{"id":2000,"date":"2026-01-23T15:18:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T15:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/?p=2000"},"modified":"2026-01-23T15:18:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T15:18:33","slug":"a-passenger-refused-to-give-up-an-empty-seat-and-the-couples-request-turned-tense-fast-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/?p=2000","title":{"rendered":"A passenger refused to give up an empty seat\u2014and the couple\u2019s request turned tense fast."},"content":{"rendered":"

A passenger refused to give up an empty seat\u2014and the couple\u2019s request turned tense fast<\/h1>\n

\u201cI am obese. Like I am comfortable having two seats in the plane type of obese. I am well aware of that and I really don\u2019t like to bother people with my weight.\u201d
\n\u201cA week ago I was going to a conference by plane and because I was going alone (usually when I fly with my boyfriend I don\u2019t buy two since he sits next to me) I bought two seats. I fit in one but my side is usually touching the person next to me and I feel uncomfortable for them. It happened to me that they gave me nasty looks and I felt extremely uncomfortable the whole flight.\u201d
\n\u201cSo I sat down in the plane and put the armrest up so I would be really comfortable. Some couple came and they both sat next to me because they got separate seats and they noticed the seat next to me was empty. Exactly what I was afraid of happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cMy side kept touching the guy next to me and he even pushed me a bit when he moved in the seat. I was feeling extremely uncomfortable and asked him if he could go to his seat because I bought this one for my comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe told me no since the seat is empty and he wants to be with his girlfriend. Well, I told him I understand but I feel uncomfortable and I paid for the second seat so exactly this doesn\u2019t happen. He refused again and started to chat with his GF. I called the flight attendant and quietly told her what is happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe asked the guy to leave my second seat and he and his GF gave me a nasty look. The GF mumbled something like \u2018F\u2019king fat bitch\u2019 under her breath but nothing directly to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Am I the a**hole for insisting on him to leave?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Following Are Acceptable Responses:<\/p>\n

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NTA \u2013 Not the A**hole
\nYTA \u2013 You\u2019re the A**hole
\nNAH \u2013 No A**holes Here
\nESH \u2013 Everybody Sucks Here<\/p>\n

Because the OP paid for the seat, many commenters thought in this case, that she is not the a-hole.<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA- Former flight attendant. It\u2019s your seat. You paid for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that (classless) couple wanted to sit together that badly, they should have paid for seats together.\u201d \u2013 MolassesFragrant342<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m confused on why the gf didn\u2019t just move. I imagine whoever was next to bf would have been interested in a seat with no one next to them.\u201d \u2013 future_nurse19<\/p>\n

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\u201cNTA. It doesn\u2019t matter why you purchased that seat. You could have bought it for the spirits of your ancestors so they could guide you safely to your destination and it would have been no one\u2019s business but yours. Sorry this happened.\u201d \u2013 AlternativeFox4627<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA. They tried to take something you paid for and then were rude to you. It\u2019s a bit shocking, really, considering the number of people who comment on social media that larger people should have to buy two seats.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease don\u2019t feel bad about yourself because they chose to be horrid and entitled.\u201d \u2013 31anon5<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA: you paid for that seat, it\u2019s your seat and frankly airplane seats are too small. I was on a flight last week, I bought it last minute and ended up with a center seat in the \u2018basic\u2019 cabin, the cheap seats on United flights ( at least on this plane ) don\u2019t have movable armrests, and my hips hit both armrests( read walls), it was very uncomfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wear a women\u2019s 10\/12, after that experience, I will always buy 2 seats if I\u2019m in the back or at least never settle for less than business class.\u201d \u2013 DishsUp<\/p>\n

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\u201cDo you see how many of us are rallying to say you should not feel shame? Of course, it\u2019s not that easy for you to believe it, any more than it\u2019s easy for you to think yourself thin. But it\u2019s still true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI track my calories very carefully, and I eat around 1800 calories a day. I don\u2019t drink soda or any sweetened beverages, and I only drink alcohol at holiday parties.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am extremely active \u2013 I ride a bike for 15-20 miles or I hike for 5-10 every weekend, and I move as much as I can with a desk job, making sure I get my 10K steps every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m awesome, right? Nothing to be ashamed of? I\u2019m still borderline obese, and if I\u2019m in a middle seat, some part of me is touching someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you and I are just people, and maybe this is just what we\u2019re shaped like. As long as we can do the things we want to do, maybe we\u2019re okay.\u201d \u2013 OneCraftyBird<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA. You did exactly what people scream at fat people to do and still got abuse hurled at you. The fact they didn\u2019t even ask is odd.\u201d \u2013 hexgirlthorn<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA. You PAID for two seats. They were being entitled AHs for not even asking permission.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor you for the future, there is NOTHING wrong with informing people who try to sit in your PAID FOR 2nd seat that it IS your seat even if it\u2019s currently empty and they need to sit in their assigned seats or ask someone else to switch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr they could PAY for assigned seats next to each other in the future. If you don\u2019t pay for seat assignment, you don\u2019t get to complain about not sitting next to each other or bully someone else for their seat.\u201d \u2013 jaelythe4781<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA. I had to fly in December and at the time I had a painful ankle injury that required the use of crutches\/assistance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband and I got a message on our Delta app saying that our seats had changed last minute, which ended up separating us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt stressed me out because of my extreme motion sickness and because I knew I would possibly make the new person next to me uncomfortable with my ankle injury pains.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we went to ask about moving our seats the flight attendant immediately said that they changed it back once they saw that we were separated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLong story short, if they wanted to sit together they could have figured that out before the flight.\u201d \u2013 Korynna<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA. You PAID for the seat, which means it\u2019s your seat. What you do with that seat is your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf some a**hole wants to invade your space, space that YOU PAID FOR, because he was too cheap to pay for that space himself? F\u2019k him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s rude and disrespectful and an a**hole move on his part.\u201d \u2013 thetwitchy1<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA. This is one of those times when I hope the people are on Reddit, or that this gets picked up by some article.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow rude can they have been? And do they NEED to be with each other every second?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlanes are so loud it\u2019s tough to really have much of a conversation anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAny time I\u2019ve flown with someone else, we always wind up putting in separate headphones and using hand signals to communicate\u2026if someone has asked us to split up for some reason, we would have easily survived for a couple of hours .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat an entitled couple! I\u2019m sorry this happened to you OP\u00a0\"\ud83d\udc9c\".\u201d \u2013 yarnhooker99<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA. You PAID for the seat. You\u2019re a lot nicer than I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI DO NOT switch seats on the plane. I specifically select flights with ample aisle seats so I choose one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would only switch for a child or someone elderly who needs to be seated with someone. NEVER for a stupid couple who can\u2019t sit apart for a couple of hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you let him sit there in the first place? I would have said immediately that I paid for 2 seats and if they argued I would have called the flight attendant even before he sat his dumba** down.\u201d \u2013 Pugs_and_Drugs4Eva<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on. Someone TOOK a seat you paid for and then got sh*tty with you about it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you are most definitely NTA.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact, well done for insisting they leave.\u201d \u2013 Big_Accountant6759<\/p>\n

