‘I ruined 2 plane passengers’ seating plan and they took it out on me’

The traveller explained they had been assigned the middle seat on a packed connecting flight, only to find a mum and daughter already settled into the aisle and window seats when they boarded.

Sharing the story on Reddit, the traveller said: “I let them know it was my seat and the daughter grumbled the whole time while moving her bag.”

After taking their place, things only became more awkward.

The passenger claimed both women had left the armrests raised in the hope of having extra room, and seemed unhappy when they insisted on putting them back down before the flight took off.

They added: “The mother told me she was more comfortable with the armrest up. I smiled and apologised, but explained I needed it down.”

The traveller also alleged the plus-sized duo repeatedly ‘spilled into their seat’, placing their arms and legs over the shared armrests despite being requested multiple times to shift.

Prior to settling down, they even proposed swapping seats with either of the women so they could remain seated together more comfortably – however, both refused.

The passenger suspects the duo had intentionally reserved the window and aisle seats hoping nobody would be allocated the middle seat – and became irritated when their strategy failed.

They added: “They kept talking loudly over me and passing things back and forth. I eventually asked them to stop because they were constantly reaching across me. It was a full flight so there was nowhere else I could move.”

Seeking views, they questioned whether they had been unreasonable for expecting the women to remain within their own seats.

Numerous social media users backed the passenger, contending that reserving the window and aisle doesn’t guarantee the middle seat will stay vacant.

One user said: “I’m guessing they bought the window and the aisle seats in the hopes that nobody would take the middle seat and they could sprawl, but it being a full flight messed up their plans.”

Another added: “People like them are why I carry two folding plastic boards in my carryon. They look like flat plastic lunch trays when I unfold them.

“They go between the edge of the seat and the armrest and create a wall on either side of my seat. I give up the armrest but oversized people next to me can’t ooze into my space.”

A third said: “I once sat in the wrong seat and I was so embarrassed! I rapidly skedaddled to my actual seat while apologising.”