The Rise of ‘Seat Squatters’: A Passenger Etiquette Quandary
As the rise of the travel term “seat squatters” circles the internet, some flyers may find themselves in a pickle when confronted with a passenger who’s stealing a seat.
One traveler shared a recent experience on Reddit in the “r/delta” forum with the title, “Rise of ‘Seat Squatters.’”
Witnessing a series of incidents on a Delta flight, the user recounted, “First … a guy that was supposed to be in 28C was all the way up in 12B and was trying to argue it was his seat.” She described a second confrontation: “The next was a lady in 18A that was being adamant with the seat holder that she needed to be by the window and not in the middle.” The account progressed with, “The next was a couple that was supposed to be in 24C and D and decided to camp out and plant their flag in 24A and B.”
“This seat squatting is getting to be too much of a common thing,” she lamented.
The conversation sparked by this phenomenon ignited a heated debate online. Reddit users chimed in, offering a mix of advice and frustration over the issue. One suggested, “Kick them off and put standbys in their seat. That’ll probably fix it,” demonstrating a no-nonsense approach.
Another user narrated their own experience: “This has happened to me a couple of times over the past 2 years. I simply offer to sell them my assigned seat… You can have the aisle for $500 cash.” This touches on a humorous yet unsettling element of human behavior; the lengths to which people will go when faced with a lack of civility.
“It’s the evaporation of civility,” one commented, reflecting on the collective shifts caused by the pandemic. “It is what it is, until DL [Delta Airlines] starts tossing people off flights and forcing inconvenience without compensation. Act like kids, get punished. It’s worked in the past.”
“I had one last week. I paid for the window, not the middle,” lamented another affected traveler. Clearly, there’s an emerging sense of possession surrounding seating, as people express deep-rooted frustrations with perceived injustices.
In further commentary, a user noted, “People are going to try it as long as they get away with it. Gate agents should warn against this along with boarding with the wrong group,” suggesting a need for stronger enforcement of airline policies regarding seating arrangements.
Amidst the comical and tense responses, an underlying tension persisted. “Say no and you end up getting the evil eye (or worse), throughout the flight,” one passenger reflected, illustrating the social warfare that can ensue in a cramped cabin.
Randall advised a careful approach, emphasizing the need to address the situation with poise. “Pull out your boarding pass. Not only to double-check [if] you are correct, but also as proof if the seat squatter protests,” she counseled, providing practical insights for passengers feeling corners by seat encroachers. She also stressed, “If the seat squatter refuses to move, do not engage; do not recruit other passengers to rally; immediately request assistance from the flight attendant.”
Moreover, she warned against capitulating to the squatter’s demands. “If you do give in and allow the seat squatter to stay, don’t expect the airline to reimburse you for any fees associated with the seat.” Her final note was striking: “If you are squatting yourself, eventually you will be caught.” The truth echoes a sad reality in today’s travel climate; people sometimes push boundaries, thinking it harmless.
As travelers reflect upon their experiences, the concept of personal space becomes weighed down by shared frustration, creating a community of weary passengers. A random fact: Did you know that the average airplane seat width is only 17 inches? This increasingly sparse personal space for passengers accentuates the discomfort of all these seat squatting incidents. In a world where boundaries seem to blur, the etiquette of flying becomes enmeshed with individual moral compasses. Each encounter on a flight not only tests patience but also reveals the subtleties of human interaction under stress.
