What's the etiquette on switching plane seats? | The Social

One traveller caused some turbulence when they declined swapping their seat with a family.
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[@stinkystu1]

The etiquette is if you ask someone to swap and they say no, you accept it, sit down, and keep your mouth shut about it. No one owes you a damn thing.

[@henrylubinski2728]

If you paid more for your seat require the person asking to compensate you.

[@Star-Boarder]

Amen

[@miltonwaltercompanyllc9605]

A lack of planning on your part DOES NOT create an emergency on my part.

[@stephenavril1211]

If you ask someone to switch seats with you and they say yes then good for you but if the answer no then it is no.

[@anitasegal13]

Agree,and do not guilt the other person into changing seats .Also people should stop talking about being kind and understanding ,some of us book our seats ahead of time and go to a lot of effort to make sure we are comfortable on flights.

[@cooper7031]

Totally!

[@larrychatfield]

the reason it happened is because the family did NOT pay to have their seats together when they booked. they could have but they chose to not have 4 premium seats and tried to manipulate the system once on the plane

[@TheMentalLevelUpPodcast]

You're NOT a "jerk" for not giving up your seat and you don't deserve retaliation. Its our responsibility as adults buy seats that are together if that's what we want.

[@shanerob681]

Asking someone to exchange seats on a plane or in the theatre is so entitled. Especially if the person paid more for the seat they chose. If the children were very young and needed to sit with an adult, I understand, but I would want to receive something in return because it would be affecting my level of comfort. In theatres, if you want to sit with your friends, arrive early and choose your seat. It’s so inconsiderate to arrive when the theatre is packed and expect people to shuffle around to accommodate you.

[@kathleenwalsh7817]

There is no etiquette. You have an assinged seat, expect to sit in it

[@chrisgast]

The etiquette is sit in the seat you paid for.

[@infavorofdemocracy5770]

The etiquette is if you get no for an answer, you accept it.

[@infavorofdemocracy5770]

funny thing is I was just given a no and I accepted it. no one was hurt, no argument thrown around. simple as that

[@terryrussel523]

These things Should NEVER be worked out after boarding. NEVER. If an argument starts it ruins the flight for EVERYONE who witnesses it.

[@jackprather81]

"Okay. Little Damian is going to know a bunch of new words before the end of today's flight. Sound good?"

[@spiralgoddess2399]

I was coming home on a long transatlantic flight with my under 2 year old son. He was on my lap. I overheard the stewardesses saying that they hoped they could find a seat for the baby. They asked the man beside me if he would mind giving up his seat to move up to first class. Strangely, he didn't refuse the upgrade.

[@twistknit1]

She said that in the video. If you are asking someone to move then the new seat should be an upgrade.

[@kathleen2992]

Typically, the people asking you to switch want you to move to a middle seat, or one in the back of the plane. I book towards the front and always an aisle seat. There is no way I am moving; I plan ahead.

[@fastballonly]

The etiquette is to be very polite if you are asking a stranger of a favour that goes against their favour. Expect a rightful NO, too.

[@chickadeeacres3864]

The airline stewardess should be the one to make the request for the parent. Or the airline should restrict seat swapping altogether. In a crash you need to be able to identify the bodies still strapped in their seats.

[@maryjackson1194]

Here's how it works: if you want to be seated together, don't use the "cheap tickets" websites to buy your seats. And if you do need to move, you offer the move up to the person with the worse seat. In the example, the mom had paid for one premium seat hoping she could bump someone out of there.

[@155stw]

You can ask, I’m totally ok with that if you have a good reason, not just because you like a window seat. But if you get rejected, deal with it.

[@ArielleXArielle]

I won't ever give up my seat for anyone no matter what! People need to get their act together and book to suit their needs. The only way I would move is if they will give me a MUCH BETTER SEAT.

[@davidgmaloof]

@@AliciaGonzalez-pk3mw That's what noise-reducing headphones are for.

[@davidgmaloof]

@@AliciaGonzalez-pk3mw Apparently I have an amazing ability to tune people out, including brats. However, should a child misbehave and disturb me, the parent(s) will be summoned to deal with the child. I've been flying for over 50 years - I know how to handle these situations.

