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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BS excuse to get a window.

He could have sat in either of the very middle two seats and then he wouldn't have to get up for anyone.

-- -xx- --

YES! A middle seat in the middle row sounds perfect for someone with a back issue. They'd never ever have to get up. The aisle people would just use their own aisles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BS excuse to get a window.

He could have sat in either of the very middle two seats and then he wouldn't have to get up for anyone.

-- -xx- --

YES! A middle seat in the middle row sounds perfect for someone with a back issue. They'd never ever have to get up. The aisle people would just use their own aisles.

Yes but the doctor said we need to keep pressure off the lower back and to lean and get a window seat. That's what the doctor said until full recovery. We just are following the doctor note for air travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BS excuse to get a window.

He could have sat in either of the very middle two seats and then he wouldn't have to get up for anyone.

-- -xx- --

This. I still cannot picture how someone in the 4 seat middle row would need to get up to let someone pass - they can go in the opposite direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BS excuse to get a window.

He could have sat in either of the very middle two seats and then he wouldn't have to get up for anyone.

-- -xx- --

YES! A middle seat in the middle row sounds perfect for someone with a back issue. They'd never ever have to get up. The aisle people would just use their own aisles.

Yes but the doctor said we need to keep pressure off the lower back and to lean and get a window seat. That's what the doctor said until full recovery. We just are following the doctor note for air travel.

That’s not what you described in the OP. You specifically mentioned having to get up for other people.

[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?

Waiting for OP to explain how the bolded makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Here is the note copy and pasted:

I hereby certify that the above‐named patient has a lumbar spine condition requiring the following in‑flight accommodations through May 15, 2025:

Window‑side seating
Permits gentle lateral support against the fuselage to off‑load pressure from the lower back.

Minimize aisle walking or standing
Avoid frequent transitions; remain seated whenever medically possible.

Neutral spinal posture
Use a lumbar support pillow or rolled towel as needed to maintain proper alignment.

These restrictions apply during boarding, in‑flight, and disembarkation. Next evaluation is scheduled for May 16, 2025.

[Anonymous]

That still doesn’t explain how you described the 2-4-2 seating arrangement with anyone needing to get up to let someone by.

[Anonymous]

There are a million different ways to get from one place to another. Why not book a different flight? To willfully book middle seats and then use a spurious medical claim to kick people out of their paid for window and adjoining seats in first class is going to lead to conflict. The airline would have to pay me quite a bit to give up my preferred premium seat on a long flight, particularly when it's obvious it's some cheap and inconsiderate passengers who are being a pain in the ass for everyone else. Book a different flight if you want to avoid a serious confrontation. And try to be a better person when you travel. If you can't afford to travel, don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Waiting for OP to explain how the bolded makes sense.

Still waiting

[Anonymous]

What is this mystery plane that has 2-4-2 in first class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a million different ways to get from one place to another. Why not book a different flight? To willfully book middle seats and then use a spurious medical claim to kick people out of their paid for window and adjoining seats in first class is going to lead to conflict. The airline would have to pay me quite a bit to give up my preferred premium seat on a long flight, particularly when it's obvious it's some cheap and inconsiderate passengers who are being a pain in the ass for everyone else. Book a different flight if you want to avoid a serious confrontation. And try to be a better person when you travel. If you can't afford to travel, don't.

+1

I'm unclear on why you are traveling anyway? Why do this to your husband? If it's a wedding, graduation or some other important occasion, you would have had plenty of notice to book a flight ahead of time. If it's a last minute thing like a funeral, just send your condolences.

[Anonymous]

Why would a passenger go directly to their old seat to request a change? You’d just say “this is my seat, sorry.” It’s no longer their seat. Why would they suspect you took it or requested it, rather than it was reassigned, which happens all the time? The flight attendants shouldn’t know the history either. You may be flagged as a medical issue but no one is going to memorize the seat history and go directly to the passenger before going to the staff.

[Anonymous]

Feel bad for the people that paid for their tickets and picked specific flight to get the specific seats. OP should have picked another flight that did have seats she wanted available. This is awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BS excuse to get a window.

He could have sat in either of the very middle two seats and then he wouldn't have to get up for anyone.

-- -xx- --

YES! A middle seat in the middle row sounds perfect for someone with a back issue. They'd never ever have to get up. The aisle people would just use their own aisles.

Yes but the doctor said we need to keep pressure off the lower back and to lean and get a window seat. That's what the doctor said until full recovery. We just are following the doctor note for air travel.

Was this Dr. Bornstein?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would a passenger go directly to their old seat to request a change? You’d just say “this is my seat, sorry.” It’s no longer their seat. Why would they suspect you took it or requested it, rather than it was reassigned, which happens all the time? The flight attendants shouldn’t know the history either. You may be flagged as a medical issue but no one is going to memorize the seat history and go directly to the passenger before going to the staff.

I think this is what we are going to do judging by how upset people get from these responses we will just say these are our assigned seats. And if they want to switch we could just let them know we picked these seats because my spouse has a back injury. I guess if they get really upset we will just ignore them and ask for the flight attendant. When we traveled to overseas we had a situation where there was a plane change and the seats got reassigned and travelers ended up swapping etc I was trying to avoid that. We also have been told that seats are not guaranteed as they are requests. The only thing guaranteed is the class.