Comments on: Seat Kidnapping: I Can’t Believe it’s a Thing – Here’s What to Do If it Happens to You While Traveling

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 22:43:13 +0000

On a flight to Morocco my husband and I got to our seats to see a man sitting in my window seat. He essentially ignored us and we figured there was a language barrier. So my husband sat next to him and I took the aisle, giving him evil eye. He eventually spoke in limited English to my husband that he wasn’t used to flying. So I’m that case I forgave him.

By: Michele Herrmann

Michele Herrmann — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 04:16:39 +0000

I’ve had people automatically sit in my seat thinking that I’d switch with no complaints. Especially couples. Thank you for bringing this up and making me realize I can push back on this.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 08:54:01 +0000

THE BEST IS ATLATA, CUSTOMS, IT IS NOW THE NEW LOURDS, WHY PAY TO GO THERE, PLUS ITS A CON , WHEN YOU CAN HAVE ATLANTA, CITY OF MIRACLES, I,M IN MY DISABILITY SCOOTER, AND SEVERAL WHEELCHAIRS COME, ALONG WITH ALL THEIR FOLK TO IMMIGRATION , STRAIGHT THRU THE LINE, THEN AT BAGGAGE, IT HAPPENS, MOST AMZING THING, THEY ALL GET UP WALK, PICK UP BAGS AND THEIR KIDS AND OFF THEY GO , , UNLESS GOING THRU TO ANOTHER CITY,

By: Bessie Jacinto

Bessie Jacinto — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 08:13:35 +0000

My husband were on a train in France years ago and had reserved two seats next to each other only to find a French woman in my seat who refused to move. When the other passengers heard her refusal, more than two French passengers told her to move because it was my assigned seat and it was next to my husband’s. That much I understood with my limited French. The middle-aged woman eventually left when she heard a growing chorus saying so and I at least gave a fervent “Merci” to everyone else.

By: Gayle

Gayle — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 23:11:57 +0000

My husband and I had the exit row seats many years ago and a guy jumped in mine and would not budge untilI got the flight attendant involved. She asked to see his boarding pass and politely told him to move. He fussed and fumed but finally got up. It was so embarrassing!! That was at least 15 years ago so apparently seat theft is not a new practice.

By: BJ

BJ — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 21:02:37 +0000

We had first class seats on a train from Lucca to Rome but when we got to the compartment two ladies and two older Italian men were in our seats. As my one friend spoke some Italian they claimed not to understand. Finally the young Italian woman spoke up and told them to move. We sat down and she explained that people buy the cheap seats but sit in the first class seats then claim it’s theirs. We thanked her and she gave us good advice as when we got to the Rome station go out the side door not the big line out front and we will get a taxi. Of course we did have a nicely dressed man approach us with a cab for hire which we knew was a scam and forcefully told no, but that’s another story.

By: MD Kennedy

MD Kennedy — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 20:55:36 +0000

Had this happen on a tour bus in Greece – you pick your seats (first come first serve) for the length of the tour (in this case 5 days). My husband and I put our hats, tour book, umbrella and water bottles in the seat pockets in front and were fine and dandy for the first two days. On the third day, we got on the bus and low and behold two other tourists (European) had decided they liked our seats better so just took them. When we politely told them they had mistakenly taken our seats, they just ignored us. And then ignored us again. So, I put on my “loud American” hat and told them in a firm yet loud voice that they were sitting in our seats and would have to move. The bus went silent and everyone was staring at them and guess what, they moved! And everyone on the bus (I was the sole American) applauded and later several told me that they never would have been able to be so “pushy” but that I did the right thing. I know we’re not supposed to be loud Americans, but sometimes it is a nice tool to have in your back pocket. You wouldn’t believe the respect and friendliness we received from our other tour buddies for the remainder of the trip! And the tour guide was so relieved he didn’t have to get in the middle of what could have been a nasty scene.

By: Cathie Carroll

Cathie Carroll — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 19:23:10 +0000

3 years ago on a train from Brussels to Paris a man was seated in my assigned seat and working on a laptop. When I pointed out his error, politely, he said “so?”.
I repeated that it was my seat and he asked me with great disdain, “do you want me to move?”
I told him yes. He glared and slowly gathered his things and moved to the aisle seat.

I think he meant to intimidate me and make me uncomfortable, but it was my first high speed train ride and I wanted my window seat.

By: Russell

Russell — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 18:56:39 +0000

This is also a “thing” in movie theaters that now assign seats.
A man got beat up by a seat “thief” when he showed his tickets with seat numbers. They took off, but everything was captured on video. (yes, theaters have IR cameras watching the audiences.)

By: Ron

Ron — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 18:17:37 +0000

It’s sad to see society has digressed. How about taking a selfie with you in the seat. Make sure the picture contains you and the aisle if the aisle seat is what you want.