[@trentonarganbright1871]

@@AliciaGonzalez-pk3mw I would tell the steward that you chose to ignore your kid and they look in your background and find that you abuse your children..they get taken away and you're kicked out of the country

[@davidgmaloof]

@@AliciaGonzalez-pk3mw As I already stated, I deal with the child by ignoring it. However, if the child requires parental attention, then they will get it - from the parent. Unless all the child requires a stern "No" - I have no issues dishing those out. Have a good day.

[@davidgmaloof]

@@AliciaGonzalez-pk3mw You have your opinion, and I have mine - but mine is the only one that counts. Have a nice day!

[@christinebeames712]

It is good manners NOT to expect other people to compensate for your lack of planning and or refusal to pay extra for a special seat , To demand it shows arrogance and bad manners

[@colingan9412]

I once was on a flight and saw someone go to the restroom, then another person took their seat to sit next to their partner. 1st person came back and ask what was happening? “Oh is it ok to switch since you got up?” NO!!!!!

[@ohcliff1030]

As a single disabled senior I ALWAYS book flights well in advance and pick my seat on line. I always choose an aisle seat near a restroom because I have mobility issues. Usually I don’t have a problem. However on my last flight from the UK to the US I was already seated (all the way in the back by a restroom, my choice) when an older couple came to the row I was in and declared that I was in their seat. I had a printout of my itinerary and showed a FA the info when she tried to move me. I had booked more than 3 months in advance. The older man insisted that I move, and the FA strongly encouraged me to accommodate the elderly couple. I asked the FA if I agree to move, would she be upgrading me to BC or FC. The answer of course was no. I stood my ground and told her I would only move if she found me another aisle seat near a restroom. She found me a seat further away from the restroom than I was comfortable with, but I didn’t want to delay the flight, so I took the new seat. The couple nor the FA ever even thanked me. It doesn’t always pay to be nice. SMH

[@sonia68ish]

I have four children and no one should have to move for me. You want to keep your kids together and then you pay for it and you sign up for seats earlier so sick of the entitlement.

[@TheMentalLevelUpPodcast]

I have moved before, but I am not OBLIGATED to move, and that's what entitled people seem to forget.

[@BloodyHeck]

Most of the flights I take are where I, let me repeat, I, I pick the seat. I pick the seats for my wife and I. And we aren’t giving them up.

[@fredelliott3360]

You pick your seats, if you can't do that you get what you get. I fly a lot, usually by myself, but I find it hard to believe that these people can't plan better.

[@richbushby7293]

I think you should be able to specify no middle seat when you book the flight.

[@joer8399]

I don't switch seats unless there is something in it for me. Changing from a middle seat to window seat might be worth it. An upgrade from economy to economy plus/business class would also work.

[@nyg1984]

I don't switch. I often travel alone and make sure to reserve an isle seat so that I can get out without having to wait for others to get their s#!*+ together. I'm sure it's been more but I can actually recall six occasions in which I have been asked to switch seats and it's always been by a woman. I think they believe a guy wouldn't say no to a woman asking, but even if it's for a guy in their group, is a woman tapping your shoulder and asking. One of those girls I said no to threw a hissing fit when I refused giving her my seat next to her boyfriend. After she went back to the back of the plane the boyfriend looked at me and shrugged the incident with a smile, closed his eyes and reclined his seat. I'm sure he ended up in deep s**t when we got to Florida.

[@larrychatfield]

also exactly as the first commentator mentioned: it is NEVER ever an upgrade for the person being asked to move. it's always someone trying to get something for free either window or aisle seat or extra legroom or even stupidly thinking they can push a person from business class to economy

[@richbushby7293]

You should be able to specify no central seating when you buy your ticket

[@majorlaff8682]

Remain in the seat you paid for. Remain silent. Do not acknowledge, or even look at, the person asking you to move. Completely ignore them. They might explode but that is their problem, not yours.

[@crewdawg52]

NO! Parent should've paid extra to pick their seats.

[@vgshwk]

If I pick an aisle seat I am not giving it up for a sandwich seat.

[@chipsdad5861]

The only thing you can do is explain the seating issue and say "If my children become unruly and you want to switch let me know. Even asking to switch is pretty impolite unless you are offering the person a better seat than they have.

[@Gnomezonbacon]

There is no "etiquette" you sit where you paid for. If that's not to your liking then you can suck it. You can ask. You'll also accept a no.

[@maroqui05]

I can't sympathize with a couple that wants to swap with a better seat. If the real goal is to sit together, than you can offer a passanger to upgrade and more likely than not, people will agree to swap. What bothers me with these situations is that people are trying to use their kids to get benefits that they don't want to pay for and others did.

