“I was flying home after almost a year abroad. I had a long, difficult year, and I’d been counting on finally getting some rest on the flight back. I had saved up (for months!) just to pay for an economy seat with extra legroom because I’m tall, and regular seats are really uncomfortable for me on long flights.
“The woman looked tired and upset. Her eyes were red. And she was holding a tissue. She told me her father had just died, her son was sitting in the seat next to me, and she asked if I could switch so she could sit with him.
Her seat was in the middle, all the way in the back. No legroom.
“Later, I noticed the woman had returned to her original seat, far behind me. Her son sat quietly next to me the whole flight. He didn’t say a word.
The rest of the flight felt indescribably tense. People looked at me like they disapproved. A man across the aisle even stared for a while.
I’m home now. But I still keep thinking about it. Not sure if I made the right choice.
The truth is, saying “no” doesn’t make you cold or unkind. It just means you understand your limits. On a long flight, extra legroom can be the difference between comfort and hours of pain, especially for taller passengers. In fact, cramped seating can increase the risk of circulation problems like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), making that extra space more than just a luxury.
When faced with a last-minute request like this, remember: airlines are responsible for seating arrangements, and there are often other solutions that don’t involve you giving up something you paid extra for. Compassion can still exist alongside boundaries. You can acknowledge someone’s hardship without putting your well-being on the line.
