• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Travel » I Swap Seats So A Wife Can Sit Next To Husband. This Is How It’s Done.
Travel

I Swap Seats So A Wife Can Sit Next To Husband. This Is How It’s Done.

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 24, 2024February 24, 2024 30 Comments

seats in a plane with chairs and tables

We’ve spoken a bit this week about spouses sitting next to each other onboard, mostly in the negative sense, so I wanted to share a recent seat-swapping story that happened to me on Turkish Airlines that provides a better approach to onboard seating changes.

The Right Way To Swap Seats For Spouses

This occurred on my recent flight from Los Angeles to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines. I was assigned seat 2D and settled into my seat onboard. 2D is an aisle seat in the center section, which I took because there were no window seats available.

a diagram of a plane seat

Presently, an older Turkish couple boarded. They were assigned seats 2G and 2K. With a huge look of dismay, the wife realized that she would be separated across the aisle from her husband.

She looked over at me, but said nothing at all. I don’t think she spoke any English.

Immediately, I sprung to action. I stood up, pointed at my seat, and then made a swapping motion with my hand.

A big smile spread across her face.

She bowed to me several times and came over.

A perfect seat swap: she got to sit next to her husband and I got a more private window suite.

These are the sort of seat swaps that can be celebrated.

Note that I initiated it and I do think it pays to keep an eye out in the cabin for these sorts of opportunities. Had I been engrossed in my phone or computer, I would have missed it.

Now had she or her husband asked me, I also would have been happy to swap. After all, it was within the same cabin and actually for a better seat (more private). But I respect that she did not ask me…that made me even more happy to swap seats with her.

CONCLUSION

Seat-swapping stories happen all the time. Here, I initiated the change after seeing the crestfallen look on the wife’s face. It was a good exchange in which everyone came out ahead. Those are the only types of seat swaps that should occur…

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Review: Garuda Indonesia Business Class Lounge Bali (DPS)
Next Article Canadian Budget Carrier Shuts Down, Will Not Refund Tickets

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • flight attendant smuggler via Sri Lanka police

    Flight Attendant Faces 25 Years, Allegedly Smuggled “Human Bone” Drug

    June 1, 2025
  • a plane on the runway

    ANA Passenger Tried To “Murder All Onboard”, Diverts To Seattle

    May 25, 2025
  • Flight Coffee Allergy

    Passenger Claims She’s Allergic To Coffee Smell, Demands Airline Ban It

    May 22, 2025

30 Comments

  1. Maryland Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 11:02 am

    Aw, an action of a true gentleman. It means so much more because the older couple did not have to ask. An example of kindness.

  2. 121pilot2 Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 11:11 am

    Great story! Truly a win-win. Didn’t you mention that your assigned seat was broken on this flight? Did you inform the Turkish lady that she was swapping to a broken seat?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 24, 2024 at 12:51 pm

      The interesting thing was that my seat (2D) was broken, but then fixed.

      Her seat was broken too…and not fixed.

      So I did have to deal with no recline except a manual move from upright to lie-flat by the FA.

  3. Christian Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 11:11 am

    I’ve had JAL seat swap my wife and I a few times with notification from the window seats I intentionally reserved to middle seats with no window for either of us. I think I like your scenario better.

  4. RetiredATLATC Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 11:16 am

    “next to” is a relative term on the even row middle seats

  5. Alert Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 11:40 am

    Matthew … Did you go to 2K , the window seat ?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 24, 2024 at 12:50 pm

      Yes, I went to 2K.

  6. Alvin Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 11:55 am

    Was this the flight where 2K was broken? If so, how did check-in know your seat would be broken – or did they just reassign you 2D and your broken seat to someone else?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 24, 2024 at 12:49 pm

      Ha. 2D was broken too…that was the one they knew was broken and fixed, so it worked.

      They didn’t know 2K was broken.

      So a very good point Alvin. But even if the FA had not been able to manually lower the seat, I would not have demanded my original seat back.

  7. Aaron Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 1:43 pm

    I mean, yeah, a seat swap is never a bad thing as long as you are staying in the same cabin and/or getting a better seat.

  8. Debit Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 2:09 pm

    How noble of you to offer to trade to a better seat. And then go and make a blog post about it. +5 virtue signaling points awarded!

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 24, 2024 at 4:08 pm

      Gracias.

  9. William Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 2:22 pm

    Seat-switch story that ended well: Recently I took my aisle seat in first, and heard a gentleman asking the lady in the window seat behind me if she would switch with his wife, as the couple was seated in aisle seats in different rows. The window seat lady declined, as was her prerogative. I asked the hipsterish hair-dyed-blue woman in the window seat next to me if she prefers the window or if she would mind switching with someone, and she very huffily said “No, I’m not switching seats with you – I want the window seat.” I explained that it wasn’t for me, it was for this nice couple who wanted to sit together and pointed them out. Hipster girl took one look at them and said, “Oh yes, yes, I’ll switch” and we all played musical chairs.

    I don’t know if it matters that the couple who wanted to switch was Black, but Ms. Hipster definitely changed her tune when she saw them and (possibly) went into DEI/virtue signaling mode, but the change in her demeanor was somewhat fascinating and everyone was happy.

    • Aaron Reply
      February 24, 2024 at 3:13 pm

      No, it doesn’t matter that she did, but you felt the need to mention it because…?

