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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
yeesh · 02/08/2024 13:32

No chance

GingerPirate · 02/08/2024 13:33

No fucking way.
Sorry for being rude.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/08/2024 13:33

CloudywMeatballs · 02/08/2024 13:09

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.

Show quote history

We do the same - dh likes the window, I much prefer the aisle. Anyone coming to sit in the centre seat usually seems to assume (hope?) I’ll want to move up, to be next to dh, so I have to put them straight.

notimagain · 02/08/2024 13:33

There’s a bit of a difference here from the usual argument we get where people just want to avoid paying to choose a seat and then argue for a swop when they get onboard.

It’s one thing to ask people to move from a seat they have paid maybe £30 to choose…..a one for one swop….

It’s a slightly different matter asking them to completely give up a seat they have paid a full fare for…..

Bunnycat101 · 02/08/2024 13:34

Given you paid for it, I don’t see why you should have given it up but I also don’t know if you can guarantee a no show seat.

i was on holiday last summer and the lady in front of me was in a 3 with her child but her husband didn’t travel. Another family of 3 was refusing to sit in their seats which were apart (hadn’t paid to be together) and it was all kicking off as air steward was trying to juggle people around and wanted to move the 2 in the row elsewhere so the other family could sit as a 3. First women said she’d paid for it and it was hers. Steward saying her husband was a no-show so it was for the airline to reallocate. We were an hour late taking off as we missed our slot and lots of angry pissed off people.

Getonwitit · 02/08/2024 13:35

Not a chance.

GCAcademic · 02/08/2024 13:36

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/08/2024 13:33

We do the same - dh likes the window, I much prefer the aisle. Anyone coming to sit in the centre seat usually seems to assume (hope?) I’ll want to move up, to be next to dh, so I have to put them straight.

Show quote history

Fair enough, but I hope you don’t spend the whole flight talking to each other across the poor person in the middle. I’ve seen people do this, and it’s really bloody rude.

Elphame · 02/08/2024 13:36

Of course not.

It they want it they can pay you for it!

PiggieWig · 02/08/2024 13:37

I might have considered it but I wouldn’t be giving anything to someone who called me a fat bitch, so that’s the end of that.

Kisskiss · 02/08/2024 13:38

They should be ashamed of themselves. Rude d!ckheadz

CloudywMeatballs · 02/08/2024 13:38

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/08/2024 13:33

We do the same - dh likes the window, I much prefer the aisle. Anyone coming to sit in the centre seat usually seems to assume (hope?) I’ll want to move up, to be next to dh, so I have to put them straight.

Show quote history

I don't know that anyone who has sat in the middle seat between us has ever known that we are even together! Once there's someone sitting between us we keep to ourselves.

Original poster
itstoohotnow · 02/08/2024 13:39

JabbaTheBeachHut · 02/08/2024 12:54

They called you a fat bitch and you're wondering if you should've given them the seat you paid for?

In fairness it's quite accurate Smile

OP posts:
butterbeansauce · 02/08/2024 13:39

Bunnycat101 · 02/08/2024 13:34

Given you paid for it, I don’t see why you should have given it up but I also don’t know if you can guarantee a no show seat.

i was on holiday last summer and the lady in front of me was in a 3 with her child but her husband didn’t travel. Another family of 3 was refusing to sit in their seats which were apart (hadn’t paid to be together) and it was all kicking off as air steward was trying to juggle people around and wanted to move the 2 in the row elsewhere so the other family could sit as a 3. First women said she’d paid for it and it was hers. Steward saying her husband was a no-show so it was for the airline to reallocate. We were an hour late taking off as we missed our slot and lots of angry pissed off people.

Irrespective of whether the no-show seat was theirs, the other two seats were theirs and they shouldn't have to move their seats to accommodate entitled, angry people who are trying to get something for nothing. Being awkward and refusing to sit in their allotted seats should mean they get thrown off the plane.

If more airlines did this then people would stop kicking off.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/08/2024 13:39

Well no YANBU at all.

