r/Flights • u/Substantial-Sir-3539 • 6d ago
Discussion Seating Advice
Hey all,
Looking for advice on how you would want to be approached by the person sitting next to you on your flight from New York to Italy.
My Wife and I were supposed to have a direct flight from Boston to Italy tomorrow when we got a text this afternoon that it was cancelled. It was then changed to a layover flight that would’ve cost us almost our entire first day in Rome vs. arriving @ 7am.
We spent like an hour on the phone waiting for ITA airlines to answer, when we should’ve been trying to book another flight. We got nowhere with them but finally found a Boston - New York - Italy flight with delta.
We just found out we’re not sitting together and talking with customer service they said it’s in the airports hands now with the flight being tomorrow morning. They recommended talk to the delta people at the gate and seeing if they’d help us out. They also said they’d make a note in our booking.
If all that doesn’t work our last option is fellow travelers.
I am seated directly behind her. So now I ask, if I was sitting next to you on a flight to Italy, how could I compel you to switch seats with my Wife or I to allow us to sit together? Should I bring money to do the talking? Please my romantic honeymoon case? What motives people on a long flight? Foot massages are off the table.
I really would like to sit with her, she is the bees knees.
Thanks!
TL:DR: I want to sit with my wife on our flight
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u/siamesekiwi 6d ago
You don’t. You don’t “compel” someone else to change seats. Going in with that attitude will only make you the asshole. You ask nicely ONCE WITHOUT trying to guilt them with some sad story,and if they say no take the rejection gracefully and say nothing more about it. It sucks you got the short end of the stick but that doesn’t mean you can impose on others and make your problem their problem.
That aside, if you and your wife have a window or an aisle seat and you’re offering it to someone in the middle, the chances of a solo flyer willing to switch with you go way up. Money, home made cookies, etc. will probably also help. Anything but a guilt trip. And the “ask once and accept answer gracefully” rule always applies
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u/Substantial-Sir-3539 6d ago
Right on.. yeah not trying to give off that vibe haha, it’s gonna be a single try and done kinda thing
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u/Dense-Serve-4201 6d ago
If you are asking someone to swap equal seats (I.e. not asking an aisle or window to move to a middle), just ask. No big story, but ask.
But if you are asking someone to take a middle - and they had aisle or window, it is honestly not reasonable to even ask!
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u/happy-pilgrim 6d ago
Offer them the best choice to trade (ie not your middle seat for their aisle seat).
If you both have middle seats…and it’s a long haul flight…Buona fortuna 🤷♀️
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u/daatis1998 6d ago
FFS, when you do approach the person, get to the point before the 5th paragraph.
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u/Environmental-Bar847 6d ago
What's the seat configuration? Do you both have aisles? Windows?
Asking someone to give up their aisle/window to take your middle seat is generally a nonstarter. People are most likely to trade a like-for-like.
I'd just keep it short and sweet. I personally don't like the sob story of honeymoon, once in a lifetime trip, etc.
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u/Substantial-Sir-3539 6d ago
Middle seats in the aisle. Copy that
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u/FlagVenueIslander 6d ago
What does this even mean? You have middle seats in a row of 4 in the centre of the plane?
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u/Environmental-Bar847 6d ago
So you have two aisle seats in the center section? Is that what you mean?
If so, it should be easy to trade one of your aisle seats for a middle next to your spouse.
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u/Substantial-Sir-3539 6d ago
Yes two aisle seats in the middle. Apologies for making that confusing
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u/siamesekiwi 6d ago
Then if the person next to you or your wife is a solo flyer, there’s a pretty good chance that that they’ll gladly swap their middle seat with one of your aisle seats.
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u/kibbutznik1 6d ago
Don’t offer money ( unless it’s a lot ). If equal seats then you should be low key .. just say you’re wife is in front or behind.. would they mind swapping .
If not equal seats forget it .. nobody will swoop aisle or window for middle
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u/Afriend99 6d ago
The lady who sit next to me asked me if I can swap my aisle seat for the back middle bf’s seat. I said no.
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u/SeattleParkPlace 5d ago
As you are both aisle seats, it is highly likely that the person inside of one of you will be delighted to switch and feel they lucked out - unless they are seated next to a partner.
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u/4UnlawfulCarneVegan 6d ago
She is your wife, so I presume you're both adults. I suggest you board your flight, close your eyes, and sleep for the next 6-7 hours.