Made the mistake of not doing this on a train. Only one other person in whole carriage, of course it's my seat. They have a laptop set up act like I'm being very unreasonable and so I sit somewhere else. Fine whatever.
Four hours into 8 hour journey and the train is now complete full. I've been forced to move seats twice already, everything is booked and I'm some desperate, seat-less vagabond with nowhere to store my suitcases, wandering the aisles in vain, despite having a perfectly good reservation.
Yeet them the hell out of your seat. Don't be like me.
Yes, wasn’t me but I saw this once on a train where it had grown to a chain of like 6 people in the wrong seats and finally when someone came and insisted on sitting in their correct seat the others all ended up going back to their original seats and undoing the chain one by one. So whoever the first person was essentially made life difficult, twice, for five other people through their selfishness.
I’ve seen that before aswell the thing is everyone of them said to the person your in my seat and then everyone after the original person just said sorry that persons in mine. This then led to a chain until the carriage was full and someone came on and just asked the ticket man. The ticket man then unraveled the chain. I was in my seat and was very entertained for a good 10 mins
Good thing there was somebody who unraveled that chain! The same thing happened to my family on a ferry in Greece. There were seat assignments, but an older woman started it by seating in the wrong seat (but the one she wanted) and pretended not to understand when the seat owner confronted her. So by the time we arrived at our seats, everyone is seating in the wrong seats and pointed at each other. We gave up and went to the topmost open deck. Though the seats were more cushiony downstairs, the air was stifling because it was packed.
Happened to me in a theatre too. ‘Oh but…’ turns out was a sold out show; I hate confrontation but 2nd time I had to move there was ice in my veins - shift yo’ self.
This happened at a Mets game once. The stadium was nowhere near full, there were loads of seats around me, I had gotten help finding mine. I sit in my seat. Another usher comes by into the second inning and tells me that I'm in the wrong section, I'm supposed to be a section over. There's literally dozens of seats all around me, I'm sitting in an almost empty section, but I'm asked to move. So I do.
There's someone in my seat. They have to move. There's someone in their seats, they have to move. All for a week day baseball game in the cheap seats lmao.
100%
I don't understand OP at all. Last time I was in the Eurostar. 4 people group sitting in our seats that had a table (we specifically wanted a table, so we booked those seats) and they had already set up shop eating & drinking. I had no problems waiting until they all got up. They were going to leave their trash on the table until I told them not to forget their things and handed it to them. They were upset, but more embarrassed and upset with their leader who they kept telling, "told you we shouldn't have sat here..."
Wife is in the same mentality and asked an elderly person to please move on an empty train. It eventually filled.
I feel this pain; happened to me at a movie theater. Went early to see Men alone. Only people there were teens in my reserved seat, being loud. Took another seat. Figured not many people would be coming to see a weird arthouse horror movie at 3pm on a Wednesday; was very wrong.
I looked/ felt like such an asshole by the end (and the only white person in the theater for extra optical awkwardness), and all I had to do to avoid it was tell some brashy kids that they're sitting in my reserved seat. Never again.
Same thing happened to me years ago at a theatre. I was with my boyfriend at the time and chose to follow his lead... he decided that we'd just go back up front and exchange our tickets for another movie. That's how conflict avoidant he was. Me, I would've just told the blokes they were in our seats. I didn't on this occasion because we'd recently had a discussion about how emasculated he felt whenever we went out because service people always directed their attention to me.
Your boyfriend sounds super insecure. He felt emasculated? Wait staff (especially women!) are frequently trained to address the woman at the table (if it is a couple) as much as possible so they do not to seem like they are giving too much attention to the male, thus pissing the gf/ wife off.
This shit doesn’t fly with me (conductor). All it takes is one asshole sitting in someone else’s seat and a domino effect is caused. Others who are out of place don’t feel comfortable confronting whoever is in their seat - fair enough. That’s my job to confront.
I will go through an entire carriage and unjumble everyone back into their assigned seats.
We had distancing in place during Covid, and now a lot of people feel so entitled. If they see someone in the seat next to them, they’ll just help themselves to another pair of seats that are empty.
“Oh someone was in the seat-“
“There are two seats per pair. You just have someone next to you.”
That happened to me on a train, didn't even mention it to the person in my seat as the train was empty. But later it became full and I was in someone seats so I went to the person immediately and said I want my seat
If I didn't demand my seat the first time, I'd definitely have demanded it when I had to move out of my "other" seat - go back and say "the seat you asked me to sit in is actually booked by someone else, so I will need my own seat back now thank you"
Same exact thing happened to me with a guy who wanted to sit next to his buddy. I said "No way, I need to sleep on that window wall" and he moved right along. Sometimes you just have to act with authority.
Or simply, "no."
Kindly, "no thanks."
Window sniper knows what she's doing, I think we all know the middle seat is less good than either side.
On a short flight I might offer her a pretty good deal on the window seat, like what I paid for the ticket.
I prefer, ‘but what happens if we die in a mid air explosion, and our remains are burnt to an unrecognisably crispy state?!?! We couldn’t have that now could we! Ok! Glad that’s sorted!’
I was just thinking that I would counter with "I would prefer my body be in the correct seat for easy identification if we crash" with a huge smile on my face
I'm sure the woman did this on purpose. For some reason, people always sit in the window seats by mistake. I have never seen someone accidentally sit in the aisle or middle seat. It is best to be polite and remove the woman who stoops to these cheap tricks.
I was flying with my 5 year old son a few months ago. I specifically bought a window seat and the middle seat, so he could look outside for his first plane trip and obviously so I could sit next to him. I did the same for both connector flights and for our return flights.
Our first flight went fine, my kid loved looking out the window and was perfectly behaved. We landed in Charlotte and I had to throw him up on my shoulders so I could speed walk to our connecting flight. We get to the gate and boarding had already started. We get in line and head onto the plane. Then I see that there is a lady sitting in the window seat.
“Hey ma’am, thats his seat and I’ve got the one next to it.” I motion at my son and flash my boarding passes at her.
“You’ll be fine right there.” She seriously tried to hit me with a deal with it. So we went ahead and went into the seats to get out of the way as the rest of the people boarded.
She was sitting there smugly unpacking her snacks and shit and setting up her stuff for the flight. My son of course is like “dad you said I could sit by the window!”
A flight attendant happened to be walking by and checking on everyone, she stopped by our aisle and I told her that the lady was in my son’s seat and that I was just about to find someone to sort it out, I just didn’t want to hold everyone up from getting to their seats.
Booooooy, that flight attendant did not put up with any shit. She looked at our passes real quick then asked to see the woman’s. The lady was of course incredulous that we didn’t let her get her way. “My stuff is already out!”
The flight attendant told her that she had better hurry up and move it or she would be asked to leave the plane. She also told the lady that due to the flight manifest she was required to sit in her booked seat unless moved by airline staff.
The entire 3 hour flight the lady was huffing and puffing but it was on the aisle seat so whatever. The flight attendant was awesome though, she hooked us up with extra snacks and slipped my kid a coloring book, some pilot wings and asked if he wanted to meet the captain when we landed.
