Airline will bump someone from their window seat up on my request for medical issue how do you handle confrontation?

[Anonymous]

My spouse has a back injury and needs a window seat to minimize movement. We originally booked middle seats because no window seats were available, then asked the airline to reassign us into a window seat for medical reasons. They’ve confirmed the swap.

Our original seats were in the middle of the 2‑4‑2 first‑class cabin—meaning the middle‑seat passenger would have to get up whenever either the aisle or window neighbor needs to pass.

When we board, the original window‑seat passenger may ask us to switch back. Should we simply say, “The airline reassigned us,” and avoid discussing medical details? Or pretend we don’t know anything and let the flight attendant handle any complaints? I really don’t want to deal with another passenger or explain the situation on this four‑hour flight. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

You should have book another flight or sprung for an upgraded seat.

[Anonymous]

Just show your ticket with your seat. Itbsucks for them and the bumped person should get compensation for being bumped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should have book another flight or sprung for an upgraded seat.

We already paid for first class and there were no seats available except for the middle.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to keep this bad back thing in my back pocket if someone tries to bump me out of my seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to keep this bad back thing in my back pocket if someone tries to bump me out of my seat.

You will need to submit a request to the airline on their website for medical consideration before the trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should have book another flight or sprung for an upgraded seat.

OP is already in first class. I would explain the situation. The displaced passenger may be more or less aggravated but obfuscating won’t help.

If you say the airline just switched your seat, the passenger will ask you to please give it back. What will you say?

[Anonymous]

I am confused by several things. One is if you're in the middle of a 2 - 4 - 2 seating, then how is there a window seat? And why would people have to go past him to get out? There is an exit at either end of the row. He can just say "due to a disability, I can't get up, please go the other way".

But I'm also confused by your assumption that they just switched two passengers, and that he'll be sitting next to the person who got bumped, and that person will know that he is the reason they got bumped.

Having said all that, I would simply have him say "This is the seat on my ticket."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am confused by several things. One is if you're in the middle of a 2 - 4 - 2 seating, then how is there a window seat? And why would people have to go past him to get out? There is an exit at either end of the row. He can just say "due to a disability, I can't get up, please go the other way".

But I'm also confused by your assumption that they just switched two passengers, and that he'll be sitting next to the person who got bumped, and that person will know that he is the reason they got bumped.

Having said all that, I would simply have him say "This is the seat on my ticket."

I am just remembering on one flight the airlines switched us all and then people walked around to ask for their original seat.

[Anonymous]

Did they reassign one seat, or both of yours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did they reassign one seat, or both of yours?

Both as noted I will need to help my spouse get around and they need to learn against the side of the plane

[Anonymous]

Yeah, this doesn’t make sense, with a 242 configuration there isn’t really a middle seat that would need to move for someone by a window, because there are just window and aisle seats on the sides. There was no reason for you to need to move your husband from his middle middle seat, other than perhaps your own personal preference.

[Anonymous]

I doubt anyone will ask.

[Anonymous]

I think this is fake but OP, you have no idea who was reassigned, if anyone. You don’t know why the airline marked the seats it did as unavailable, or who was seated where. You don’t know anything except your own seat assignment and neither does anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse has a back injury and needs a window seat to minimize movement. We originally booked middle seats because no window seats were available, then asked the airline to reassign us into a window seat for medical reasons. They’ve confirmed the swap.

Our original seats were in the middle of the 2‑4‑2 first‑class cabin—meaning the middle‑seat passenger would have to get up whenever either the aisle or window neighbor needs to pass.

When we board, the original window‑seat passenger may ask us to switch back. Should we simply say, “The airline reassigned us,” and avoid discussing medical details? Or pretend we don’t know anything and let the flight attendant handle any complaints? I really don’t want to deal with another passenger or explain the situation on this four‑hour flight. Any advice?

The bolded makes absolutely no sense, and calls into question the OP's entire rationale for the seat switch. Makes me think s/he is gaming the system.