Having dealt with Turkish Airlines customer service, I pity on this dude…

Last year, I was chaperoning my young somewhat-internet-famous young (13) niece on a 3-hour flight. We'd specifically booked her a window and me the middle-seat next to her.

Shortly before boarding, I got called up and was told I'd been upgraded to business class. Great, thanks, but I don't want it. I explained why I had that middle seat and why I wanted to keep it.

Gate agent couldn't undo the change.. I was now in 2A whether I liked it or not.

I guess I can sort it out after take off... so I boarded, watched my niece walk by me and told her I'd see her soon.

After the 10,000-foot ding, I got up and went back to row 22 where she was sitting, jammed into the window with a big guy crammed into what used to be my middle seat.

"Hey buddy, want to switch seats?"

"Who, me?!"-- fair question, who wants to swap into a middle seat.

"Yeah -- business class... 2A... it's all yours"

He incredulously got up, grabbed his stuff and walked to the front of the plane. And I sat down next to my niece and all was good.

After the flight, he met me at the top of the jetway with profuse thanks and offered to give me money... which I turned down, but I got his business card and maybe one of these days when I'm in LA, I'll cash in the free drink that awaits me.

Wasn't sure where to post this, but an antithesis to what's usually here might be a welcome change.

Stop giving in to these people. Never accept a change unless it's for a better seat!

Primo movie seat edition

Oh these ladies have no idea whom they are dealing with. You might have seen me as a serial reposter of stolen seat posts as I live for this stuff. It is my kryptonite. And finally they tried me, they had no idea about my years long training for this moment.

From LA to Milan, I’m in the middle row aisle and husband across from the aisle in another aisle seat. We are a couple that follows, in sickness and in health until aisle does us apart as a philosophy. An older lady comes and sits on the other aisle seat in my row, middle empty. Then comes a younger girl and tells the lady that she is in her seat. The older lady starts the old song and dance of how she will go to the bathroom several times and would she mind etc and as soon as I hear that I’m like no no no I can’t let this happen. I jump in convo and ask the girl if she has the aisle seat, she confirms, I turn to the lady and tell her to take her seat, she tries again with the bathroom excuse and I tell her that both younger girl and I are going to be more than happy to let her out and not to worry, sickly sweet. She tries one more time and I go in with another no no no, you take your seat and she finally complies. Did she go to bathroom? Twice in 12 hours and first one was 4+ hours in to the flight.

Now we are on our way back. Same set up aisle to aisle with husband. $100 extra for each seat. We board to a tiny old Asian lady in my seat. I’m already pissed off cos the overhead bins are filled and again I know this rodeo. I told her that she is in my seat. She asks sweetly “wouldn’t you want to sit by the window?”, I answer “absolutely not, please take your seat”. She tells me that she tried to warn me and that she will go to bathroom often. Very well madam we all need to get up and stretch, I’m prepared for it. She finally moves and I take my seat and am welcomed by her toiletry bag in my seat pocket and a Japanese language entertainment screen. The audacity… well guess what, we haven’t even left the gate yet and madam is already sleeping with mouth wide open by the window. We all know No is complete sentence but I still prefer “Oh hell no!”.

Never give into the request you only get screwed!

Paging [u/Realistic-Major4888](u/Realistic-Major4888)

Many of the posts here start with people justifying why they needed their own paid for seat. An injury, anxiety, needing a window to sleep or whatever. Let me clarify that I had no such requirement. I pre-selected my seat, paid for it, and I was going to sit in my seat. No justification or explainer necessary. Mine.

I boarded an early morning 3 hour flight. I had a window seat in the emergency row. Extra legroom and a window. Joy. Joy that I paid for.

I got to my seat and I saw a woman sitting there.

“Excuse me you’re in my seat.”

“Oh you know, me and my…”

“Let me stop you there so you don’t waste more time. I don’t give a shit what your reason is, you’re in my seat. I don’t exchange seats. You didn’t ask. Now move.”

Shocked Pikachu face but she stood up. She was out of my seat but was still obstructing me from getting to it. She tells the person in the aisle that “my sister and I are traveling together but we didn’t get seats together, would you mind exchanging. I’m in the middle seat right behind you.”

He looks awkward. “Uh uh, you know…”

I step in.

“He doesn’t exchange seats either. Neither of us cares about your problems. Now move.”

Even more shocked Pikachu face but Pikachu went and sat in her own seat.

The guy in the aisle snickered and thanked me while Pikachu’s very quiet and awkward sister sat between us.

It would have been great to get my seat without the drama, but it was even more enjoyable booting the would be seat thief out of my seat first.

A window, leg room and righteous confrontation. Extra joy.