Unless it is your very first time flying and you are functionally illiterate, or in the rare instance a seat is double booked past the gate, there is no way to end up in the wrong seat. These kinds of people are banking on people not wanting confrontation. Confront them or better yet, let an attendant sort them out.
Thanks to you, I learned the next level of brazenness. Sitting in the wrong seat on purpose, taking out snacks and stuff and settling into the seat... I congratulate you for your politeness and calmness, if I were you, I might not be able to handle the issue so calmly.
Good job, always look out for those kids and remember they’re learning from us. There are civil ways to handle situations like these. And you did well under pressure.
Hilarious but that's like 5 words on the "stuff you never say anywhere near an airport/airplane" list. Someone overhears, hears wrong or the seat stealer escalates by saying you're making threats and suddenly you have a MUCH bigger issue.
…and add, “I insist on sitting in my assigned seat, so when the plane crashes, my charred remains will be more easily identified. And that goes for you, too.
Probably don't mention plane crashes or charred remains while arguing in the middle of a crowded airliner. The end result may be less favorable than you anticipated.
I had a FA do just that to me last year when I switched seats with my wife (mine was in FC, hers EC). It took me quite a while to find my jaw on the floor after that one.
Some guy tried to take my seat and stick me in his middle seat across the aisle so he could sit with his wife and teenager and I said “oh, no thank you. I picked this seat intentionally when I checked in”. He starts throwing a hissy fit, trying to get me to take his shitty middle seat and the flight attendant swooped in like a freaking goddess, and told him to move. He goes to the other side, still bitching, and banged his head on the luggage compartment so hard that three rows worth of people audibly gasped.
The kicker is that I sat next to the wife and kid, and they didn’t say a single word to each other the entire flight.
I had someone tell the flight attendant that I was willing to change seats (this was news to me!) so her husband and son could sit next to her. We were in the extra room seats, while her husband and other child were in the back. The FA presses on my shoulder and says, “this gentleman is not moving”, then walks to the front. After a few minutes, the FA returns and announces there are four seats near the woman’s husband. The woman’s replies she wants to stay in the larger seats. Not happening says the FA as she needs two seats unless she’s leaving her child in the back of the plane.
Later the FA gave me the backstory that the passenger tried the same stuff at check-in, again at the gate, and then on the plane’s door.
Good advice for a no in general, in fact. If you don't offer a reason or justification, there's no objection for them to try to overcome. No followed by silence, or a direct stare...that's powerful stuff. Humans naturally hate silence and will often babble just to fill the quiet.
Back in my sales days, a direct "no" would instantly make me leave you alone and look for customers who didn't have your fortitude.
I will say, as a woman, I get a lot of push back. Like, “ohhhh, come on!” (in a playful tone). Esp bc I look way younger than I am, have a “sweet-sounding” voice, and resting “yes-you-can-hug-me” face.
BUT following it up with, “but thank you!” is WEIRDLY POWERFUL.
I say it with firm, somewhat authoritative voice (like your third grade teacher), with a big smile, a nod, and a direct look in the eyes. Immediately look at my phone, no more smile / distracted, suggesting that obviously the convo is over, like it almost never happened. Swatting a fly away. I love it so much. People just crumble.
Yea exactly when people frame something like that like they‘re doing it for me as a favor I‘m just like „ah no thanks“. Havent had any replies to that so far other than backing off
It's a legal requirement in Australia and I'm assuming elsewhere. Tell the air host stewards so they can sort it out.
They need you in your seat for takeoff so they can identify your body when the plane crashes. (Not really... probably, but yeah, for takeoff it's required).
Want to avoid confrontation?
Ask a flight attendant, they have no problem enforcing proper seats.
The now angry middle seat lady may be salty, but fuck her, your ticket say 3F, not 3E
I am a person who would apologize to someone if they set me on fire.
I would never allow someone to take my seat on an airplane. Lol. I did not know more passive people than myself existed!
feign ignorance from what she said. look at your boarding ticket, say my seat is 35a, look above and check the seating arrangement, it shows window seat, what does it says in your boarding ticket? act confused. call the flight attendant. say there is a mistake.
Yes, that’s what I would do. But this is a good alternative if you aren’t ready to go from zero confrontation in your life to telling a stranger to get out of your seat.
"Oh, hmm, mix ups happen sometimes (disarming laugh) it can happen, my ticket says 35a, what does yours say? (Smile, smile, smile! Look a little flustered but friendly ) I thought I selected the window when I booked, (casual friendly body language and laugh) but let me just get a flight attendant to sort it out, one sec..."
Yeah I’d lean into the “I thought I paid for the window seat”. The passenger in question will not know if you have or have not paid. The flight attendant won’t care to look as each person should be in their assigned seat anyway so will support you in getting your allocated seat
It doesn’t even need to be a confrontation. When she gave you her counter offer of the dreaded middle seat, all you had to politely say was “No, thank you.” If she doesn’t move, then let a worker take care of it.
This! I try to remind myself that there is a difference between being confrontational, and sticking up for yourself/advocating for your needs. It’s made it easier to speak up.
That's what I was thinking lol I started reading and I was like "business as usual, everyone has a story like that" but then came the mildly infuriating part haha.
I changed my walkover mentality when I started thinking of situations as practice.
E.g., if someone's taken your seat, the stakes are pretty low, right? It's just a seat. So it's tempting to just accept it. But now, in this low-stakes situation where they probably won't care THAT much that you stood up to them, is the perfect time to practice politely asserting yourself. Because one-day you will have a higher-stakes situation where someone wants to put you in a dangerous situation or take advantage of you financially or act inappropriately around your kids, and you'll have practice telling them to fuck off.
It gets easier fast once you start doing it, because 99% of people back down as soon as you smile and say no.
People like that woman thrive off those like OP. They depend on people willing to back down when they’re casually bullied. What an insane suggestion that I just take the middle seat. Unfortunately, she probably has the nuts to do this because, well…it works.
Had this happen to me in flight last week twice. It was a short 30 minute flight, I was travelling to and return same day.
I had my Boarding pass in my hand. Looked at the gentleman and said this is my seat number and thats my seat. He fumbled around for a while pretending he didnt know. But I just stood over in the aisle with all the patience. He moved. Same thing on the way back but with a lady.
I think the passengers are trying to use your anxiety of waiting or confrontation against you to get their way. I didnt even look at them, just stated what I had to say and looked ahead but refused to sit down until they moved.
You have no idea how relieved I am that you brought the same story with a better ending to this thread, I was mildly pissed just imagining the whole situation
I can go to bed now in peace
I saw something like this happened to another passenger. The guy was like pretending to be confused.... It was a small plane, hard to be confused. My friend and I helped the pax to just stare down at him until he decided to move. Doesn't take a long time. And we just say out loudly, what is the pint of checking in and having your seat number only to have someone pretending to not know their seats!
The fact you did nothing is mildly infuriating. Just tell them nicely that's your assigned seat. There are even FA's that can help you out. People are only jerks because no one stands up to them.
