Not to have given up my seat on plane

Rainbowgoldover · 2024-05-26T06:14:44+00:00

Just wondering .... I flew home last night from holiday with a friend. BA flights , flight out was dreadful, cramped seats , allocated at check in so we had last row next to the toilets ... On the way back we learnt our lesson so paid to book seats, I booked an aisle seat, friend booked a window seat, flight about 70 per cent full. The person in the middle seat , asked me if I would move so she could have the aisle seat. I refused and said no I booked aisle and don't want to sit in middle seat. She said but I want to be near my family in the row opposite. I still politely refued to move. Cue lots of aggro, she finally got the flight attendants to move her accusing me and my friend of talking over her , we absolutely were not, both had headphones on watching netflix. If you really want to sit somewhere why can't you pay 23.99 and pre reserve a seat, don't make others feel bad for not giving up theirs ?

Idontjetwashthefucker · 26/05/2024 07:15

YWNBU

DustyLee123 · 26/05/2024 07:16

Some people are so entitled. Good on you for refusing to swap.

Peonies12 · 26/05/2024 07:16

Of course you weren’t being unreasonable. You paid. If she wanted a specific seat, she should have paid. I’ve never paid for a seat but I’d never expect to move, I don’t care where I sit. Occasionally I’ve moved when someone’s asked but only if they have a better seat!

ZekeZeke · 26/05/2024 07:17

Of course YANBU
She is a CF

CadyEastman · 26/05/2024 07:18

Not unreasonable at all. Sorry you had a crap flight, I hope that the holiday more than made up for it.

Keepthosenamesgoing · 26/05/2024 07:19

You should have literally said that to her ! Of course you are not BU,

qwertyqwertyqwertyqwerty · 26/05/2024 07:20

I'd have probably swapped because I don't see the harm in doing so.

You booked your seat, so didn't have to swap, but this is an example of how having to pay for something additionally (guaranteed seats) drives unhelpful interactions.

mileenderr · 26/05/2024 07:20

Usually I would say yanbu, but I was recently on a long-haul flight stuck in a middle seat between two friends, who spent the whole flight talking over me, passing snacks back and forth so that had clouded my view 😆.

WaltzingWaters · 26/05/2024 07:21

Peonies12 · 26/05/2024 07:16

Of course you weren’t being unreasonable. You paid. If she wanted a specific seat, she should have paid. I’ve never paid for a seat but I’d never expect to move, I don’t care where I sit. Occasionally I’ve moved when someone’s asked but only if they have a better seat!

All of this!

Owl9to5 · 26/05/2024 07:22

I'd only swap if it suited me.

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 26/05/2024 07:23

qwertyqwertyqwertyqwerty · 26/05/2024 07:20

I'd have probably swapped because I don't see the harm in doing so.

You booked your seat, so didn't have to swap, but this is an example of how having to pay for something additionally (guaranteed seats) drives unhelpful interactions.

Edited

Op didn't swap due to an uncomfortable experience flying out and paying £23.99 to reserve a more comfortable seat. Why would she just give that away?

If you paid for steak in a restaurant and someone who had a glass of free tap water asked for your steak because they really fancy a nice meal, would you roll over then too?

karottybagel · 26/05/2024 07:24

Whilst I agree in principle it is REALLY awkward being sat between two people who know each other. Even if you were watching netflix if she knew you were together it is going to get awkward for her. I think it's polite to book seats next to the person you are travelling with or at least in a different row so you aren't together.

Having said that no, yanbu

NonPlayerCharacter · 26/05/2024 07:24

She wasn't unreasonable to ask politely, you weren't unreasonable to refuse politely. She could have paid to reserve a seat like you did.

Sillystrumpet · 26/05/2024 07:25

You know you’re not being unreasonable, I hate people who do this, it’s so unacceptable and entitled.

I’ve always refused, worst I had was I was lucky enough to have the two seats at the side, no one on the seat next to me, the bloke comes up and could you swap with us, by wife is scared of flying. They were in the middle of a bank of four or five in middle of the plane.i said no sorry, if you wish to move, speak to cabin crew but I don’t want to sit in middle. Cue his wife giving it am dram. She stood up and started crying loudly. Staring at me,hyper ventilating. Everyone was watching, she was giving it please, please. I couldn’t fathom how she’d be les scared in the aisle
than the middle,next to her husband in both areas. I simply said no, speak to cabin crew repeatedly.

eventually a member of staff came over as she was causing so much noise, telling them I wouldn’t move, she was terrified, she wanted my seats, pointing at me. I simply said to crew I’m not moving. It’s not less scary here than there and I don’t see why her issues should be mine.

cabin crew told her to sit down, she’d look . Woman settles down. Is happy as Larry, then every time I looked over or crew came round she’d start giving it loud hysterics . When we landed she glared at me and stomped off. Utter fucking idiot.

