Flight attendant reveals the real and dangerous reason why you should never change seats on a plane with strangers
You may be feeling generous when someone asks if they can switch seats on a flight, but beware say flight attendants. There may be unintended consequences.
Airlines have been looking for more and more ways to make an extra buck from passengers on flights. Whether it be charging for snacks, checking luggage or choosing a preferred seat these extra costs can add up.
In the case of the latter, many travelers roll the dice by not paying to choose their seat and hope that they’ll be given a seat next to their travelling companion, get lucky or be able to grab an open seat. Maybe another traveler will be kind enough to switch seats with them. But you should beware, that there may be unintended consequences from not sitting in your assigned seat.
Flight attendants warn of the dangers of switching seats on a flight
First of all, flight attendants want you to know that there is an etiquette to switching seats on a flight. You shouldn’t just assume that you can get up and grab an open seat if you see one on your flight. You should always ask to move to another seat, and only after boarding has finished.
“Jumping to an open seat without permission is unacceptable,” former flight attendant Lia Ocampo told Condé Nast Traveler. “There are aviation and airline regulations that the crew must adhere to. Always asking for permission is a courteous and professional approach.”
“Moving seats is not always allowed due to weight and balance issues,” Ocampo explained. “Pilots know the open seats, which is crucial in maintaining the aircraft’s weight and balance.”
“Just beware!” switching seats with another passenger could cost you
Another flight attendant Leanna Coy explained on a TikTok video that switching seats with another passenger may led to you getting an unexpected bill or worse. She shared that while she is “normally… absolutely 100% against changing seats,” that she was feeling generous one flight.
She was on a United Flight to Jordan and it struck her after making the switch that her credit card data was on the airline’s app with which passengers can order in-flight snacks and drinks. She asked the flight attendant working the flight if the person she gave her seat to could technically charge things to her account, if it was associated to the seat she had been assigned.
Coy was gob smacked when she was told “Oh, yeah!” Fortunately for her the flight attendant assured her that she was working that part of the plane and would make sure nothing got charged to her. Coy didn’t think that the lady she switched seats with was out to scam her, “but that’s just something to be aware of,” she warned.
One of her other concerns about her name being attached to the seat she had given to the other passenger, is what if the lady got up in the middle of flight and went to smoke a cigarette in the bathroom. It would be her name on the manifest and such an incident would come back on her.
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