\u201cThe self-entitlement of some people is alarming. You\u2019re definitely NTA.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou paid for something and have every right to use it how you see fit.\u201d \u2013 everyonesmellmymeat<\/p>\n

\u201cI must point out the flight attendant was an absolute sweetheart! Very kind and understanding\u00a0\"\ud83d\ude42\"\u00a0She was also giving me the belt extension and when I apologized to her, she told me not to worry about it and it was overall a very pleasant situation to talk to her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad to hear your interaction with the flight attendant was good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a plus-size flight attendant. I understand this situation from both sides of the aisle. I just want you to know you were completely in the right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI also appreciate you purchasing a second seat for your comfort. For all intents and purposes, they were stealing from you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUsually we have people in middle seats trying to get out of it and not vice versa. It\u2019s truly horrible to have to try and rearrange folks once they\u2019re on board or to ask for a note in a reservation.\u201d \u2013 JulieSnaps<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were polite and nice through the interaction according to what you\u2019ve written. Any service industry employee would much rather deal with you and the seats you paid for than with 90% of the other people they have to see every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA. You paid money for that seat, it\u2019s your seat, that couple can get bent.\u201d \u2013 Darphon<\/p>\n

\u201cI commend you for one, buying this extra seat, but also for standing up for yourself about it. Even if you weren\u2019t obese and bought the extra seat because you didn\u2019t want someone nearby, you\u2019re well within your rights to have that extra seat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he wanted to be with her that bad, they should have planned accordingly.\u201d \u2013 Accomplished_Locker<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA. If it happens again, don\u2019t let them sit down. Block the extra seat and state immediately, \u2018I paid for two seats. This one is not available.\u201d \u2013 NoxWild<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA. You paid for that seat fair and square. It doesn\u2019t matter why \u2013 you have your reasons, but it\u2019s none of his business. You are entitled to what you paid for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou respectfully told him that you purchased two seats and he chose to be a total asshole. I\u2019m so sorry this happened to you \u2013 it\u2019s totally unfair that people feel they can treat others like this.\u201d \u2013 Candid-Square-8889<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA Your second seat was not \u2018free\u2019 you paid for it, its condition (ie empty) doesn\u2019t change that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I go to a car lot and buy a car, no one else gets to drive it off the lot (even if I can\u2019t for some reason) unless I say ok. You were in the same situation, you bought a seat, and no one else gets to sit in it w\/o your permission.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese were just some AH that tried to get something they couldn\u2019t otherwise (assuming getting adjoining seats was more expensive or unavailable due to last-minute booking, or just pure laziness) & when they got called on their BS they lashed out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did nothing wrong, don\u2019t let the AH make you question yourself & keep being the wonderful person you are Queen.\u201d \u2013 Far-Profit-3430<\/p>\n

\u201cNTA. I have been in your situation before with the extra seat. My flight had been oversold and they tried to put someone in my extra seat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo way. They tried, they failed. Next time break out your camera and videotape the ignorance. Send it viral when you land.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not ok to treat someone like this only because they are big. You paid for the seat, you own the seat. Done!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the girlfriend can kiss my fat a** too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople, no matter their size, color, creed, etc\u2026 all have these things called feelings as well as the right to be treated right and not have to deal with such ignorant people.\u201d \u2013 lynnharris3321<\/p>\n

Redditors overwhelmingly concluded that OP is NOT the a**hole for not giving up the seats that she paid for.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A passenger refused to give up an empty seat\u2014and the couple\u2019s request turned tense fast \u201cI am obese. Like I am comfortable having two seats in the plane type of … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1998,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-life-story"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2000"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2002,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000\/revisions\/2002"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2000"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2000"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storyreadin.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}