An American Airlines passenger demanded his seatmate give up his bulkhead first class seat so that he could sit beside his alleged mistress. When that passenger declined, the man cursed him out. A masterclass in persuasion…
Man Demands American Airlines First Class Seat Swap To Sit Beside “Mistress”
My friend Anthony Losanno of The Bulkhead Seat recently encountered an unusually charming passenger on an American Airlines flight from Chicago (ORD) to Boston (BOS).
Anthony was seated in 1B, his preferred first class bulkhead seat, when a man approached and instructed him to move:
“Hey buddy. Yeah. Uh. I need you to grab seat 4E. Okay. Just a few rows back over there. Yeah. No biggie. Just take that one. It’s just over there and I’ll sit here.”
How could anyone resist such warmth?
Anthony declined, explaining that he had deliberately selected the bulkhead. The man responded by cursing him out and retreating to his actual seat, 4F (a window seat without direct aisle access).
A few minutes later, a woman roughly half his age boarded and sat beside Anthony. The apparent mistress then began exchanging text messages with the man behind them, laughing as he complained about Anthony and hurled more insults.
Seat Swaps Are Requests, Not Orders
There is nothing wrong with politely asking another passenger to exchange seats. Equipment swaps, cancellations, and last-minute bookings sometimes separate companions.
But there are three basic rules:
- Ask nicely
- Offer a comparable or better seat
- Accept “no” graciously
This man failed spectacularly at all three.
Anthony had chosen 1B because he likes the bulkhead and likes the aisle. The passenger asking him to move does not get to decide that sitting several rows farther back is “no biggie.” Clearly, it was a big deal to him, or he would not have thrown a tantrum.
Anthony said he might have considered moving had the man politely explained the situation. Once the cursing began, however, the conversation was over.
Quite right.
CONCLUSION
A man demanded Anthony surrender his American Airlines first class bulkhead seat so he could sit beside his mistress. When Anthony refused, the man cursed him out and spent the flight complaining about him by text.
The lesson is simple: you may ask someone to change seats, but you are not entitled to the seat they selected.
And if your romantic getaway depends upon a stranger’s cooperation, perhaps make adjoining seat assignments part of the planning.
Guy was absolutely an assclown and deserves a loud NO and all the ridicule. But, who likes a tow 1 bulkhead in AA FC? Having to put your stuff up alone is a pain. There is a reason these are usually the last seats left in FC and are mostly filled by upgrades when they happen.
If you’re tall and don’t want anyone to recline ”on you”, bulkhead is the only way to go.
My problem with bulkhead seats is that there isn’t enough leg room.
I prefer row 2 myself, but we likes what we likes.
Yes that’s been my experience, I get far more room for my feet by stretching it under the seat in front of me than with a bulkhead
Agreed.
1a for me all day. First in, first served, second off and a whole wall to use as a foot rest.
What has this country come to… where we can’t berate everyone then sit in peace with our mistresses… *facepalm*
MAGA logic.
You can bet it was a Democrat / Liberal displaying such hatred toward someone who has in no way offended him. Very entitled.
You clearly have TDS issues……you probably have a small….
“And if your romantic getaway depends upon a stranger’s cooperation”
This guy doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body if he considers Boston or Chicago a romantic getaway. Gross
Fine Illinois Brethren?
Wonder why he didn’t just ask his seatmate to trade places with his female friend. Then they could have sat together, When I’m asked to give up my aisle seat, I always ask if they’ve asked anybody else or just me?
This is the thing to remember. If you’re asked to move to accodate two sitting together, remember to think about the “other” solution. 31B wants your 11C seat to sit next to 11B. Why don’t you ask 31C to swap with 11B, is a great reply. I was the 43A (window, bulkhead) on a DL A333 in Y (which is 2-4-2) that I paid extra for. A guy sits in 43B (aisle) and keeps looking back at his partner. She was in (say) 46D one of the two middle seats in the center section. I just knew the swap request was coming. But, no, the kid had class. Next I noticed, a new guy was in 43B, happy as a clan for his good fortune. The kid traded for46F the other middle seat next to his partner (there is no “E” seat). That’s how you get next to your loved one.
I’m surprised an FA didn’t intervene and declare the aggressor unfit to fly.
“You can’t always get what you want” – Mick Jagger/Keith Richards –
“Nobody told me there’d be days like these
Strange days indeed”
– John Lennon –
Why didn’t he ask the woman if she wanted to sit next to her father?
LOL.
When I have my mistresses on board, I expect all of you to move as I rotate through them. Its no big deal!
It’s not going to be hard for someone more charming to steal away that mistress.
Why does the woman get the demeaning “mistress” label? Maybe she wants to be with an older man.
Why nothing attributed to the man?
Next to last row in F is best. Full recline, typically no restritions on bin space due to aircraft curvature, and full legroom.
Correct me if I’m wrong. So, Anthony was sitting next to the alleged mistress and was staring at her phone while she was texting the loser from 4E, reading the exchange between them? Otherwise, how did he knew what the text exchange was all about? CREEPO!!!!
Isn’t it rather easy to read your neighbor’s phone when they are holding it up in front of you.