How to successfully negotiate a seat swap on an airplane

Um 863 million people have flown on US airlines in 2023, and if you were one of them, you know the experience is becoming less and less pleasant. From ever-shrinking personal space to ever-higher fees, flying has become a crucible of suffering for anyone who can’t afford (or negotiate) an upgrade to first class. But the worst thing about air travel these days can be our fellow travelers – our angry and sometimes angry ones rude fellow travelers who sometimes break every rule Flight etiquette There are.

An easy way to trigger one Yellowjackets-similar descent into barbarism? The seat swap. Booking flights can be a dystopian nightmare, so it’s not uncommon for people to land in distant seats and want to sit together. We’ve all asked someone to swap seats so we can be next to a partner, a friend, a child, or someone who might need a little extra help during the flight – but like everything else in this life, there is one right way and wrong way of doing things. If you need to negotiate a seat swap on your next flight, follow these rules to avoid being the bad guy.

Rule 1: Don’t squat

The most important rule when trying to change seats on a plane: Never, never Squat on the seat you want.

“Squatting“means jumping into the spot you would like to take in the hope that you can easily bluff your way in. When the rightful owner of the seat shows up, the seat occupiers try to ignore him, bully him or convince him to just let it happen fait accompli.

Not only is this rude, but it also annoys the flight crew, who would prefer everyone stay in their assigned seats until after boarding (see Rule 2) to reduce chaos. Finally, the same flight crew will probably force you to move anyway – and then any chance of negotiating the trade will be lost.

Rule 2: Wait until boarding is complete

Of course, if you’re concerned about getting your seating arrangement in order, you’ll want to start doing it as soon as you board the plane. On crowded flights, boarding can be absolute chaos – the overhead bins start to fill up, people block the aisle to fit their luggage, last-minute ticket issues are sorted out – and you’re trying to move up and down the plane Arranging a seat swap makes things worse. Additionally, the flight crew may be performing a seat swap spell themselves, which you now make even more complicated, much to their likely annoyance.

The best way to approach a seat swap is to wait until boarding is complete (or at least mostly finish). The aisle is clear and you have enough time to politely ask someone to change seats.

Rule 3: Be polite

Nobody is obliged to swap seats with you and it is not their fault that your booking did not go as planned. Request that your wishes be accommodated or respond to reasonable questions (e.g., “Is your seat right next to the toilet?” or “Do you…”) Really “Do you have an aisle seat?”) ridicule or rude answers will get you nowhere.

Rule 4: Equivalent Value

The seat swap should be done in parallel in the sense that the person swapping with you is not cornered. If they have a seat with extra legroom, a first or business class seat, or an aisle or window seat, they should be given an equivalent seat. Asking someone to move from a spacious aisle seat to a squashed middle seat just isn’t fair. You still can questionsOf course, but be aware of the situation, what you are asking for – seats on a plane definitely are not doesn’t matter. Take a moment to think about the location and class of your current seat so you know what you’re asking a complete stranger to do for you.

If you really need to ask for an unbalanced swap, offer something to the other passenger. That’s right, the long tradition of bribery is your best friend in such situations. If they paid for a higher seat or simply have a better seat than you, offering to buy them a few cocktails or snacks or simply compensating them for the difference in seat price could be the difference between closing the deal or not closing the deal.

Rule 5: Be honest

Speaking of being situationally aware of the pros and cons of where you sit, don’t lie about it. If you have a middle seat, don’t tell the potential switcher in an aisle seat that it’s you Also taking an aisle seat just to get them to stand up—that’s what scientists call an asshole move. Most of the time, the exchange partner will simply come back to reclaim their seat, and your fellow travelers will know that you are not a good person. And if your little plan causes a lot of confusion and turmoil, you’ll incur the enmity of the flight crew, who may well have the power to throw you off the plane.

Rule 6: If you are rejected, don’t argue

If your seat swap request is ultimately rejected, accept it. “No” is a complete sentence, and you have no idea why the person isn’t interested in helping you – they may have good reasons to stick around. In any case, there is no obligation to resolve your booking issues. It’s perfectly okay to politely ask for a seat swap. That’s not okay argue with the person when they say no.