[@chipchaser44]

the etiquette is, someone to asks politely, if the person doesn't want to trade, then you thank them and go find your own seat. That's it. You don't get to make a scene, you don't get to belittle someone cuz you didn't get your way. But if you must make a scene, you should be escort off the plane and arrested or arrested when the plane lands.

[@geegeeme3256]

“Hi, do you mind changing se…” “No”

[@ATLcentury334]

I wouldn’t change seats. Whoever this family was should have done the work to ensure seating assignments they needed, if they couldn’t, I would have flown another carrier. Many years ago, this similar situation happened to my mother and I. I was 9 years old, my mom and I were coming to the end of a summer long vacation in California. An uncle was driving us to the airport in San Diego, he took a few “shortcuts” and we were late. This was 1971, I guess airlines were more accommodating then. The agent at the check in desk told my mom the flight was being held for us based on our itinerary. We were taking a short flight to LAX to change planes to fly home to DTW. The agent had a golf cart waiting for us to rush us to the gate. My mom was so nervous. We made it to the gate, he helped us with our carryon bags and led us onto the tarmac. Ground crew was driving the stairs up to the plane again. We rushed up the stairs, the door opened, and there were only 2 seats available. 2 aisle seats several seats apart. We sat down, I was sitting next to a woman, she told my mom she’d keep an eye on me for our 20 minute flight. I remember as we approached LAX, another jet was flying parallel with us. I was so excited I blurted out “look at the other plane mom!”. Everyone laughed a little. My mom was very embarrassed, it was the first time we flew without my dad. Nobody got mad, no hurt feelings, unlike today where almost every passenger is an entitled numbskull. In all the years I’ve flown, my number 1 rule is to make the flight attendants job easier. It always works. In the 1990’s, my husband and I always flew with our dog in the cabin. We have maybe 6 plastic wings that were given to our little dog because she was the most behaved child on the flight. Flight attendants have a tough job, don’t make it any more difficult.

[@reguccello]

The airlines should handle the negotiations, and a switch should only be asked if the person being inconvenienced is given an upgrade, or financial compensation. The person being asked to move should always be given the option to say no. All conversations should be done discretely, so he or she is under no social pressure to make the trade.

[@cesaravegah3787]

The etiquette is politely ask, once, if told "No" you answer "I understand, sorry to bother you" go back to your seat, thats it.

[@LifeUser]

if I pay extra for better seats, you are not getting it unless they move me to business or first class seats. Your ability to not book seats properly is not my problem. If you are booking online, you can choose your seats, if you book by telephone, you should be smart enough to say you want to sit together. I had a demon kid sit next to me once and after I told him I am not stupid like his parents are, he shut up.

[@jamesmoninger1982]

If I chose my seat in advance per my own preference, I don't switch seats with anyone, no matter what their sad story is. I just say, "No, I'm sorry ... I don't want to change seats."

[@fritzg2475]

You can select seats both ways when you buy the ticket and confirm or change when prechecking 24 hours before the flight. Both flights. Its not that dificult people!!!! Do your due diligence or shut up and sit down in your assigned seat!

[@tracyokuno2120]

I believe that if you are traveling with children then you should buy your tickets accordingly and not expect people to switch seats with you. If a person pays more for a seat then person who wants to switch should pay the person whose seat they want. Smh on people who think they are entitled and throw a fit bcuz the person doesn’t want to switch.

[@heymoe1179]

If you can't keep your 3 and 6 year old from bothering other passengers...you and your kids should be staying home.

[@lambo2655]

I don't fly and if I did it would be on my own. If I paid for a premium seat, I'm not moving.

[@Borsia]

When I book my flights I book well ahead and pick my emergency exit or bulkhead seats for all my flights, so unless you want me to swap with business or first class forget it. As far as someone threatening to put their kid next to me I wear noise cancelling headphones and I can ignore that kid without any problems If the kid bothers me I will scare the crap out of it so it doesn't try again. Of course if you go with the emergency exit row, my 1st choice, it is illegal for a child under 15 to be in that row. A failure to plan on your part isn't a problem on my part ,,, or even a minor concern.

[@MrBencher446]

If I have a seat on an airplane and I booked that seat a long time out, I will not give up my seat unless I am compensated such as move me up to business class or pay me some cash.

