Passenger Exposes Seat-Swap Scam on Long-Haul Flight
A passenger shared her first-hand experience with a deceptive seat-swap attempt on a long-haul flight. A fellow traveler tried to trick her into swapping seats to move from comfort-plus to economy class, but she refused. The woman also revealed that the man involved ended up in an economy seat and found someone else to switch with.
Other passengers and experts have weighed in on the practice, with some suggesting that travelers should be more cautious when engaging in seat-swaps and that requests should be made with a compelling reason. Some have also argued that no one has an obligation to swap seats, and that the person making the request has no right to expect compliance.
California-based etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall weighed in on the situation, telling Fox News Digital that ‘no one has the obligation to switch their seat’ on a plane. ‘The person making the request has no right to expect [this] or make a scene when they don’t get their way,’ she said. ‘It is one’s prerogative to make requests, as it is also the prerogative of the one being asked to deny a request.’
She added, ‘Sometimes such requests make us roll our eyes in disbelief. But there are people who don’t often fly, have a fear, a language barrier, or a very pushy spouse or boyfriend who forces them to make absurd requests.’
Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the blog ‘View From the Wing,’ Gary Leff, told Fox News Digital that although the person with the ticket is entitled to the seat, sometimes flyers can try their luck on board by simply asking others to swap.
‘Have a compelling reason that will resonate with the person you’re asking,’ said Leff.
Leff added that if you ‘have something decent to offer in return, it isn’t as much of a hardship for the person to give you what you want.’