How to handle seat-swap requests on planes 

"Ma'am, your poor planning does not constitute an emergency for me." That's definitely a line to keep on standby.

"This is your opportunity to do something good." Uh, no. I'm sitting in the seat I paid for. I don't care. If you want to be able to sit where you want, fly Southwest.

some people have never been told "No" and can't handle it

Opportunity to do something good? Mam, they chose their seat Saying it’s an opportunity to do something good is what contributes to making people think that they are bad for not switching. Switching doesn’t make you a hero 😒

I always book aisle seats and I’m NOT switching. Unless it’s another aisle seat. Maybe.

If you're going to ask people to switch seats, it needs to be at least the same kind of seat (window for a window seat, extra legroom for another extra legroom seat), or an upgrade for the person you're asking to switch, like taking their middle seat and giving them your original aisle seat.

A Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part

I can't believe that anyone would get mad about your seat you paid for 😮

Most airlines ask you to pick your seat while checking out. You chose to not pick your seat, so that's your problem.

You fail to mention the main reason for the request, which distorts understanding the conflict. Airlines charge $80-100 for 2 seats together, people refuse to buy that, get separated, beg others to help. It has nothing to do with buying late, preferring window. I paid $100 per flight for my wife & child to sit together on international round trip connecting flights ($400 extra).

If anyone wants to swap seats, it should be done through airline employees or flight crew only. If someone does not want to swap seats, matter is closed.

Not giving up my window or aisle seat for your middle seat!

I am a solo traveler and often asked to switch. Got tired of people not planning ahead and refuse now unless it’s a disability issue.

I'd change for an aisle. Not a chance I'd swap to a middle seat.

I have switched seats for years to accommodate others. The last time a woman asked if she could switch seats as she wanted to sit next to her friend, (and that her seat was a window seat just a few rows back). Sure, I said. Then proceeded to view her ticket as I walked to the back of the plane in a middle seat. The real reason I was upset, (and still remember) is that she lied to me.

I'm usually in the depths of the economy section , so nobody asks me to switch seats. But being a senior female, I have asked the aisle person if they want to switch seats so I do not have to bother them when I get up to go to the bathroom multiple times.

If your really unlucky they don't even ask. They just sit in your seat and refuse to move, forcing you to make a big deal of the whole issue by getting a stewardess or something. Then you spend the rest the flight sitting next to what ever remaining part of their family is still around you.

The problem is not always poor planning. Sometimes you planned properly but the airline screwed up the seating. It’s happened to us more times than I can count.

They're scammers. They didn't want to pay extra to choose their seats in the first place.

When someone wants to switch seats, give them an ejection seat😊😅

And if i say no than I refuse to argue with anyone about my seat

Be surprised if someone says "Yes." Not the other way around. The sense of entitlement if you are expecting a "Yes" is astonishing to me.

Since designated seats are paid option so shouldn't allow to give free.

Wait, is it not if you choose your seat prior to flying or if you are designated a certain seat is recorded in the flight's passengers' manifest? So, I'd choose not to switch seat. However, if someone ask me to switch seat n I'm traveling alone I'd kindly waive to the flight attendant n tell them re the issue n ask for seat upgrade either for myself or the one asking for switch. I'd only move for better seat n I'm ok even if the one asking for switch that'd get the upgraded seat. In summary, I'm not switching unless the flight attendant give me better seat 🤷‍♀️

Airlines should all make a policy customers may not ask or approach another customer about a seat swap ! It must be done through a airline employee if at all !

I read that a seat over the wing can help with motion sickness.

The only time Someone wants to switch seats. Is if you're in business or first class? Why don't they ask somebody in coach to take their first class seat and then they can sit in coach with their kid.

Sick of hearing about these "plane seat switching" dramas. If it's important enough to sit together, then buy your tickets early and pay what's required. Stop expecting other people to treat you differently because, well, you have children and you deserve their seat. Big effing deal! We've all had children.

I gladly turned down a father who was sitting in my seat when I got on the plane, saying he didn't have a seat with his brat. 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you don't want to just say no politely.

Just say. NO!!!

Buy your own plane so that you can sit all together on one plane.

Hell no I'm not switching seats for a seat in the back even though it's still a aile seat

Just say no

For me, it’s the expectation that people have that they “deserve” your seat! What the heck??

Sorry, I'm a cop, qualified immunity. 😂

If it’s not for a seat IDENTICAL to the one I paid for (ex. Exit window across the aisle), don’t even ask!!

