Woman sitting in an empty airport terminal.Photo:Getty
Getty
An airline passenger is reliving an unpleasant incident in which she was called an “a–hole” and “rude” for refusing to give up her seat to a wheelchair user.
Everything was going smoothly until just before it was time to board the plane.
Travelers lining up to board the plane.Getty
She explains, “About 5:15, a few minutes before boarding, a woman and her mom were wheeled to the gate. They received assistance but were able to walk on the plane . . . They started to go up my row and then stopped to ask if I would move.”
While the user admits to having a “nicer, closer” spot in the waiting area, she recalls seeing “tons” of empty seats around her. “Probably over 100,” she adds.
“When they asked if I would move, I said no,” she continues. “The younger lady called me rude and scoffed about it. Again, there were tons of open seats and I had been there for a while.”
People seated on an airplane.Artur Debat / Getty Images
The original poster (OP) then shares the series of unpleasant encounters that followed.
Referring to the other woman and her mom, she says, “They took a seat a row over and glared at me the entire time until we boarded in the last group. On the plane, the person next to me called me an a-hole for not moving for them. No one else offered to move.”
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The commenters largely agreed with the OP, saying those judging her were out of line.
“Unless you were sitting in a seat specifically designated for disabled people, it’s first come, first served. Using a wheelchair does not entitle someone to any seat that they choose,” one user wrote in response.
Another added, “You have nothing to be ashamed of. Some people are entitled. Others like to judge. Don’t stress the small stuff.”
One commenter added, they thought it was odd if there were plenty of other seats in the waiting area. “It seems weird that people are mad at you for not giving up a random seat when there were so many available, and right before boarding. You could have given up the seat but you were under no obligation to do so.”
Several people asked if OP was sitting in an area designated for people with disabilities, saying she was clearly in the wrong if so, prompting her to update her original post noting that she was not sitting in the special area.
So, what’s the proper etiquette to follow in a situation like this? PEOPLE asked travel expert, advisor and writerNicole Campoy Jacksonof Fora Travel to share her tips for handling a similar situation.
She says the same holds true in this situation and that the passenger was not required to comply. “However, she does admit to having a ‘nicer, closer’ seat to boarding; one that may have made things a bit more convenient for the passengers with a wheelchair,” Jackson adds. “So, again while not obligated, my question is… why not move? If you’re about to board, you’ll likely have your personal belongings together and ready to go, as well.”
Shared space in airports has become a hot button topic prompting debates onwho has the right to overhead bin spacein the cabin andwho gets priority when it comes to seating arrangementsamong other topics.
source: people.com
