Asking someone to move seats on a flight? Aibu ?

[wearejustfriends]

Last week I was travelling to Gran Canaria with TUI.
I had booked mine and boyfriends seats when we booked and paid £22 for both.
I had the window and he had the middle.

A lady sat on the end and her daughter was in front.
She asked could they have our two seats and we have hers /daughters or my boyfriend switch with her daughter.
I politely said no.
Which she wasn't happy about.
We got "what difference does it make"
"Your adults,my daughter is sacred of flying and is a minor"

Anyway we wouldn't move.

Was I in the wrong ?
Surely if she was that bothered she could have paid like us.

Children are expensive. They increase the cost of things in all kinds of ways. It’s just how it is

This is very true. But kids seats also cost same as adult seats - irrespective of weight.

I always balked at the idea of pay per weight, but the attitude and increasing mean-spiritedness towards families sitting together has made me wonder whether it would be a farer way to go.

This isn't to say I think the OP is wrong. She isn't and was well within her right to refuse to switch seats.

@Blossomtoes

Feeling quite worried that it'll mean someone having to be moved from their seat or something (will have a small baby and are hoping to score a bassinet seat)

After reading this thread, I can see why you’re worried. Look on the bright side, you might (slim chance) get someone who, when asked to move, smiles and says “No trouble. What a beautiful baby. Have a good flight”.

Well if you got me or my husband and son yes. I never pay to select a seat. As long as I'm on the plane, I don't care.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I know you’re not supposed to be in a exit row seat if you’re a nervous flyer

??? Not sure where you've heard that. Unless your nervousness is so extreme it prevents you from moving quickly if asked to do so I don't see the problem.

The below is a C&P from the UK CAA requirements for seating in exit rows....

"The following passengers are among those who should not be allocated, or directed to, seats by emergency exits:

Passengers with physical or mental impairment or disability to the extent that they would have difficulty in moving quickly if asked to do so.
Passengers who have significant sight or hearing impairment to the extent that it might be difficult for them to respond to instructions quickly.
Passengers who, because of age or sickness, have difficulty in moving quickly.
Passengers who, because of physical size, have difficulty in moving quickly.
Children (whether accompanied or not) and infants.
Passengers travelling with animals, for example assistance dogs"

www.caa.co.uk/Passengers/Before-you-fly/Making-a-booking/Airline-seating-allocations/

@LouB76

I just wish passenger fares could be priced by weight -- of the person and the amount of stuff they lug aboard.

I've thought this before. I also think people with an extremely high BMI ie take up their own seat plus half of the person's next to them should have to buy 2 seats.

Do you think they'd do a discounted ticket for skinnier people who wanna fly next to a fatty?

Not being goady, genuinely smiling at the thought of two people, one knowing they'll encroach on someone else's seat a bit (paying extra for it) and someone smaller who doesn't give a fuck cos they mightve saved £150 or so for the same flight.

When I had a v high BMI of over 50 I always ensured I was sat between DH and DD so if I spilled over I spilled into their seats so I don't question as someone who doesn't understand flying as a bigger passenger.

Virgin tried to stop me sitting in a exit row seat @notimagain. Someone had put that I was nervous on the booking and when I tried to check in I couldn’t. They were going to move me elsewhere on the plane leaving DH in the bloody exit row that he wasn’t bothered about! I argued my case and a manager overrode the booking but I’ve always been careful what I say now, although I don’t know how or why that was added.

I hate people who do this !!
Iv had it happen when it's been announced if anyone would give up their seats for a mum an child. We've always booked so we're sat together an never end in this situation! Common sence an it isn't expensive?

Just cheeky so good on you for saying no
Cheek on some people
X

Just booked a flight with EasyJet to Rome, perfectly clear that if you chose not to pay for allocated seats, that they were random!

Chance the mother took, it failed!

@LemonViolet

YANBU. You paid to select seats, she didn’t, her loss.

Maybe you could have offered to sell them to her for £44

I'd have said yes for £100. Would teach her to just pay up in future and not rely on others to fix her mess.

I fly cheaply, this is how DD and I go away several times a year. I know she actually prefers we do not sit together on a flight (she is now 15) and if I do book seats I will usually book us in window seats with one behind the other. Unless you are lucky enough to fly from London, the rest of the UK are dependent on budget airlines from local airports. It has been many years now since baggage, airport check in and seat selection has been included in the ticket price. Practically everyone boarding these flights know this yet there remain the few who think they can play the system. Strangely enough, these are the people who complain about budget airlines. The rules are clear and if you stick to them there is never a problem.

