A passenger who asked a man to switch seats so he could sit next to his wife sparked a furious debate over airline etiquette after being told ‘no’.
Melbourne couple Jay Kloss and his wife Zoe were separated in the business class portion of a Virgin flight after they were unable to book two adjoining seats.
She sat on the window while he sat in the aisle in the same row on the other side of the plane.
Mr Clos explains in a TikTok video, captioned “Am I in the wrong,” how he walked over and politely asked if he could switch seats as the traveler sat next to his wife.
“Hey, would you mind moving so I can sit with my wife?” It’s her birthday,” says Mr. Kloss.
“And he just looks at me, he doesn’t react.
“I was like, ‘Is it possible if you transfer here?’
“He was like, ‘No, I won’t, but I’ll sit here (Zoe’s window seat)’.”
Mr. Kloss explains that Zoe “isn’t a great flier” and can get “super nauseous,” so always has to sit by a window.
He continued to express his frustration in the viral video, outraged that he had been rejected.
Either way, he either gets the exact same spot (but) just across the aisle. But he doesn’t accept that, he says, ‘No, I’m just moving here (Zoe’s window seat)’, says Mr. Kloss.
“So he’ll have us sit on opposite sides of the aisle for no reason.
“It’s the same chair, so anyway, I’m like ‘Bro, really? Are you sure you can’t switch places with us?’ And he just doesn’t respond to me.’
Mr. Kloss then says that Zoe asked the man to switch seats.
“Zoë says, ‘Hey, sorry, can we switch seats, is there a problem? It’s my birthday today, I’d like to sit with my partner’.
“And he’s like, ‘No, no problem, just don’t move.'”
‘Like what the f**k? Do I miss something?
“Can someone explain to me what the hell is going on here? It’s the same seat, just on a different side of the aisle.’
Jay Kloss and his wife Zoe (pictured) of Melbourne were separated in the business class portion of a Virgin flight after they were unable to book two adjoining seats. They asked a passenger to switch seats so they could sit together and he said ‘No’.
Survey
Can you refuse if someone asks you to switch seats on an airplane?
- Yes – You should have reserved your own seat 166 votes
- No – just be polite 20 votes
- Depending on the seat 30 votes
Finally, the passenger in the window seat next to Mr. Kloss offered to swap with Zoe, which meant the pair sat next to each other.
However, Mr Kloss was still furious at the end of the flight and said he had wanted to ‘punch’ the man who wouldn’t move, only holding back because he was on a plane.
His experience sparked a wave of reaction and many shared sympathy for the traveler who said ‘No’.
“The dude didn’t have to give up his seat, even though it was fun to do,” one person wrote.
“I just deal with people who answer Y or N. I can’t expect it to be Y.’
Another said, “You’re wrong, should have booked seats together in the first place.”
One person objected to Mr Kloss’ arguments that the seats were essentially the same.
“There’s a big difference,” the person said.
“Some people only sit on the right or left side of the plane.”
The pair’s experience led to furious arguments about airplane etiquette
Another commented, “Bro, I’m tired of people asking to switch seats. Book the right seat first.’
However, there were a few people who sided with Mr. Kloss.
“I would be happy to help at any time,” one wrote.
‘The flights around Australia are so short, so why not make two people happy? Life’s too short to be unhelpful.”
Another wrote: ‘No, I’m with you’
‘Why wouldn’t he move?! Just a power trip.’