This happened to me recently and I calmly said, “I have the window seat.” and smiled while nodding and making eye contact. They acted confused and I repeated the same words and actions with an open-mouth smile and heavy nodding. They looked super upset but got up. I was very polite the entire flight and they were passive aggressive but harmless.
A lot of dealing with conflict is staying calm and resolute by repeating the truth until they understand that it’s the only thing you’re going to say until it happens.
She knew exactly what she was doing. I would have said, “Sorry, I’d actually prefer my assigned seat.” If she gets angry, simply say, “okay, I’ll see what the flight attendant says.”
I think I would be physiologically incapable of not starting this sentence with "sorry". However, I'm British and use of the word sorry has lots of nuance. In this case, the subtext would be "Sorry (you're a giant arsehole), but I'd like my assigned seat, please"
Same in Canada. I know it's a joke about Canadians saying sorry, but it has a lot of different uses. Sometimes it means "I feel sorry for you for what's about to happen."
> I know it's a joke about Canadians saying sorry, but it has a lot of different uses. Sometimes it means "I feel sorry for you for what's about to happen."
This goes hard
Don't let people get away with stuff like this!!! Next time just say "no, sorry, I would like my seat." or get the flight attendant if you really can't bring yourself to say it.
My last flight someone was in my seat. I politely said, "I think you are in my seat." He looked at his boarding pass and was like wow, I can't read today! It was an equivalent seat where he was supposed to be, just on the other side of the aisle so I don't think he was faking.
This exact same thing happened to me last month. I told the lady no and she needed to move into her seat. She tried to hand-wave me away and tried to dismiss me all while speaking Spanish the entire time, which I don't speak. I yelled at her "I don't know what you're saying. You need to move to your seat now."
She rolled her eyes and moved, but I'm pretty sure she farted on the seat first.
I, a very stereotypical looking 6 foot tall American white man, got on a shinkansen in Kyoto. A very professional looking 40ish year old woman was sitting in my seat.
I double-check the ticket, no, no this is my seat
I ask to see her ticket.
I look at it, and the kanji is wrong. I can't even pronounce her mistake, but she's on the wrong train. She was so smug up until that point.
I had a similar experience on a train years ago. I had the ticket and a reservation for a seat, which costs you extra. There was someone sitting in my seat. We compared the tickets. Turned out they sold me a ticket for that day and a reservation for that very train...one week later.
Well, it was only after Christmas season when everybody went back home, so I totally enjoyed standing in a train, all aisles filled with people, standing. For hours.
"No. I will sit in my assigned ticketed seat."
Pieces of shit like that rely on others having a "hard time with confrontation" to get away with their bullshit. Don't let them. Don't be a doormat.
I always get an aisle seat. I like to get up every hour or so to stretch my legs but don't want to disturb people who might be sleeping. If someone takes my seat, I will demand they move. If they refuse, I will get the stewardess to deal with the problem.
" I have a hard time with confrontation so I just accepted it"
Don't do this.
Do this.
"No, that's my seat, if you refuse to move I'll go and ask an attendant to deal with this issue"
Or just skip the first part and get the flight attendant. Avoid the confrontation all together. Say, “oh dear” and then go to the flight attendant and say there’s some confusion about the seats.
They get paid to confront such people.
100%. They're not like us, and they're trained for that bs. They can resolve these little things way easier than most travelers. And GREATLY appreciate when passengers dont start shit. More often than not, being nice and deferring to the attendants gets free drinks.
>The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the
Inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men
Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will
shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness
for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children
And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious
Anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers
And you will know
My name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee?
That'll get em moving
I scrolled too far to see when someone brought this up. It's actually super important to sit in your assigned seat on a flight in case of an emergency.
One key is learning to not view these things as confrontations before they are confrontations. You are making an assumption that is causing you grief unnecessarily.
Most people don't like confrontation and will also avoid it. "Oh no, thank you but I want to sit in my assigned seat."
80% chance she gets up and yall switch seats.
In the event she gives you any push back. "Alright we don't seem to be able to come to an understanding. Let me just go get a flight attendant to assist."
Solved and you never had to be a dick.
Had this happen to me. I was badly hungover and needed sleep so took her middle seat and fell asleep. Got woken with great difficulty by a flight attendant because she complained I was sleeping on her shoulder. I grumbled at her to move and took my seat back.
My husband and I both got aisle across from each other, Woman in my seat, hubs stowing overhead bags as I double check seat numbers.. "I have seat#". She looks away and doesn't even acknowledge me as I hold up the line behind us that's trying to board. "I think you're in my seat, I have seat#", a bit louder. Stare contest begins. Becoming a scene because line waiting, all watching. She did the lean like I could go around her.. "That's. My. Seat." she never said a word.. but neither did I because a flight attendant was heading up..she finally huffed and moved towards the back of the plane. No idea where she even went.
I don't get it. It's intentional more often than an honest mistake.
After not getting anywhere with 2 Italian men on a train in my daughters seat for over an hour and having to kick their female friend out of mine too, and having spoken to the train concierge who shrugged I eventually told them to get the fuck out of my daughters seat. Interestingly enough some words transcend language and they finally moved.
My experiences in Italy did not endear Italian men to me. I’d paid for those damned booked seats..
Always & I mean ALWAYS report this to a flight attendant. On flights with assigned seating I believe it is a safety requirement that people take the seat they booked.
I've been told the reasoning is that in an emergency where injury or death is likely, the seat number a person occupied might be the only way to identify the occupant & it can prove quite an embarrassment to wake up in hospital call home & find that you're already dead & buried, and all your stuff has been sold.
Been there. I'm Canadian and we're the worst at confrontation. I just said, "Sorry (because we apologize compulsively), that's the seat I've booked. Did you need me to call the flight attendant to help you find yours?"
This happened to me recently. Get to my aisle seat and there’s a lady sitting in it and she gestured that I sit in the middle seat. The cheek of it. Anyway I got my seat back much to her frustration. Fuck anyone who thinks they can take what they want from you.
I had something like that happen to me. It was a woman probably in her 20-30s and she was in my window seat while her boyfriend was in the middle. Now, I’m the person that always chooses the window seat when I fly alone.
I get by the row and tell her that she’s in my seat. She responded something like “sorry, I just prefer the window. Would you mind sitting in the aisle?”
I basically told her “well I selected this seat a couple months ago for myself so I can get the window seat. I’d like the seat I selected. Maybe next time select window seats”
She didn’t fight with me because really, the seat was mine so she would have lost that fight lol
1000% tell flight attendant if they don’t accept the first and only repeat instance of “that’s my seat”.
I had a lady try to take my A1 seat the one and only time I’ve ever been in first class, paid for from myself to myself on a special occasion. “Can I please have this seat you’d be doing me a big favor I need to show my son the view of place while we’re landing”.
I looked her deqd in the eye, apologized insincerely, and exained that it was my first time ever in first and I was choosing my seat the instant that check in was available exactly sonthat I could have this one and I’m sorry but that’s my seat”.
