This person deserves an award for making the politest seat swap request I’ve ever seen…
In this post:
Family in Emirates first class writes letter to fellow passenger
OMAAT reader Ben (great name!) was traveling in Emirates first class on EK235 from Dubai (DXB) to Chicago (ORD). The flight was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER with Emirates’ “Game Changer” first class, where the cabin has just six seats.
Upon boarding, he found a letter at his seat. Interestingly, it wasn’t from the airline or crew, but instead, was from a fellow passenger. Specifically, it was from the father of a family of four, including two parents, a kid, and a baby.
Ben was booked in seat 1A, and the way the cabin is configured, three seats open up into each aisle — 1A, 1E, and 2A, open up to the left aisle, while 1K, 2F, and 2K, open up to the right aisle. The family with three seats had reserved two seats opening up to the left aisle, and one seat opening up to the right aisle.
That’s because the only seat with a bassinet is 1E, yet Ben had selected seat 1A, across the aisle from that. So the family presented him with a letter, giving him the option of switching to seat 2K. Among other things, the letter states:
- “We are dropping this note out of respect for your flight experience.”
- “We will do our best to limit the sound of the kids, but please understand they ‘do not understand.'”
- “When they do make random sounds, we can typically get it stopped within 60 seconds.”
- “If you do not want to switch seats, this is perfectly fine. We respect your decision. If you do want to switch, just let one of us know.”
Ben says “the letter is very impressive, especially the diagram,” and “of course I swapped.”
This is the politest seat swap request I’ve ever seen
Huge kudos to this guy for his incredibly polite way of asking to switch seats. Often people take such an entitled approach to switching seats, while this person took exactly the opposite approach. He just politely explained why a seat swap might be in everyone’s best interest, and clarified that there was absolutely no pressure to make the switch.
To add even less pressure, he didn’t even directly confront the person and force him to make a decision on the spot, but instead, did it in a non-imposing way, by just leaving a note. That also brings me to my next point…
This guy put a lot of effort into this letter! He could’ve just spent 10 seconds asking, but instead he had the foresight to not only type out a letter, but also to create a diagram with the cabin layout. Was that necessary? I don’t know. But either way, he wins the award for making the politest seat swap request I’ve ever seen. That doesn’t even factor in that he was traveling with two little kids, where finding spare time is even harder.
This sort of reminds me of the mother who was traveling on a long haul Korean Air flight, who created gift bags for everyone in economy apologizing in advance for her four-month-old crying.
Bottom line
A father traveling in Emirates first class left a letter for a fellow passenger, explaining they were traveling as a family of four, with one small child and one baby. The letter apologized for any noise, and also gave the option of swapping seats.
I’ve never seen anyone submit a seat swap request in writing, so while it took some effort, talk about a nice way to go about it!
What do you make of this letter from an Emirates first class passenger?
Emirates already starting to ban 8 year olds and younger from 1st class
I would have done the swap because it is more or less an equal swap. Switching from an 1 seat to another 1 seat. It's not like those people in economy when you book an aisle want to switch for a window or want to ask if you will move far back.
Maybe Emirates can make an exception for this family on upcoming first class kids ban?
@Santos, @ESKIMO, et al,
I’m not a “psychologist,” but this is my take on this situation.
Perhaps the family that dropped the note was trying to avoid a language barrier, perhaps also trying to avoid an escalation into an emotional kerfuffle by making the request in person.
As far as your assertions of “blackmail,” and “evil,” and the camouflaged profanity contained in your comment… I would assert that a psychologist would find...
@Santos, @ESKIMO, et al,
I’m not a “psychologist,” but this is my take on this situation.
Perhaps the family that dropped the note was trying to avoid a language barrier, perhaps also trying to avoid an escalation into an emotional kerfuffle by making the request in person.
As far as your assertions of “blackmail,” and “evil,” and the camouflaged profanity contained in your comment… I would assert that a psychologist would find more to work with on your end and less to deal with when discussing this with the people who wrote the letter.
May you be well.
