I have to admit, I saw this topic on Quora, but I am intrigued about others opinions.

Would you move to a different seat on a plane because someone asked? What if they demanded it?

Last time I got asked this was on a flight from Madrid to Dubai, and I am one of those people that want a window seat for the shoulder width, and I am happy to sit there for hours as long as I am not squeezed up. In most cases you have to pay for picking a seat, so I am less likely to want to change.

'Sir, would you mind changing seats with this gentleman so that he can sit with his wife'
" Is it a window seat as well?"
'No.'
"Sorry, No."

My argument is that if its really important for you to sit somewhere specific, or next to someone else, you need to organise yourself and do it. Want a bit more legroom because you are tall? Pay for it.

I am only 5'8 and I often pay for an exit row seat so that I can stretch out, so why aren't people more responsible for their own actions and do this? An extra $40 for a 5 hour flight, no problem if I am going to be more comfortable.

If somebody asks me to swap seats with them- yes I swap. Its called being civil.
Should I ask why, no thats rude.
You don't have to profit from every interaction in your life.

I'm with you on window seats, but being taller, I once opted for the exit row for the additional legroom. All was good until peeps started coming to my zone to stretch their legs. The cheek.
One of my last flights was with Sing. I had an aisle seat and the fatty hostess would get me with her chunky butt whenever she passed by. And not just her of course. Ugh, planes. A necessary evil.
And don't get me started on hygiene...

But I digress. No. No changing 'down' seats.

If I get a window seat, I just enjoy so much being able to look out the window all the while to see our fascinating planet... ripple-like waves on the ocean, horizontal lightning, picking out Canberra suburbs, contour plowing of fields. What I hate is sitting next to twits who have the window, read the vertically-held newspaper for half the trip; doesn't all the building around Brisbane, or the dry Menindee Lakes hold interest for these people?

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awkward customer said..
If somebody asks me to swap seats with them- yes I swap. Its called being civil.
Should I ask why, no thats rude.
You don't have to profit from every interaction in your life.

In Nova's case he was not going to profit, he would be at a loss.

The ones who would profit would be "the gentleman and his wife"

truth be told the said gentleman prob booked the seats so he wasn't near his wife.

So awkward customer.
If you just had a nice meal that you paid for served to your table and the waitress said, "sir, would you mind if Izzy ate your meal as he is too poor to pay for his own dinner" you would jump up and let him tuck into your feed?

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Buster fin said..
I'm with you on window seats, but being taller, I once opted for the exit row for the additional legroom. All was good until peeps started coming to my zone to stretch their legs. The cheek.
One of my last flights was with Sing. I had an aisle seat and the fatty hostess would get me with her chunky butt whenever she passed by. And not just her of course. Ugh, planes. A necessary evil.
And don't get me started on hygiene...

But I digress. No. No changing 'down' seats.

Oh don't get me started on aisle seats! They are better than the middle seats, but again the shoulder width becomes a problem for me. I usually end up hanging over the edge and lots and lots of people will bump you, except for the ones that pay attention, but sadly not that many.

I was sitting in a bulkhead aisle seat once, which was okay, but obviously people didn't like it because it was close to the area where people do what you said and 'stretch their legs' while also talking loudly to other people stretching their legs. I didn't mind so much as I can't sleep well on a plane anyway, and with some decent headphones it blocks things out a bit.

I don't recline my seats much, as I hate it when other people recline too much in front of me, but I hate those seats that have no recline at all. Its sort of okay if its an exit row seat as you can stretch out a bit in the front, but still a pain.

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Craig66 said..

The ones who would profit would be "the gentleman and his wife"

truth be told the said gentleman prob booked the seats so he wasn't near his wife.

They looked like, and just making wild assumptions here, that they booked late and both got middle seats. Why else would you want to move?

Do I care if they sit together? Not at all. It's their problem, but I am not going to make myself uncomfortable because they are clueless.

Would I want to sit together with my wife? It depends on how many years I was married but if I really wanted to, I would pay the extra.

On the same holiday I was flying from Dubai to Vietnam. I got onto the plane and sat at my chosen window seat, next to a young couple in the middle and aisle seats. It felt a bit weird as there seemed to be no one around us.

After about 10 minutes it was clear that there were very few people on the flight, and the couple moved, and I got the whole row. Score! Almost everyone on that flight would have gotten their own row, and it was one of the best flights of the trip. Better than business class for sure.

No- firstly I would congratulate him for doing gods work and ripping off all the bigots who gave money to his crowd funding page and then I would explain the OP's question: In his example he simply had a window seat (gained either randomly or through picking it online without paying extra). It would be the same as somebody asking if they could jump a queue in front of you/me because they were in a hurry. Or somebody borrowing my pump. Or somebody I dont know getting a lift from me in the apposite direction from the beach.