YouJustDoYou · 26/05/2024 07:25

mileenderr · 26/05/2024 07:20

Usually I would say yanbu, but I was recently on a long-haul flight stuck in a middle seat between two friends, who spent the whole flight talking over me, passing snacks back and forth so that had clouded my view 😆.

She paid for the seat. Don't want to be stuck in the middle? Pay for the seat you want.

RobinHood19 · 26/05/2024 07:25

You were not unreasonable. She was the entitled one.

(BA now charge in .99 fractions for seats? <misses point of thread>)

LetsGoRoundTheRoundabout · 26/05/2024 07:26

You’re not being unreasonable, but I don’t get why there are constantly threads on this topic, and social media seems to be covered in “I didn’t move” stories. Ok…well done?

Sillystrumpet · 26/05/2024 07:26

karottybagel · 26/05/2024 07:24

Whilst I agree in principle it is REALLY awkward being sat between two people who know each other. Even if you were watching netflix if she knew you were together it is going to get awkward for her. I think it's polite to book seats next to the person you are travelling with or at least in a different row so you aren't together.

Having said that no, yanbu

It’s polite to book the seat you want, pay the money or accept you will be allocated and understand if may be a middle seat between folks. Why the hell should the op pay to sit in the middle

YouJustDoYou · 26/05/2024 07:26

Sillystrumpet · 26/05/2024 07:25

You know you’re not being unreasonable, I hate people who do this, it’s so unacceptable and entitled.

I’ve always refused, worst I had was I was lucky enough to have the two seats at the side, no one on the seat next to me, the bloke comes up and could you swap with us, by wife is scared of flying. They were in the middle of a bank of four or five in middle of the plane.i said no sorry, if you wish to move, speak to cabin crew but I don’t want to sit in middle. Cue his wife giving it am dram. She stood up and started crying loudly. Staring at me,hyper ventilating. Everyone was watching, she was giving it please, please. I couldn’t fathom how she’d be les scared in the aisle
than the middle,next to her husband in both areas. I simply said no, speak to cabin crew repeatedly.

eventually a member of staff came over as she was causing so much noise, telling them I wouldn’t move, she was terrified, she wanted my seats, pointing at me. I simply said to crew I’m not moving. It’s not less scary here than there and I don’t see why her issues should be mine.

cabin crew told her to sit down, she’d look . Woman settles down. Is happy as Larry, then every time I looked over or crew came round she’d start giving it loud hysterics . When we landed she glared at me and stomped off. Utter fucking idiot.

Young naieve me would've given her the seat. 40 year old me would've done exactly as you did.

JustMove · 26/05/2024 07:27

I would have swapped......if she paid me double the amount that I paid for my seat.
I book and pay for an aisle seat for a good reason, and I'm not giving it up for anyone or anything.

pumpkinkisses86 · 26/05/2024 07:28

Oh this boils my piss! I know really wealthy people who refuse to pay extra to sit with their kids and then get upset when it's a ball ache to move closer to them on a flight. I find it selfish and entitled behaviour!

karottybagel · 26/05/2024 07:28

Sillystrumpet · 26/05/2024 07:26

It’s polite to book the seat you want, pay the money or accept you will be allocated and understand if may be a middle seat between folks. Why the hell should the op pay to sit in the middle

Show quote history

I've not said she should sit in the middle. I've not said OP was WRONG. I think however when travelling with someone else that it's polite to sit together or further apart than one seat away. It is not the social norm to create an awkward seat in the middle for one person.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 26/05/2024 07:28

You and your friend booked an aisle and a window because you know it stops people booking the middle seat and you hoped for the free seat in between.

She was not unreasonable to ask and you were not unreasonable to say no but don't pretend that your booking wasn't deliberately awkward!

Bushwhacked20 · 26/05/2024 07:28

YANBU. Since when did BA charge to reserve seats though? They charge a bloody fortune as it is. A lot has obviously changed since I last flew with them!

You were absolutely right to refuse to move, stroppy entitled mare (her, not you). Do airlines still check seat manifests to identify passengers in the event of disasters etc? Sure she wouldn't have wanted the wrong family being notified....

karottybagel · 26/05/2024 07:30

Bigearringsbigsmile · 26/05/2024 07:28

You and your friend booked an aisle and a window because you know it stops people booking the middle seat and you hoped for the free seat in between.

She was not unreasonable to ask and you were not unreasonable to say no but don't pretend that your booking wasn't deliberately awkward!

This is also something to be considered. It is a common technique to try and get more space on a flight. While it is perfectly allowable and OP is under no obligation to move it is a bit sneaky. If they really wanted aisle and window they should ideally have gone for seperate rows