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In reply to the discussion: Airplane Etiquette [View all]

Peacetrain

(22,836 posts)
79. We always book early and pay extra for it.. to get an aisle seat for me
Mon Apr 1, 2019, 08:57 AM
Apr 2019

because of a knee replacement I have limited mobility getting in and out of seats..some of them are so incredibly tight.. so I would not have.. and not have felt bad about it..

Airplane Etiquette [View all] Vdizzle Mar 2019 OP
I would have said no nini Apr 2019 #1
Agree with you. Dan Apr 2019 #2
Same here Retrograde Apr 2019 #24
I agree. Mariana Apr 2019 #28
Ditto malaise Apr 2019 #57
+1, it's their problem not yours mitch96 Apr 2019 #117
Agree djg21 Apr 2019 #147
Me too. LuvNewcastle Apr 2019 #155
It wouldn't have been rude True Dough Apr 2019 #3
My advice customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #11
Southwest doesn't have first class wryter2000 Apr 2019 #101
And I would never fly Southworst customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #142
This is NOT a very bad time to be flying. pangaia Apr 2019 #106
I've used miles to upgrade to business class. mnhtnbb Apr 2019 #135
No way I can plan that far ahead pangaia Apr 2019 #145
This is not based on simple hysteria customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #143
I would have said no and have different times Thekaspervote Apr 2019 #4
They have assigned seats for a reason WA-03 Democrat Apr 2019 #5
I did inform the flight attendant of the change Vdizzle Apr 2019 #8
I fly a lot... dhill926 Apr 2019 #6
Yes, I would have said no, too More_Cowbell Apr 2019 #7
Mutter something in a made-up foreign language customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #9
That's a good one! Vdizzle Apr 2019 #10
Do a Latka Gravas customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #12
I would look puzzled and say: Aristus Apr 2019 #20
I just say "I don't speak English" Retrograde Apr 2019 #25
If you know a foreign language customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #41
It is funny that more Germans speak Doreen Apr 2019 #51
Brilliant idea! I once faked Polish when someone wanted to pick me up in Mexico. fierywoman Apr 2019 #31
And on a plane in the US customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #36
(thanks for the midnight giggle!) fierywoman Apr 2019 #50
Why bother with the theatrics? Just tell them, firmly, "No". Dave Starsky Apr 2019 #82
LOL treestar Apr 2019 #98
I lived in NY for over ten years customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #140
Talking in a made up foreign language will get you kicked off the plane nowadays. TeamPooka Apr 2019 #133
Only if it sounds Middle Eastern customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #141
Smart after the fact, of course, but I would have suggested that if he wanted to sit question everything Apr 2019 #13
I don't think it was rude to ask. I don't think it's rude to say no California_Republic Apr 2019 #14
Maybe the wife picked the seat to finally get away from her husband for 4 hours. TheBlackAdder Apr 2019 #39
Haha I thought I was the only one... a la izquierda Apr 2019 #69
"....especially if it's a three holer. " pangaia Apr 2019 #107
Of course it is rude to ask obamanut2012 Apr 2019 #58
I don;t agree at all.. pangaia Apr 2019 #108
The OP RobinA Apr 2019 #160
i hate seat switchers. i book early, they didnt, then they come for my seat Demovictory9 Apr 2019 #15
I've only been asked once, and it worked out ok. NutmegYankee Apr 2019 #18
intl flight. family had sat child about 10 in my seat next to her older bro. parents where no where Demovictory9 Apr 2019 #21
I'm a window seat guy customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #37
Iguana! lunatica Apr 2019 #89
Yeah, it adds customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #144
maybe they couldn't book early enough.. pangaia Apr 2019 #109
i really can't fault someone for asking around to see if they can sit next to their spouse. unblock Apr 2019 #16
The problem is if they're both in middle seats, neither has a seat that anyone would want in trade. pnwmom Apr 2019 #49
i recognize that, and that's too bad for them. unblock Apr 2019 #62
I've seen plenty of people volunteer when a flight attendant asks bernie59 Apr 2019 #73
