I may be a former flight attendant, but I’m also a coach, so I’m glad you asked me this question.
First point – your feelings are how you feel. There’s absolutely nothing wrong about feeling them. That’s your reaction to the situation, and its “your truth.”
Your initial reaction was valid, and then you did something that some people aren’t able to do – you overcame your own emotions to empathize with both the flight attendant and the grandmother.
(Unless you specifically tell her, btw, the flight attendant would not have any way of knowing you paid extra to sit in your seat. You could have been upgraded into it, but realistically when dealing with these tricky situations, she isn’t even noticing what seats are where.)
The grandmother may or may not get to see the grandchildren often, but nonetheless is worried for their welfare, especially around strangers. Grandparents do that. She wanted to be near them, enough so to pester the gate agent (most probably) and then the flight attendant to move the seats.
So, I want to congratulate you for acknowledging that you were irritated, and yet still being able to do this for other people. That’s absolutely amazing. You gave up something you value (your comfort), and if you weren’t able to empathize with the other people, you wouldn’t have even cared what other people thought (hence the worry about onlookers.)
That’s some pretty evolved stuff right there. Go you!
That said, I would contact the airline if you haven’t already and ask them for a refund on your upgrade, explaining the situation. If they don’t give it back, then file a dispute, but it shouldn’t have to come to that.
Originally Posted: https://www.quora.com/Should-I-give-up-my-aisle-seat-on-a-plane-that-I-have-paid-extra-for-if-a-flight-attendant-asks-me-to-trade-with-a-grandmother-in-her-window-seat-so-she-can-sit-next-to-her-grandkids
Originally Posted On: 2015-06-18