Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
A viral social media post has sparked a heated debate about airplane etiquette and personal boundaries after a passenger admitted he refused to give up an aisle seat when another passenger asked him to.
Posted on Reddit’s “r/ AITAH” forum, the note was captioned: “I’m not giving up my aisle seat on a 15 hour flight for an elderly woman with mobility issues.”
The user said he or she was “sitting in an aisle seat in the middle section. Next to me was an older lady, probably in her 60s” — and the woman got up from her seat.
‘GATE FACE’ AND ‘SEAT SQUATTERS’ AMONG THE MOST VIRAL TRAVEL TRENDS OF 2024.
“A few minutes later, she came back with stewardess and asked if I could switch seats with her as she had ‘mobility issues’.”
A Reddit user said that in the seat right next to the woman’s original seat, there was a heavy passenger sprawled out in the space.
A passenger on the flight (not pictured) shared the story of the “seat swap” on Reddit, sparking much discussion. An elderly woman asked to be seated next to the aisle, claiming she had mobility issues – but the person who had selected and paid for that original seat refused to change seats. (iStock)
Assuming that the elderly woman would have had a pre-assigned seat if she had mobility issues, the user refused to switch seats, as it appeared that the woman only wanted to switch so she wouldn’t have to sit next to a bigger traveler.
Fox News Digital reached out to the original Reddit poster for comments.
The refusal to “swap seats” divided people online, with some defending the passenger’s decision and others showing concern for the elderly woman.
“She knew [had] mobility issues and CHOSE not to reserve a seat she was comfortable with and thought she would just force someone to leave their assigned seat,” one user commented.
Another added: “She just didn’t want to sit next to her co-star in the middle [seat]. Especially if she was offered a second pass and refused.”
“Just look the flight attendant in the eye. Smile politely. And say, ‘I’ll switch seats if my alternative is business class or higher,'” one user suggested to anyone asked to switch seats on an airplane. (iStock)
“I have to book two seats or fly first class because I have a big frame… The old lady can do the same, she was just being cheap and trying to take your seat,” the user commented.
One person suggested: “Just look the flight attendant in the eye. Give her a polite smile. And say, ‘I’ll switch seats if my alternative is business class or higher’.”
‘MATTRESS PULLING’ IS THE LATEST TRAVEL TREND YOU COULD APPLY WHEN BOOKING HOTEL ROOMS. DARE EXPERT
“Former cabin crew here: People with reduced mobility should normally be seated [at] window seat for safety reasons,” claimed one user.
“Just look the flight attendant in the eye. Give her a polite smile.”
The same user added: “In the event of an emergency, they are the last to exit the plane to ensure that the vast majority of passengers arrive safely evacuated.“
Another person wrote: “Making her climb around you to get out… Maybe it felt like it [there was] there’s plenty of room, but as we age, our balance and reflexes decrease.”
“She knew [had] mobility issues and DECIDED not to book a seat that is comfortable,” one user said of the drama described on social media. (iStock)
“Airlines need to have a policy where they don’t ask people to switch seats,” the user said.
A passenger on the flight updated the post, sharing that he had given the woman in question an alternative stewardess.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“The flight attendant offered her an aisle seat after I refused to move, but she wanted extra legroom in the bulkhead row and declined the alternative aisle seat offer,” the poster read.
California etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall told Fox News Digital that “nobody has an obligation to change their seat.”
An etiquette expert from California said offering a drink to a passenger can be an incentive for them to switch seats. (iStock)
“The person submitting the request has no right to expect [this]or make a scene when they don’t get what they want,” Randall said.
Randall said a polite request to change seats is fine, even though it can frustrate other passengers.
For more lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle
She suggested some nicer ways of making requests.
There may be some circumstances in which changing seats on an airplane would be less of an inconvenience, one etiquette expert said. (iStock)
“Consider this: You might have better luck if a flight attendant announces or offers to buy them a drink or twopay the allowances to the airline, pay them cash/transfer funds,” suggested Randall.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Randall said there might be some circumstances where the change would be less of an inconvenience.
“It’s a short flight, you can find a similar seat in the second row or anyone would be better than a passenger [you’re currently] sit by,” said Randall.
