Should One Swap Seats On A Plane? Travel Experts Weigh In On When To Do It

The issue of seat swapping on aeroplanes may sound like a simple affair. However, in recent years, it has become a hot topic, with people showing more and more reluctance to swap seats. It is a tricky task, and those who refuse to move seats are criticised as rude and insensitive. But what if you paid extra for extra legroom or a window seat and were asked to shift to a dreaded middle seat? Talking about the same, a heated discussion has been fueled on social media about when you should switch seats and under what circumstances you should refuse.

Travel experts shared their views and said that there may be legitimate reasons for asking for a swap. As per a report by Business Insider, travel influencer and founder of Love and London, Jessica Dante, offered her take on the question. She said that there are valid reasons someone may ask you to switch, such as helping someone who is travelling with young kids, someone with a disability, or someone with a fear of flying. However, she said that one is always entitled to say “no.”

“If you are asking someone to swap a lesser seat in their eyes, the other passenger is completely entitled to say ‘no.’ The passenger being asked should assess the situation, ask what the reason for the request is, and have a look at the swapped seat. If the swap means a less comfortable seat for you, it’s perfectly OK to say no.”

Dante went on to say that the best response is polite but firm, and if things start getting heated, a flight attendant should intervene.

Another travel expert and founder of the travel blog Ally Travels, Ally Gibson, told Business Insider that for her, it comes down to a few details of the request: ‘Did they ask nicely, and are they suggesting a move to a better seat?’ adding that, “If the answer to either of these is no, then I don’t switch.”

Elaborating further, Gibson said that airlines offer options to choose seats in advance, so it’s good practice for passengers to get in the habit of planning. While she sympathises with parents, these issues should be addressed before the flight and when booking their tickets.

“It is frustrating paying extra to sit in a certain seat, only to be moved at the last minute because of others’ terrible planning. It is something that both passengers needing changes and airlines need to do better at,” she added.