in sat in A because she needed to stretch out? I hadn't met her before and got increasingly furious about it I nearly slapped her feet!

If you're from Leeds I'm sure you can hold your own!

I'm not!

Thanks Celia

I think if I were being talked across, I would deliberately be a little bit of a nuisance myself, for example going to the loo all the time or rustling crisp packets, or reading a large newspaper etc, in the hope they would ask to swap....

laurel i'd be bobbing my head backwards and forwards to obstruct their convo

I travelled with a relative last month and she did this in the hope seat b would stay empty. It didn't so I sat in the middle. It wasn't a big deal to me. I was travelling on a plane without a child for the first time in 9 years, I was happy

I'm with you goofawks! If I'm travelling without kids, I don't care what's eat I have...everything is a breeze!

It's happened to me too. I sat inbetween an elderly couple who seemed to argue for the entire duration of a 5 hour flight. I offered several times to swap but both husband and wife looked horrified that they might have to sit next to each other! Such fun!!!

Calloh

oops posted too soon. you're poor mother. I hope he got arrested at the other end.

Shit, this sounds stern.

I think he did.

It's probably not the right way to stop people talking across you.

How devious it is for anyone to book seats in this manner. There is no way I would have been piggy in the middle for these two. Shame on anyone who does this.

It's not devious. It's quite above aboard to pay extra to sit where you want.