“Sweetie, I’ve Been On Hundreds Of Flights”: Woman Cusses At Teen Who Doesn’t Want To Let Her Have The Exit Row Seat She Was Already Settled In
Flying by plane isn’t the most pleasant journey, especially if you have to fly with cheaper airlines. There is usually not much space and if you want to be able to get some shots through the window, you have to pay extra for reserving a seat or pray that you get it when they’re assigning them for free.
Some airlines, like Southwest, don’t even have assigned seats, which can definitely lead to conflicts, as this Redditor experienced firsthand. An 18-year-old girl who goes by evvelfond on the platform wants to know if she was wrong to not give up a window seat to a woman who asked for it as she was called “a little b****” for it.
More info: Reddit
A teen is perplexed if she was actually so rude for not giving a woman her seat because she called her a “little b****”
Image credits: Cha già José (not the actual photo)
The original poster (OP) was flying back to campus after Thanksgiving and she always flies with Southwest Airlines, which doesn’t have assigned seats. If you want a specific seat, you should check in as soon as possible so that you will be among the first ones to get boarded, so you will have more available seats to choose from.
The 18-year-old did just that and got in the boarding group A, which is the first to be boarded, and she was lucky enough to get a window seat.
It was not a regular window seat as it was a seat in the exit row that had more room in front because there was no other seat there. The OP said she is tall, so being able to stretch her legs was very comfortable.
The OP flies with Southwest Airlines, which don’t assign seats
But if you check in as soon as they open the system, you will be boarded sooner than others and can choose from more available seats
Image credits: evvelfond
The Redditor always makes sure she checks in immediately after it is allowed. She always wants to get this seat because of the extra room and she actually has been successful in doing so since she was 15, the age when it is legally permitted to sit in the exit row because the passenger sitting there must be able and willing to assist the crew in case of an emergency.
Image credits: evvelfond
The OP was comfortably sitting in her seat when a woman she described as “larger-bodied” and “middle-aged” came to take that spot from her. The woman said that the OP wasn’t old enough to sit there and that she needed it more herself because she needed extra room.
The 18-year-old didn’t think that was a serious enough reason to make her give up her seat and explained that she is legally allowed to sit there.
The Redditor chose a exit row seat with more room for her legs as she is tall
Image credits: evvelfond
However, the woman didn’t give up and started to explain how she is entitled to the seat because she paid for a ticket and had the right to fly comfortably, which is a weird motivation as everyone who flies has a ticket that has been paid for and everyone would like to have a comfortable journey.
On top of that, she added that the OP wouldn’t be able to carry out the exit row duties properly because she didn’t have that much flying experience.
However, an older woman thought she deserved that seat more and wanted the teen to move to another spot
Image credits: evvelfond
This conversation started to irritate evvelfond and she remarked that she probably had been on more flights than the woman. She didn’t say it out loud, but a thought came to her mind that because of the woman’s stature, she didn’t look like she would have been able to perform the exit row duty efficiently.
Thankfully, a flight attendant came to see what was causing the holdup and after the two women explained the situation, the flight attendant suggested the older woman find another seat.
The teen wasn’t willing to go elsewhere and the conflict drew the attention of a flight attendant
Image credits: evvelfond
While the OP was glad that even a crew member was on her side and she didn’t have to move to another seat, the woman called her “a little b****” as she was walking away and that made the 18-year-old feel like she was an evil person.
This was the first time that a situation like this has happened to her and she doesn’t know what to think. But other redditors came to help and reassured her that she wasn’t in the wrong. Open seating means first come, first serve, so the older woman didn’t have any grounds to kick the teen from her seat.
The flight attendant sided with the OP and as the older woman was walking away, the teen could hear how she called her a “little b*****”
Image credits: evvelfond
If you were the judge in this situation, who would be guilty in your eyes? Do you think the OP should have given her seat to the woman as she was older and needed extra room more than a younger person? Or do you think that the woman was being audacious by making such a request and accusing the Redditor of breaking the rules of the airline?
People in the comments unanimously decided that the woman had no right to demand the seat as they were not assigned
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As a Southwest Airlines frequent flier I am going to point out a couple statements the middle aged woman made that are false. 1) The OP was correct in saying the limits on sitting in exit are 15. 2) If the lady causing the scene was really a frequent flier, she would be A-list (Southwests frequent flier program). Even the bottom tier will get you an A/ High B boarding group (which is how you load the plane). 3) You can pay $15-30 for priority boarding. Most of the time you do this at the gate. 4) They also let you pay for an automatic checkin which will usually get you an A group. The reality is this woman paid cheap, didn't check in on time, was too cheap to pay for the upgrade, likely got there late, and then thought she could bully her way in an extra space row. I personally hope she got stuck in a middle seat in the back.