I can fault them -- it is rude to ask, period obamanut2012 Apr 2019 #59
i don't think it's rude to ask per se. unblock Apr 2019 #63
I would have told him no ... if he had a window or aisle seat, sure SFnomad Apr 2019 #17
OK, would probably--and have--moved to help accommodate families. Laffy Kat Apr 2019 #19
If you don't lay down customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #38
Sitting by his wife probably wasn't his real aim. Kablooie Apr 2019 #22
Practice saying, "Sorry I have a bad knee. I need to be able to stretch my leg during the flight." politicaljunkie41910 Apr 2019 #23
That's an easy one for me. I DO have bad knees. DFW Apr 2019 #27
Yep. I've gotta be mindful of my knees also. calimary Apr 2019 #114
I have three arthroscopies notched in my belt DFW Apr 2019 #115
I know someone who has DVT so they always book an aisle seat. llmart Apr 2019 #72
It's honestly not your problem. I'm sure married people, even codependent ones can get by UniteFightBack Apr 2019 #26
I have switched in the past, but don't any more. My knees are both problem cases. DFW Apr 2019 #29
Could be that if u had refused the wife might thanked u profusely, 5X Apr 2019 #30
There is no good answer. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #32
Some children are easy, some are incredibly difficult. hunter Apr 2019 #134
Oh, yes, I absolutely believed that PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #148
Mohawk was the MAD MEN airline. Love that. TeamPooka Apr 2019 #136
Alas, they had the Mohawk account for about twenty minutes. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #149
They got them back later and went through a mechanics strike with them in the series too TeamPooka Apr 2019 #157
I don't recall them getting Mohawk back. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #163
they used them quite a bit actually... TeamPooka Apr 2019 #165
No additional charge for premium seats assigned at the gate. Ms. Toad Apr 2019 #161
Not gonna switch for a middle seat madville Apr 2019 #33
Tell 'em you're coming off a case of explosive diarrhea and need the aisle seat . . . Journeyman Apr 2019 #34
I would have said no. madaboutharry Apr 2019 #35
Say no. Your seat is your seat. roody Apr 2019 #40
did he lie about that being his wife - why didn't they book together EveHammond13 Apr 2019 #42
they probably booked late and there were no open seats next to each other JI7 Apr 2019 #46
Years ago this happened to me marlakay Apr 2019 #43
Here is what I would do. Lucid Dreamer Apr 2019 #44
it would NOT have been rude for you to say no . as some others said, make up an excuse JI7 Apr 2019 #45
Curb Your Enthusiasm: betsuni Apr 2019 #47
Go with the silent treatment.... safeinOhio Apr 2019 #53
No, it is their problem to book their seats together treestar Apr 2019 #48
Seriously jberryhill Apr 2019 #83
Hahaha blaze Apr 2019 #88
LOL treestar Apr 2019 #96
It's silliness jberryhill Apr 2019 #146
LOL treestar Apr 2019 #171
For a four hour flight? Sgent Apr 2019 #52
I would have said no. we can do it Apr 2019 #54
I would have said no. Jim__ Apr 2019 #55
I really am claustrophobic, and have refused to change seats as well. I have said "no" several Nay Apr 2019 #80
It isn't a dilemna at all -- you just say no obamanut2012 Apr 2019 #56
You are not being a jerk. mnhtnbb Apr 2019 #60
I agree with you. It is pushy and rude to ask someone to move MaryMagdaline Apr 2019 #61
You reserved that aisle seat on purpose. secondwind Apr 2019 #64
imagine if it were some other scenario with assigned seating (that you selected and paid for) anarch Apr 2019 #65
Very good point! Vdizzle Apr 2019 #124
No, would have been my answer HAB911 Apr 2019 #66
You're only feeling irked because you didn't have the cojones to say No at the time ! OnDoutside Apr 2019 #67
By "big guys" I didn't mean overweight Vdizzle Apr 2019 #125
Sacrificing vs resenting vs being a doormat lostnfound Apr 2019 #68
Poem, "Skywriter" lostnfound Apr 2019 #71
It depends upon the flight melm00se Apr 2019 #70
Regardless of whether it was rude to ask, or whether you resent what happened, bernie59 Apr 2019 #74
I wouldn't have changed snowybirdie Apr 2019 #75
Ask the guy to show you his wedding license FakeNoose Apr 2019 #76
Why be so confrontational? Tipperary Apr 2019 #77
