The world may be more accessible via air, but there are many inconveniences associated with flying, particularly when egotistical passengers start conflicts in the seat. This is a story about a woman who stood her ground against some unpleasant passengers and ultimately taught them a lesson. It has been minimally altered for clarity.
I was taking a plane to be with friends in Las Vegas. I paid more to get a seat with additional legroom because of my condition. I opted for a window seat, which came at an extra $45, because this airline charges for specific seats.
There was a man seated in my seat when I got on. The center seat was vacant, but the aisle seat was occupied by another man. Verifying my boarding card again, I saw that he was indeed in my place.
I gently asked him to get up. Both males were over two hundred pounds and around six feet tall, and I’m fairly little. They were obviously accustomed to using their stature as leverage to achieve their goals based on the way they spoke. The man in the aisle informed me right away that I could use the middle seat and that the man at the window didn’t need to move.
Then, towering over me, he got up. Not a single one of the men in my seat moved. I’m not amenable to his friend’s attempt to physically threaten me. I dealt with many males who attempted to intimidate others by their height and attitude when I worked in front-line healthcare. Big guys don’t frighten me, despite my little stature.
He advised me not to “create a commotion.” Even though that irritated me, I remained courteous and spoke calmly. I claimed I wasn’t making a scene and that I was just requesting the seat for which I had paid.
I therefore changed tactics. Gazing at the man occupying my seat, I proposed to offer him the seat if he could give me $50 in cash. I clarified that the seat was his if he paid me the extra $45 that I had paid, which came to roughly $50 after taxes.
“You want me to pay you $50 for your seat?” he asked, looking at me as if I had gone insane.
“So you knew it wasn’t your seat?” I answered. You can be taken to your designated seat by the flight attendant I’m contacting. I reserved this because I have a disability, and you’re attempting to accept it.
Those in the vicinity turned to face him at that point, and their faces weren’t very amicable. Sulking for the remainder of the flight, he slid into the middle seat, pulled up his sweatshirt, and turned a brilliant crimson. And so did his pal.
Simply put, don’t try to scare someone into giving up something they paid for by using your size or anything else. It can quickly backfire and make your flight much more miserable.
And based on the responses from those around us, it was clear that everyone valued my approach.
