Are you one of those who contemplate whether swapping seats on a long-haul flight is the right thing to do despite paying extra for your seat? Many such people ask their fellow passengers to swap their seats for their children or family members and if not doing so are judged or demeaned. While many oblige, some standby and don’t give up their seats.
Recently, a woman called a passenger an a*****e for not swapping his seat for her family. The man posted his experience on Reddit. He was travelling from Athens (ATH) to either Newark (EWR) on United or Emirates or to New York (JFK) on Delta, based upon the flight time.
He booked his ticket closer to the front of the plane so that he can get out when it was time to get out. However, when he boarded the plane and a family approached them asked if they could swap seats. Upon refusing, the woman abused him. Many unanimously agreed that the passenger did the right thing and the woman should have booked seats beforehand for her family’s comfort.
Devendra Salvi, 36, who usually travels by flight for his work, says he won’t mind swapping seats depending on for whom it is being asked and how it is asked.
“I have readily swapped my seats with a mother of a 10-month-old child who was very cranky and wanted to see out of the window. I would also swap my seat if someone wants to take a picture during a takeoff and landing depending on how they ask me.
“But I would not swap my seats with a kid if their parents ask me to as I have booked a window seat for myself and not for their kids”.
A mother of one kid, Amruta Deolekar does not believe in asking someone to give up the window seat. “If my kid doesn’t have a window seat then he has to accept that. Period.”
Along with the discussion over swapping seats, people have begun demanding adult-only flights. Many of the passengers post their harrowing experiences of not getting rest on long-haul flights due to the non-stop crying of kids and unruly parents or kids kicking at the back of the seats.
A frequent international traveller, Charusmita told us, “Travelling in flights with crying babies is an annoyance. The parents expect cooperation from other passengers who may be ill, old, sleep-deprived or needing rest. This is an unfair expectation and shows the level of their self-entitlement. The reaction of the parents of crying infants is seldom apologetic or understanding towards co-passengers. The person(s) being disturbed hardly have the right to say anything despite paying for a comfortable mode of transport. These parents often argue, become unruly, and lack civic sense. The airlines need to do something about this – either have a separate cabin for crying kids who are facing difficulty, or maybe start adult-only flights so that no one gets inconvenienced.”
“Parents should make an effort to make their children aware that their constant pushing of the seat in the front disturbs the passenger sitting there. This is especially important on long flights. It has become customary to ignore basic manners in the name of ‘kids will be kids”.
Ajit, a banker and a father, does not believe in adult-only flights.
“I don't believe airlines will promote an ageist mindset by having 'adults only' flights. Kids do cry, it's their way of communicating - especially infants and toddlers. Ear pain because of the difference in air pressure could be the reason why a kid is crying. However, parents/guardians can distract kids who are disturbing fellow passengers by banging the seat in front etc.”
