The debate over plane etiquette reignited once again when a TikToker sought advice on her troubling seat-changing story.
Several stories about the etiquette surrounding swapping seats on airplanes have been floating in the clouds lately, and now New York-based Surya Garg has reignited the debate.
The 23-year-old TikToker revealed how she found herself in the midst of a seat-swapping nightmare after being approached by a mother on a flight and subjected to what she felt was awkward behavior.
In one video, Surya describes how a mother came up to her and asked if she could give up her window seat – for which she had paid extra – so she could sit with her son, who “had to be at least 16 or 17 years old.” . Year old.’
When she asked where the woman wanted her moved to, she was directed to a “middle seat like a few rows back.”
New York-based TikToker Surya Garg has reignited the debate about swapping seats on planes after she was approached by a mother on a flight and said she was not treated properly
When she then asked who the woman’s son was, she was shocked to discover that he wasn’t a child, but “like a 6ft 5in man.”
Surya said she “didn’t really know what to say to the mother” at that point and “didn’t want to look like an asshole”.
Opinion poll
Would you give up your seat for parents and their child?
- Yes 119 votes
- No 1222 votes
However, she decided to deny the woman’s request, explaining that she had paid extra for the seat.
After being told “no,” Surya said the mother “makes me the meanest face I’ve ever seen,” and then walked around “mumbling swear words at me throughout the flight.”
Stunned by the experience, Surya asked other TikTokers, “Was I wrong here? I need someone to tell me.”
To date, her video, uploaded with the hashtags #nyc #airplane #airplaneseats, has been viewed more than 400,000 times and many viewers assured Surya that she was not wrong.
Speaking out in her defense, @JZ wrote: “The way she reacted is exactly why you shouldn’t give up your seat. Good job standing up for yourself.’
And @Eem83 echoed similar sentiments, saying: “No, you weren’t. I am a mother. I have an 11 and 14 year old daughter. If we fly, I’ll pay extra to sit together. every time
Even travel booking site Expedia spoke out in favor of Surya, simply commenting, “Not wrong.”
Stunned by the experience, Surya asked other TikTokers, “Was I wrong here? I need someone to tell me’
“Because it’s my responsibility to make sure we sit together if that’s what we need. And at their age, they can easily manage a flight on their own. So a 16-year-old boy can do it too.”
Even travel booking site Expedia spoke out in favor of Surya, simply commenting, “Not wrong.”
Other commenters took a moment to share their own travel horror stories.
@Ali commented: “This happened to me with an adult couple. But they were ALREADY in my (aisle) seat when I got there!’
She went on to explain that she managed to get the couple to move, but the woman wasn’t happy about it and made her feel “uncomfortable and anxious the whole flight”.
Meanwhile, @Samantha Surya offered some advice for next time, writing: “I always tell them I need a window seat as I get motion sickness and dizziness…might throw up.” Usually shuts them up and they don’t mind first place.”
Surya’s story follows one that made headlines last November when a mother described the “right way” to ask a fellow passenger to change seats.
Anna Lyn Cook explained in a TikTok clip how she told a fellow passenger her seat was “a lot better” than his as it had “a lot more legroom” and her polite manner convinced him to swap seats.
Lots of people were quick to flood the comments section with their thoughts, with many of them praising the mom for asking about the switch in the “right way.”
“You handled it correctly. Good job mom,” one person wrote, while another added, “See this is the way. Always offer to trade for the better or foremost seats.’