Since the changes following COVID-19, especially with airlines charging extra for seat selection, I’ve noticed a big increase in passengers asking to switch seats. As someone who often travels alone, I frequently get approached by people wanting to sit with their partners or friends, as if I’m automatically expected to accommodate them.
There have been multiple situations where I was clearly not open to interaction wearing headphones, an eye mask, and even a face mask yet someone still tapped me to ask for a seat change. On another trip, a couple tried the “middle seat strategy,” but I had specifically chosen that seat to use an inflatable footrest, which isn’t allowed in aisle seats.
After being asked repeatedly on different flights even when I declined the first time, I eventually responded more firmly out of frustration. It’s becoming exhausting dealing with passengers who don’t respect a simple “no” and assume solo travelers are obligated to adjust for their convenience.
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