You forgot to add...between two sweaty unwashed guys with a knack for napping after a light snack of anything with tons of onions and garlic.....Should they also be gassy from all that garlic?
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The comment that "if she wasn't pregnant or had a disability, she shouldn't have to give up her seat.." is wrong for an exit row. People in the (emergency) exit row need to be fit in order to help people get out in the event of emergency. It's not just so someone has a comfortable seat. Pregnant woman and people with disabilities shouldn't sit in the exit row. I'm disabled and don't sit in that row because I couldn't help others. The OP was right. BTW, since when is 18 years old too young to sit there. She's treating an adult like a child.
Oh girl, don't let anyone bully you into giving up something that is yours, ever! Even if that person is much older and/or fatter, pregnant or with a baby- all they can do is ask very politely once and if you fee especially kind that day- go then ahead. Otherwise- stand up for yourself like you did!
Has anyone ever called a stranger sweetie and it wasn't demeaning? Yes. When I was young, many older ladies called everyone "sweetie" or "honey", and it wasn't meant to be condescending in the least. These days, unfortunately, it usually is.
And that "little girl" comment. Grrrr. I got called that once when I was working a fast food job in my college days, I wanted to slap the woman who was stupid enough to say it. A little girl is 7, not 18.
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I have flight anxiety that’s helped by looking out the window during turbulence or sudden jerks. I will pay extra for an assigned window seat or extra to board early for open seated planes. The OP says that the woman was one of the last to board meaning there were probably only middle seats left. Sorry, lady. You’re lack of preparation does not constitute an emergency on my part. Call me all the names you want but keep on walkin’.
My cousin's kid had to take a long flight when he was about 19. Being extremely tall, he paid the extra for a first class ticket. The flight got changed and everyone piled on with no assigned seating. He couldn't push - not many tall healthy looking teengers (he is also black, but I'm not sure that is relevant) will push others out of their way. Flight attendant would not help him when all the seats with enough leg room were taken and loudly shamed him for even asking. Even though he had paid the extra for the room he needed. Poor kid was on his way to funeral, which he attended on crutches. If you absolutely need the room, pay. And don't take from those who have because they are kids.
NTA. Anyone that wants/needs/requires specific seating arrangements needs to pay the appropriate fair that allows you to choose the seat you want. Beyond that, you are not entitled to anything. When I fly I choose in advance the seat I want in the class I want. I would never consider swapping seats with anyone unless it were by some miracle an upgrade which it never is. Those entitled people always want you to swap to a lesser seat. Nope, not happening.
NTA. I fly SWA all the time and that particular seat is the one I always strive for. Good on her for standing up to the bully.
Can we all say ENTITLED! I'm older than dirt and travel extensively for my work. I don't care about age, I don't care about race, gender, appearance anything...I care about human decency. If I'm on a plane and find someone seated in the seat I hoped to secure, I go find another seat. If that person is 12 years or 112, it doesn't matter. They go there first and deserve the seat. The only exception is if the seat is reserved for someone capable of acting in an emergency. Otherwise, hey my tough luck. The thing I truly despise is when someone thinks their age gives them the right to insult or demean someone younger. If we expect younger folks to show respect to older folks, then we need to do the same.
NTA, you're tall and you can't lose that height. That woman can lose some weight if she can't fit in other seats. I mean, I'm a bit on the fatter side but jesus f*****g christ I'm not that fat I can't even fit in an airplane seat...
The fact that the other woman may have a lot more air miles is irrelevant to the issue at hand. The question that was neither asked nor answered was, "How many times have you helped use the emergency exits?" If the answer is zero, then it doesn't matter how many flights she's been on.
I was raised to respect my elders so if I was in this situation I would have given her my seat if she asked nicely however the elder woman also said the OP wasn't old enough to sit there which was very disrespectful so no the OP was right to not give up her seat...respect goes both ways
I would have said "fat f**k" loud enough for her to hear it on her way out.
i used to book an exit seat for the exact same reasons that this young lady did because of my legs. hundreds of flights under my belt. then i was diagnosed with a degenerative disease that affects all of my body. i continued to book that seat until the time came that i knew that i couldn't do the duties required in an emergency. now, i have to fly first class if i am going to make it to my destination and be able to walk off the plane and not need a wheelchair. people like this woman make me want to scream because they feel they are entitled to treat others in this manner for their own comfort. if she can't fit comfortably in a regular/business class seat then fly first class or take the train and get an compartment.
