Plane seat drama

[itstoohotnow]

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?

@PointsSouth - rare for me to be accused of knowing what I'm talking about, so I will take your comment as a win, thank you!

Oh, and OP: you were completely reasonable to say no to the rude co-passengers. If I saw an empty seat between a family party in one block/aisle, I would assume it had been paid for, and would not ask, so they were quite - let's call it 'bold' - to begin with. If they found travelling with an infant in arms uncomfortable, why not pay for a seat with whatever adaptation is needed for that child to sit safely?

If I was in your situation I probably would have offered them the seat if I saw they had a baby.
If I had been travelling with a baby I would not have asked you for the seat but would have been very grateful if you offered it.
It sounds like they were very rude to you so would not have given them the seat in that instance. I would not have engaged with them and definitely not offered the seat for money.

My dd flew with dgs just before his 2nd birthday, she paid for an extra seat as she knew it would make life easier.
She wouldn’t have dreamt of demanding someone else’s seat.

Reminds me of the mother who created merry hell on my flight back from majorca demanding that she wanted the front row seats for her and her son because of [insert random reasons here]. Kicked off and despite causing the flight to be delayed by 2 hours (after missing our slot) was not removed from the plane. In the meantime the front row passengers had thrown in the towel and given over their paid-for seats.

Last week I booked an emergency seat (extra room). But there was a man already sitting there when I got there. Told him this was my seat, he just said No. Showed him my boarding card but he just turned away. Had to call staff who told him to move. I saw that he then sat in another window seat at the front, and he had to be moved again because once again it wasn’t his seat. Some people are just rude.

No. If I want a certain seat, I book and pay for that seat. End of, they can demand all they like, they’re getting nowhere.

Why on earth wasn’t she removed.. but even if she was you would probably be delayed because of her anyway.

You had me at 'pretty much demanded'. What a pair of entitled arseholes and then to turn around and abuse you. No, no, no, no, no. You absolutely did the right thing.

Hell no.

Absolutely not! With you on this 100%

There is no guarantee anyway. If there is a very frequent flyer who wants your seat, like the emergency row, you will likely be moved.
My DH is usually upgraded, but if he is not then he sometimes get the entire row om both sides if possible to himself. A couple of times on Emirates he has had three rows to himself. So noone sitting on the row in front or back of him either. But he is a very frequent flyer, and they know which his favourite wine and cognac is etc (written down). It’s madness.

No. Plus I rather like your suggestion about paying towards the cost.

Omg @CloudywMeatballs I’ve had the misfortune of being allocated the seat between a couple like you and your husband! It was so bloody awkward, couple wouldn’t swap so they sat together but instead talked across me, passed snacks/drinks and generally treated me like I was in their way the entire flight. Such selfish, shitty behaviour!

I flew to Australia with my 20 month old and it never occurred to me to ask someone to give up their seat! If I wanted one I would have paid for it.

Yeah I hate people who do this. So rude. So entitled.

That's terrible but doesn't suprise me, cheeky entitled behaviour on flights is getting so bad these days. Especially from the something-for-nothing brigade.

OP - Y definitely NBU. It's also hilarious posters saying you shouldn't have suggested payment even though you'd be giving up something you paid for.

Im so glad you stood your ground OP, they sound vile. This sort of thing seems to be more and more common these days.

On the last few flights I've been on (all easyJet I think) there has been a "sit in your allocated seat and shut up" type announcement during boarding and everyone did, no drama on any flight, only changes were made because unsuitable/unwilling people were in the exit rows. And then it was the one person who was changed not the whole party if they were sitting together. All very sensible.

One of the flights was pretty empty and the announcement was sit in your allocated seat, no changing, need bums on those seats to balance the plane.

Nope. In all the multiverses.

YANBU. I wouldn't have asked for the money but they were rude so ruled themselves out of any favours.

Typical entitlement of new parents with added rudeness they couldn't even have bought the seat for twice the money after that,!! Don't give it another thought

You did the right thing, but I'm quite miffed that you managed it.

A few years ago, there were 3 of us flying out to Corfu, all booked, paid for, checked in.
Friend#3 cancelled last minute so we let the airline know, but kept her seat reserved.
We were fine outbound, had lots of space to spread out, but inbound, the seat had been released and was occupied.
We queried it, but because Friend#3 was a no show on outbound flight, inbound was automatically cancelled.
Smart arse new seat occupier insisted on keeping the middle seat too🤣

I'd have done the same. I might have said "Fat bitch trumps entitled crybaby" if I was feeling particularly hacked off.

I think it was fine they asked, but once you'd explained they should have left it. Name calling isn't going to endear them or make anyone give up a seat.

No and had they had spoke to me like that would of told them to fuck right off.

Absolutely not. If you want certain seats you pay for them. I recently have boarded several flights in which boarding has been held up by people sitting in the wrong seats, filling overhead lockers with small bags/coats etc and blocking space for people who have paid for carry on. It is not hard, even on BA euro flyer this is not included for a basic ticket.