Flight Passenger Calls Out 'Entitled' Seat Swappers, Sparks Fiery Debate

A fiery debate over airplane etiquette has taken off on social media, sparked by a passenger who had some choice words for so-called "entitled" seat swappers. The user, posting in the "r/delta" forum on Reddit, didn’t hold back when addressing the contentious trend of passengers sitting in seats they didn’t pay for.

"Stop being entitled and sit in the seat you purchased," the user wrote. They went on to vent frustration over situations where gate agents or flight attendants have to step in to resolve such issues. "I’m so sick of these entitled people nowadays sitting in seats they didn’t pay for," the poster said, adding, "I don’t give a damn who you are, I’m not moving." The solution, they suggested? If you want a better seat or to sit with your travel companions, "PAY FOR IT."

The Reddit thread quickly filled with comments from others sharing their own stories of seat-swapping woes. "It’s kinda crazy how people do it with no regard," one user chimed in. While some commenters said they don’t mind being asked for a swap if the request is polite and doesn’t make their seating situation worse, others were less forgiving.

One user recounted how some passengers assume they can take seats belonging to others without even asking, adding, "And then look at you stupid with a lame excuse once you show up." Another recalled a similar experience of finding someone in their assigned seat, expressing their frustration: "I was super stressed one day and showed the person my ticket, and there they were, sitting in MY aisle seat."

California-based etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall weighed in on the matter, emphasizing that "no one has the obligation to switch their seat." She noted that while making a polite request to switch is fine, passengers should be prepared to hear "no" and accept it without making a scene. Randall suggested that offering a small token, like buying the other passenger a drink or paying them cash, might help smooth things over if a swap is truly necessary.

This debate shines a spotlight on a broader issue of courteous behavior—or the lack thereof—on flights. As one commenter pointed out, "This sort of behavior is a problem everywhere, across all industries and walks of life. People don’t even say ‘excuse me’ anymore." But perhaps the most telling comment came from a Redditor who shared an anecdote about traveling separately from their spouse on a long U.S. flight: "Not once did it occur to either one of us to take someone else’s seat or ask someone to switch." Now there’s a lesson in patience and planning.

Whatever your stance on seat-swapping, one thing is clear: this debate isn’t landing anytime soon.