The reason I answered the question is because it sounds like it smacks of "is it ok to care only about myself". The reason you answered me instead of of the op is because you have probably done this exact thing.

Further if I had just paid for a delicious meal and the waiter asked me to donate it to a starving person who was not izzy folau- I can't say it would depend on the situation.

Edit: type lag obviously in reply to craig 66

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awkward customer said..
.... In his example he simply had a window seat (gained either randomly or through picking it online without paying extra). It would be the same as somebody asking if they could jump a queue in front of you/me because they were in a hurry. Or somebody borrowing my pump. Or somebody I dont know getting a lift from me in the apposite direction from the beach.

The reason I answered the question is because it sounds like it smacks of "is it ok to care only about myself". The reason you answered me instead of of the op is because you have probably done this exact thing.

Just to set the context, I always try and get a window seat, whether it is by paying for the privilege, or getting onto the system early to choose a window seat. I don't even care where it is, as long as its a window seat. Back of the plane is perfectly fine by me.

I can't remember if I paid for this one or just chose early. It was Emirates, and I am not sure what they do. I have flown Delta via a code share with Virgin Australia and they wouldn't let the Virgin customers choose their seats, but the Delta ones could. I won't be flying with a Delta codeshare again.

It is good to care about others, but it is also true in this world that there are a lot of people that choose to look out only for themselves and someone else has to compensate them for it. Why is that my problem? Its not. That's why I am happy to pay for my choice of seat.

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Wollemi said..
If I get a window seat, I just enjoy so much being able to look out the window all the while to see our fascinating planet... ripple-like waves on the ocean, horizontal lightning, picking out Canberra suburbs, contour plowing of fields. What I hate is sitting next to twits who have the window, read the vertically-held newspaper for half the trip; doesn't all the building around Brisbane, or the dry Menindee Lakes hold interest for these people?

I hate to be replying to everything but I agree with you. Its interesting to see some things, especially if they are new to you. That said, I have done the Sydney to Perth flight enough times that I no longer take note of too much out the window.

Sometimes when coming into Sydney from wherever and you can tell the person siting next to you hasn't seen the city before, I am happy to lean out of the way so that they can see it, as I know myself when coming into a new city its pretty cool to check things out.

Pick a seat is a fairly modest cost on most budget airlines, either you pay it or roll the dice. If the $8 fee is too much then pay the extra $100 and go the full service airline instead...

i constantly get amused at the muppets that fly budget airlines but expect the service of a premium airline, especially when something goes wrong.

I always fly Singapore Air, that's about as premium as airlines get. You have to pay extra to choose your seat. In recent years I have been buying the all-in ticket that includes seat choice. I put in a fair effort to get a window seat and usually manage to score a row to myself. Probably 16 out of 20 flights that I can remember.

I like a window seat because I can make myself comfortable and not be bothered by anybody else. If I have to get out I do the climbing. I'm fairly tall so I can step over most people. I've never had a problem with leg room.

I hate exit row seats. There's nowhere to put stuff. They're often cold and you get people hanging around waiting to use the toilets. There's no window. I've had them a couple of times and had to share the row with a couple of fat bastards.

I can't see what the fuss is about reclining seats. I did some experiments on the last few flights. It make virtually zero difference in room whether the seat in front is reclined or not.

Same position as you formula. I like the windows, don't mind aisle. Surrendering my seat would depend on

a: the situation theyre in (eg : a parent wanting to sit next to their child then sure, i'll move regardless of where i get moved to).

b: where i'll get moved to. If i could be moved to a window seat, or even an aisle, sure, i'll move. If for example its a couple wanting to sit together, and im gonna end up in a middle seat, from a window/aisle seat, bad luck. I'll stay where i am.

c: im sitting in a middle seat already, no problem, i'll move.

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awkward customer said..
If somebody asks me to swap seats with them- yes I swap. Its called being civil.
Should I ask why, no thats rude.
You don't have to profit from every interaction in your life.

Theres a difference between want and need. Theres nothing uncivil about preserving your own position when somebody else wants it just because they want it.

rude is demanding someone else change seats with you simply because you want it, knowing you will be placing them in a worse situation in doing so.

If there is such a thing as a good seat on the plane then the pilot has it.

not allowed to swap with them

if someone asks nicely then I always try to oblige, was brought up to consider others and have later learnt about the benefits of giving good karma.

As Heraclitus said, opinions are the playthings of children.

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Rails said..
If there is such a thing as a good seat on the plane then the pilot has it.

not allowed to swap with them

if someone asks nicely then I always try to oblige, was brought up to consider others and have later learnt about the benefits of giving good karma.

As Heraclitus said, opinions are the playthings of children.