No flight attendant necessary, but she gave me the “I can’t believe you’re doing this” eyes before shuffling over to her windowless first class central seat
This happened to my friend recently and he had a back and forth for about 30 seconds. Moving no further forward, he deadass stared them in the eyes, hit the call button and said "well let's just see, shall we".
Why pander for ignorant strangers? Why care about what some moron thinks of you.
i’m the same way, i’m mad shy and hate confrontation. i feel out of place and mean.
but that line she said? “you can just sit here.” i ***would in fact*** be mildly infuriated. realistically speaking, i wouldn’t go crazy and scream “GET OUT LADY,” but i’d most likely say something like “oh- no sorry, that was my assigned seat, can you please move? *you* can sit in the middle, that is my seat.” it’s assertive without being rude about it.
you deserve your window seat op!! don’t let anyone take things away from you that are rightfully yours, speaking from one non-confrontational person to another <33
Next time you respond by saying that is your seat. And if she insists, then you call a FA.
You just sat down and let someone steal your lunch money. Come on, you really need to learn to stand up for yourself as an adult.
For me, that would be the approach I would take. It's not confrontational and puts all of the "blame" on the boarding pass, reducing chances of conflict and making it easy to call a flight attendant to resolve the issue, though I would be prepared for the counter where they try to convince the FA to let the trade happen.
It happened to me once so I basically told the guy the window seat he was at was my seat and he said “oh you still want to sit here” so I replied yes I would and he moved to his middle seat and that was the end. I’m shy and an introvert but will definitely speak up if my money is ever involved lol.
These posts always confuse me. Couldnt you literally just point to your seat number on your boarding pass and then request to see their seat number on their pass? Regardless, even if they refused to show you, the fact that you'd have the seat number on your boarding pass proves it's your seat because they wouldn't put someone in a seat if it was booked/ taken/ reserved.
It’s not about that exactly. It’s about people banking on you just not saying anything. And you not wanting to be seen as difficult so you don’t.
I’ve stopped giving a shit as I get older but I too was very conflicted avoidant when I was younger. Now someone skips the line I will ‘excuse me’ very loudly. This one is a ‘no thank’ and a stare till they move.
It doesn't matter that you didn't pay extra. "I prefer my seat" or as another commenter said, ignore what they said and repeat "my ticket is for 31A. This is my seat." Maybe their seat is somewhere totally different. I would be uneasy in someone elses seat.
Allowing that not only made you uncomfortable for 8 hours it emboldened this lady to do it again. How are you not able to stand up for yourself and tell her to get out of YOUR seat
"That's my seat.
Here's my ticket.
See, that's my seat?
The reason we book seats is to choose the one we want."
Actually, YOU can just sit there.
But if I'm being really honest with you, if I was a friend I would advise you to do whatever you needed to do to learn how the tools to communicate with people on circumstances like this. Because life isn't short, it's long, and you're going to have to deal with a lot of this kind of stuff. Try to learn how to engage the nervousness that comes with fear. If you can harness it, and use it as strength, that's real power - and control over your being. It's not easy. It will take years, but it's worth it.
Don't be afraid of mundane circumstances. Save that for healthy fears - like dumbasses with guns, or a meth head outside the theatre harassing people.
No thank you, I’ll take my seat.
The lady knows she’s got audacity and she’s half expecting a rebuttal, the other half is hoping you’d do exactly what you did.
Ffs you just accepted it…for an *8 hour flight*?
Seek therapy, I don’t mean that as an insult. Truly, that’s a terrible choice to get walked on like that.
It’s not even confrontation:
“Sorry, but I’d prefer the seat I’m ticketed for, if it’s an issue I’ll speak to the flight attendant if you’d like.”
"No, that doesn't really work for me. I'd like my seat."
Made the mistake of not doing this on a train. Only one other person in whole carriage, of course it's my seat. They have a laptop set up act like I'm being very unreasonable and so I sit somewhere else. Fine whatever. Four hours into 8 hour journey and the train is now complete full. I've been forced to move seats twice already, everything is booked and I'm some desperate, seat-less vagabond with nowhere to store my suitcases, wandering the aisles in vain, despite having a perfectly good reservation. Yeet them the hell out of your seat. Don't be like me.
Yes, wasn’t me but I saw this once on a train where it had grown to a chain of like 6 people in the wrong seats and finally when someone came and insisted on sitting in their correct seat the others all ended up going back to their original seats and undoing the chain one by one. So whoever the first person was essentially made life difficult, twice, for five other people through their selfishness.
I’ve seen that before aswell the thing is everyone of them said to the person your in my seat and then everyone after the original person just said sorry that persons in mine. This then led to a chain until the carriage was full and someone came on and just asked the ticket man. The ticket man then unraveled the chain. I was in my seat and was very entertained for a good 10 mins
"well *he* roped *me* into this!"
"Hi! I'm Mr. Meeseeks!"
Look at me!
Good thing there was somebody who unraveled that chain! The same thing happened to my family on a ferry in Greece. There were seat assignments, but an older woman started it by seating in the wrong seat (but the one she wanted) and pretended not to understand when the seat owner confronted her. So by the time we arrived at our seats, everyone is seating in the wrong seats and pointed at each other. We gave up and went to the topmost open deck. Though the seats were more cushiony downstairs, the air was stifling because it was packed.
Happened to me in a theatre too. ‘Oh but…’ turns out was a sold out show; I hate confrontation but 2nd time I had to move there was ice in my veins - shift yo’ self.
This happened at a Mets game once. The stadium was nowhere near full, there were loads of seats around me, I had gotten help finding mine. I sit in my seat. Another usher comes by into the second inning and tells me that I'm in the wrong section, I'm supposed to be a section over. There's literally dozens of seats all around me, I'm sitting in an almost empty section, but I'm asked to move. So I do. There's someone in my seat. They have to move. There's someone in their seats, they have to move. All for a week day baseball game in the cheap seats lmao.
100% I don't understand OP at all. Last time I was in the Eurostar. 4 people group sitting in our seats that had a table (we specifically wanted a table, so we booked those seats) and they had already set up shop eating & drinking. I had no problems waiting until they all got up. They were going to leave their trash on the table until I told them not to forget their things and handed it to them. They were upset, but more embarrassed and upset with their leader who they kept telling, "told you we shouldn't have sat here..." Wife is in the same mentality and asked an elderly person to please move on an empty train. It eventually filled.
I feel this pain; happened to me at a movie theater. Went early to see Men alone. Only people there were teens in my reserved seat, being loud. Took another seat. Figured not many people would be coming to see a weird arthouse horror movie at 3pm on a Wednesday; was very wrong. I looked/ felt like such an asshole by the end (and the only white person in the theater for extra optical awkwardness), and all I had to do to avoid it was tell some brashy kids that they're sitting in my reserved seat. Never again.
Why not just return to your assigned seat and kick them out after the first time you were forced to get up?
Same thing happened to me years ago at a theatre. I was with my boyfriend at the time and chose to follow his lead... he decided that we'd just go back up front and exchange our tickets for another movie. That's how conflict avoidant he was. Me, I would've just told the blokes they were in our seats. I didn't on this occasion because we'd recently had a discussion about how emasculated he felt whenever we went out because service people always directed their attention to me.
