In this situation would you offer to switch seats on a flight?

[Flightquandry]

Me and my husband took a flight today that was 10 hours long.

The cabin formation was
2 seats together / aisle / 3 seats together / aisle / 2 seats together.

Unfortunately, by the time we booked we couldn’t sit together. My DH was in a set of 2 seats with another woman and I was on the end of a row of three.

As soon as we took our seats the woman next to my DH went into full on chatty mode. When they were talking he mentioned he was travelling with his wife and she questioned why we weren’t seated together. He explained that we’d only been able to book what was available. She shrugged this off and then chatted to him incessantly for about 2 hours. I was seated across and behind so could see this and it stung (my problem entirely!)

I fully appreciate that she was in the seat that she booked! But in all honesty in her shoes I would have offered to swap seats with me. All seats were of the same value monetary wise. She even waved at me and then poured herself more drinks and chatted to my husband.

what would you do in her shoes? I would have offered to swap? Weirdly as well as we left the plane she followed by husband off and didn’t let me get in behind him to exit.

Ah ok. Apologies!

I wouldn’t offer to swap if I’d chosen a window seat tbh. Also when you get off a plane you normally just get off by row so it makes sense she was after him then you.

I get that you are a bit peeved as it would of been nice to sit together but it doesn’t sound like anyone did anything wrong so I’d be inclined just to let it go.

Yes I would have. I'm not bothered by aisle/middle/window at all - and I used to fly a lot (up to 50 legs a year until COVID killed business travel). As soon as I'm on a plane it's noise-cancelling headphones on and eyes shut - something your husband would have done if he had any sense.

God I’d love to sit alone and listen to podcasts and watch films and sleep

id Hate to be stuck next to chatting woman though 🤣🤣🤣

I feel sorry for your poor husband having her witter at him for hours on end. I detest people who attempt to strike up conversations on a flight and getting no response carry on regardless!

Internalised misogyny is strong. Staggering the number of women on here who think every other woman is desperate to get their mitts on their dull, whiny, middle aged, paunchy, average looking husbands!

I can assure them that most sensible women a) can have a conversation with a member of the opposite sex that doesn't end in the Mile High Club or a 10 year affair and b) either already have a man of their own to contend with or have already divorced one and no desire for another!

It sounds like you don't fly long distance very often and aren't aware of the conventions. Exiting is strictly in row order!

Generally if I had booked my seat for a reason (I usually go for aisle seats), then I would not change. It is up to you to plan in advance if you require specific seating arrangements. The fact the lady was a bit chatty with your DH is not really relevant.

I'm sure her husband wasn't mute the entire time hence why the OP was so annoyed

It depends. I’d never give up a window seat, plus I’m very very anxious about flying so I don’t want to be swapping seats around with anyone. The seat I have is where I’m staying.

I also wouldn’t swap to sit in the middle rows sorry. Not happening.

Another woman's husband? How is that remotely relevant? He was just another passenger. It was a flight, not an orgy.

People are allowed to talk to other people, you sound paranoid.

I think you are attributing malice to someone who was probably just oblivious.

Passengers are allowed to chat to the person next to them on a plane. You don't own your husband. If he doesn't want to talk to her, it's up to him to say that he wants to read or sleep. And PP said, she probably wanted the window seat or position that she booked for herself.

I wonder why your husband didn’t swap with you so you could chat to the woman for 10 hours instead? Did you ask him?

He was having a lovely time

Id be near to insanity if some bloke or woman talked at me for 10 hours on a plane.

I’d have been quite happy, my husband gets on the plane and promptly falls asleep while I sit wide eyed all the way, waking him up for food and drinks. To be fair if I was in a window seat I wouldn’t swap but then I also like to sit on the end to get out easily for the loo. Depends I suppose on the day but you can’t expect someone to change seats if they don’t want to, and he must have been happy to chat to her.

Why are you bothered about someone chatting to your husband? If you wanted to sit together you should have booked earlier...

I would have swapped, if asked.

If you wanted to swap why didnt you ask?

It seems like youre jealous (you problem)

No I wouldnt offer to swap seats on a plane. I may swap if someone asked - depending on why they asked, was i swapping like for like, my comfort and probably my mood.

Was she supposed to read your mind and then act to suit your preference? Baring in mind she booked her seat for a reason

Would I filter by row or stay lodged in my seat because someone is waiting for their spouse? Absolutely not unless hed asked and the reason was a spouse with a disability or young kids to help. She could be claustrophobic or uncomfortable from the 10 hours sat or anything.

Its not her job to make you feel secure or ensure youre physically close to your spouse. You could have done that by reserving seats sooner.

She made pleasant small talk. Your DH was very clear hes travelling with his wife. There was no flirting, just a pleasant woman who exited on her turn to. YABVU.

I wouldn't swap a window seat out for an aisle seat

So she had the window seat?

No way would I relinquish a window seat for a middle aisle seat.

If I was your mid-row neighbour I would gladly have swapped for your DH’s aisle seat.

This is so funny. No, your imagination isn't playing tricks on you, that woman was seizing her opportunity to seduce your husband using every trick possible. A harlot!

Where does the chatting for 10 hours come from? According to the OP, it was a 10 hour flight and Sexually Rapacious Window Woman was chatting for 2 hours. Plenty of time for the husband to sleep or join the mile high club with OP