I get being uncomfortable on a full flight. That’s just part of flying. But when the plane isn’t full and there are open seats around you, it feels unnecessary.
Sounds like you both handled it politely and just wanted a little breathing room. Not an upgrade. Not special treatment. Just not sitting fused together for a few hours.
Blaming “weight and balance” on a lightly loaded flight is what would annoy me most. We’ve all seen FAs ask people to spread out before. Using that line when there are obvious empty seats makes it feel like a script, not an explanation.
If the new assigned seating system is clustering basic fares on purpose, that’s a risky move. Some people might pay to avoid it. Others will just book another airline next time.
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