A woman has issued a blunt warning to holiday travellers after a single long-haul flight saw her asked to give up her seat three separate times by fellow passengers.
A Pre-Booked Seat for a Special View
Before her journey to visit family in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the traveller made sure to pre-book a specific first-class window seat on the left side of the aircraft. Her intention was to catch a glimpse of her grandmother's house from the air as the plane approached for landing. This careful planning, however, unravelled shortly after she boarded.
Taking to Reddit to share her story on 24 December 2025, she explained how her peace was repeatedly disrupted. "I was asked to switch seats three times by three separate people on one flight," she wrote.
Three Requests in Quick Succession
The first approach came immediately. An elderly woman was already in the aisle seat of her row, with a younger woman across the aisle. "The younger woman said, 'this is my mother, she has dementia and she can’t even feed herself. Can we switch so I can care for her during the flight?'" the passenger recounted.
Feeling awkward but compelled, she agreed to switch seats. Her troubles, however, were far from over. "I know I made the choice to switch, this is about the frequency of asks," she noted.
Soon after, two other women approached her with a new request. They explained they had been unable to book seats together and asked if she would move to another aisle seat so they could sit side-by-side. "At that point I was seething, but seeing as I’d barely touched my butt to the new aisle seat, I just said 'whatever' to them and moved," she said.
When a third person approached and began with a hesitant "hi um...", the traveller had reached her limit. She immediately interjected: "I have switched twice already, you can take it up with someone else."
A Call for Generosity and Better Etiquette
Reflecting on the experience, the woman expressed her frustration at the situation. "I’m so upset that I paid for that specific window seat and my options were basically, help a woman with dementia but enjoy my view, or move and sit in an aisle seat by the bathrooms," she explained. She also hinted that her appearance may have played a role, adding, "It’s also not lost on me that I don’t look like the traditional first class passenger."
Her direct message to anyone considering asking for a seat swap mid-flight is clear: "Listen, if you borked your booking and you want to switch with people, be generous." She suggested practical gestures of goodwill, such as offering a free drink, slipping the person £20, or ensuring the cabin crew provide them with their pre-ordered meal.
The online discussion sparked significant debate. One Reddit user advised: "Don’t let other people’s problems become your problems. Sit in your assigned seat. If people need accommodations, they can take it up with the FAs (flight attendants)." Another questioned the logic of the requests: "I never understand why they can't bug the person next to them." A third took a more nuanced view, stating, "I would happily move for the grandma but the others are on their own after that."
The story serves as a pointed reminder of the often-unspoken tensions and etiquette of shared air travel, particularly during the busy holiday season.