My all time favorite was when flying from Munich to London and they were trying to raise money for an African flood appeal. They were having an auction to get to sit in the jump seat in the cockpit. I bid my spare 100 Swiss Franc note and I won. I went from a crappy aisle seat crammed in, to a nice comfortable seat in the cockpit where you get to see everything!

This was in 2000, so before September 11 and there is no chance they would let you do this nowadays.

No I would generally not change seats, there are some special circumstances as mentioned above where I would.

Be aware though, a lot of airlines overbook their planes (because of flexible tickets etc), and if you read the fine print when purchasing your ticket (which nobody does) they can do as they please as well as bumping you of the flight altogether, even if you have paid extra in advance for a nominated seat. This will usually happen at the boarding gate not once inside. Ever wondered why some peoples names are being called up at the gate?

Recently my wife and I had to fly back to OZ from Split (Croatia) in an emergency situation (that day). There were only half a dozen random middle seats left to choose from on both legs of my flight to Sydney. At the airport check-in counter the staff notice my wife and I were not only sitting apart but in different sub-cabins and she queried why?. When I explained her my situation, she moved people around and place my wife and I in a three seat window row and blocked the middle seat for both legs of my flight and gave us priority boarding - My point is so some people would have been moved! The bad news to the moved travelers would nave been given to them at the check-in counter or the gate if they already had boarding passes.

BTW that was Singapore Airlines and I didn't ask for this nor did I expected it, I just wanted to get home and didn't care where we sat - the staff insisted.

Compassion from service staff is one thing. Expecting Joe Blow average punter who has paid extra for the seat for whatever reason is another. What if it was their only trip for the year or maybe their life?

Singapore Airlines have great customer service..

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Toph said..
Singapore Airlines have great customer service..

Agreed, having said that, I'm looking forward to my next trip flying ANA instead of Sing A. I expect they'll be pulling out all stops to compete on their new route.

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FormulaNova said..
My argument is that if its really important for you to sit somewhere specific, or next to someone else, you need to organise yourself and do it. Want a bit more legroom because you are tall? Pay for it.

Not always an option...

Wife and I managed to get an emergency flight (booked less than 12hrs in advance) back from the UK for my grandmothers funeral. I fully expected to be sitting apart from her and we had different seats at check in, but we were sat together at boarding time. We didn't ask, was just happy to have gotten on the flight. Flight crew sorted it... my assumption was they asked someone such as yourself.



And when you do book in advance and get all your ducks in a row...

Another flight we had booked seats together with my mother (She is a terrible flyer). She took her pre flight meds... and then we had a 12hr delay and change of plane (another 747 but different config so seats didn't match) Instead of boarding by original row number etc they just said "first come first served find a seat" - what then ensued was a debacle and a display of humanities finest "F*** You" as fellow travellers in pairs took up 3 seats or groups of 3 took 4 seats etc so whoever go on last had to sit wherever was left (which was taking up the "spare" seats.
The chaos, the announcements/signs were in Spanish, the flight crew were yelling in Spanish up and down trying to find seats for families that had been split up and My Mum lost her ** as she didn't have her meds. I asked nicely in dodgy Spanish if I could at least be near my mum (who was by now a ball of snot and tears - to be honest didn't want to be near her ) The Hostee then led the 3 of us up the closed off 1st class cabin in the nose. (SWEEEEET 10 seats - 3 of us). The smug faced twat and his wife who had leared at everyone getting on in the 3 seat exit row then followed us in... and promptly got both barrels from the hostee "you chose your seat - you sit in it!" She then spent the flight parking the trolley/rubbish whatever in front of them.


I got my first taste of Bose noise cancelling headphones, big TV, lay flat seats - to top it off the hostee made a show of bringing in champagne for us (on what was a budget charter flight)

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Craig66 said..

awkward customer said..
If somebody asks me to swap seats with them- yes I swap. Its called being civil.
Should I ask why, no thats rude.
You don't have to profit from every interaction in your life.

In Nova's case he was not going to profit, he would be at a loss.

The ones who would profit would be "the gentleman and his wife"

truth be told the said gentleman prob booked the seats so he wasn't near his wife.

So awkward customer.
If you just had a nice meal that you paid for served to your table and the waitress said, "sir, would you mind if Izzy ate your meal as he is too poor to pay for his own dinner" you would jump up and let him tuck into your feed?

Not to worry you can set up a "GO FUND Me" page to pay for your dinner that Izzy ate.

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Wollemi said..
If I get a window seat, I just enjoy so much being able to look out the window all the while to see our fascinating planet... ripple-like waves on the ocean, horizontal lightning, picking out Canberra suburbs, contour plowing of fields. What I hate is sitting next to twits who have the window, read the vertically-held newspaper for half the trip; doesn't all the building around Brisbane, or the dry Menindee Lakes hold interest for these people?

I like to look at nature but I don't want to get to close I buildings in planes.