Only problem is that DS ended up stuck beside a rude couple with a baby rather than sat with his Mum and Dad!

Original poster
itstoohotnow · 02/08/2024 13:41

No33 · 02/08/2024 12:54

I think its weird you were making your son sit next to other passengers and kept a free between you and your husband tbh

He was across the aisle from my DH and he used to 16 and not bothered by it at all

OP posts:
notimagain · 02/08/2024 13:42

Bunnycat101 · 02/08/2024 13:34

Given you paid for it, I don’t see why you should have given it up but I also don’t know if you can guarantee a no show seat.

i was on holiday last summer and the lady in front of me was in a 3 with her child but her husband didn’t travel. Another family of 3 was refusing to sit in their seats which were apart (hadn’t paid to be together) and it was all kicking off as air steward was trying to juggle people around and wanted to move the 2 in the row elsewhere so the other family could sit as a 3. First women said she’d paid for it and it was hers. Steward saying her husband was a no-show so it was for the airline to reallocate. We were an hour late taking off as we missed our slot and lots of angry pissed off people.

It’s a complex one…

I’ll stand by my comment upthread that mostly no-shows aren’t visible until doors closed, so usually seat trading can’t be done until that point….TBH given the argument it might have been in the OPs interests to claim the DS was delayed en-route or in the terminal and was hoping to make the flight……

..and it may not be relevant here but there’s also the side issue menti9end previously that it is perfectly legit at many airlines to book an extra seat for comfort or other reasons….so you can’t assume an empty seat is up for grabs.

Youcantcallacatspider · 02/08/2024 13:43

Not only would I have not given them the seat I would have expected the stewards to warn them for being so abusive. The stewardess should have told them to leave you alone or they're off the flight. You shouldn't have to tolerate verbal abuse at any time never mind during a paid for service

Badburyrings · 02/08/2024 13:43

If they had been nice and polite I probably would have given them the seat but with that attitude, it would have been a hard no. If they wanted 3 seats they should have purchased 3 seats.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/08/2024 13:43

itstoohotnow · 02/08/2024 13:39

In fairness it's quite accurate Smile

Show quote history

Even if you’re fat (like me) they shouldn’t be using it as an insult and I’m sure you’re not a bitch!

Did your husband get insulted on the basis of being a man or was this pure misogyny?

Original poster
itstoohotnow · 02/08/2024 13:44

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

Yes you can and it's quite common if the price is low for people to book the extra middle seat for added comfort - you just have to let the airline know at check in

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/08/2024 13:45

itstoohotnow · 02/08/2024 13:41

He was across the aisle from my DH and he used to 16 and not bothered by it at all

Show quote history

If he prefers aisle (and let’s face it, who likes middle?) I can see why he might have been happier with this.

I guess that’s the thing - their “way”’would have ended with one of your party squished in the middle (presumably your DS) having paid for four seats, whilst they got to spread out. And take the prime aisle seat.

BibbleandSqwauk · 02/08/2024 13:45

Years ago travelling with DS who was just under 2 and DD a newborn. We booked DS a seat even though we didn't "need" to because we knew we'd need the wriggle room. Someone tried to argue it was up for grabs and we had to be quite firm and clear in the reasons why we'd booked it. Afterwards I thought we should have just let them sit there and then have DS clamber all over them after take off!

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 02/08/2024 13:47

NO

they don't know why your spare seat was empty, they didn't know he chose not to come

Nothing stopped them from buying 3 seats, they chose not to. Their choice.

TartanJambo · 02/08/2024 13:47

Yanbu because they were rude. I wouldn't have either.

Had they asked politely, I would've given it.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/08/2024 13:48

Being awkward and refusing to sit in their allotted seats should mean they get thrown off the plane
If more airlines did this then people would stop kicking off

It could also cause even more hellish delays while their luggage was offloaded with them - though knowing the owners had been on the flight originally the regs would allow the aircraft to depart if they wish

So maybe that's not a bad idea after all ... not only the flight missed and the start of a possible break spoiled but all the hassle of getting bags back too