Welcome to the cynical world of the likes of Eskimo and Santos, etc. They post herein to troll others rather than actually make a contribution of any worth. One enjoys verbally ‘slapping them down’ when they berate, bully or when the likes of Santos feel the need to use expletives because of the lack sufficient vocabulary to make a point without them.
As for your post …. thinking people will find little to criticise.
@Thehyena
You admit you're not a “psychologist,”
So stop acting like one.
avoid a language barrier?
Well done doing that using a note in one language, English.
It's woke people like you being brainwashed.
And you're just creating alter ego and fake names just to troll rather than addressing the actual content.
If anything you can take away from this is that you're not a “psychologist,”
So stop acting like one and...
@Thehyena
You admit you're not a “psychologist,”
So stop acting like one.
avoid a language barrier?
Well done doing that using a note in one language, English.
It's woke people like you being brainwashed.
And you're just creating alter ego and fake names just to troll rather than addressing the actual content.
If anything you can take away from this is that you're not a “psychologist,”
So stop acting like one and start seeing one especially that British alter ego of yours.
@AeroB13a
Loser
Once again one has to thank the number one website troll, ESKIMO, for proving to the readers what a disappointment to humanity this creature really is …. assuming that it actually is animal and not a simple AI Bot.
Trolling is the Eskimo game and troll baiting is my mission whilst in retirement mode …. Love you Eskimo …. keep up the good work as it stops my brain cell from seizing up and provides clicks for Ben’s business.
Love this: the level of thought, reasonableness, and consideration for others!
I remember travelling with my young boy when he was 1yr old. During a flight to Kuala Lumpur I recall; with flight ready to descend and FAs preparing the flight for arrival, my boy started crying hysterically; both me and my wife attempts to stop him from crying were futile. A kind FA came over and looked at my boy smilingly and put her hand on little guys hand for a miute or so. Dont...
I remember travelling with my young boy when he was 1yr old. During a flight to Kuala Lumpur I recall; with flight ready to descend and FAs preparing the flight for arrival, my boy started crying hysterically; both me and my wife attempts to stop him from crying were futile. A kind FA came over and looked at my boy smilingly and put her hand on little guys hand for a miute or so. Dont know whats so special about FA my boy stopped crying in about 20 seconds. After landing my wife thanked the FA profusely who was standing at the exit door. I never forgot the Malaysian Airlines FA, her kindness and her loving smile. Hope she is well wherever she is.
It is my humble opinion that ‘the family’ actually did the occupant of 1A a favour. By offering an alternative seat to isolate them from the family ‘bliss’ was very thoughtful. Knowing this layout and upon discovering my cabin companions, as a single traveller, I would have agreed to move in a heartbeat.
As English is the most common language spoken or understood by international travellers, the use of an explanatory note in English...
It is my humble opinion that ‘the family’ actually did the occupant of 1A a favour. By offering an alternative seat to isolate them from the family ‘bliss’ was very thoughtful. Knowing this layout and upon discovering my cabin companions, as a single traveller, I would have agreed to move in a heartbeat.
As English is the most common language spoken or understood by international travellers, the use of an explanatory note in English with a diagram, would have covered most situations. Imagine a Mongolian family trying to request the move to an Inuit, perhaps a subject for an American reality show?
Only the selfish and thoughtless would cut off their nose to spite their face and refuse the offer to relocate.
This is coded Japanese (a big market for Emirates).
I usually do not switch my seat. I think I have only done so twice in the many decades I have been travelling. But I would have done on this occasion.
That’s so cute!
In the minority here but I find this incredibly creepy, tacky and overwrought. I don't need a f***in' diagram, dude. Just come up to me as a human being and state your case. I feel bad for this family, actually, because they seem like the type of parents who create spreadsheets to map out their kids' days.
You sir sound as though you have a cold heart.
Not at all, actually. I would state on my behalf (besides raising children) that in 40 years+ of flying, I have never once been bothered by the presence of children in any cabin of flight. I have never complained to any fellow passenger. I have never acted unreasonably to pax or crew. Spotless. And this is amid an increasing presence of vloggers in J and F (hey, everyone has their hustle) and folks too busy...