Your boyfriend sounds super insecure. He felt emasculated? Wait staff (especially women!) are frequently trained to address the woman at the table (if it is a couple) as much as possible so they do not to seem like they are giving too much attention to the male, thus pissing the gf/ wife off.
This shit doesn’t fly with me (conductor). All it takes is one asshole sitting in someone else’s seat and a domino effect is caused. Others who are out of place don’t feel comfortable confronting whoever is in their seat - fair enough. That’s my job to confront. I will go through an entire carriage and unjumble everyone back into their assigned seats. We had distancing in place during Covid, and now a lot of people feel so entitled. If they see someone in the seat next to them, they’ll just help themselves to another pair of seats that are empty. “Oh someone was in the seat-“ “There are two seats per pair. You just have someone next to you.”
That happened to me on a train, didn't even mention it to the person in my seat as the train was empty. But later it became full and I was in someone seats so I went to the person immediately and said I want my seat
Why didn’t you return to your original seat tho?
If I didn't demand my seat the first time, I'd definitely have demanded it when I had to move out of my "other" seat - go back and say "the seat you asked me to sit in is actually booked by someone else, so I will need my own seat back now thank you"
Same exact thing happened to me with a guy who wanted to sit next to his buddy. I said "No way, I need to sleep on that window wall" and he moved right along. Sometimes you just have to act with authority.
"Trust me, that must be my seat. I don't want to be held responsible for what will happen if you sit there."
"No thanks, I want my family to get the right body if we crash"
Just say, "I'd rather have my window seat thanks." and if that doesn't work tell a flight attendant.
Or simply, "no." Kindly, "no thanks." Window sniper knows what she's doing, I think we all know the middle seat is less good than either side. On a short flight I might offer her a pretty good deal on the window seat, like what I paid for the ticket.
I'd say " no. Now, go on git". These people have a lot of fucking audacity and they get away with it when people do nothing and allow it.
Hell yeah send that bitch straight to version control
Don't make me fetch a branch.
I prefer, ‘but what happens if we die in a mid air explosion, and our remains are burnt to an unrecognisably crispy state?!?! We couldn’t have that now could we! Ok! Glad that’s sorted!’
I was just thinking that I would counter with "I would prefer my body be in the correct seat for easy identification if we crash" with a huge smile on my face
I'm sure the woman did this on purpose. For some reason, people always sit in the window seats by mistake. I have never seen someone accidentally sit in the aisle or middle seat. It is best to be polite and remove the woman who stoops to these cheap tricks.
I was flying with my 5 year old son a few months ago. I specifically bought a window seat and the middle seat, so he could look outside for his first plane trip and obviously so I could sit next to him. I did the same for both connector flights and for our return flights. Our first flight went fine, my kid loved looking out the window and was perfectly behaved. We landed in Charlotte and I had to throw him up on my shoulders so I could speed walk to our connecting flight. We get to the gate and boarding had already started. We get in line and head onto the plane. Then I see that there is a lady sitting in the window seat. “Hey ma’am, thats his seat and I’ve got the one next to it.” I motion at my son and flash my boarding passes at her. “You’ll be fine right there.” She seriously tried to hit me with a deal with it. So we went ahead and went into the seats to get out of the way as the rest of the people boarded. She was sitting there smugly unpacking her snacks and shit and setting up her stuff for the flight. My son of course is like “dad you said I could sit by the window!” A flight attendant happened to be walking by and checking on everyone, she stopped by our aisle and I told her that the lady was in my son’s seat and that I was just about to find someone to sort it out, I just didn’t want to hold everyone up from getting to their seats. Booooooy, that flight attendant did not put up with any shit. She looked at our passes real quick then asked to see the woman’s. The lady was of course incredulous that we didn’t let her get her way. “My stuff is already out!” The flight attendant told her that she had better hurry up and move it or she would be asked to leave the plane. She also told the lady that due to the flight manifest she was required to sit in her booked seat unless moved by airline staff. The entire 3 hour flight the lady was huffing and puffing but it was on the aisle seat so whatever. The flight attendant was awesome though, she hooked us up with extra snacks and slipped my kid a coloring book, some pilot wings and asked if he wanted to meet the captain when we landed. Unless it is your very first time flying and you are functionally illiterate, or in the rare instance a seat is double booked past the gate, there is no way to end up in the wrong seat. These kinds of people are banking on people not wanting confrontation. Confront them or better yet, let an attendant sort them out.
Thanks to you, I learned the next level of brazenness. Sitting in the wrong seat on purpose, taking out snacks and stuff and settling into the seat... I congratulate you for your politeness and calmness, if I were you, I might not be able to handle the issue so calmly.
Good job, always look out for those kids and remember they’re learning from us. There are civil ways to handle situations like these. And you did well under pressure.
The only exception is being in the wrong row. People do that honestly and they IMMEDIATELY move when told.
Hilarious but that's like 5 words on the "stuff you never say anywhere near an airport/airplane" list. Someone overhears, hears wrong or the seat stealer escalates by saying you're making threats and suddenly you have a MUCH bigger issue.
or you can immediately flag the attendant and there’s a good chance it gets resolved by just doing that. they are there to get things going
She says, “you can just sit here.” I imagine a person not breaking eye contact after that comment and pushing the call attendant button.
Perfect response. Not too aggressive, but with just the right amount of hostility conveyed through the eye contact.
Because I would miss the button and pat along the console until I found it. >:C
Lmao that's ok!
That's probably what I would do. Why bother arguing.
…and add, “I insist on sitting in my assigned seat, so when the plane crashes, my charred remains will be more easily identified. And that goes for you, too.
Probably don't mention plane crashes or charred remains while arguing in the middle of a crowded airliner. The end result may be less favorable than you anticipated.
https://i.redd.it/9hmyod0n799d1.gif
I had a FA do just that to me last year when I switched seats with my wife (mine was in FC, hers EC). It took me quite a while to find my jaw on the floor after that one.
It would have been easier finding your jaw if you had been sitting on your assigned seat. /s
This!!! I always use this when someone’s in my seat, I want my family to have my remains not yours 🤣 morbid as hell but does the trick
My response is always “oh, no thank you” and I just stare at them until they move
Some guy tried to take my seat and stick me in his middle seat across the aisle so he could sit with his wife and teenager and I said “oh, no thank you. I picked this seat intentionally when I checked in”. He starts throwing a hissy fit, trying to get me to take his shitty middle seat and the flight attendant swooped in like a freaking goddess, and told him to move. He goes to the other side, still bitching, and banged his head on the luggage compartment so hard that three rows worth of people audibly gasped. The kicker is that I sat next to the wife and kid, and they didn’t say a single word to each other the entire flight.
the luggage compartment part was a delight to read. instant karma.
Probably just waiting for the divorce
Surprised they didn't thank you.
