I recently experienced one of the most uncomfortable flights on a long-haul route with Turkish Airlines (flight TK43 from Johannesburg to Istanbul). I had reserved and paid extra for a specific seat (12G on an A350-900), expecting a normal and comfortable journey.
However, the passenger seated next to me occupied a significant portion of my space. Due to her size and the way she used a large, thick blanket, my seating area was heavily encroached upon, leaving me with very limited room. Despite attempts to manage the situation, the passenger did not adjust or move during the flight.
As a result, I was unable to use my seat properly and ended up spending most of the nearly 10-hour flight standing in the aisle and galley areas. This made the journey extremely exhausting and frustrating, especially considering I had paid for a seat I could not utilize.
This experience raises concerns about seating policies on long-haul flights, particularly when passengers require more space than a standard seat provides. It also brings up questions about how airlines can better handle such situations to ensure fairness and comfort for all passengers.
Has anyone else experienced something similar, or explored options for compensation in cases where a paid seat could not be used properly?
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