Seat selections -- was I in the wrong?

[duffy]

Yes, you were right and she was wrong.

What irritated me about this woman was this: did it really matter that she was separate from her husband for a few hours? I don't understand women like this! I mean, he was right there. Why did she need to have him so close?

Maybe I've been married too long-27 years in Feb!-but I don't feel the need to sit RIGHTBESIDEHIMATALLTIMES. I know what he looks like!!

 

[Tozzie]

Just a note, although you did the right thing for yourself, seats are never guaranteed, so if the airline switches planes, cancels and rebooks, etc, you could be placed into a non-aisle seat.

I am fully aware of that. I however procrastinate when buying my tickets and usually book about 1 month before my trip and due to the airport constraints there aren't many options for the airline to switch equipment to. I also check my flights weekly in case that happens to re select a seat that works for me.

 

[crashbb]

Don't worry, Sandi, you were just inducted into the poopyhead gang. It may feel a little painful your first time around, but you'll soon get used to it. Besides, we have the good chocolate.

I sat next to a member of the gang on my flight tonight. Small plane (CRJ) so they ask you to gate-check your larger carry-on and just take on your personal item. Dude in the window seat decided that he should take on his carry-on. Of course it didn't fit in the overhead bin, so he had put it under the seat in front of us. However, since it was big (and there was no divider between the seats), it filled half the area under the seat in front of me. I didn't need to stick my bag under there (mine EASILY fit in the overhead bin, but I was kind of hoping that my feet could go there!

Luckily the row behind us was empty (well except for the large case from the man sitting in the bulk head which the FA had had to store there - under the seat in front) so I just moved there and spread myself over two seats.

OP - you did nothing wrong at all. I don't fault the woman for asking (it could have been nicer for the two kids to sit together), but would expect her to accept a negative answer. I know that someone people don't even like being asked, since it can put them in an awkward position - but I'm good at saying "no".

And, for the record, I never threw a wadded up piece of paper at my colleague, but missed and hit my boss instead. Innocent I tell you. At least I didn't hit the FA (or another passenger).

 

[seashoreCM]

(subquote) Did (I) commit some sin?)
In the real world? No.
In the DIS world? Yes.

In the real world? No.
In the DIS world? No.

I had D. She was in C - both aisle seats - and her husband and son were in E and F. I figured, no problem, so I agreed. Equal seats. Nope. It was a red-eye flight and the twit in B was up and down ALL NIGHT. .

Except you had no way of knowing that B might have fallen asleep and it might have been E who was up and down all night.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I also don't think you were wrong because if you selected the seats when you made the reservations and maybe pre-paid to have those specific seats like some Airlines do. So you got them first and should have been allowed to keep them.

 

[eyor44]

Besides, we have the good chocolate.

I'm visiting over here a lot more often.

What irritated me about this woman was this: did it really matter that she was separate from her husband for a few hours? I don't understand women like this! I mean, he was right there. Why did she need to have him so close?

Maybe I've been married too long-27 years in Feb!-but I don't feel the need to sit RIGHTBESIDEHIMATALLTIMES. I know what he looks like!!

I have a couple friends like this. They are always confused that I can do things without even "asking" DH first.

 

[Tara]

I'll never forget getting on a flight once (this was maybe 18 months ago?) and a guy was sitting in my carefully chosen window seat. I told him he was in my seat and he just looked at me, so I had to ask him to move. He got up, I sat down, and then he sat in the middle seat next to me. He huffed and puffed for a minute then the following happened:

Seat Stealing Jerk: So you really want that seat?
Me: Yes, I chose it ahead of time because it's what I wanted.
SSJ: Well, then go ahead and have it!
Me: Since it is my assigned seat, I think I'll do that. (in my cheeriest STHU voice)

I think he was shocked that I stood up to him. He moved over one seat to the empty aisle seat, then another passenger came and that was *his* seat. So SSJ moved to across the aisle and the same thing happened. It turns out he was supposed to be in a middle seat a couple of rows back.

I have some nerve.

 

[dudspizza]

In the real world? No.
In the DIS world? No.