Not at all, actually. I would state on my behalf (besides raising children) that in 40 years+ of flying, I have never once been bothered by the presence of children in any cabin of flight. I have never complained to any fellow passenger. I have never acted unreasonably to pax or crew. Spotless. And this is amid an increasing presence of vloggers in J and F (hey, everyone has their hustle) and folks too busy on their devices to pay attention to each other. If something bothers me, well, I grew up riding the NYC subway. I put my headphones on and I block s**t out.
I just think a world without interpersonal communication is a dangerous world and a diagram and formal letter trying to do what a 2-minute conversation could accomplish seems ridiculous. But I get times are changing.
One suspects that the reality is true Flyer. Sadly there appears to be others who are like minded.
We now found the reason why EK impose the ban.
This letter is pure evil in disguise.
It's physical and emotional guilt blackmail.
“We are dropping this note out of respect for your flight experience.”
-We are doing this as a one sided offer, take it or leave. But you'll regret it if you leave.
“We will do our best to limit the sound of the kids, but please understand they ‘do not...
We now found the reason why EK impose the ban.
This letter is pure evil in disguise.
It's physical and emotional guilt blackmail.
“We are dropping this note out of respect for your flight experience.”
-We are doing this as a one sided offer, take it or leave. But you'll regret it if you leave.
“We will do our best to limit the sound of the kids, but please understand they ‘do not understand.'”
-We have and will continue to play the kids dont understand card.
“When they do make random sounds, we can typically get it stopped within 60 seconds.”
-But we make no promise and the 'got cha' we didn't tell you is the frequency not the duration.
“If you do not want to switch seats, this is perfectly fine. We respect your decision. If you do want to switch, just let one of us know.”
-We are emotionally blackmailing you.
-Did we say we guarantee to screw you over this flight by rotating children between seats, because if our kid has experience flying F/J, then the kid could self sustain in the same seat with no rotation.
I never understand why people would fly their child in this F config, 3E 3F would be much more practical for this family.
This is just bragging on flying First at the expense of other passengers.
The KE mom is much better and sincere than this F family. I feel sorry for Ben who has to go through this experience, especially after paying a lot for EK F.
"If you do not want to switch seats, this is perfectly fine. We respect your decision. If you do want to switch, just let one of us know.”
Curious what a psychologist would make of this. It's condescending *and* passive-aggressive. Again, just walk up to the person and talk to them. I find it insane that everyone thinks this is the way to be human. Also, I don't particularly need to know what a fellow EK F passenger thinks is fine from me.
Ben, please, please do not use tabloid click bait headlines….you are not a trash content producer, that has to do this
Skip the post and move on. No one is forcing to read every post.
You dont get it. I come here for good content. Ben is No.1 worldwide for me, and he does it consistently 10+ years.
Now, what tabloids do? Have trashy content and add “shocking”, but contentless and empty headlines, such as one from this post. Does it generate traffic? For sure! Is it annoying? Extremely. Is it in line with this blogs strategy? He has to decide. Whether to focus on the avgeeks or general...
You dont get it. I come here for good content. Ben is No.1 worldwide for me, and he does it consistently 10+ years.
Now, what tabloids do? Have trashy content and add “shocking”, but contentless and empty headlines, such as one from this post. Does it generate traffic? For sure! Is it annoying? Extremely. Is it in line with this blogs strategy? He has to decide. Whether to focus on the avgeeks or general public.
So I am asking not to fall into the trap of aiming on quantity over quality, as this is the core “promise” of his blog and his USP over years.
@sandie.
What are “ultimate ears” please? A brand of headphones? Thank you.
This is kind of funny as I flew ORD-DXB in Gamechanger in July. The other 5 seats were all traveling together. I ended up switching from 2E (the middle seat with the virtual windows which opens to 2K) to 1K (window with no door across the aisle) after I asked the family if they would prefer to put their elderly family member in 2E where it would be easier for his family member to check on him from 2K. In the end, I didn't see any of them the entire flight.
What a nice way to request a seat swap. I have been asked many times way less politely. On the other hand, I use ultimate ears on planes, and I never ever hear babies crying (or anything for that matter).