No. You want that seat, you book early and pay for it.

NO, saved you the time.

Granting of seat-switching request is a courtesy and never an obligation. This is what people need to understand. Everybody paid for their seat and is entitled to be seated in the seat that they are given or chosen. You want someone else's seat, you can ask, but it's NOT "don't be surprised when they say no", it's you cannot and should not expect that person to say "yes" at all. If that person says "yes", that person is doing you an extra favour and if that person says "no", it is his/her right and is expected and if you decide to judge that person negatively or worse retaliate against that person later, you are 100% in the wrong. This is basic etiquette. I cannot believe I need to spend the time to explain this and Good Morning America needs to spend a segment of their show to explain this. The sense of entitlement in today's society is just outrageous!!

2:10 Um, no woman. It is your opportunity to do better next time when booking your flight.

Good morning everyone 'I fly because I have to its really not something I enjoy lately. I choose and pay extra for the window seat I have the shade up and read my book for me it's about comfort so I really don't care what you think about me. That's not my concern. Im not switching my seat its just that simple

say no

What is the problem me it according to how i am feeling

The answer is no and that is my final answer. 😂

I planned up to 6 months ahead and paid extra for my choice seat. I would not switch my seat with an one, and I didn't give a sht for family or kids. I don't give a dam if they was going to pay me extra cash. It was poor planning on their part and they were too cheap to pay extra for seat choice, so they wouldn't have any cash to give any way. I also never flew cheap Greyhound airlines - Spirit, Frontier, Southwest, so I never had problems with cheap skate or poor passengers.

I hate it when cabin staff ask me/ requestsme to.switch seats Next time I dont book that airline ticket

Mother's always are so entitled...your kids aren't important 🙄. I would never switch because a mom wants to seat next to her child. She Should have booked better. I will switch if it was an upgrade from where I am.

Like It

Dont ask ! Period ! I dont care about your woo's!

NOPE, NOPE, NOPE Not a chance.

As Nancy Reagan said “Just say no”

stewie is right

poor planning

“O” yes, sir re-Bob we should switch Seats.

Who cares about someones honeymoon or kid ! Get a life ! Dont ask !

I don't mind switching seats, as long as I get a window seat...

Did anyone else think Tyler Regan look like Adam Sandler 😅

My 3 year old and me were separated from turkey to Washington 12 hour flight. Imagine 3 year old sitting alone far from mama? So , when thy refused to change seats with me, I just put my toddler on my laps and sat untill Stuartd approached me and said I was doing something wrong )))) I responded, sweetheart my toddler can't sit without me as she needs to use restroom and she doesn't know how to do it alone, being alone for 12 hours for her would be endless crying and calling for mama. Not my fault , but yeah, they found a way to put us together.

So if I have kids or a husband I should get the sit of a “single” person? 🫠 that’s a messed up POV, single people have value too 😅

I can't believe there even has to be a segment telling people to be prepared for a "No". When did this society become so entitled that it's normal for people to expect others to inconvenience themselves for *their* convenience, and have the nerve to get an attitude if they choose not to accommodate you? I don't get it.

I once booked a seat in the front row of the plane. A woman came up to me and wanted me to give up my expensive seat for a cheap seat at the back of the plane. My answer was no.

The worst are people who feel entitled and special simply because they have kids...they have no consideration for the person they want to bend over backward for them.

Or hear me out.......we just sit at the place we're supposed to sit at?

Um, no, you do not have the right to ask for anything you like. That woman is totally wrong. Asking for certain things is definitely rude and entitled. Also, no, a single traveler does not rank behind a couple on their honeymoon or a family, and should not be treated like a second class citizen or shamed into a supposed "opportunity to do good." And it is not a single traveler's fault if a couple or family decided to penny pinch and not pick seats near each other. The single traveler is only responsible for managing their own finances and may have actually had the brains to not reproduce if they couldn't afford the children unlike the family of penny pinchers. Don't have children you can't afford and expect single people to make all the sacrifices necessary to support you! Airlines should kick off any obnoxious passengers who deliberately sit in other people's seats (theft) or harass other passengers to try to take their paid seats from them. Enough is enough. It's the same as walking up to someone in a restaurant and stealing their meal out from under their nose because you decided that you like their order better than yours or you couldn't afford the filet mignon so you are just going to swap your little side salad for their expensive entree without their permission. Like how is this acceptable in any way? Spoiler alert: it's not!