This and others stories I've read somehow don't want me to board an US flight... cringey.
US based airlines are pretty terrible. If I’m traveling internationally, I always book a foreign airline. Night/day difference.
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NTA. She was wrong. But I'm confused as to why the flight attendant told her to "go sit in one of the other open seats". Didn't the woman have an assigned seat? It's also been my experience that at times, those seats in the exit row with more leg room cost more money.
No. On Southwest Airlines, it's open seating. Passengers are boarded in the order that they checked-in, then they choose their seat when they board. If they REALLY want to get a better seat, they can pay extra before the flight and get moved to the front. (The second woman could have paid a fee to get on first, but she didn't.)
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"I'm entitled to that seat because I paid for a ticket, and I have the right to fly comfortably." Um...did she think that OP got on the plane by covering herself with lettuce and hiding inside the meal cart? Never ceases to amaze me, how self-centered people can be. How they can go through life thinking that no one is as important as THEM, and nothing is as important as THEIR wants and needs. How they can literally think no one else matters, but at the same time expect the people they treat like $hit, to cower and cater to them. Fück that, and fück THEM. When she said "Little b!tch", I woulda come right back with, "Yeah, you definitely are. Well, I don't know about the *little* part..."
Old lady is TA for thinking being fat gives her more rights than other people. She can't be comfortable in other seats? Lose some weight. "Can't" or won't lose weight? Go by road. Why do skinny people have to pay extra for a small amount of baggage weight, but fat people who weigh twice as much, get charged the same? Fat people are the bane of flights, charge them more and you could afford that one row fewer seats to make long flight not only bearable, but much healthier for tall people.
"Can't efficiently perform the exit row duties".....If I am sitting at an emergency door on a plane -- at any time in my life, and the plane actually crashes: Any breath left in me at all, and that door is gone, making me the first one off of that plane....unless a person next to me has enough breath left to beat me up for that honor.
While I agree that what she did was entitles, I don’t think we should be making comments about someone’s weight?
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As a Southwest Airlines frequent flier I am going to point out a couple statements the middle aged woman made that are false. 1) The OP was correct in saying the limits on sitting in exit are 15. 2) If the lady causing the scene was really a frequent flier, she would be A-list (Southwests frequent flier program). Even the bottom tier will get you an A/ High B boarding group (which is how you load the plane). 3) You can pay $15-30 for priority boarding. Most of the time you do this at the gate. 4) They also let you pay for an automatic checkin which will usually get you an A group. The reality is this woman paid cheap, didn't check in on time, was too cheap to pay for the upgrade, likely got there late, and then thought she could bully her way in an extra space row. I personally hope she got stuck in a middle seat in the back.
You forgot to add...between two sweaty unwashed guys with a knack for napping after a light snack of anything with tons of onions and garlic.....Should they also be gassy from all that garlic?
Load More Replies... The comment that "if she wasn't pregnant or had a disability, she shouldn't have to give up her seat.." is wrong for an exit row. People in the (emergency) exit row need to be fit in order to help people get out in the event of emergency. It's not just so someone has a comfortable seat. Pregnant woman and people with disabilities shouldn't sit in the exit row. I'm disabled and don't sit in that row because I couldn't help others. The OP was right. BTW, since when is 18 years old too young to sit there. She's treating an adult like a child.
Oh girl, don't let anyone bully you into giving up something that is yours, ever! Even if that person is much older and/or fatter, pregnant or with a baby- all they can do is ask very politely once and if you fee especially kind that day- go then ahead. Otherwise- stand up for yourself like you did!
Has anyone ever called a stranger sweetie and it wasn't demeaning? Yes. When I was young, many older ladies called everyone "sweetie" or "honey", and it wasn't meant to be condescending in the least. These days, unfortunately, it usually is.
And that "little girl" comment. Grrrr. I got called that once when I was working a fast food job in my college days, I wanted to slap the woman who was stupid enough to say it. A little girl is 7, not 18.
Load More Replies... I have flight anxiety that’s helped by looking out the window during turbulence or sudden jerks. I will pay extra for an assigned window seat or extra to board early for open seated planes. The OP says that the woman was one of the last to board meaning there were probably only middle seats left. Sorry, lady. You’re lack of preparation does not constitute an emergency on my part. Call me all the names you want but keep on walkin’.
