Woman Refuses To Swap Seats, Man Makes It His Mission To Let Everyone Know How Upset He Is

Most of us have probably been in a situation where someone has asked us to swap plane seats. In some cases, most Americans wouldn’t even mind. As one poll shows, 75% would switch with someone who wanted to sit with a younger family member. But that’s not true in every case.

This woman paid extra money for an aisle seat, so she decided to stand her ground when asked to swap seats with a tall man. Unfortunately, this prompted the guy to throw a tantrum and keep “entertaining” the passengers for the rest of a 3-hour flight.

Bored Panda got in touch with the author of this story, and she kindly agreed to tell us more about how she managed to remain levelheaded during the confrontation. Read our conversation with the Redditor below!

Plane seat drama occured when one tall passenger asked another to swap seats

Frustrated passenger in a suit with hands on temples, seated on a plane.

Image credits: gstockstudio / Envato (not the actual photo)

She refused, however, since she had paid extra to have her aisle seat

Entitled passenger denied seat swap, tantrum ensues on flight, highlighted in text story.

Text depicting an upset passenger on a plane, expressing frustration over denied seat request and long legs discomfort.

Text discussing a passenger's reaction after being denied a plane seat change, describing irritation and texting behavior.

Entitled plane passenger causing a scene after being denied a seat swap, leading to complaints and discomfort on the flight.

Passenger on a plane looks upset, sitting upright in her red seat, surrounded by other travelers, related to seat denial incident.

Image credits: winnievinzence / Envato (not the actual photo)

Text from image describing an incident with an entitled plane passenger being ignored.

Text exchange about entitled plane passenger having a tantrum over a denied seat.

Image credits: Anonymous

If she hadn’t read many similar stories online, the author probably wouldn’t have been able to stand her ground

Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

The author of this story told Bored Panda that this isn’t the first time something like this has happened to her. However, it’s the first time she was bold enough to tell an entitled passenger a firm ‘No.’

The OP told us that she’s a somewhat frequent flier. Usually, she takes around two trips per month that last from one to three nights. “I’ve had this happen to me a few times before, but I always acquiesced, usually due to a shorter flight or a visible family situation like a child in the lap with separated parents or, one time, honeymooners (if that was true).”

But this time, having paid for an aisle seat, the author decided not to give the tall man the satisfaction and refused to swap seats. “I 100% would have never stood my ground without following the Reddit subs and reading these stories of insanely selfish people being jerks due to their own entitled point of view,” the Redditor told us.

“I see and believe that a lot of our world is aligned in doing the right thing most of the time, an unwritten contract of respect of others and ourselves,” she went on. “That’s unfortunately a situation that can be taken advantage of, and that’s what almost happened to me. So, without reading others’ experiences to prepare myself, I don’t think I would have felt so confident.”

In the end, it all comes down to empathy. “Kindness is free to give but priceless to receive,” the OP says. “It goes so far in others being willing and open to want to help you. This man showed no kindness in the way he requested my seat and immediately showed me his true self when I (at first sheepishly) said ‘No’ to swapping seats,” the Redditor believes.

If a passenger declines to swap seats, good manners dictate that you accept a ‘No’ graciously

Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

Wanting to switch seats with someone on a plane is not a cardinal sin. As we mentioned before, a lot of people are willing to swap their seats if there’s a good enough reason. However, if you’re being rude, chances are you’re going to have your request denied.

In a previous interview, etiquette expert Myka Meier of Beaumont Etiquette explained that you always have to approach the other person politely. “Approach with a friendly demeanor and use polite language. A smile and a ‘Please’ go a long way.”

There’s always something to offer the person in return; in the end, they might be losing a better seat than you. “Try to offer a seat that is similar or better than the one you are asking the person to give up,” Meier suggested. “Sometimes, asking a flight attendant ahead [of time] to help you locate any open seats gives you choices to offer.”

And, if the person declines, don’t cause a scene. Best case scenario, you’ll annoy all the other passengers on the plane. And, in the worst case, you’ll end up as a cautionary tale on Reddit.

“It’s good manners to accept ‘No’ graciously,” Meier told us back then. “You can’t force someone to give up their seat, so respecting the other passenger’s decision if they decline is good manners.”

“I got the sense he throws tantrums often,” the author wrote in one comment

People praised the author for standing their ground: “Good for you”

A Reddit comment discussing entitled plane passenger tantrum due to seat denial.

Reddit comment discussing entitled plane passenger upset over middle seat choice.

Text conversation about entitled plane passenger denying seat; offering it for 4x price.

Text exchange about entitled plane passenger refusing seat downgrade, sparking a tantrum.

Text from a forum discussing an entitled plane passenger denied a seat, causing a tantrum.

Comment expressing frustration over entitled plane passenger.

Comment about an entitled plane passenger's tantrum after being denied a seat on a flight.

Reddit comment about an entitled plane passenger throwing a tantrum.

Text message about a passenger refusing to change airplane seats, calling others pathetic.

Comment on a forum discussing a plane passenger upset over a denied seat request.

Comment praising a response to an entitled plane passenger's seat tantrum.

Comment on entitled plane passenger's tantrum: "What are you offering?

Reddit comment on entitled plane passenger refusing to switch seats, highlighting airplane etiquette.

Comment discussing entitled plane passenger denied seat upgrade.

Some also shared similar unpleasant experiences

Text describing an entitled passenger in a plane seat dispute, frustrated and aggressive during the flight.

Text detailing an incident about an entitled plane passenger becoming upset over a denied seat swap request.

Entitled passenger throws tantrum over plane seat denial, leading to in-flight conflict and petty revenge.

Poll Question

Total votes ·

Thanks! Check out the results:

Total votes ·

Newsletter

Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls

Subscribe

By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.

Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!