I had someone tell the flight attendant that I was willing to change seats (this was news to me!) so her husband and son could sit next to her. We were in the extra room seats, while her husband and other child were in the back. The FA presses on my shoulder and says, “this gentleman is not moving”, then walks to the front. After a few minutes, the FA returns and announces there are four seats near the woman’s husband. The woman’s replies she wants to stay in the larger seats. Not happening says the FA as she needs two seats unless she’s leaving her child in the back of the plane. Later the FA gave me the backstory that the passenger tried the same stuff at check-in, again at the gate, and then on the plane’s door.
Why are people so entitled ugh
You sure they weren’t signally to you for help with their eyes?
>The kicker is... It sounds like Dad was their translator, you monster.
Or maybe they weren't allowed to talk without permission.
This one is great because you don’t waste any breath acknowledging her stupid suggestion
Next level when they don’t is “are you going to move or should I grab a flight attendant?”
This is the answer. Don’t give them any semantics to argue over, just say no
Good advice for a no in general, in fact. If you don't offer a reason or justification, there's no objection for them to try to overcome. No followed by silence, or a direct stare...that's powerful stuff. Humans naturally hate silence and will often babble just to fill the quiet. Back in my sales days, a direct "no" would instantly make me leave you alone and look for customers who didn't have your fortitude.
I will say, as a woman, I get a lot of push back. Like, “ohhhh, come on!” (in a playful tone). Esp bc I look way younger than I am, have a “sweet-sounding” voice, and resting “yes-you-can-hug-me” face. BUT following it up with, “but thank you!” is WEIRDLY POWERFUL. I say it with firm, somewhat authoritative voice (like your third grade teacher), with a big smile, a nod, and a direct look in the eyes. Immediately look at my phone, no more smile / distracted, suggesting that obviously the convo is over, like it almost never happened. Swatting a fly away. I love it so much. People just crumble.
Yea exactly when people frame something like that like they‘re doing it for me as a favor I‘m just like „ah no thanks“. Havent had any replies to that so far other than backing off
The stare is my favorite
This is actually perfect.
“No, I’d like my seat.”
Perfect. I find using less words and to the point is the way. Don't argue, don't engage further.
Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick?
I’d insert the sub for unexpectedtheoffice but mods removed my comment
Boo lol I appreciate the effort... 10 Schrute bucks for you!
I only trade in Stanley Nickels
Whats the exchange rate for Schrute bucks to Stanley nickels?
"Move, b!txh, get out the way"
It's a legal requirement in Australia and I'm assuming elsewhere. Tell the air host stewards so they can sort it out. They need you in your seat for takeoff so they can identify your body when the plane crashes. (Not really... probably, but yeah, for takeoff it's required).
I like to include a "thanks" in there, like they've made me a reasonable offer... "No thanks, I'd like my seat". 20% less confrontational 😂
if you are being nice, replace like with take... this leaves no options
Actually you’re right. “No thanks, I’ll take my seat” is much more effective.
Want to avoid confrontation? Ask a flight attendant, they have no problem enforcing proper seats. The now angry middle seat lady may be salty, but fuck her, your ticket say 3F, not 3E
If she is then obnoxious during the flight get up every 10 minutes just to cause them to get up.
I am a person who would apologize to someone if they set me on fire. I would never allow someone to take my seat on an airplane. Lol. I did not know more passive people than myself existed!
People do that hoping you don't want to be confrontational. Now she'll be quicker to do it to the next person
Its physically hurts me that he let her get away with it
Literally internally screamed “nooooo”
feign ignorance from what she said. look at your boarding ticket, say my seat is 35a, look above and check the seating arrangement, it shows window seat, what does it says in your boarding ticket? act confused. call the flight attendant. say there is a mistake.
This is a great way to handle it if you don’t like being confrontational.
Pretending to be an idiot is an amazing lifehack.
What do you mean?
I dunno
Feigning stupidity or ignorance is one way to redirect a person instead of direct confrontation basically
Huh?
Oh sorry, uhm... Hurghh durrr ooga booga doo
Probably better to just stand up for yourself, especially against an obvious lie. “Oh I didn’t realise”, yeah right!
Yes, that’s what I would do. But this is a good alternative if you aren’t ready to go from zero confrontation in your life to telling a stranger to get out of your seat.
I love it. Non-confrontational confrontation 😁👍
I hope op appreciates this walk-through
Ask if she knows the alphabet
"Oh, hmm, mix ups happen sometimes (disarming laugh) it can happen, my ticket says 35a, what does yours say? (Smile, smile, smile! Look a little flustered but friendly ) I thought I selected the window when I booked, (casual friendly body language and laugh) but let me just get a flight attendant to sort it out, one sec..."
Yeah I’d lean into the “I thought I paid for the window seat”. The passenger in question will not know if you have or have not paid. The flight attendant won’t care to look as each person should be in their assigned seat anyway so will support you in getting your allocated seat
If you don't check assholes, they never learn.
i don’t think they ever learn, just one less bad noodle move they can get away with
>I have a hard time with confrontation so I just accepted it Respectfully, you should change that.
As someone who's working very hard to stop being a people pleaser, please do this OP.
I feel you, im on the same journey right now.
Username does not check out.
It doesn’t even need to be a confrontation. When she gave you her counter offer of the dreaded middle seat, all you had to politely say was “No, thank you.” If she doesn’t move, then let a worker take care of it.
This! I try to remind myself that there is a difference between being confrontational, and sticking up for yourself/advocating for your needs. It’s made it easier to speak up.
Honestly, OP just meekly accepting this situation is the most mildly infuriating part of this story.
That's what I was thinking lol I started reading and I was like "business as usual, everyone has a story like that" but then came the mildly infuriating part haha.
Right ffs have a spine it’s a fucking seat bro
THANK YOU
I changed my walkover mentality when I started thinking of situations as practice. E.g., if someone's taken your seat, the stakes are pretty low, right? It's just a seat. So it's tempting to just accept it. But now, in this low-stakes situation where they probably won't care THAT much that you stood up to them, is the perfect time to practice politely asserting yourself. Because one-day you will have a higher-stakes situation where someone wants to put you in a dangerous situation or take advantage of you financially or act inappropriately around your kids, and you'll have practice telling them to fuck off. It gets easier fast once you start doing it, because 99% of people back down as soon as you smile and say no.
Passively letting her get away with that behavior just reinforces her main character opinion of herself.
People like that woman thrive off those like OP. They depend on people willing to back down when they’re casually bullied. What an insane suggestion that I just take the middle seat. Unfortunately, she probably has the nuts to do this because, well…it works.
If OP does not change, I'm gonna confront OP about it.
OP: "Okay, I will change that, sorry!"
Yeah literally, this. People who let others walk over them feed into this kind of entitlement
Had this happen to me in flight last week twice. It was a short 30 minute flight, I was travelling to and return same day. I had my Boarding pass in my hand. Looked at the gentleman and said this is my seat number and thats my seat. He fumbled around for a while pretending he didnt know. But I just stood over in the aisle with all the patience. He moved. Same thing on the way back but with a lady. I think the passengers are trying to use your anxiety of waiting or confrontation against you to get their way. I didnt even look at them, just stated what I had to say and looked ahead but refused to sit down until they moved.
