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?

Genuinely a bit worried for you and your bitter anger issues @ThisBlueDeer. Hope life improves for you, and consequently for the people around you.

That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read! Of course reclining your seat isn't selfish! It's completely normal, especially on a long flight, and most people on the plane will recline their seat, at least partially.

You are incredibly rude, and, yes - selfish, to deliberately yank the seat in front of you. I hope I never run into you on a plane, or anywhere else for that matter.

Of course you weren't unreasonable not to move if you didn't want to. I prefer an aisle seat myself.

It doesn't matter if you have a medical or other reason other than pure preference, you are under no obligation to switch seats.

Also, what does whether or not you have paid to select your seat have to do with it? Even if you were assigned a seat at check in, that is now your seat and if you are happy with it, you are under no obligation to switch.

I don't think the flight attendant did anything wrong. She asked if OP would be willing to move, a reasonable question, but didn't try and insist when OP said no.

Not saying it’s weird saying it’s anti-social and if you were in front of me I’d grab your seat as hard as I could every time I got up. So you wouldn’t get any sleep anyway.

Wow. Nope, it's you that's the antisocial one here.
Reclining seats are designed to recline to make it easier for people to get a bit of rest on a long haul flight. Passengers are of course requested to return their seats to an upright position for landing and during meal services. At other times it's grossly antisocial for others to deliberately disturb someone's rest. If you don't find the space sufficient you can book a bulkhead or business.

Why would it be longhaul from hell?

I’m yet to personally go on a plane where the screens can’t be moved independently, so you just tilt the screen yourself, again never had an issue with traya despite being tall. If someone can’t cope with a seat being reclined they are best booking bulkhead seats.

it’s left me feeling a bit bad for him.

Why??

His inability to organise his own life is not your problem and don't make it one.

So Purlease!! Don't take on the world's problems and think
Was I unreasonable?

You probably taught him a great lesson to get his shit in order next time. Well done.

Rtt
It was tongue in cheek

I've recently flown Sydney- Dubai, a 14 hour flight. Keep in mind a LOT of people use sleeping drugs for this flight. Because it's miserable.

The meals were served an hour after take off, two hours before landing and a small meal in the middle.

After the first meal the lights were dimmed to pitch black and everyone reclines their seats.

For the next meal, about 4 hours later, the lights are only turned up slightly, a lot- the majority, even- of people stay sleeping and reclined. After about 45 mins lights completely dimmed again, everyone reclines.

For the last meal, the lights were turned up properly, a lot of people start to wake up and put their seats back up. After, plenty put them down again until told they have to put them up for landing about 15 mins before landing.

So in a 14 hour flight, the majority of the plane has their seat reclined for about 12-13 hours.

I had three small children with me and slept for about 30 minutes of the flight, we were up and down the whole time. Did it annoy me that the people in front reclined the whole time? No, what a joke, why should they have a more uncomfortable flight than long haul economy already is, for the very minor inconvenience that their recline already caused me?

I do believe this person has never travelled long haul if they don't know that the screens can be adjusted outwards and the trays still used.

RTWT

You just shouldn't fly. You obviously have issues and can't behave in public.

What does RTWT mean? Round the World Trip? Read the (something) thread?

Read the whole thread. Or all my posts in this thread

Thanks for all your comments. I’m reassured that I wasn’t being unreasonable. A few responses:
The ‘people pleaser’ comments resonated and I have taken them ‘on board’ (pardon the pun). Thank you!

The Stewardess was just trying to get us all to sit down quickly so that we could take off. The man was one of the last people to arrive and everyone else was seated so asking other people to move wasn’t an option. I couldn't stand the thought of being hemmed into a window seat which is why I booked an aisle seat in the first place. The man was embarrassed and I really felt for him which is why I was reflecting on my decision not to move.
He was a really nice man which made the decision harder!

To the lady that was detrimental about my post and asked if I was bored… I only ever scroll through Mumsnet when I’m at a lose end. I wonder if she does the same. After all she took the time to read my boring post and replied to it. So maybe she was bored too!

I definitely wasn’t being ‘fatist’ .. I wouldn’t have moved for a thin person either. (male or female).

Thanks again everyone!

The whole reclining debate reminds me of when I was on a two hour flight with my 9 month old on my lap. Man in front of me reclined and as much as I tried to stop it, my son kept kicking, pushing, etc the seat in front. Man was obviously annoyed as him and his wife kept turning around and giving me evils, but I think on a two hour flight they could have lived without reclining when they saw a baby is sat in the seat behind.

Reclining your seat on a short flight is really selfish.

No it isn't.

I know that’s a commonly held view around here but if you’ve ever gone from a night shift straight onto a journey home on short haul flight and/or gone from a long haul flight with a big time change to a short haul flight it’s tempting…

Of course on more and more shorthaul aircraft the seats don’t recline….

He asked if you could move not knowing that you’d pre-booked your seats. No problem there.

He then took his allocated seat with no hard feelings. Still no problem.

Just move on now. Nothing happened.

Totally agree. I fly transatlantic regularly, and 20 minutes after meal service I check that the person behind me has finished eating/tray cleared and recline my seat and sleep for a few hours. Never had a complaint.
If everyone reclined then you all have the same amount of space you started with, but a reclined seat (albeit slight). The only ones that don't are the ones that don't believe in reclining.
If you have an issue with someone reclined , outside of meal service or takeoff/landing then informed the cabin crew... but I can tell you they won't side with you.

On a 2 hour flight I think you could of refrained from allowing your child to kick the man's seat. You clearly allowed your child to vent your own frustration.
Great parenting

😂

😂😂😂

I mean I was trying to look after my toddler at the same time but as you might know, parenting is a challenge. Sometimes we fail 🤷🏻‍♀️

Have you tried that with a 2 year old?