We are still hoping for the day that we can teleport between locations, but until then, we will have to stick to other methods of getting to our destination.
Many visitors to Disney World opt to fly into the Orlando International Airport for their trip. However, “seat squatters” have been making travel a bit more difficult for flyers and flight attendants.
According to Fox News, the term “seat squatters” has been gaining traction on social media. But what exactly is a “seat squatter”? A “seat squatter” is someone who takes a seat that is not assigned to them on a plane and hopes that no one notices or no one asks them to move. We are in the age of paying for just about everything on planes, and that includes paying extra for certain seats or even paying to make a seat selection on budget airlines.
As a result, some passengers are trying their luck on board and simply sitting in a seat that is not actually assigned to them. The Fox News article includes examples from travelers who saw others sitting in a first-class seat that was not theirs, as well as sitting in a seat with extra legroom without paying for or being assigned that seat.
Flying is not cheap, but it is not fair to anyone if you are moving your seat without paying for the upgrade or being assigned the seat. Even if you did not get assigned seats that are next to the rest of your travel group, that does not mean you can move seats without asking the person who was assigned that seat.
If you do end up with a seat you dislike, you can always ask someone if they would be willing to switch with you. However, also be prepared that they may say no to your request. Depending on how full the flight is, you may also be able to move to an empty seat, but be sure to check with a flight attendant before you move.
If you are dealing with someone in your assigned seat, know that you are entitled to the seat, and you can also seek out a flight attendant if needed. Don’t let someone else keep you from your seat unless you are okay with switching seats with them.
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Have you ever dealt with a “seat squatter”? Let us know about your experience in the comments!
Yes my last flight from Orlando I sit in an outside seat because I feel better there as I don’t like to fly anyway I went get to my seat my husband in the middle and a man was sitting in my seat I told him it was my seat he got up and moved his mother was in the window seat she started saying how I stole his seat and it wasn’t my seat I showed her my ticket and she kept on the entire trip didn’t care just ignored her he never said a word he knew what he did , he sat next to his wife and kids and got a seat for his mother away from them , she knew better to and I did y care a fig for whatever she said I paid more to pick my husbands and my seats to bad
Entitled people are disgusting, and they are becoming more prevalent these days. If you didn’t pay for it, it is theft when you take it. If you want a certain seat, book that seat and pay for it. If you can’t or don’t want to spend the extra money for it, enjoy what you can instead of being jealous of others. It’s only a comparative short ride in a plane no matter where you are coming from.
Our late night flight got postponed (not due to weather) to the next morning, so we drove 90 minutes back home and then back again to the airport and boarded. When the plane was mostly boarded we took a roll of the dice and hopped in the empty emergency exit row. Noone was sitting there, but flight attendant would rather leave them empty than have someone there willing to assist in an emergency, so we immediately moved and didn’t question why an emergency exit that requires someone to open it was being left vacant because all flight attendants are presumed to be on an absurd post 911 power trip until proven otherwise (also a complete 180 from policy prior to charging for exit row when they would ask someone to sit there if empty). Let’s not let participate in corporations coining derogatory labels to pad their books and pit us against each other with ever shrinking accommodations.
No one’s obligated to change seats. If you do want someone to trade with you, the rule is you trade yourself DOWN. Want to sit next to your partner but you were split up? Great, find someone in a middle seat and offer them your aisle or window seat instead. Or offer to move yourself to the back of the plane so they can move forward. Don’t expect first class to trade for your economy seat, and when they say no, act like they’re so inconsiderate.
There is zippy chance someone will be taking over a seat that I paid for.
Seat squatting is “Disruptive Behavior” The flight attendant is required by law to have Disruptive Passengers removed from the plane. It’s really that simple.
My standard response, if folks yoink my seat (and they have), is to first gently point out they’re in my seat, and if they want me to move, I only repeat the word “no” to every request. I’m not giving up my pre-paid window seat to take your awful middle seat somewhere else.