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.
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…
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.
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?
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.
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.
“next to” is a relative term on the even row middle seats
Matthew … Did you go to 2K , the window seat ?
Yes, I went to 2K.
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?
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.
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.
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!
Gracias.
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.
No, it doesn’t matter that she did, but you felt the need to mention it because…?
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.)
Ah, got it, this was just a chance for you to whine and rant about “woke” related something something lol
“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)_/¯
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 .
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.
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.
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.
But not everyone is like you and your wives. Some people actually enjoy being seated with their partners when traveling together.
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?
So glad you were amused.
The FA thanked me.
I initially read the topic as “I swap wives so…”
Time to get off the internet for a bit
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.
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.
A better approach to seat swapping is to suggest it when it benefits yourself?!?
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.
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