A flight attendant has shared her professional opinion on seat switching with other passengers - and you may not like what she has to say.
The issue on whether it's acceptable to ask other flyers to swap seats has sparked a surging online debate. Some feel it's ok to politely ask customers if they can sit in their place to sit beside loved ones. However, others say that it's not their problem if people don't take the time to plan ahead and book seats together, the Mirror reports.
Well, Kristie Koerbel, a cabin crew worker for over 20 years has weighed in on the etiquette of switching seats and depending on which side you take - you may not be happy with her insight.
The flight attendant told the Irish Times: "I’m going to be unpopular here. No, you do not have to switch with someone who asks you.
"If you have paid extra for your seat, or even if it is just an inconvenience, you can kindly say no. If it is advantageous, like trading a middle seat for a window seat, or you are happy to help, please go ahead and swap."
Although passengers are entitled to the seats they booked, that doesn't stop others from trying their luck - and getting annoyed if the answer is no. One man recently revealed he ended up having an awkward journey after refusing to switch seats so a honeymooning couple could sit together.
Taking to Reddit to see if people agreed with his decision, he explained that he was in a window seat, when the couple asked if he could switch so they could sit together.
He wrote: "They asked me if they can change seats with me to which I politely refused and gave them my reasons. One of the reasons was my size and aisle traffic.
"I always get bumped by someone when I am on the aisle seat. One time, my elbow was badly hurt because the trolley hit me. I [have] avoided the aisle seat ever since."
Despite fellow passengers also urging him to switch, he says that he "didn't budge", meaning that "all the people around me, including the crew, looked like they hate me".
However, most people were on his side. "If they wanted to be seated together so badly, they should have paid extra to reserve seats together," one person wrote.
Another added: "Every time this story comes up the person is not the a**hole for refusing to move. You booked your seat specially." A third said: "Newlywed entitlement is a thing. The proper bottom line has been stated here many times.
"You booked and paid for that seat you should in no way feel bad or guilty for not giving it to someone else who couldn't be bothered to plan ahead or pay extra."
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