Some Days I Just Don’t Want to Move
I understand, really I do. Chances are, I’d be glad to help out. I’d like the same consideration if I asked. But today I just didn’t want to do it.
What, you ask? Move to another seat on our flight, of course.
I know you’d like to sit next to your spouse, your child or your friend. And I may have the magic seat that may allow that to happen.
You ask.
I feel guilty, but I say No.
You enlist the help of a flight attendant.
I still say No, and feel even guiltier.
I justify why I do not want to move, though I feel bad for not being cooperative. It’s against my nature to not want to help.
But I like my seat . . . really like it.
Today I have 2B. It’s the perfect first class seat (for me, anyway). Bulk head for extra legroom, plus the great benefit of having a space in front of me to hold my laptop tote. Being the first row to get served helps also, along with easy access to get to the restroom. What could be better? It’s my usual Monday-morning seat on my Boeing 737-300 heading to Houston.
Please don’t ask me to give this up!
But you asked.
And I said No and because I needed to justify it, said “but I want my laptop tote with me.” In my head, I’m saying “hey, I was up early on Sunday morning to check in 24 hours ahead of time to get the seat I wanted so why should I move?”
So a couple who wanted to sit together couldn’t (did I tell you it was their wedding anniversary?). Though no one else who was asked wanted to move either, so why do I feel so guilty?
If I were over it, I wouldn’t be writing this. The guilt lingers . . .
But I’m still not moving out of 2B on a Monday morning.
So if you’d like me to switch seats with you, I’ll be happy to do so – just anytime other than when I’m in my favorite seat!
Don’t feel guilty. I once upgraded to first and booked a last minute seat for my husband so he could join me on a trip. We ended up with aisle seats a row apart in a 2-2 cabin.
I asked the airline employee who had the window seat next to me if she would switch with my husband. She declined politely and setled in for the long overnight flight. The woman in the window seat next to my husband also looked corfortably settled in.
The flight turned out fine. My husband and I each got to relax and enjoy the rare (for us) treat of a first class experience. Our respective seatmates slept through the whole flight so we never had to get up to let them out.
If they really wanted to sit together, the couple could have booked adjacent seats ahead of time. It’s appalling they would recruit an FA to pressure you further, after you politely refused. I hope your lingering guilt dissipates soon. You were in your favorite seat because you earned it through a grueling work/travel schedule, not because a sense of entitlement caused you to browbeat a stranger into a reluctant trade.