The OP doesn't indicate which airline he was on FakeNoose Apr 2019 #119
It was Alaska Airlines Vdizzle Apr 2019 #126
My spouse and I paid extra to book seats together once frazzled Apr 2019 #78
LOL treestar Apr 2019 #97
We always book early and pay extra for it.. to get an aisle seat for me Peacetrain Apr 2019 #79
I wish there was more of a spirit of ...... LAS14 Apr 2019 #81
It was a rude, and touching someone you don't know is creepy obamanut2012 Apr 2019 #91
Thank you. Tipperary Apr 2019 #120
Southwest Smackdown2019 Apr 2019 #84
A polite no would be appropriate. dem4decades Apr 2019 #85
You were not wrong!!! He had one hell of a nerve! 50 Shades Of Blue Apr 2019 #86
Interesting dilemma. You said the other passengers were MineralMan Apr 2019 #87
What irritates me are the families that are late arrivals on southwest Buckeyeblue Apr 2019 #90
I've probably been on a couple of hundred air flights in my life. Paladin Apr 2019 #92
Many a times I had to shove the seat back up Dazbog Apr 2019 #168
Well said. Paladin Apr 2019 #172
you did the right thing Demonaut Apr 2019 #93
I never move, it baffles me why couples can't be separated for a few hours... HipChick Apr 2019 #94
You are under no obligation to change seats or feel guilty about it... brooklynite Apr 2019 #95
The flight attendants should do that sort of thing. aikoaiko Apr 2019 #99
My nightmare: Baitball Blogger Apr 2019 #100
Oh, when my lady and I do that customerserviceguy Apr 2019 #158
I would have at l least lied and told him I paid the seat fee... PeeJ52 Apr 2019 #102
I would have kindly said "No thank you" Catherine Vincent Apr 2019 #103
Perhaps the wife should have asked the person next to her husband to relocate? Firestorm49 Apr 2019 #104
You should have kept your seat randr Apr 2019 #105
Flying is like riding a Greyhound bus these days. redstatebluegirl Apr 2019 #110
I always book an aisle seat. Period. Grandma's getting old. calimary Apr 2019 #111
I was on a plane one time when an obnoxious guy ran up and complained he was sitting next to a woman DFW Apr 2019 #112
Was it Pence? Totally Tunsie Apr 2019 #123
LOL!!! DFW Apr 2019 #131
It's the incident that turned Pence's hair white. Dave Starsky Apr 2019 #170
I was told once by a flight Attendant (a friend off duty) itcfish Apr 2019 #113
That's why I informed the flight attendant of the change. Vdizzle Apr 2019 #128
That doesn't make much sense if you think about it Retrograde Apr 2019 #129
My one experience turned out to be delightful. planetc Apr 2019 #116
I have a weak bladder, so I need aisle seats so as to not disturb anyone else. Yavin4 Apr 2019 #118
I say, ask all you want musette_sf Apr 2019 #121
Sounds like that family tried to scam the system. Reader Rabbit Apr 2019 #138
I recently flew with my wife TheFarseer Apr 2019 #122
I would consider this handmade34 Apr 2019 #127
No kids were involved nini Apr 2019 #162
While it is always a good thing to be polite, politeness doesn't mean agreeing with the other person Dankasaurus Apr 2019 #130
I share your discomfort about telling someone "no" ProfessorPlum Apr 2019 #132
It isn't rude to ask. It isn't rude to say no. fishwax Apr 2019 #137
If sitting together was that important, they should have booked in time to choose seats together. Arkansas Granny Apr 2019 #139
The appropriate response... FreeJoe Apr 2019 #150
plane etiquette pamdb Apr 2019 #151
Flyertalk has over a thousand posts on seat swap horror stories in one thread. Pope George Ringo II Apr 2019 #152
Next time, just say you need an aisle seat for personal reasons, sorry... problem solved. InAbLuEsTaTe Apr 2019 #153
I hate flying. It is a huge phobia of mine. blur256 Apr 2019 #154
I would have said no. roamer65 Apr 2019 #156
I would have said yes if it was another aisle seat. demmiblue Apr 2019 #159
I'm surprised at all the DU members suggesting using fake excuses to say no! GulfCoast66 Apr 2019 #164
I would have said no to a middle seat Horse with no Name Apr 2019 #166
For flights over 90 minutes, never give an aisle for a middle seat. discntnt_irny_srcsm Apr 2019 #167
as someone who flies every week on long range flights, peacebuzzard Apr 2019 #169
Politely decline, plug in the headphones and sip on your low end blended scotch... Baconator Apr 2019 #173
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