[@Star-Boarder]

I pay extra for my seat so I sit exactly where I want. I expect that everyone does the same. I would only switch if I was upgraded to first class. If you want seats changed, go to the gate first to see what they can do. If not, this is your fault bc you didnt plan well or didnt want to pay.

[@christopherbrochu-r8z]

Families that book together might be seated together automatically, but only if there's a block of adjacent seats available. If not, they're assigned whatever open seats are available.

[@John_Smith_86]

I would just mess the kid up then, if the kid mess with me. Otherwise, if he is just being noisy, we each leave each other alone

[@piper998877]

I wouldn't be surprised if they booked basic economy, where you don't get to pick your seats.

[@DallasNatureLover]

If you say “no” then don’t give a reason. Many people, particularly people trained in sales, will try to argue with you if you give a reason. Let your no be no.

[@kathleen2992]

Any time I have bought tickets, I had to choose my seats. I don’t get it.

[@reddiver7293]

Dear Lord, how can anyone enjoy listening to these hens cackling?

[@antiquejean]

It does not matter if you prepaid to stay together. If the airline changes planes to a smaller older model with suck-y tv screens, the seats will change. We were separated from our 2 girls. Both within my view with no cars to run in front of. Hubby was now at front of plane, so they couldn’t run off during deplaning either.

[@susanmeredith4957]

Why is it always the people wanting to switch try to upgrade to better seats.

[@joellaogilvie2744]

As someone who works with kids that kid would listen to me. It is absurd for a parent to not make sure they are sitting together on all flights in advance. Yes it cost to pick seats but parents must pick them.

[@rosemaramgio7284]

Never, never, never no matter what give up your seat. If they didn't make arrangements with the airline it's not your problem. Don't do it, they never appreciate it. Trust me I found out the hard way.

[@jasonengelage2907]

if I don't have a window seat on my next flight it's O.K. and I won't inconvenience anybody by asking them to switch as long as I can look out the 4 closest windows to my seat these being the two in my row both sides, the one behind my row on the opposite side I'm sitting on, and the one in front of my row opposite the side I'm sitting on without being accused of staring but if for any reason anyone tries to order me not to look out of any one of those windows then an issue might occur and I might have a temper tantrum may get ugly.

[@OkLikeWhatever]

It's wrong to ask and put anyone on the spot.

[@wickedbird1538]

😮😮Sure Karen, leave your kid next to me. Be aware that I will be discussing sexual problems on the phone with my friends if he bothers me. So don’t threaten me.

[@larrylestik993]

When you do your reservations online pretty much all of the airlines allow you to pick your seats. If you opted not to pick your seats and let the airline do it for you that is your own problem.

[@sandralindley6016]

Warning … I always choose my aisle seat (disabled) ahead of time … but! … one flight, I pre boarded and sat in my aisle seat and a couple came along and said I was sitting in their seat. Turned out the AIRLINE had moved me from my aisle seat to a window seat (in the future, I will double check my seating assignment on my boarding pass before getting on the plane!). I tried showing my aisle seat reservation on my iPad to the flight attendant and explained my disability. No help … I had to move to the window seat. Unfortunately that flight put me in such pain for the next two weeks, I was unable to fully enjoy my vacation. Soooo … make sure ahead of time that the airline doesn’t change any reservations you have made/paid for!

[@staciestacie1327]

The airplane is COVID-19 ALL THE TIME. Expect to be a varied level of upset, disappointed, cranky etc.

[@RazgrizDavion81]

I like the logic of the lady in glasses

[@nsnopper]

I think the appropriate etiquette is to sit in your assigned seat, and then you let me alone and I let you alone.

[@avengingemmapeel]

Here's the thing, you don't know why a person bought a specific seat. I'm a big girl with arthritis. For me to be comfortable, I need an upgraded seat (for the comfort of the person beside me as well.). I'm never going to give it up to get wedged in somewhere else. Sorry, not sorry.

[@st.george007]

Extremely rude to forgo booking a seat and then expect soneone else to forgo the seat they booked. Don't even ask! Your poor planning is not my concern, booking the seat I want is. The airlines needs to manage this better, but they are managing for the profit.

[@21kjoshua]

If you can't buy your own seat, you shouldn't be allowed on a plane.

[@ljones827]

If I’m asked to switch I want the same isle seat.

