“Doctor Sabra,” a Seattle-based pharmacist on TikTok, flew Air France from Seattle to Paris and refused to switch her business class seat so that a family could travel together. “That’s a no from me dawg,” she declared to over 10 million viewers, who were overwhelmingly supportive in the comments.
- She was upgraded and had seat 1A
- Many consider this to be an undesirable seat actually because of proximity to the lavatory and the galley. I actually prefer row 1 because I don’t see all of the other passengers in the cabin and it feels more private.
- She had been offered row 8, which is similarly near crew and passenger activity.
A gate agent asked her if she’d switch prior to boarding, but the seat they offered her wasn’t appealing (she asked to see the seat map). I wouldn’t have wanted to move from row 1 to row 8, either. She called it ‘first class’ when it was actually business, on a Boeing 787-9 with no first class cabin..
The gate agent called my name before boarding. They were nice and asked me if I was willing to switch seats. I asked to see the alternative on the seat map. It was still first class but all the way in the back. I kindly said that I’d rather keep the seat I selected and she didn’t insist.
Some of you might feel that (1) she should have been indifferent between the seats, and (2) more charitable considering she was upgraded. But it was her seat and her preference at that point. And, it turns out, the kid was 13 so I’m not sure that they really needed to be seated beside a parent? In the end they were accommodated by another passenger.
@lifewithdrsabra That’s a no from me dawg 🤣 would you have given up your seat? Also they ended up finding a solution so no, i am not a terrible human being. Also the child was like 13.
If the mom wanted to sit with her kid, they should have pre-booked this. And they could have considered another flight if there weren’t any seats together. (It’s possible their flight had been cancelled, or they misconnected, and got rebooked but with Seattle as the destination of this flight that seems geographically unlikely even though Delta operates a hub there.)
At a minimum get as good a seat as you can to offer up in trade. Don’t expect someone to give up their seat for one that they’ll view as inferior. And maybe offer them something to do the trade?
- I was once asked to change seats so that a couple could sit together, only to learn that they were already seated together, they just didn’t like the bulkhead, and they stuck me with the bulkhead (I don’t like the bulkhead either!).
- A reader once gave up his premium seat so that a family could sit together only to have the family sell that seat to another passenger and not actually sit together.
Still, if you’re indifferent between seats that are on offer, helping a family is the nice thing to do! It’s even better when you’re offered a superior seat for your trouble. Or $20.
I have always declined requests for seat swaps. There was once a stewardess was pushy so I asked if airline was within means to offer cash voucher which they can issue within discretion. She declined so I stayed within my seat.
We always pay the extra charge to choose our seats. Families can do the same – as long as they are able to book in time that there are still seats together.
The airlines create situations like this with their extra fees. Seat choice should come with a ticket – period! Then everyone would choose a seat.
Yes, sometimes there are equipment changes, and seat configurations can change. That can affect everyone.
My biggest pet peeve is paying for extra legroom seats, because my husband is 6’4″. Then we end up being put into regular seats for some reason. The last time that happened the woman ahead of us slammed her seat down without asking and all but broke my husband’s knees. She quite nastily told him he should have paid extra for an extra legroom seats (we call it the “height tax). He explained that we had, but we had been switched to regular seats by the airline. My husband spoke to the flight attendant, who was quite sympathetic when we told her the numbers of our original seats and that we had been switched at the gate without anyone seeing how tall he is. The flight attendant negotiated a deal with the woman to raise her seat up half way, and the woman next to her offered not lower her seat; so my husband and I switched seats. I took the aisle while he crammed his legs into the window seat. No, we never got the extra $70 back that we had paid for 2 extra legroom seats.
Maybe if airlines had to refund the extra fees people pay for seat selection, extra leg room, business class, etc. when changing seats, airlines would think twice about switching.
Ditto with people asking to switch seats. They should pay the owner of that seat the difference for having selected a seat and, if applicable, having a better class of seat. Since seat selection is usually about $35, and extra leg room is also about $35, that equals $70 for switching a single seat. A lot more if a family needs more than one seat switch, but what they would have paid in the first place (assuming they didn’t choose seats but couldn’t find enough seats together).
Why is it that the person wanting to sit with their family member always tries to switch to better seat? Instead, why don’t they have the person sitting in the crappy seat next to them switch with their family with the better seat?
I book way in advance and request certain seating. Anyone else is free to do so. Don’t expect others to make up for your short comings.
You are all selfish
Depending on the situation, if my seat was upgraded, or was a premium and I’m downgrading then that’s a hard no for a 13 year old. I’ve bought seats together as a family only to be separated at check in, we just sucked it up and the kids were fine with it. These airlines are getting ridiculous with all the things they are doing to passengers.
I’m handicapped and don’t mind bulkhead seats so I can reach a bathroom quickly if needed. Of course, that means not having my carryon nearby but if I know I’m getting bulkhead seats I use a Fanny pack so I have my wallet nesrby
I think the bigger story is finding out how she received the upgrade on the flight.
Maybe, Gary could walk us through this.
Ok you stuck with your seat. But c’mon. You’re no hero! People have become greedy and rude. Whatever happened to human kindness
The family could have reserved seats ahead. The biggest problem today is that no one wants to take responsibility for themselves.
If you want to give up your seat, have at it. But don’t expect it of others.
Sometimes, you cannot prebook your seat, such as last minutes emergency trip to see dying member of family. Traveling with children is so hard and I hope people can be more accommodating and nice about it. She is no hero. She has all the right to reserve where she wants to sit but saying that she is a hero is totally needed up with humanity.
She was absolutely right. Sit in your assigned seat and wuit complaining.
Extremely inconsiderate especially for someone who paid cattle class fare anyway. I’d always switch within a business cabin to accommodate a family. I hope that karma does it’s thing and she doesn’t get upgrades in the future. Sit in the back.
Very selfish person. Doctor? Not one anyone should see. Zero compassion for a family. And yes I would want my 13 year old near me if the flight took a turn for the worst. Smh. Narcissistic behavior dominates this generation. This gal is a primary example of crappy upbringing. Classless
Why do ppl need to sit next to family ? It’s narcissm to expect people to move so you can sit n chat to your adult or teenage family members . Iv never sat next to or anywhere near my travel companions n why would I want to I’m not gunna sit n talk all flight like a nuisance. I’ve even seen ppl push in regularly at check in lines because oh they’re travelling with us . Who cares your old ènough to not push in and meet after customs
People are SO CHEAP these days. Pay the money (what is it $25?) to get paid seat assignments.
The grammar I’ve read in the previous comments are ridiculous, saying that if I’m traveling with my family (wife) why should I give up my seat to let someone sit with their family. If it’s not a little baby, I’m keeping my seat.
It is this pervasive sense of entitlement that is the problem. Just because one travels with family doesn’t give them the rights to bypass responsibility. …period. At 13 I traveled alone on a plane and was grateful for wherever I sat. Grow up and pay the extra to reserve your seats.