As more airlines continue to monetise seat selection on flights, a phenomenon known as 'Seat Squatting' has emerged. Although the term may seem unfamiliar, many travellers will recognise the practice, which involves passengers occupying seats that have not been assigned to them and refusing to move.
This rising trend not only causes frustration for passengers who have paid extra for their designated seats, but is also becoming a common source of conflict during flights.
The 'squatters' exhibit a lack of consideration and disrespectful attitude, while the legitimate seat holders often concede and sit somewhere else to avoid disputes and not inconvenience other passengers, even though they have paid extra to sit where they chose to.
However, there is now a growing call for flight crews to intervene more decisively and deal with this type of behaviour.
In fact, some are urging airlines to ban people who regularly engage in this behaviour from flying, viewing it as a troublesome practice that disrupts the travel experience for others as it is a blatant disrespect of the rules of flying.