      • William Reply
        February 24, 2024 at 5:24 pm

        The change in attitude was just so notable, like she had done something wrong— and she looked so stereotypically “woke” with the hair and piercing that the whole thing was a bit fascinating. (I’m gay but I think that doesn’t rank as high in the woke Olympics, or maybe I’m just not obvious enough.)

        • Aaron Reply
          February 25, 2024 at 6:24 am

          Ah, got it, this was just a chance for you to whine and rant about “woke” related something something lol

        • Mariä Himmelfahrt Reply
          February 26, 2024 at 4:57 pm

          “I’m gay but I think that doesn’t rank as high in the woke Olympics, or maybe I’m just not obvious enough.”

          To paraphrase John Leguizamo, Log Cabin Republicans are like roaches for Raid. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

  10. Santastico Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 2:44 pm

    I sleep next to my wife for many many years. So, a few hours far won’t be a problem. I seriously don’t understand the needs to swap seats. BTW, I mainly sleep on planes so having my wife close or far won’t make any difference .

    • Mick Reply
      February 24, 2024 at 3:12 pm

      I agree with you. I love my wife but on long haul we both tend to sleeep, eat and be plugged in.

      I asked a guy if I could swap one row forward with him once form hnl to ord so my wife could join my two young kids and I. He refused as he was across the aisle from his wife and 18yo son. As soon as the flight took off they all put on headphones and didn’t say a word until landing! He did 8 hours of red eye next to my 1yo son while my wife got the aisle seat in the row ahead.

      • Mick Reply
        February 24, 2024 at 3:15 pm

        Noting that with a family of four (now 5) I used to sometimes choose seats which required a seat swap request. Ie I take three of the middle row of 4 where the 4th seat is taken, and then choose the same seat in the aisle forward to the one that is blocked guessing that the person won’t mind swapping.

      • Santastico Reply
        February 24, 2024 at 3:40 pm

        My wife rarely sleep on planes but she catches up on all movies and series she can’t watch at home with our busy lifestyle. Thus, a long haul flight is perfect for her to put her headset and disengage from anything else. I am the opposite. I sleep most of the trip. Thus, there are times we barely speak during the entire flight. And I couldn’t care less. On our last flight from Brazil, my kids were in row 9 one in each window. My wife and I on row 6 each on one window. During 11 hours we stayed in our places.

        • Aaron Reply
          February 25, 2024 at 6:26 am

          But not everyone is like you and your wives. Some people actually enjoy being seated with their partners when traveling together.

  11. Jim Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 7:08 pm

    Wow, this is just about as exciting as me describing how I tie my shoes without assistance. Really? You think something as simple swapping seats deserves the attention of others? Did you check with the flight attendant to ensure that it didn’t upset the flight manifest?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      February 25, 2024 at 1:10 am

      So glad you were amused.

      The FA thanked me.

  12. Jan Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 8:49 pm

    I initially read the topic as “I swap wives so…”

    Time to get off the internet for a bit

    • Sam Reply
      February 25, 2024 at 9:17 am

      I would do anything to swap seats to sit next to or better yet on top of Matthew after seeing that thirst trap picture of him in the Bali waterfall.

  13. Rjb Reply
    February 24, 2024 at 8:57 pm

    I was on a United flight from IAD to ATL in first this week. The F/A asked if I’d be willing to swap my aisle for a window on the other side. Normally, I decline seat swaps. I inquired why? He said the gentleman waiting in the galley was claustrophobic and wanted an aisle and United wanted all of their passengers to be comfortable but no issue if I did not want to switch. The guy waiting looked genuinely distressed so I said I’d be happy to help.

    After we got up in the air, the F/A thanked me again and offered $50 or 2500 points. I thought the situation was well managed by the F/A. Everybody won.

  14. Kramer Reply
    February 25, 2024 at 8:02 am

    A better approach to seat swapping is to suggest it when it benefits yourself?!?

  15. 121Pilot Reply
    February 25, 2024 at 4:43 pm

    My Dad and I benefited from something similar when we flew Lufthansa to Scotland a few years ago. (For those that missed it look up the trip report here.) We had seats 1A and 2K and a very nice German Gentleman we had been talking to before we boarded insisted on swapping seats with my dad putting him in 1K so we could be across from each other.

  16. Iassen Reply
    February 27, 2024 at 6:59 am

    This makes me remember an intra European business class flight. The FA asked whether I am willing to give my window bulkhead seat for an aisle one across the aisle. I was more than willing to say Yes to make a familly with toddler happy Its true I am using my SEN to udually preselect 1F but in such situations I am willing to make the trade without any regrets

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • JetBlue Madrid
    United-JetBlue Tie Up Leaves American Airlines Bloodied June 1, 2025
  • flight attendant smuggler via Sri Lanka police
    Flight Attendant Faces 25 Years, Allegedly Smuggled “Human Bone” Drug June 1, 2025
  • Delta orlando
    Delta’s Play In Orlando—New Focus City Strategy Emerging? June 1, 2025
  • Hong Kong Coffee
    Great Coffee In Hong Kong May 31, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025
  • United American O’Hare gate dispute
    United Airlines To American Airlines: Fly More, Sue Less May 6, 2025
  • American Airlines 737-800 First Class Pathetic
    American Airlines 737-800 First Class: Pathetic May 6, 2025
  • Israel Flight Cancellations
    Major Carriers Extend Flight Cancellations To Israel: Here’s The List May 14, 2025

Archives

June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.