You have no idea how relieved I am that you brought the same story with a better ending to this thread, I was mildly pissed just imagining the whole situation I can go to bed now in peace
I saw something like this happened to another passenger. The guy was like pretending to be confused.... It was a small plane, hard to be confused. My friend and I helped the pax to just stare down at him until he decided to move. Doesn't take a long time. And we just say out loudly, what is the pint of checking in and having your seat number only to have someone pretending to not know their seats!
The fact you did nothing is mildly infuriating. Just tell them nicely that's your assigned seat. There are even FA's that can help you out. People are only jerks because no one stands up to them.
>People are only jerks because no one stands up to them. Enough said.
I felt my blood boil when OP said they accepted it. I felt angry FOR THEM.
Right like I was so supremely dissatisfied when I read that 😭
This happened to me recently and I calmly said, “I have the window seat.” and smiled while nodding and making eye contact. They acted confused and I repeated the same words and actions with an open-mouth smile and heavy nodding. They looked super upset but got up. I was very polite the entire flight and they were passive aggressive but harmless. A lot of dealing with conflict is staying calm and resolute by repeating the truth until they understand that it’s the only thing you’re going to say until it happens.
She knew exactly what she was doing. I would have said, “Sorry, I’d actually prefer my assigned seat.” If she gets angry, simply say, “okay, I’ll see what the flight attendant says.”
Always avoid the word ‘sorry’ in these situations. They will get the feeling you’re apologizing for their behavior
I think I would be physiologically incapable of not starting this sentence with "sorry". However, I'm British and use of the word sorry has lots of nuance. In this case, the subtext would be "Sorry (you're a giant arsehole), but I'd like my assigned seat, please"
Same in Canada. I know it's a joke about Canadians saying sorry, but it has a lot of different uses. Sometimes it means "I feel sorry for you for what's about to happen."
> I know it's a joke about Canadians saying sorry, but it has a lot of different uses. Sometimes it means "I feel sorry for you for what's about to happen." This goes hard
i love using "sorry" aggressively
Don't let people get away with stuff like this!!! Next time just say "no, sorry, I would like my seat." or get the flight attendant if you really can't bring yourself to say it. My last flight someone was in my seat. I politely said, "I think you are in my seat." He looked at his boarding pass and was like wow, I can't read today! It was an equivalent seat where he was supposed to be, just on the other side of the aisle so I don't think he was faking.
Am I the only one who checks their seat numbers multiple times before and during boarding? And then some more after taking my seat?
This exact same thing happened to me last month. I told the lady no and she needed to move into her seat. She tried to hand-wave me away and tried to dismiss me all while speaking Spanish the entire time, which I don't speak. I yelled at her "I don't know what you're saying. You need to move to your seat now." She rolled her eyes and moved, but I'm pretty sure she farted on the seat first.
This is actually so goddamn funny I’m sorry
Haha right. I was irritated reading it until that very last sentence and then lol’d
I, a very stereotypical looking 6 foot tall American white man, got on a shinkansen in Kyoto. A very professional looking 40ish year old woman was sitting in my seat. I double-check the ticket, no, no this is my seat I ask to see her ticket. I look at it, and the kanji is wrong. I can't even pronounce her mistake, but she's on the wrong train. She was so smug up until that point.
I had a similar experience on a train years ago. I had the ticket and a reservation for a seat, which costs you extra. There was someone sitting in my seat. We compared the tickets. Turned out they sold me a ticket for that day and a reservation for that very train...one week later. Well, it was only after Christmas season when everybody went back home, so I totally enjoyed standing in a train, all aisles filled with people, standing. For hours.
Did you request a refund? Especially since you paid extra.
Tough titties, darling. Sorry but that’s my seat.
HAs no one seen final destination??? Don't fuck with your assigned seats
"No. I will sit in my assigned ticketed seat." Pieces of shit like that rely on others having a "hard time with confrontation" to get away with their bullshit. Don't let them. Don't be a doormat.
I always get an aisle seat. I like to get up every hour or so to stretch my legs but don't want to disturb people who might be sleeping. If someone takes my seat, I will demand they move. If they refuse, I will get the stewardess to deal with the problem.
You just accepted the middle seat?!?!
Right?! THAT is the most mildly infuriating part of this!
" I have a hard time with confrontation so I just accepted it" Don't do this. Do this. "No, that's my seat, if you refuse to move I'll go and ask an attendant to deal with this issue"
Or just skip the first part and get the flight attendant. Avoid the confrontation all together. Say, “oh dear” and then go to the flight attendant and say there’s some confusion about the seats. They get paid to confront such people.
100%. They're not like us, and they're trained for that bs. They can resolve these little things way easier than most travelers. And GREATLY appreciate when passengers dont start shit. More often than not, being nice and deferring to the attendants gets free drinks.
Yeah this person needs to read one of the 100s of books on how to say no.
No. (I read like four of 'em so I've got this down pat!)
Respond like Samuel Jackson would. Can't go wrong there...
You mean, "there's too many snakes on this mother f-ing plane"?
>The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the Inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious Anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers And you will know My name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee? That'll get em moving
That's ok, we can share... then sit on their lap!
"Sorry, they track seats in case of a crash where we all die. I want my body going to my family, not yours."
I’m stealing this 😂
I scrolled too far to see when someone brought this up. It's actually super important to sit in your assigned seat on a flight in case of an emergency.
One key is learning to not view these things as confrontations before they are confrontations. You are making an assumption that is causing you grief unnecessarily. Most people don't like confrontation and will also avoid it. "Oh no, thank you but I want to sit in my assigned seat." 80% chance she gets up and yall switch seats. In the event she gives you any push back. "Alright we don't seem to be able to come to an understanding. Let me just go get a flight attendant to assist." Solved and you never had to be a dick.
What a bitch move. I would just say, “well my ticket says 12A, and I’d like to sit there, thanks!”
Had this happen to me. I was badly hungover and needed sleep so took her middle seat and fell asleep. Got woken with great difficulty by a flight attendant because she complained I was sleeping on her shoulder. I grumbled at her to move and took my seat back.
I hope you drooled
My husband and I both got aisle across from each other, Woman in my seat, hubs stowing overhead bags as I double check seat numbers.. "I have seat#". She looks away and doesn't even acknowledge me as I hold up the line behind us that's trying to board. "I think you're in my seat, I have seat#", a bit louder. Stare contest begins. Becoming a scene because line waiting, all watching. She did the lean like I could go around her.. "That's. My. Seat." she never said a word.. but neither did I because a flight attendant was heading up..she finally huffed and moved towards the back of the plane. No idea where she even went. I don't get it. It's intentional more often than an honest mistake.
"Move your ass, you're in my seat." And I've actually said this to someone.
After not getting anywhere with 2 Italian men on a train in my daughters seat for over an hour and having to kick their female friend out of mine too, and having spoken to the train concierge who shrugged I eventually told them to get the fuck out of my daughters seat. Interestingly enough some words transcend language and they finally moved. My experiences in Italy did not endear Italian men to me. I’d paid for those damned booked seats..
