the same.”
Four times in the last three months, I’ve been asked to switch seats on an airplane. Today, on a work-related flight, the same situation arose. Seated beside me was a man, who had a first class seat, but wanted to sit with his wife, who wasn’t in first class. He politely asked the flight attendant if he could switch with me, and I graciously offered. While I was happy to oblige, it made me realize that this wasn’t the first time a fellow passenger had asked me to switch seats.
In the past three months, I’d been asked to switch seats no less than four times. Whether it was someone wanting to sit with their family, someone needing more legroom, or someone wanting a window seat, I’d had my fair share of requests. I’d paid for my seat and chose it for a reason; the aisle seat offers more freedom of movement and more room. And yet, here I was, asked to switch seats yet again.
This time, I was ready to stand my ground. I politely declined the man’s request and said, “No, there is absolutely no chance.” While I may have missed out on a free upgrade and some complimentary drinks, I was proud of myself for sticking to my guns. I’d paid for my seat and I felt I had the right to stay in it.
We all need to remember that when we book our flight, we’ve chosen our seat for a reason. If you want to sit beside a loved one, upgrade your ticket, or make sure you book ahead of time and choose the seat you want. Don’t expect others to give up their seat for you. We all have the right to stay in the seat we paid for.