[@cooper7031]

I never switch seats with any1 cuz it's selfish of them to ask some1 they don't know to switch! I don't ask so neither should they! Their so-called threat about how bad the flight will be is them asking to get arrested upon landing! I'll let flight attendant know. 😂

[@jeffpowell8308]

How entitled must that mother think she is to believe that everyone should bow to her wishes? It takes seconds to reserve your seats. All that being said, if I'm not seated in a premium seat that I paid extra for, then I'd be inclined to help her out just so she can keep her toddler under control. The story that started this whole discussion was about a woman traveling with children, the oldest of which was 15. Only one child would have to sit separately from her. The 15 year old should have been fine to sit separately from her unless he has a severe mental issue. If he was impaired, then that bolsters the point that she should have planned much better than she did.

[@CM8008s]

If someone ever threatened me by saying their kids is going to be my responsibility I would have child protective services on her right away.

[@ready4sea301]

How about etiquette suggesting you don’t ask people for their seats.

[@patrickmartens2507]

No, my seat is my seat. I payed for it.

[@jd957]

Takes a lot of guts to ask someone to move. People think they can get preferential treatment by being obnoxious. If they got upset I'd loudly tell them to go screw themselves. So, I may be the person you ask, so beware.

[@mariannegoju]

Yeah, no. I wouldn’t switch with her. I’m tiny (not even 5’0, weight like 90 pounds) and fit anywhere, but if you act entitled to my seat, you better believe I won’t switch. I have switched with people who are nice about it.

[@joseph-ge5om]

You can only ask there is no Rule and No law that says anyone must swap seats I am 82 and need an isl seat with legroom and will Not move to an inferior seat for anyone

[@stevesmodelbuilds5473]

The etiquette is to not take (or expect to switch) someone else's seat that they paid for...

[@janelleallbritton2199]

Absolutely. I will switch. Gimme $200 cold cash.

[@googleuser2426]

Pitting passengers againsts onw another? Pay for your seat selection. Duh Rent a car and enjoy your acreaming family the entire time and never be seperated.

[@tsbio]

Why didn't the mother ask the person sitting next to her to switch with the child, instead of the person sitting next to the child? Answer she wanted better seats.

[@ScottNapolitan]

Please, not another one of these, people are just going to troll and hate.

[@adambohlin5112]

This is like listening to the stone age, here in Europe you book your seat with your ticket, and if a family books to late there might not be seats next to each other aka you can not book a ticket without having to choose seat/s, end of problem. Sure I have switch seat with person who either wanted to have a window seat for her child when they ask nicely and then the parent in the middle and me at the aisle seat but they should not expect that to always be the case just because they booked to late. I have no problem switching seats but 98% have an issue with it especially if they are met with a rude parent.

[@Biendotado]

I'll switch seats with anyone as long as I don't get the dreaded middle one.

[@maryannduran3456]

I sit in the seat I paid for no switching.

[@BPRED516]

Parents need to think ahead and plan when traveling with children….

[@68dgmitch]

F lazy entitled parents who expect others to curtail to them for poor planning or cheaping out and think they can guilt someone out of their seat

[@yadayada752]

Many times they book way too late. There are no together seats left.

[@richbushby7293]

Then do not go if you do not like the seat option

[@vgshwk]

The parents pull up your britches and deal with it.

[@zoemcfadden4004]

They are split up because they dont pay to pick their seats

[@05nautilus]

Sound like family are taking advantage of system

[@zoemcfadden4004]

NEVER MOVE EVER unless its first class

[@johnthomas2106]

If it's an equivalent seat, I'll consider it. If it is less convenient in any way youd better have a fist full of cash

[@normakraus7750]

If they let their demon child next to me don't be surprised what he learns by the end of the flight

[@benjaminperez1149]

Who is doing that cackling?

[@calvinlomax9546]

This is so an American thing never seen it happen in Europe or Asia and I have taken over 100 flights. Still a country where they let men in women's sports its no surprise

[@bobjeffrey8863]

SURE,, switch seats UP TO an EMPTY 1st Class,, EZ Breezy OH and middle seats are worthless

[@TH2222-o5v]

Glad to do it if it improves my seat position. Otherwise, get bent.

[@LetzBeaFranque]

No.

[@Bob-yd3dx]

The lady in a short dress is not the brightest bulb.

[@johnthomas2106]

Its also why i wear noise cancelling earbuds your child wont bother me.

[@YoonLeeKok]

I would have taught the kid a lot of stuff, and told a lot of horror stories.