Seat Scammer

September 28, 2010

in Baby & Kid Stories

I was flying home on a red-eye United flight from Honolulu to San Francisco. My inter-island connecting flight from Kauai on Go! Airlines was late and I barely made it to the gate on time after a mad dash from one end of the airport to the other. The flight was fully booked and the agent was just about to give my seat to someone on stand-by. Even though I lost my reserved aisle seat for a center seat in a row of 5, I was relieved simply to have made the flight.

As I made my way to my seat, I discovered a woman sitting in my seat with her baby and husband occupying the seats next to her. I indicated that she was in my seat and she proceeded to argue with me that she was also assigned my seat. I held up my boarding pass showing the assigned seat and she continued to insist that I couldn’t possibly have that seat. When I asked to see her boarding pass, she finally relented. It was obvious she was trying to scam her way into securing an extra seat so her baby wouldn’t have to sit on her lap the whole flight.

I tried to keep civil with this liar as I took my seat. However, it became more challenging after she then announced to me that her baby’s legs would need to stretch out into my space as she nursed. Normally, I don’t have any problem accommodating someone, but for her to seek my favor after her thoughtless and selfish behavior a moment earlier was particularly nervy. I contemplated telling her to pound salt and to switch seats with her husband, but decided not to stoop to her level. I did, however, stretch my legs fully along her side as I napped during the flight.

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Susu September 29, 2010 at 2:35 am

Geez, I can hardly tell which one of you was the bigger baby.

If you showed up on time you wouldn't have had any issues, grow up or don't fly!

Reply

naj00 September 29, 2010 at 4:40 am

Totally wrong Susu….

Read more carefully next time, before you comment. This person was well within their rights to react how they did. I compliment them biting their tongue! I'd have given the lady an earful.

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memee September 29, 2010 at 7:31 am

Connecting flight late, read the post

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osyluth September 30, 2010 at 10:56 am

MaMa Troll

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Les September 29, 2010 at 4:11 am

This reminds me of an incident I had on Continental. Although nobody tried to deny me my assigned seat, a mom decided to put her kid's feet in my lap twice during boarding and she even stood the kid on my shoulder. All of this while her husband was seated right next to her! Obviously, the husband didn't want the kid's feet in his lap or on his shoulder!

And Susu:

1. Maybe you missed the first sentence of the posting which said that the connecting flight, not the passsenger, was late.

2. Nobody has a right to grab an extra seat as long as boarding is still in progress.

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Ron September 29, 2010 at 5:51 am

I don't get this–I have a baby girl and neither I nor my wife would ever DREAM of putting our baby on someone else or violating their space. We go to pains to try to ensure that we and our baby do not inconvenience others. I just don't understand who in their right mind would do what you've described…

Someone help me with this–have you ever done this, and if so, what was your rationale?

Reply

TacoDave September 29, 2010 at 10:09 am

I flew with my six-month-old daughter last week (just me and the baby) and on one flight I was in a middle seat. Not only that, but the person in front of me put their seat back, leaving me even less space. But I made sure not to have my baby kick or grab the gentlemen on either side of me.

It's common courtesy! Plus, I got complimented by several people when we landed for how well I handled things.

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D-Money September 29, 2010 at 1:56 pm

Just be glad the baby didn't vomit, because I'm sure the mother would have aimed it at you.

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Salamandra September 30, 2010 at 6:09 pm

Next time i will sit the baby on the wing

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xipe November 29, 2010 at 4:04 pm

Two weeks ago I had three mothers and four children under two on all sides of my two people row.

The lady behind me allowed her two year old to kick my seat repeatedly, for a while , until I finally turn around and asked for it to stop.

She uses the "shes a toddler " excuse…. but stops mid sentence. I give her the look. The look of, we both know very well that's not a valid excuse……

It stopped. And I was thankful for earphones

Reply

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