Man slammed for ‘pressuring young woman’ to swap seats on flight

When embarking on a long-haul flight, most travellers ensure they pre-book their preferred seat for added comfort during the journey. However, some take a chance and board without paying extra to guarantee one of the prime spots.

That’s precisely what one passenger allegedly did whilst flying 40,000ft above ground, though his actions have since been branded “entitled”. In a Reddit post, a father said: “My daughter recently took her first solo overnight international flight on a Delta A350 in a 2-4-2 Premium Select cabin.

“I used miles to book her an aisle seat in the two-seat section. The man in the window seat next to her asked if she would switch seats with his wife, who was seated in the middle four.

“After some persistence, she eventually agreed just to get him to stop asking. After swapping, she discovered the other person in the middle four was also a solo traveller.”

The solo traveller relayed her experience to others, and everyone she consulted agreed she ought to have remained in place and declined the exchange.

Disappointed she yielded to the “entitled” passenger, but relieved she reached her destination safely, the father continued: “Everyone she’s told this story to has pointed out – correctly – that if sitting next to his wife was that important, he should have swapped seats with the solo traveller in the middle four, not asked her to give up her seat.

“She said it ended up being fine because the people seated next to her were nice and entertaining. I told her the etiquette advice she received is absolutely right, and it was her seat to do with as she pleased but, if I’m paying for her ticket, she better not swap into a lower cabin.”

Responding to her post, one user said: “Ugh, the entitlement these days is infuriating! Glad her neighbours ended up being nice but hate to hear that she felt she had to eventually agree because he kept asking!

“Make sure she knows for next time that it’s also polite to say ‘no and please don’t ask me again’ or just let the flight attendant know and deal with him.”

Another user said: “Yeah, young females… Oh, wait, females in general get treated like we are pushovers or disposable. Please… please… PLEASE… encourage her with love that she doesn’t have to bow down to this kind of c***.”

A third user commented: “F*** the wife for letting her a******e husband bully a little girl into giving up her seat. She knows what it’s like to be a woman in this situation and she let it happen. Seriously who is this lady, straight to jail.”

One more user added: “Exactly this! I would never allow my husband to do such an inappropriate thing. Of course she is going to say yes. She probably feels like she has to.”

Another added: “I’ve raised my daughters to know that they aren’t obligated to accommodate anyone’s feelings at the expense of their own and/or their no. Your ‘no thank you’ does not need a justification. Period.”

An additional comment read: “Those people irritate me! If you want to sit together, book your seats together. People who book separate seats, especially married couples expecting a solo traveller to move, are so rude and inconsiderate.”