My cousin's kid had to take a long flight when he was about 19. Being extremely tall, he paid the extra for a first class ticket. The flight got changed and everyone piled on with no assigned seating. He couldn't push - not many tall healthy looking teengers (he is also black, but I'm not sure that is relevant) will push others out of their way. Flight attendant would not help him when all the seats with enough leg room were taken and loudly shamed him for even asking. Even though he had paid the extra for the room he needed. Poor kid was on his way to funeral, which he attended on crutches. If you absolutely need the room, pay. And don't take from those who have because they are kids.
NTA. Anyone that wants/needs/requires specific seating arrangements needs to pay the appropriate fair that allows you to choose the seat you want. Beyond that, you are not entitled to anything. When I fly I choose in advance the seat I want in the class I want. I would never consider swapping seats with anyone unless it were by some miracle an upgrade which it never is. Those entitled people always want you to swap to a lesser seat. Nope, not happening.
NTA. I fly SWA all the time and that particular seat is the one I always strive for. Good on her for standing up to the bully.
Can we all say ENTITLED! I'm older than dirt and travel extensively for my work. I don't care about age, I don't care about race, gender, appearance anything...I care about human decency. If I'm on a plane and find someone seated in the seat I hoped to secure, I go find another seat. If that person is 12 years or 112, it doesn't matter. They go there first and deserve the seat. The only exception is if the seat is reserved for someone capable of acting in an emergency. Otherwise, hey my tough luck. The thing I truly despise is when someone thinks their age gives them the right to insult or demean someone younger. If we expect younger folks to show respect to older folks, then we need to do the same.
NTA, you're tall and you can't lose that height. That woman can lose some weight if she can't fit in other seats. I mean, I'm a bit on the fatter side but jesus f*****g christ I'm not that fat I can't even fit in an airplane seat...
The fact that the other woman may have a lot more air miles is irrelevant to the issue at hand. The question that was neither asked nor answered was, "How many times have you helped use the emergency exits?" If the answer is zero, then it doesn't matter how many flights she's been on.
I was raised to respect my elders so if I was in this situation I would have given her my seat if she asked nicely however the elder woman also said the OP wasn't old enough to sit there which was very disrespectful so no the OP was right to not give up her seat...respect goes both ways
I would have said "fat f**k" loud enough for her to hear it on her way out.
i used to book an exit seat for the exact same reasons that this young lady did because of my legs. hundreds of flights under my belt. then i was diagnosed with a degenerative disease that affects all of my body. i continued to book that seat until the time came that i knew that i couldn't do the duties required in an emergency. now, i have to fly first class if i am going to make it to my destination and be able to walk off the plane and not need a wheelchair. people like this woman make me want to scream because they feel they are entitled to treat others in this manner for their own comfort. if she can't fit comfortably in a regular/business class seat then fly first class or take the train and get an compartment.
This and others stories I've read somehow don't want me to board an US flight... cringey.
US based airlines are pretty terrible. If I’m traveling internationally, I always book a foreign airline. Night/day difference.
Load More Replies... NTA. She was wrong. But I'm confused as to why the flight attendant told her to "go sit in one of the other open seats". Didn't the woman have an assigned seat? It's also been my experience that at times, those seats in the exit row with more leg room cost more money.
No. On Southwest Airlines, it's open seating. Passengers are boarded in the order that they checked-in, then they choose their seat when they board. If they REALLY want to get a better seat, they can pay extra before the flight and get moved to the front. (The second woman could have paid a fee to get on first, but she didn't.)
Load More Replies... "I'm entitled to that seat because I paid for a ticket, and I have the right to fly comfortably." Um...did she think that OP got on the plane by covering herself with lettuce and hiding inside the meal cart? Never ceases to amaze me, how self-centered people can be. How they can go through life thinking that no one is as important as THEM, and nothing is as important as THEIR wants and needs. How they can literally think no one else matters, but at the same time expect the people they treat like $hit, to cower and cater to them. Fück that, and fück THEM. When she said "Little b!tch", I woulda come right back with, "Yeah, you definitely are. Well, I don't know about the *little* part..."
Old lady is TA for thinking being fat gives her more rights than other people. She can't be comfortable in other seats? Lose some weight. "Can't" or won't lose weight? Go by road. Why do skinny people have to pay extra for a small amount of baggage weight, but fat people who weigh twice as much, get charged the same? Fat people are the bane of flights, charge them more and you could afford that one row fewer seats to make long flight not only bearable, but much healthier for tall people.
"Can't efficiently perform the exit row duties".....If I am sitting at an emergency door on a plane -- at any time in my life, and the plane actually crashes: Any breath left in me at all, and that door is gone, making me the first one off of that plane....unless a person next to me has enough breath left to beat me up for that honor.
While I agree that what she did was entitles, I don’t think we should be making comments about someone’s weight?
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