"he had the foresight to not only type out a letter, but also to create a diagram with the cabin layout" - I’m pretty sure it was actually done by his personal assistant (doesn’t take away from his approach though)
If he really had $$$$$ and personal assistant. There would be 2 babysitters flying with the children in row 3.
I'm a creature of habit. On EK, I *always* sit in 2K, and in the rare instance I'm not able to book that, it's 1K. I would have a difficult time switching.
However if someone left me this note, I would switch in a heartbeat. It was thoughtful, not entitled, and professional. And it makes sense that a family of four can have its own mini-section.
Well played, note writer, well played indeed.
Wonder if they will be subject to the new rule (i.e. flying on upgrades or awards in first)
If they paid cash then no. Otherwise yes.
Babies cry. They dont care about your comfort. Thats what they do. Get over it.
I don't care for or about other peoples children. Not my problem, mute them or stay the heck out of my way!
Stefan - I don't care about your entitled attitude, and don't want to see it clogging up my feed. Mute yourself or stay out of my way.
In a world full of cruelty, a little kindness goes a long way.
Amen!
I think the story of the Korean mother is an unfortunate example of how much stigmatization there is of children in public (especially in Korean culture where very few people have kids). Children DO exist in society and an airplane (especially economy) is a reasonable place to expect them in your vicinity. It sucks but that's the way the dice land sometimes.
Childrearing is hard enough work without feeling that your child is such a...
I think the story of the Korean mother is an unfortunate example of how much stigmatization there is of children in public (especially in Korean culture where very few people have kids). Children DO exist in society and an airplane (especially economy) is a reasonable place to expect them in your vicinity. It sucks but that's the way the dice land sometimes.
Childrearing is hard enough work without feeling that your child is such a burden to others that you have to prepare hundreds of apology bags for strangers.
I've got to be honest... Korea is the most kid friendly place in the world. Pregnant women and people with kids to skip the lines at airport security. Everyone was so incredibly accommodating when we visited.
Your kid IS such a burden to others. For sure when said kid is in spaces not meant for kids and when parents have no control. They are a choice, not some inevitable part of life. I'm pretty patient but kids don't belong in business class. It's in the name.
Then if I’m flying on leisure I don’t belong either, it’s in the name of.
But guess what? If they sell me the ticket I get to go. Same if they sell the tickets for children.
If you don’t like it, buy your own airline.
"kids don't belong in business class. It's in the name."
If you were to apply this logic, then anyone redeeming points for leisure travel doesn't belong there either. Oh no, that's 90% of this blog gone!
Kids do belong in business, as airlines allow it, and offer tickets to them. You know this when you purchase the ticket, so you implicitly accept that kids may be present. If this bothers you, feel free to only...
"kids don't belong in business class. It's in the name."
If you were to apply this logic, then anyone redeeming points for leisure travel doesn't belong there either. Oh no, that's 90% of this blog gone!
Kids do belong in business, as airlines allow it, and offer tickets to them. You know this when you purchase the ticket, so you implicitly accept that kids may be present. If this bothers you, feel free to only fly those airlines which refuse to sell business class seats to kids.
Yet people are okay with Emirates' selective age discrimination.
I’m ok with it because crying children can detract from the first class experience. And before you say adults get obnoxious too, let’s be real. You cannot ban adults from the cabin. But you can ban them later if they act out. Kids don’t understand that. Crying kids don’t bother me, and full disclosure, I have two young ones, although they are past that age. But they have done it on occasions and it’s been...
I’m ok with it because crying children can detract from the first class experience. And before you say adults get obnoxious too, let’s be real. You cannot ban adults from the cabin. But you can ban them later if they act out. Kids don’t understand that. Crying kids don’t bother me, and full disclosure, I have two young ones, although they are past that age. But they have done it on occasions and it’s been done to me. But I get that people don’t want them in first class. The mileage vs cash thing is bullshit though. Because of course wealthy Emirati would flip out if they couldn’t take their kids in F. Let’s just call it what it is.
Michael could have just written, "I'm OK with it because the rich should be able to buy the illusion that they don't live in a society," and saved himself some time and keystrokes