Plane seat upset

[Foodieasfuck]

We travelled back from holiday yesterday. I booked (and paid for) an aisle seat and a middle seat (as this is our preference) The flight was full so we knew that someone would be sat on the window seat. The man arrived after us and it was very obvious that he was going to really struggle to squeeze across 2 seats and into his seat. He was very, very overweight (no judgement, just stating the facts).
He asked us if we could please just move over so that he could sit on the end. It was a 4.5 hour flight and I had chosen the aisle seat so that I can get to the loo easily. (Weak bladder).
The stewardess got involved and also asked us if we could ‘just move over’. It was really embarrassing for all concerned but I stood my ground and politely refused. The man duly took the window seat but it took him a while to shuffle over. He hadn’t paid for a seat in advance, it was randomly allocated at check in. There was no bad feeling. He was a nice man. He needed the loo once during the flights and we happily let him out.

I don’t believe I was unreasonable as I’d paid for the seats but it’s left me feeling a bit bad for him. There isn’t much point in paying for seats if you can’t actually sit on them. Was I unreasonable?

If you need an aisle seat you need to book one. He didn’t, so he ended up squished.

Me too. I've volunteered when I could see it'd be helpful without being asked. Same on trains. And with DH we have sometimes swapped to help others but only if he can have an aisle because he needs it.

Yes, this is exactly what I was thinking.

As with anything in life, just because you can, doesn't mean you have to

But the adults might!
That would be a long-haul from hell - children in business class...

I don't understand why anyone expects a stranger to pay for them to have a seat of their choosing.

Is it that people don't understand that is what they are asking for?

Excuse me person ive never seen before. Please spend £x of your money and give me the seat that you paid for.

In what world is that not as cheeky as fuck?

Oh yeah be kind be nice its only a seat what's wrong with you it costs you nothing to be nice.

Wrong. It costs me the amount of money I paid for this specific seat. Fuck off.

I'd take children over drunk adults any day.

They’ve paid the same amount for their seat as anyone else. Perfectly entitled to be there.

If you want silence book a private jet. If you’re going to use public transport going to need to put up with other people’s noise.

I hate window seats.
Feel really panicky. I wouldn't swap an aisle seat for anyone.

Being asked to move seats - yes. OP's exact scenario, no

Fair point. I meant in front of me.

@TickingAlongNicely @ThisBlueDeer
Joke. It was a joke. Honestly, some on here have no idea that things, particularly 'contentious' announcements, can be tongue-in-cheek.
How boring life must be on those very high horses

Well done, you.

Yes, I would feel a bit bad for the overweight man squashed into the window seat. But, like you, I really want an aisle seat (don't like the feeling of being hemmed in).

However, I would have caved at the stewardess intervention

How are people missing the fact that this is an obvious stealth attack at fat people on planes.

For sure if someone is kind enough to swap out of a seat they paid for, they should be reimbursed and then some.

The 'issue' is that the OP feels a bit bad and wanted to know if she was BU. It's in her post. (Plus the stewardess got involved)

I mean in fairness all plane travel is based on paying for how much space you want. Premium economy, business or first, you get more space because you’ve paid more. Want to use space in the hold? Pay for a suitcase.

And we all know the people who think they can save a few quid by not paying to choose seats then come out with some sob story when they get on that means they get the seats they want for free.

I used to move when asked when stopped because it became constant. I pay for the seat I want and I’m sitting there.

If you need more room pay the extra money for the seat you need.

Seats are the same size It's only getting into it was the issue

Most people on flights make an effort to keep the experience as nice as possible. Ive only heard about this passive aggressive seat tapping and bumping on MN.

Oh I totally agree that people who can't fit in one sear must be required to pay for two. I just think OP should be honest that that's her issue here.

“Fatist”

I really have heard it all now.

Like some have said, I don’t think either were unreasonable. It sounds like both parties were reasonable people in an uncomfortable situation. Both you and the man had a valid reason for preferring the aisle side. As you had the foresight to pre-book, you got it. This is fair.

I don’t think he was unreasonable to ask given it sounds like he did so politely. Some people may have preferred the swap (it wasn’t like it was the dreaded middle seat). You didn’t and politely refused.

i understand why you feel uncomfortable about it. However, hopefully the other passenger will realise he should book in advance going forward. So there is a solution to the issue going forward and it’s in his hands. Potentially, if you’d agreed to the swap, he wouldn’t have realised this and the embarrassing situation would still be to come

I did Auckland to Doha ( 17 hrs) with children behind me in business class. . Tbh completely forgotbthey were there until I got up for the loo and saw them asleep

Not more people pleasing.

The same still applies. If you’re so big that you have an issue fitting across an aisle then the onus is on you to pay for an aisle seat. If not only to save yourself the embarrassment of having to plead with strangers to move to accommodate you.