As the travel term “seat grabber” spreads across the internet, some passengers may find themselves in a predicament when faced with a passenger stealing their seat.
One traveler shared a recent experience on Reddit's r/delta forum under the title, “The rise of the 'seat squatters.'”
Users claimed to have witnessed three different seat squatting incidents onboard Delta Airlines flights.
“First of all… there was a guy who was supposed to be at 28C all the way to 12B and was trying to claim that was his seat,” the user wrote. “Next was a woman in 18A who was stubbornly insisting to the seat holder that she should be by the window and not in the middle.”
The user added, “Next, the couple who were supposed to be at 24C and D decided to camp and plant flags at 24A and B.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Delta Air Lines for comment.
“Squatting in this seat is becoming all too common,” the poster wrote.
Reddit users took to the comments section to discuss the growing travel trend and how passengers and airlines should deal with “unoccupied seat” situations.
“Let's get them out and let the waiters sit. That'll probably solve it,” one person said.
Another person commented: “This has happened to me several times over the past two years. I just offer to sell them my assigned seat…$500 cash for an aisle seat.”
Yet another user said:[It’s] Evaporation of courtesy, [halted] Due to the pandemic. This is what it looks like until DL [Delta Airlines] They have started throwing people off planes and inconveniencing them without compensation. If you act like a child, you will be punished. It's worked fine in the past. ”
Another said: “I ate there last week. I paid for the window seat instead of the middle one.”
“People will try it as long as they can avoid the problem. Gate agents should warn about this along with boarding with the wrong group,” one user opined.
Another added: “If you say no, you'll get the evil eye (or more) for the entire flight.”
Rosalinda Randall, a California-based etiquette expert, told FOX News Digital, “It's never OK to sit crouched on a plane. Ultimately, the passenger who was assigned that seat will be required.”
Randall said when dealing with seat squatters, it's best to approach the situation calmly and honestly.
“Take out your boarding pass. Don’t just double check it. [if] You're right, but it also provides evidence in case the person who illegally occupied the seat protests.'' Randall said.
“If a person in your seat refuses to move, do not get involved. Do not invite other passengers to the gathering. Immediately seek help from a flight attendant.”
She said that even if you make concessions and allow seat squatters to stay, don't expect the airline to refund the fees associated with the seats.
Randall added that if he ducked, he would eventually get caught.
“If you try to get your way by boring people with your stories, being loud and bold, or pretending that you don't speak English, you'll likely get assigned a new seat at airport security.'' '' Randall said.
