Being polite, where's the line?
Jun. 13th, 2008 02:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
indigo_rose99Today on my flight I got my 1st class upgrade (yay, platinum!). Boarding the plane, I'm tossing my book, water bottle, and two pillows in my seat and pulling out my computer sleeve. The guy in the window seat says, "Would you be willing to trade with my wife?" She waves at me from a bulkhead aisle seat.
Immediately I feel the guilt. I've asked other strangers for the same favor. But... "I don't care, but my stuff must go with me. And there is no more overhead space there, no underseat or back of seat space." I continue unpacking my stuff and sit down.
I suggest to the gentleman that perhaps he can negotiate with her window seat person, since he would be giving up a much nicer seat for a worse seat. He just looks at me, a faint amount of resentment in his look.
Now I think I understand, as the seat next to his wife still appears empty and he sits beside me. He is not willing to give up HIS nice seat for a less favorable one, he just wanted me to.
I see.
Immediately I feel the guilt. I've asked other strangers for the same favor. But... "I don't care, but my stuff must go with me. And there is no more overhead space there, no underseat or back of seat space." I continue unpacking my stuff and sit down.
I suggest to the gentleman that perhaps he can negotiate with her window seat person, since he would be giving up a much nicer seat for a worse seat. He just looks at me, a faint amount of resentment in his look.
Now I think I understand, as the seat next to his wife still appears empty and he sits beside me. He is not willing to give up HIS nice seat for a less favorable one, he just wanted me to.
I see.