 

[aubriee]

I'll never forget getting on a flight once (this was maybe 18 months ago?) and a guy was sitting in my carefully chosen window seat. I told him he was in my seat and he just looked at me, so I had to ask him to move. He got up, I sat down, and then he sat in the middle seat next to me. He huffed and puffed for a minute then the following happened:

Seat Stealing Jerk: So you really want that seat?
Me: Yes, I chose it ahead of time because it's what I wanted.
SSJ: Well, then go ahead and have it!
Me: Since it is my assigned seat, I think I'll do that. (in my cheeriest STHU voice)

I think he was shocked that I stood up to him. He moved over one seat to the empty aisle seat, then another passenger came and that was *his* seat. So SSJ moved to across the aisle and the same thing happened. It turns out he was supposed to be in a middle seat a couple of rows back.

I have some nerve.

I think that guy flies out of DFW sometimes. A couple of years ago I found a man sitting in my row 12, aisle seat. He and his girlfriend/wife had already gotten magazines out and appeared to be sitting up squatter's rights before I even got on the plane. I let him know politely that he was in my seat. He didn't even bother to look at me or even answer. He just jerked his thumb toward the back of the plane and told me to sit in his seat (Row 30 Seat E). Excuse me! Give up my aisle seat in the front of the plane for a middle seat in the back, to a guy who doesn't even have the courtesy to look me in the eye and ask. I don't think so. I told him no and he tried to use his size to bully me into agreeing. Sorry, not happening. A FA saw us and came. He tried to argue with her that they should make me move. She of course, didn't agree, didn't like his attitude (idiot tried to bully her too), and made him move. He then had the nerve to call me a "B__ch". His partner, then spent several minutes harrassing me about not giving up my seat. I asked her why they didn't purchase seats together and she told me there were none available when they booked just a few days prior. I then asked her why she didn't offer her seat to the person sitting next to her partner, telling her that since her seat was closer to the front and was a window seat they might have better luck getting someone to switch. She informed me that they didn't want to sit in the back of the plane and then kept insisting it wouldn't hurt me to move. I tried to ignore her, but she just kept on, until I threatened to call the FA, if she didn't stop harrassing me. Sorry, I'm not giving up an aisle seat in the front of the plane for a middle seat in the back. If he'd asked, I might have considered it (probably would not have given the seat up, but at least would have considered it). However, he didn't ask, just tried to bully a poor defenseless woman. Little did he know that this grandma doesn't get intimidated. lol

 

[goofy4tink]

That makes no sense - her family would have still been seperated by the aisle.

Sounds like maybe mom didn't want the kids sitting with her so she would have put them in the row with Dad and then she would have been childless.

Hit the nail right on it's little head!!! And as someone else said...dad slept for the trip, which probably really annoyed mom!!

Don't worry, Sandi, you were just inducted into the poopyhead gang. It may feel a little painful your first time around, but you'll soon get used to it. Besides, we have the good chocolate.

Great..now everyone knows about the chocolate stash!!!

 

[seashoreCM]

1. I asked her why they didn't purchase seats together and she told me there were none available when they booked just a few days prior.
2. I then asked her why she didn't offer her seat to the person sitting next to her partner, telling her that since ... they might have better luck getting someone to switch. She informed me that they didn't want to sit in the back of the plane.

How come she didn't come out and say the answer to question #2 when you asked question #1?

 

[crashbb]

Hit the nail right on it's little head!!! And as someone else said...dad slept for the trip, which probably really annoyed mom!!

People keep saying this, but dad also had a child beside him.

 

[eyor44]

People keep saying this, but dad also had a child beside him.

He wouldn't have been able to sleep is he would have had two children beside him.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Before I answer the OP's question... I have to say I nearly spit out my coffee when I read your signature. Kittens, indeed! Love it!

Yes, you were right and she was wrong.

What irritated me about this woman was this: did it really matter that she was separate from her husband for a few hours? I don't understand women like this! I mean, he was right there. Why did she need to have him so close?