I am a flight attendant for a legacy airline. Please ask the gate agent before boarding the aircraft. The gate agents and customer service are the only ones who can properly change seats. There are different safety regulations and amount of pay for each seat on the aircraft. There is also an upgrade list. Each airline has their own policies and flight attendants do not have the access to the software to properly change any seats.

The nerve of some people ! Don’t ask !!!

In no way am I obligated to listen to your sad story on poor planning. It literally costs an extra $10-20 bucks per seat to get seats together. If $40 bucks is gonna make or break you, you should've just rented an SUV and drove.

A couple who both got Middle seats especially on certain airlines most likely chose to not pay extra to select their seats so why penalize a stranger for their stinginess?

"Look for the person with the gentle eyes." Exactly, that's why as soon as I'm in my seat, headphones on and eyes closed until that plane takes off. Half the time I'm not even listening to anything, but it's a clear message that I'm not interested in any seat swap chit chats.

If you get relocated to a seat a few rows forward of where you’ve already stowed your overhead bag, you’re screwed and will have to wait until the entire crush of passengers has pushed and elbowed their way off before you’ll be able to go back and get to your bag. Really sucks especially if you have a tight connection. I hate when disorganized people demand privileges.

The worst is when married couples ask people to switch seats on short flight. It's fine if you guys are away from each other for an hour and 45 minutes.

"This is your opportunity to do something good". Such a manipulative thing to say from such an entitled person.

The answer is NO.

No, it’s not my “opportunity to do something good” if someone wants me to give up my aisle or window seat for a middle seat further back.

No one is obligated to switch seats with strangers.

I don't get worked up over it anymore. I have had this happen to me numerous times on a plane and I just listen politely, smile, say "no thank you", put my ear buds in and close my eyes. Easy

I can't believe someone would have the gall to ask you to switch and then be mad when you dont. Unreal. Plan better next time.

No! Your booking arrangements are YOUR problem.

It's always the one in the middle who initiates the request.

No! Period! Should not ask!

The only time I voluntarily agreed to switch seats was for a passenger who injured her leg and was in a full leg brace using crutches. I was in an aisle bulkhead row so she needed the leg room more than me.

I swapped a kid a window for a aisle so he could look out. Taxiing out he closed the shade and stayed glued to his ipad. Never again...

When I choose airplane seats I mostly choose based on having the best view out of the window, since that is the most fun part of flying, I make sure the wing is not covering the entire view

Sort it out with the airline before flying or at the gate if it can’t be helped. Asking Other passengers are not a way for you to bypass procedures already in place. It’s just so rude to ask- unless you’re giving the other person an upgrade.

🤔 I will never switch seats I paid and picked my seat ahead of time.

I have kids and I make sure I pay so we can all sit together. It’s that simple if there aren’t seats together look for another flight. I don’t understand why people feel entitled.

How about NO!

What the hell is an “etiquette expert”?

If you are nice and polite, I will at least listen to your request. I may still say no, but that is my choice. If you are rude or condescending, it's a no!

If you get the bulkhead seat, be ready for Karen's who squat the seat before you board. I don't mind people asking. I do mind that you took it before asking.

My husband and I were on a 9 hour flight and had booked seats side by side that somehow got switched at the last minute. We asked a gentleman to switch with us (he would have moved from an aisle seat to an aisle seat a few rows ahead.) Even so, he said no. Didn’t give a reason. Didn’t have to. We said okay, and we ALL just carried on. This conversation CAN be had civilly.

I'm saying NO 100% of the time, Your wants or desires are not my problem, If you can't plan better then that sounds like a You issue, not a me issue.

Notice the people wanting to switch are always asking to switch to a better seat, they never look for people to switch with in the back of the plane!

Nope. I buy an upgraded seat because I need the room, and I have a knee that screams in pain without it. So, nope, never.

You switch seats if you feel want to. Otherwise, no.

I traveled with my sister and her son this past weekend. We had a family emergency and there were no seats together. My sister shrugged her shoulders and was like "Oh well!! I hope he has fun sitting wherever he gets seated next to." We did let the airline know at boarding that he wasn't going to be seated by either one of us and that we were fine with the assigned seats. Unfortunately they were able to get them seats together.

When I see someone in my seat I let the fight attendants handle it lol they don’t question it 🤗

Just say 'no'. If I pay to select a seat, it is mine. I don't care about someone else's kids or problems. You will never see the person again. "No good deed goes unpunished!"

I live by the “Your poor planning does not constitute an emergency on my part” 😂 I refuse to give my window for anything other than a window and not near the bathroom.