The 'hands on seat' phenomenon may have dominated travel experiences in 2024, but it doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon in the new year of 2025.
The travelers continue To reveal their “sit on their chairs” confrontations on social media while commentators chime in and discuss the hot-button issue.
The experience shared on Reddit in the “r/delta” forum with the caption “Seat squatters caught and the entire flight was rude” continued to spark debate.
'Gate lice' and 'seat sitters' are among 2024's hottest travel trends
The term “seat squatters” has been used to refer to those who steal seats that have been chosen and paid for by other travellers.
While discussing a flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Los Angeles, California, the traveler wrote: “I couldn't even believe my eyes after seeing all this.” Squat bench posts“.
A plane passenger shared a “hands on seat” story on Reddit about a couple with a dog (not pictured) who tried to claim an entire row of seats. (Stephen Chernin via Getty Images)
The person added: “We finally got up and this couple is our age (late 20s, early 30s) in our row, which can't be right because we're (in) the middle and aisle (seats).” I tell them they're in my seat…and strangely enough they start fumbling and reminding me They have a dog with them“.
She replied that she was, the user said Allergy to dogs – And she paid for the seats.
She said he put his arm on the armrest and squeezed her arm.
“They both started fumbling more, and (the female), who was originally in the window seat (which) I assume was already reserved, and (the male), who was sitting in my seat, moved out of the row so she added, ‘The female and the dog can go to the window seat. “The window is behind us.”
She said the man, for his part, then moved to the window seat in her row.
He put his arm on the armrest and squeezed her arm, causing her to switch seats with him Her fiancé She said in class.
“Once we finally got down The plane “My fiancé told me this man silently fought with him over the armrest the same way he fought with me the entire flight,” she wrote in her post.
One user shared a story about 'squatters' stealing plane seats while an etiquette expert commented on the hot travel trend and offered sage advice. (Istock)
“I can't explain how or why this man did this when we did absolutely nothing for him other than ask to take our seats,” the poster added in her story.
Reddit users took to the comments section to weigh in on the situation and share their own experiences with it “Seat setters.”
“I doubt that people who actually agree to break the rules would be great people.”
“It's only happened to me once, thankfully. But my rule of thumb is that I'll be polite in the initial interaction in case there's a legitimate mistake (they're) sitting in my seat. In this case, they'll get up and move and won't There shall be no harm or error.”
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Another added: “Oh my goodness, looks like you are They were flying With a group of rowdy teenagers.”
“I doubt people who actually agree to break the rules would be great people, unfortunately,” another user commented.
Some users have discussed the idea of any passenger getting armrests in the middle seat.
Plane passengers' encounters with “seat takers” are circulating on social media, with some passengers (not pictured) occupying seats not assigned to them. (Istock)
“The 'middle seat with armrests' thing is quite a cognitive thing online. Yes, it's polite and logical if you think about it, but the average[person]who flies once or twice a year… probably doesn't know Or think about it,” one user commented.
Another said: “Everyone knows the middle seat has armrests.”
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“The middle person doesn't actually get armrests,” another user said. “That's a made-up rule and you can't be mad at someone who doesn't follow it.”
Gary Lev, A Texas based The person with the seat assignment on their boarding pass is entitled to that seat, a travel industry expert and author of the “View From the Wing” blog told Fox News Digital.
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“(Travelers) may not be able to get what they want from the airline when reserving seats, or the airline may want to pay fees for seats they want that the passenger does not want.” To pay “So they'll try their luck on the plane,” Leif said.
Flight attendants may be able to intervene if a traveler experiences so-called “squat seat”. (Istock)
Lev suggested that instead of stealing seats, travelers could try directly asking others to swap seats with them.
“It's never okay to sit cross-legged all at once on a plane. Eventually, the passenger who was assigned that seat will demand it,” Rosalinda Randall, a California-based etiquette expert, told Fox News Digital.
“Ask the flight attendant for help immediately.”
When dealing with a seated person, it's best to handle the situation calmly and in good faith, Randall said.
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“If a random seat refuses to move, don’t sign up for it, and don’t recruit other passengers to rally,” she said.
Rather, “Ask the flight attendant for help immediately.”