Maybe I've been married too long-27 years in Feb!-but I don't feel the need to sit RIGHTBESIDEHIMATALLTIMES. I know what he looks like!!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The aisle seat is my preferred seat on those rare occasions I have a choice in seat assignment. The gate agents know this and do a really nice job of maneuvering passengers with other needs so that I can have my preference. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't.

When we DO have assigned seating and I am traveling with CEPSG or DD, we often choose the 2 aisle seats in the same row if it's not an MD-80. I would not feel obligated to move within the same row to accommodate another family if it meant inconveniencing my own, especially if their desire to be seated together is just a preference.

 

[Missytara]

Reminds me of the time I flew to LV with two very, very tall friends from BWI to Cinncinati, and then we flew on the same plane to LV.

They worked through a travel agent and got us very nice seats in the bulkhead aisle up front - all together for both flights. They would have been miserable without them. When we got to Cinncinati, there was a one-and-a half hour layover, but we were still on the same plane.

We were asked to wait for a few minutes to take a headcount and then we were allowed to de-board to make a food run. My friend also wanted to make a bathroom run to change her clothes.

When we got back, our names were being called by the gate attendant over the intercom. We thought we were real late or something, but they had just begun boarding the plane. We went to the desk and were asked if we would kindly change our bulkhead seats with a young couple on their honeymoon who had never flown before. We said, sorry, we paid for those seats specifically, because they are so tall.

We get on the plane and the young couple (maybe 21 at the most) is now sitting in OUR window and center seat. Our stuff is under the seats and in the overhead bin above, and they still sat in them. We started telling them very nicely to get out of our seats, while blocking the aisleway - but they said the gate attendant told them we gave up our seats for them. Just as I started to accuse them of lying, the attendant told us very firmly to sit in our assigned seats, or we would be asked to de-board immediately and catch another flight at our own expense. People behind us were now trying to board.

We realized it was a whole different crew, so they didn't recognize us at first.

We tried to explain and the attendant was adamant we needed to get to our assigned seats, stop harassing this young couple or de-board immediately. Finally, my dear friend was able to get the attendant to read our tickets and she realized they were our seats. We told her that the gate attendant had asked us to give up our seats, and we said no. The attendant was so apologetic and said the gate attendant had no right to even ask us if we wanted to change our assigned seats. She asked one of the other attendants to contact them as soon as possible and find out who made the error. She then turned to the young couple, and very sternly said if they didn't get out of OUR seats immediately, they would be asked to leave the plane and book another flight at their expense.

She paused, and said to the young couple (as they sheepishly moved to their seats all the way in the back of the plane), "I hope one of your parents didn't tell you to pull that kind of trick on a plane, because it is just plain wrong....."

 

[Tara]

People keep saying this, but dad also had a child beside him.

Yes, but the OP stated that the child entertained himself and the dad slept. My hunch was that the mom was peeved because the dad was able to sleep thanks to the child who didn't need entertaining, whereas she was not.

 

[goofy4tink]

People keep saying this, but dad also had a child beside him.

Oh, I got that....agree with the two posters below....

He wouldn't have been able to sleep is he would have had two children beside him.

Yes, but the OP stated that the child entertained himself and the dad slept. My hunch was that the mom was peeved because the dad was able to sleep thanks to the child who didn't need entertaining, whereas she was not.

Methinks that perhaps mom got stuck with the more energetic child. And she would have liked to take the aisle seat, across from her dh and two kids.

 

[goofy4tink]

Before I answer the OP's question... I have to say I nearly spit out my coffee when I read your signature. Kittens, indeed! Love it!

Every single time I add that 's I think of kittens dying. It's just not fair!!! People I don't even know are really impacting my life.

 

[bumbershoot]

Funny, this is a classic case of passive-aggressive behavior. The woman didn't care if you and your daughter sat next to each other; she cared if her family was seated together. MAYBE if she'd asked for what she wanted rather than making a self-serving "offer" who knows, you might have been inclined to switch seats. (not saying you should have at all, though!) But instead she went the passive-aggressive route and was no doubt peeved when her strategy backfired.

That's a really good point.