Last time we flew as a 4 on a cheap flight, I paid for all the extras including seat up front, DH and the DC went for the cheap option as they didn't care where they sat. They ended up in a 3 together and would have swapped for a family if asked nicely.
DH and I tend to fly long haul mainly in Premium Economy or Business now, so this is not usually an issue, however if we do fly within Europe we often use the cheap flights from our local airport. I then have to pay as I need an aisle seat, as I find getting in and out of the other seats nearly impossible plus I then feel trapped and I am likely to panic. There is no chance I would move.

And don’t forget that for airlines with frequent flyer programs, online check in often opens earlier for card holders than for non card holders.

@StaceysmomandIhavegotitgoinon

I would have actually physically stayed in that seat till my death rather than give it up to a cheeky stingy fucker like her.

Same. Cannot abide such cheeky fuckery.

I wouldn't have switched seats that cost me extra. Up to the parent to choose that option at time of purchase. People don't die from fright on planes that I am aware of.

Fuck that, she should have paid for her seats. What a CF.

It’s not mean spirited. No one is trying to prevent families sitting together. They just aren’t giving up their seats for people who recognised not being seated directly next to their child was a risk, decided not to pay to book seats together and decided they’d just inconvenience the other passengers (who may well have paid extra).

it’s a completely different situation.

i don’t agree that the weight of children or adults is relevant here. There are a finite number of seats on the plane. The airlines charge a single price for each ticket, then offer things like the ability to choose a seat, bring luggage, food, etc for additional cost.

deciding to charge more if you weigh more is complex and likely discriminatory.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/mum-blasted-being-rude-asking-26749661

You're famous...

It’s in Edinburgh live as well

It's in The Independent online too, They say they have contacted @wearejustfriends for a comment!

Fortunately this is a pretty generic kind of situation, not grossly personal. There are similar threads all over the internet.

Lets flip this around......I'm assuming this wouldn't be the first time the little girl has flown.
I'd have to question why her daughters comfort in being with her parent wasn't worth the £22 fee to guarantee the mother a seat next to her daughter......clearly she doesn't really care for the daughter!

These people are, in my opinion, some of the worst people you can meet. ie, they shouldn't have to go out of their way for anyone but expect everyone else to go out of their way for them.

Its pretty disgusting she tried to put the OP on the spot by asking her to change seats because of her daughter. Good on the OP for saying no.

Surely any parent worth their salt would make sure they had it all booked in advance to sit next to their child and not have to rely of guilt tripping/embarrassing someone into giving up their seat?

Everyone here is assuming she didn’t pay for seats close together. Airlines make it clear that seats either side of the aisle and in front or behind one another are counted in the same way as seats next to each other. Could all the seats next to each other have been booked by the time she chose - and paid for - her seats?

If her concern was that her child sit with her then she should have booked sooner/paid for allocated seats sooner or contacted the airline themselves to discuss the matter, not wait till seated and try oust people from the seats they have paid for themselves.

I still stand firmly - I would have actually passed away peacefully in that chair and be carried out in a bodybag than give the cheeky cow my seat. I will not be swayed.

So she should have had a crystal ball and known that seat selection was filling up fast? What would contacting the airline achieve? It couldn’t magic up the seats she wanted if they’d all gone.

If I fly short haul, alone, I don't really care about where I sit. If I travel with a friend/family, or longer haul, I want an aisle seat, and to at least be able to chat with my companion for part of the time. Often we book seats across the aisle from each other, so we can both get in and out to the loo, etc.

I paid to book an aisle seat coming back from Rome a couple of years ago (I'd hurt my knee, and needed to get up and walk around a bit on the flight), and three women were sitting in my row, including my booked seat, when I got to it. They said 'oh, we wanted to be together - we thought you'd swap'. Well, they offered me a middle seat, a couple of rows ahead, so I said no, sorry. (Had it been another aisle, I'd have moved.) They spent the whole flight making increasingly goady comments about me. I stuck to my guns, though!!

Some people are just CFs, and nothing will stop them.

So she should have had a crystal ball and known that seat selection was filling up fast? What would contacting the airline achieve? It couldn’t magic up the seats she wanted if they’d all gone.

I’ve had that and picked another flight where it wasn’t an issue.

I’ve also had situations where I’ve paid for a (aisle) seat, flight has been cancelled and they have stuck me on another flight in a middle seat and made out they have done me such a big favour. I’ve made them reorganise me onto another flight in an aisle seat like I paid for in the first place.