Long flights can be uncomfortable experiences, especially if you are very tall and don't have enough leg room. It's why some people who can't afford first-class tickets choose to pay a bit more for economy seats with more space in front.
One man has said that he did exactly that for a 12 hour flight only to find that an elderly couple were in his seats when he got on the plane. The man posted on Reddit to describe how he stood his ground and insisted the pair let him sit in the seat he had booked, before receiving dirty looks from other passengers, the Mirror reports.
Captioned his post “Old couple try to take our seats on a plane,” he wrote: “Saw a few plane seat-related posts so I thought I would add my story. A few years ago my significant other and I planned a three-month trip around the world. Our first flight was from New Zealand-LA. 12-13 hours.
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"We booked and paid for our flights and I added the premium economy seats as I'm 6'3 and wanted the extra legroom. Cost an extra $60 (£50). This flight was with Air New Zealand, the screen has your name on it when you get to your seat.
"We get on the plane. Find our seats and there is this older couple sitting there (mid 70s). I ask them if they got confused with their seat numbers. They hadn't.
"I show them my ticket and seat number and point to my name on the screen. They then ask me just sit in their seats which were ten rows back. No leg room."
The man said he refused to sit in the couple's seats and insisted they move, as he “paid extra” for legroom. He explained the conversation, writing: “Me: You want me to sit in your seats?
"OP(old people): Yes, that would be nice thank you.
"Me: I paid extra for these seats and would like to sit in them. Please move to your seats.
"OP: Oh, it's not that bad there's plenty of legroom.
"Me: Yeah, there's plenty of legroom in my seats because I paid for it. I'll help move your bag if you need."
A flight attendant then approached the passengers as the conversation was causing a line to form in the middle of the plane. The conversation continued: “OP: This man wants us to move seats!
"Flight attendant: Sir, please go to your allocated seats.
"Me: Here is my ticket, these people are sitting in my seats. I paid extra because I need the legroom.
"FA to old people: Excuse me, you will have to move to your own seats as you have not paid for these seats.
"Old people: Well, can we please have an upgrade?
"FA: Sorry, this is a full flight so that's not possible."
The man added: "I got some stink eyes from other people on the flight. I paid for the extra legroom and I need it."
In the comments section, other Reddit users shared their views on the encounter. One person wrote: “I have no idea why the other people who paid extra for legroom would glare at this guy.” And another added that the people giving the man dirty looks “didn't jump at the opportunity to donate their seats”.
A third person wrote: “This isn't a two hour flight where you buck up for the good of old people, which is still not right given the social experience that is flying - I wouldn't care if it was a two hour flight there is still the principle of the matter, but I may cave depending on my mood.
"12-13 hours is no joke though - there is no giving in. You move those people or the plane doesn't take off!”
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