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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to ask for an aisle seat?

31 replies

LisaSimpsonsbff · 07/04/2018 14:40

I'm 26 weeks pregnant and I've been on six flights in the last three weeks; four long-haul, two short (unfortunate coincidence of earlier planned holiday and later planned work trips falling very close). At each check-in I have asked, very politely, whether I could have an aisle seat, explaining that I'm pregnant and have to get up for the toilet a lot. It really would be quite difficult to be stuck in a middle or, worse, aisle seat - on my last flight, for instance, which was an eight hour overnight one, I went to the toilet six or seven times, which would have driven the person who'd (hypothetically) sat next to me and might have wanted a nice sleep mad. Anyway, the check-in staff have have said yes each time, so I figured this was fine - if they'd said no, I'd have politely accepted that. When I checked in for my sixth (and final!) flight yesterday the woman checking-in at the next counter loudly snorted with derision and said 'oh, I didn't know we could just demand seats now' to her partner, and it made me wonder - was I being cheeky? I've tried hard to not make a fuss about the pregnancy - I don't accept seats on the tube, for instance, because I'm not actually finding standing harder than usual just yet - so I feel a bit embarrassed about the idea that I've been demanding!

OP posts:
LegoPiecesEverywhere · 07/04/2018 14:42

Can you not pre-book your seat?

AnneProtheroe · 07/04/2018 14:42

No, you made a polite request. The other woman was rude in commenting.

FairiesVsPixies · 07/04/2018 14:43

But you weren't demanding it, you were requesting it. Ignore the rude woman she sounds mad.

Bambamber · 07/04/2018 14:44

YANBU you're showing consideration to other passengers. Someone must have shat on her cornflakes that morning

ilovesooty · 07/04/2018 14:45

I thought with Ryanair and lots of other airlines you have to check in before you get to the airport.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 07/04/2018 14:45

Absolutely fine to ask, it's good that you've been accommodated each time, nothing worse than needing the loo and having to keep asking people to move.

As for the woman, one can only assume she's someone with a big mouth and no tact. Don't dwell on it.

PurpleDaisies · 07/04/2018 14:45

They always ask if there’s a seat preference. Just ignore the comment.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 07/04/2018 14:46

Ignore the idiot. I can't abide comment passers. Plus you were not demanding. You were politely asking. Your reasoning makes 100% sense. You only asked for an aisle seat not a fucking gold California king bed.
I'll be honest i wouldn't appreciate someone stepping over me constantly on a long haul flight.

DairyisClosed · 07/04/2018 14:46

I would complain to her employer. You didn't do anything wrong or unusual.

Original poster
LisaSimpsonsbff · 07/04/2018 14:47

lego Only by paying for an exit row seat - I did look and I couldn't find any other 'select your seat before flying' option for either of the carriers (both US ones that I wasn't that familiar with) that I flew with.

OP posts:
mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork · 07/04/2018 14:47

I've flown loads (short-haul/long-haul) in last 43 years and always, always ask for an aisle seat - nothing wrong with it and no-one has turned a hair. My reason for asking is that I want to be free to get up and walk around/go to loo without having to wake up my neighbour and disturb them. Also, if the plane is going to crash I've got more chance of getting out of it than if I were in an "inside" seat.

GaraMedouar · 07/04/2018 14:47

You were requesting it politely not demanding. The woman was rude. It would’ve been funny if you’d been by the window and she was at the aisle or in the middle and you’d had to make her get up 20 times for your loo visits!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 07/04/2018 14:48

Oh congratulations, btw

Original poster
LisaSimpsonsbff · 07/04/2018 14:49

I thought with Ryanair and lots of other airlines you have to check in before you get to the airport.

I think that's just budget ones? As I said these were mostly long-haul, so a bit different - none of them had a check-in online option and nor, seemingly, did the US domestic flights (the short-haul ones).

OP posts:
Thistlebelle · 07/04/2018 14:49

Of course you can ask for an aisle seat. I check in online and always pick an aisle seat if I can.

PurpleDaisies · 07/04/2018 14:50

It isn’t just budget airlines, lots of them let you check in online in advance.

MsHomeSlice · 07/04/2018 14:50

yes, you'd complain to the employer of a completely random traveller dairy ...maybe read the thread again?

other passenger was just being mardy!! Don't fret OP!

Original poster
LisaSimpsonsbff · 07/04/2018 14:50

I would complain to her employer.

Oh, sorry, that was maybe a bit ambiguous - she didn't work for the airline, she was being checked-in, not doing the checking-in!

OP posts:
Original poster
LisaSimpsonsbff · 07/04/2018 14:54

Weirdly, I've just googled and one of the airlines does have a whole thing about online check-in, but it definitely wasn't an option on my flight; I don't know whether they don't do it for all routes or whether it's something to do with them being booked through a third-party.

OP posts:
ObiJuanKenobi · 07/04/2018 14:55

Meh, you don't ask you don't get! No harm in politely making a request.

NotSureThisIsWhatIWant · 07/04/2018 14:55

I do travel longhaul regularly and I am allowed to choose seats in non budget airlines (via Expedia) the only times I have not been asked to choose were the times I bought ridiculously cheap flights, which I realised they were cheap because they were too near to the toilet or with a wall/ exit behind that meant they didn’t recline.

I would say however, that most people are now prebooking their seats nowadays, so it is more difficult to get to choose an aisle or a window seat at check in at the airport (most may be taken by then)

Original poster
LisaSimpsonsbff · 07/04/2018 14:56

Anyway, thank you for all the reassurances that I've been acting normally - I've spent the (v sleep deprived and jet lagged!) morning cringing that I've been merrily travelling while leaving an international trail of people thinking 'what an entitled cow!' in my wake!

OP posts:
Imsosceptical · 07/04/2018 15:04

YADNBU, you asked a polite question, that lady was rude and pretty obnoxious, I tend to find most people what window seats so I’ve always been lucky in my requests for aisle seats. I will always prebook where I can, but, having had 2 DVT’s completely attributed to flying, if I was denied an aisle seat and other passengers were unwilling to swap, I would actually not board the flight, my health is more important to me (and yes, when I fly I always have to take anticoagulants a few days before and after but nevertheless I’m sure you can imagine the anxiety I feel).

Juells · 07/04/2018 15:08

Oooooh, imagine having that woman as a wife/mother/sister Confused
You had to hear that only in passing, but her family gets that bile shoved in their heads all day every day.

LittlePaintBox · 07/04/2018 15:16

YANBU. It's a completely reasonable request. She was rude, and it's a pity nobody told her. I can't think of anything more unkind. I need an aisle seat in trains and planes because of arthritis which makes standing up from a seated position really difficult and painful, if anyone had a go at me like that about it, I'd flatten them verbally (then feel bad about it afterwards). Travelling while pregnant can be really uncomfortable, you should ask for all the help you can get. xxx