No one enjoys having issues on their travel day, no matter where they’re heading.
MCO Airport
Maybe you’ve hit the jackpot and gotten a great price on your airfare, plus you’re already excited for your vacation, which is so close you can taste it, but then you hop on the plane and notice your seat is…already taken? What’s going on here? Unfortunately, this is a new trend that’s taking over airfare, and we’re here to tell you it’s a surefire way to get all your flight attendants glaring daggers at you the entire time.
When you’re booking your airline seat, it may cost extra for you to get the seats that are more desirable, such as the window and aisle seats at the front of the plane. Oftentimes, it’s a pain to pay extra for these seats, but if you want to be sure you have a more enjoyable experience, you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.
Southwest Cabin
However, there’s a new (awful) trend taking over social media and beyond right now that’s really aggravating fellow passengers and flight attendants. It’s called “seat squatting” and essentially what it is is that a person with a less desirable seat will sit in a better seat in the hopes that someone didn’t book it. However, in many cases, someone did book the seat, and the person has to go through the awkward encounter of telling the flight attendant someone is in their seat and the flight attendant then telling that person to move to their actual assigned seat, which all holds up the boarding process.
©Southwest
Travelers have shared that these seat squatters sometimes won’t give up this seat easily. Some of them try to make a deal with you to stay in your seat, and therefore you take theirs instead. It’s up to you whether or not you’d like to accept this deal or not, but make sure it’s minimum what you paid for the seat, or else you’re the one who’s out a better seat AND some money, and that’s not what you want.
©Delta
Remember that there is no issue at all speaking up if someone is in your seat — if you don’t want to take the deal you’re being offered (if any), a flight attendant will be happy to ensure you get in the seat you paid for. Yes, it can be awkward and sometimes a little scary, but you paid for that seat, so if that’s where you’d like to sit, then it’s your right to sit there. There’s no need to be rude to anyone involved, but you can stand firm in your decision to take the seat you paid for.
©Delta
And if you’re thinking of seat squatting — just don’t. We know, if you can get something better without having to pay for it, it’s great, but you can also ask a flight attendant after the boarding door is closed if there are any empty seats that are more sought after that you could move to. The answer could very much be no, and you have to respect that no if it’s what you get, but you’ll likely get much further by asking than you would if you just take it from the get go.
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Last time I flew to Disney World (which admittedly was a while ago, I usually drive) the plane I was on was half empty. Even so, my sister and I were jammed in a row with another person. I’m handicapped and have long legs as well, so I asked the flight attendant if we could move to an empty row. She was not happy and at first was not going to let us, but after much pleading finally let us move. So I think the flight attendant’s attitude has a lot to do with it, too.
I say, just sit on the person in your assigned seat.
My mother was flying with my infant daughter and 4 year old son (it’s been awhile now) and boarded a flight where someone was sitting in one of their seats. My mom let the flight attendant know and produced her ticket to verify. The flight attendant kept telling her to sit down and that my son needed to take the squatter’s assigned seat. He was 4 and was should not have been directed to sit away from his nana with strangers. Because the flight was ready to close the doors, they kicked my mom and children off the flight because she was refusing to let someone else their seat.
It was handled very poorly. No other flight that evening. Airline did not
Offer a place to stay nor needs for my family (she only
Had limited diapers and formula available).
Due to summer flight delays I was on a flight going to Sacramento with 8 passengers, 2 pilots and the entire array of flight attendants. (One of the pilots was based in Sacramento and the next day was his weekend with his kids, he wasn’t willing to give up time) So a plane that holds 160 folks, I get on go to the 5th row and sit by the window…. 8 people total on the plane….. a woman and her son sit next to me filling the row…. they were the last two people on the plane…. weird…. I asked the flight attendant if I could move she said absolutely and I moved to the back of the plane….
I think airlines should not only assign seats (we will not fly on airlines that do not), but should board the plane row by row, starting from the back. Staff inside the plane would ensure that people were sitting only in the boarding rows. I’m sure I’m not the first person to come up with that earth shattering idea. Yes, that will mean that some people who paid more will have to board last – is less time sitting in the airplance really a bad thing? I know that it also means concerns about overhead bin space. Well, that should be monitored and meted out appropriately too. If you arrive and your row has already been called, then you either wait until the end, or if the airline staff want to take a break in the action to let you board, maybe they have that choice. There’s no reason row by row has to take longer, and it would solve problems like this. Also, what Don said. Bonus points if you can get the seat belt around the both of you.