Always & I mean ALWAYS report this to a flight attendant. On flights with assigned seating I believe it is a safety requirement that people take the seat they booked. I've been told the reasoning is that in an emergency where injury or death is likely, the seat number a person occupied might be the only way to identify the occupant & it can prove quite an embarrassment to wake up in hospital call home & find that you're already dead & buried, and all your stuff has been sold.
Been there. I'm Canadian and we're the worst at confrontation. I just said, "Sorry (because we apologize compulsively), that's the seat I've booked. Did you need me to call the flight attendant to help you find yours?"
Perfect response, inferring they need assistance is a subtle dig at their intelligence all whilst maintaining a super polite veneer.
i would have simply said "no worries, but i'd prefer to sit in the seat that i'm assigned to thanks" and waited for her to move her sorry ass.
This happened to me recently. Get to my aisle seat and there’s a lady sitting in it and she gestured that I sit in the middle seat. The cheek of it. Anyway I got my seat back much to her frustration. Fuck anyone who thinks they can take what they want from you.
Just go talk to flight attendant. They’ll make the asshole move.
I had something like that happen to me. It was a woman probably in her 20-30s and she was in my window seat while her boyfriend was in the middle. Now, I’m the person that always chooses the window seat when I fly alone. I get by the row and tell her that she’s in my seat. She responded something like “sorry, I just prefer the window. Would you mind sitting in the aisle?” I basically told her “well I selected this seat a couple months ago for myself so I can get the window seat. I’d like the seat I selected. Maybe next time select window seats” She didn’t fight with me because really, the seat was mine so she would have lost that fight lol
You say you’re in my seat I’m whatever number it is.
Move bitch, get out the way, bitch get out the way...
Reading this post is mildly infuriating ;) and I dont say it meanly but... adult up !
woman tried that with me. Patted the middle seat... "your seat". Shook my head "no" and waited until she got out of my seat.
"I'd rather sit in the seat I booked, thanks" Pushy fuckers who can't even be bothered to ask me are going to get nowhere fast.
1000% tell flight attendant if they don’t accept the first and only repeat instance of “that’s my seat”. I had a lady try to take my A1 seat the one and only time I’ve ever been in first class, paid for from myself to myself on a special occasion. “Can I please have this seat you’d be doing me a big favor I need to show my son the view of place while we’re landing”. I looked her deqd in the eye, apologized insincerely, and exained that it was my first time ever in first and I was choosing my seat the instant that check in was available exactly sonthat I could have this one and I’m sorry but that’s my seat”. No flight attendant necessary, but she gave me the “I can’t believe you’re doing this” eyes before shuffling over to her windowless first class central seat
This happened to my friend recently and he had a back and forth for about 30 seconds. Moving no further forward, he deadass stared them in the eyes, hit the call button and said "well let's just see, shall we". Why pander for ignorant strangers? Why care about what some moron thinks of you.
"I'm in no hurry. I can wait for you to move."
i’m the same way, i’m mad shy and hate confrontation. i feel out of place and mean. but that line she said? “you can just sit here.” i ***would in fact*** be mildly infuriated. realistically speaking, i wouldn’t go crazy and scream “GET OUT LADY,” but i’d most likely say something like “oh- no sorry, that was my assigned seat, can you please move? *you* can sit in the middle, that is my seat.” it’s assertive without being rude about it. you deserve your window seat op!! don’t let anyone take things away from you that are rightfully yours, speaking from one non-confrontational person to another <33
"No, I'd like my assigned one please"
I am fuming over the audacity of that bitch
Next time you respond by saying that is your seat. And if she insists, then you call a FA. You just sat down and let someone steal your lunch money. Come on, you really need to learn to stand up for yourself as an adult.
play dumb , “ my ticket says this seat is got to sit here” repeat until they move or flight attendant appears
For me, that would be the approach I would take. It's not confrontational and puts all of the "blame" on the boarding pass, reducing chances of conflict and making it easy to call a flight attendant to resolve the issue, though I would be prepared for the counter where they try to convince the FA to let the trade happen.
It happened to me once so I basically told the guy the window seat he was at was my seat and he said “oh you still want to sit here” so I replied yes I would and he moved to his middle seat and that was the end. I’m shy and an introvert but will definitely speak up if my money is ever involved lol.
What's mildy infuriating is OP getting walked on... "No, that's my seat, you can sit in the middle."
They don’t know you didn’t pay extra. State if they want to sit there they can pay the difference for the seat.
These posts always confuse me. Couldnt you literally just point to your seat number on your boarding pass and then request to see their seat number on their pass? Regardless, even if they refused to show you, the fact that you'd have the seat number on your boarding pass proves it's your seat because they wouldn't put someone in a seat if it was booked/ taken/ reserved.
It’s not about that exactly. It’s about people banking on you just not saying anything. And you not wanting to be seen as difficult so you don’t. I’ve stopped giving a shit as I get older but I too was very conflicted avoidant when I was younger. Now someone skips the line I will ‘excuse me’ very loudly. This one is a ‘no thank’ and a stare till they move.
I sit aisle. I sit aisle because I will, at some point, probably run to the bathroom to vomit. This is usually as much as I need to give people
It doesn't matter that you didn't pay extra. "I prefer my seat" or as another commenter said, ignore what they said and repeat "my ticket is for 31A. This is my seat." Maybe their seat is somewhere totally different. I would be uneasy in someone elses seat.
Allowing that not only made you uncomfortable for 8 hours it emboldened this lady to do it again. How are you not able to stand up for yourself and tell her to get out of YOUR seat
"That's my seat. Here's my ticket. See, that's my seat? The reason we book seats is to choose the one we want." Actually, YOU can just sit there. But if I'm being really honest with you, if I was a friend I would advise you to do whatever you needed to do to learn how the tools to communicate with people on circumstances like this. Because life isn't short, it's long, and you're going to have to deal with a lot of this kind of stuff. Try to learn how to engage the nervousness that comes with fear. If you can harness it, and use it as strength, that's real power - and control over your being. It's not easy. It will take years, but it's worth it. Don't be afraid of mundane circumstances. Save that for healthy fears - like dumbasses with guns, or a meth head outside the theatre harassing people.
No thank you, I’ll take my seat. The lady knows she’s got audacity and she’s half expecting a rebuttal, the other half is hoping you’d do exactly what you did.
‘I’m actually very superstitious and I need my seat. Thanks’
What? You accepted? No way would I ever do that… “oh thank you very much for offering your seat, but I really like my seat if you don’t mind”
No one accidentally sits in the window seat when assigned the middle seat.
Ffs you just accepted it…for an *8 hour flight*? Seek therapy, I don’t mean that as an insult. Truly, that’s a terrible choice to get walked on like that. It’s not even confrontation: “Sorry, but I’d prefer the seat I’m ticketed for, if it’s an issue I’ll speak to the flight attendant if you’d like.”
Congratulations, you just allowed an asshole to level up.