Passenger Asks Solo Traveler to Switch to Middle Seat So She Can Sit with Her Husband — Then 'Scoffs Aggressively' When She Declines

A solo traveler had a tense argument with a fellow passenger before her red-eye flight took off on the more than seven-hour journey to the UK.

Earlier this week, she spoke out about the situation on the United Airlines Reddit forum, writing under the username Leather_Pin6364. She recalled how she was “very pleased” to be seated in Economy Plus for her flight from Dulles International Airport to London Heathrow Airport as she had recently become a silver member.

However, just 10 minutes after settling into her seat, she overheard a couple talking about her and it wasn’t long before a woman approached and asked her for a favor.

“He asks me ‘Are you traveling alone? Do you have family with you?’” the Redditor wrote. “Why is it your business? But I tripped over my words saying yes, I’m traveling alone.

Passengers on the plane, photo.

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“She then proceeded to ask if I could switch seats with her husband who was in the middle and first row in economy plus so there was no under-seat storage,” she continued. The Redditor said she politely told the woman they didn’t want to switch seats because she paid for it.

She apologized and added that she also wanted to stay at the chosen place because she was expecting a “special meal” due to food allergies.

However, the woman was not impressed with the apologies and reacted in such a way that she felt uncomfortable for the rest of the long flight.

“She turned to her husband across the aisle and aggressively taunted, ‘This girl is not going to change because she paid for her seat,’” said the solo passenger. “I was left sitting red in the face and so embarrassed.

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“I don’t like inconveniencing people and I feel for her that she can’t sit with her husband, but then why not choose seats next to each other?? “Uh, not the best partner for a red eye,” she added.

The overwhelming majority of people in the comments section convinced the solo traveler that she had the correct response to the situation.

“She had a lot of courage to ask you that. In my opinion, don’t think twice. Be happy that you stood your ground and managed to do it in a decent way,” wrote one person.

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“It’s perfectly fine for people to ask as long as they accept ‘no’ as a valid answer and stop getting p—-ed about it. You didn’t upset them,” said another.

“Giving up a window seat for a middle seat is an automatic no. You need the same for the same, that’s the rule of etiquette,” interjected the third.

A fourth commenter claimed the pair were being “unreasonable” and told the solo traveler they were trying to “take advantage” by pressuring her to switch.

“I had to hear this! You are absolutely right,” she replied.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education