The “seat squatter” pattern might have dominated journey experiences in 2024 — nevertheless it would not appear to be going away any time quickly on this New Yr of 2025.
Vacationers proceed to disclose their “seat-squatting” encounters on social media as commenters chime in and debate the new concern.
An expertise shared on Reddit within the “r/delta” discussion board with the caption, “Seat squatter caught and impolite total flight,” has continued to spark dialogue.
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The time period “seat squatters” has been used to seek advice from those that rob the seats that had been chosen and paid for by different vacationers.
Discussing a flight from Cancún, Mexico, to Los Angeles, California, the traveler posted, “I couldn’t even imagine my eyes after seeing all of the seat squatter posts.”

A flight passenger shared a “seat squatter” story on Reddit a couple of couple with a canine (not pictured) that attempted to assert an entire row of seats. (Stephen Chernin through Getty Pictures)
The particular person added, “We’re lastly boarding and this couple about our age (late 20s/early 30s) is in our row, which might’t be proper as a result of we’re [in] the center and aisle [seats]. I inform them they’re in my seat … and so they oddly begin fumbling round and mentioning they have a canine with them.”
The consumer mentioned she responded that she was allergic to canine — and that she paid for the seats.
He positioned his arm over the armrest, making use of strain to her arm, she mentioned.
“They each begin fumbling round extra and [the] feminine, who was initially within the window seat [that] I presume they did really e-book, and [the] male who was sitting in my seat, each get out of the row so the feminine and canine can go to the window seat behind us,” she added.
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The person, for his half, then moved to the window seat in her row, she mentioned.
He positioned his arm over the armrest, making use of strain to her arm — which prompted her to modify seats with her fiancé within the row, she mentioned.
“As soon as we lastly get off the airplane … my fiancé tells me this man silently fought with him over the armrest the identical means he did with me for your complete flight,” she wrote in her submit.

A consumer shared a narrative about “squatters” stealing airplane seats as an etiquette professional weighed in on the new journey pattern, providing sage recommendation. (iStock)
“I can’t rationalize how or why this man did this after we did completely nothing to him aside from ask to take a seat in our personal seats,” the poster added in her story.
Reddit customers took to the remark part to evaluate the state of affairs and share their very own experiences with “seat squatters.”
“I doubt individuals which are already OK with breaking the principles are going to be nice individuals.”
“It’s solely occurred to me as soon as, fortunately. However my rule of thumb is that I’ll be well mannered on the preliminary interplay in case it’s a authentic unintentional mistake [that] they’re sitting in my seat. In that case, they’ll stand up and transfer and there’s no hurt, no foul,” mentioned one.
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One other added, “Omg, it sounds such as you had been flying with a bunch of bratty youngsters.”
“I doubt individuals which are already OK with breaking the principles are going to be nice individuals, sadly,” commented yet one more consumer.
Some customers debated the notion of which passenger will get the armrests within the center seat.

Flight passengers’ encounters with “seat squatters” are circulating on social media, with some flyers (not pictured) taking seats not assigned to them. (iStock)
“The ‘center seat will get each armrests’ factor is completely a web-based data factor. Sure, it is courteous & is sensible if you concentrate on it, however the common [person who] flies as soon as/twice per 12 months … seemingly would not know or give it some thought,” commented one consumer.
One other said, “Everybody is aware of the center seat will get each arm rests.”
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“The center particular person doesn’t in reality get each arm rests,” one other consumer mentioned. “That’s a made-up rule and you may’t get mad at somebody who doesn’t comply with that.”
Gary Leff, a Texas-based journey business professional and writer of the weblog “View From the Wing,” instructed Fox Information Digital that the particular person holding the seat task on their boarding go is entitled to that seat.
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“[Flyers] might not have the ability to get what they need from the airline when reserving seats, or the airline might desire a payment for the seats they need and the passenger would not need to pay — in order that they’ll strive their luck on board,” mentioned Leff.

Flight attendants could possibly step in if a traveler encounters a so-called “seat squatter.” (iStock)
Leff urged that as an alternative of stealing seats, flyers can strive asking others on to swap seats with them.
California-based etiquette professional Rosalinda Randall instructed Fox Information Digital that “it’s by no means OK to seat-squat as soon as on board. Finally, the passenger with that seat task will declare it.”
“Instantly request help from the flight attendant.”
Randall mentioned when coping with a seat squatter, it’s best to deal with the state of affairs calmly and in good religion.
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“If the seat squatter refuses to maneuver, don’t interact; don’t recruit different passengers to rally,” she mentioned.
Reasonably, “instantly request help from the flight attendant.”