Passenger Swaps Seat on 12-Hour Flight but There’s an Unfortunate Twist

A video about a passenger who got an upgrade with an unexpected catch after agreeing to a seat swap has gone viral on TikTok.

The brief clip was shared by @checkano and has garnered more than 7.4 million views since it was posted on April 2. Text overlaid on the clip explains: “Someone asked me to swap seats on a 12 hr [hour] flight so I’d have my own row.”

The video shows a view of what appears to be an empty row of bulkhead seats, which are directly behind a wall or partition, typically between different classes on a plane. A caption shared with the post reads: “Bulkhead seats. Thought I was going to sleep.”

The poster, who did not share their name, location or flight details, told Newsweek that they “don’t want to complain” since they did end up getting upgraded as a result of the seat swap.

Requests to swap seats on a plane have often sparked heated debate on social media. However, in a June 2023 survey of 1,000 plane passengers in the U.S. and Canada, conducted on behalf of the travel booking website Kayak, travelers said that “you are allowed to ask to switch seats if you ask politely,” because 54 percent of respondents “have a soft spot for common courtesy.”

Those surveyed added that you are allowed to ask to sit next to a family member, partner or friend because 58 percent of travelers “have a grain of empathy.”

‘Much More Uncomfortable’ vs. ‘A Win for Me’

The viral clip left users on TikTok divided, with some sympathizing with the original poster’s disappointment.

Mary Taggart posted: “I get you. Hate bulkhead seats.”

User @cram1221 agreed, noting: “I’m one of the few people who also hates bulkhead seats! I hate the smaller crappier fold out TVs, trays & not being able to lift the armrests. It’s so much more uncomfortable except legroom.”

Others were less bothered by the bulkhead seats, with several highlighting the benefits.

User @jace_lyn_dav_is said, “I don’t see the issue,” and Jack Cullo noted: “This would’ve been a win for me.”

“It’s also a window seat,” noted manra524, adding that “this is still better than any seat you could’ve been in assuming same ticket type. Even just no one next to you is great.”

User @ashli.the.witchy.mama wrote: “I loved having these seats on our flight home from Toronto. the extra leg room was great (even though I’m 5ft even) and I just liked bot having anyone directly in front of me.”

Pink Posh Fox said: “I like those seats actually bc [because] when I do have to sit beside a select demographic of annoying people, they cannot manspread all over my spot lol [laugh out loud].”