Airplane seat squatters are the latest travel trend taking over social media

When it comes to seating on a flight, some travelers make sure to book more attractive seats, while others may just wing it.

The term “seat squatters” is circulating on social media, with leaflets denouncing those who steal seats allocated to others.

Gary Leff, a Virginia-based travel industry expert and author of the blog “View From the Wing,” told Fox News Digital via email that the person holding the seat assigned on their boarding pass is entitled to this seat.

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“(Travelers) may not be able to get what they want from the airline when reserving seats, or the airline may want a fee for the seats they want and the passenger doesn’t want not pay – then they’ll take their chances on board,” Leff said.

A traveler shared his experience on Reddit in the “r/delta” forum with the caption “My first class seat squatter”.

“Well, after the gate closed, an agent came up to me and let me know that someone hadn’t shown up, so they had a first class seat (3A) available for me. Score,” the user posted.

The user went on to say: “I noticed a woman in the seat. I thought the computer was wrong and the person originally booked for the seat had made the flight. I approached the stewardess just to check, and she confirmed that 3A was now assigned to me.

“This lady had just seen an empty seat in first class and thought she would see if she could sit there,” the user said.

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The Redditor went on to share that the woman ordered a beer while occupying the seat, which was then delivered to her (the rightful owner of the seat) and she “drank happily.”

On the “r/unitedairlines” forum, another flyer shared a post of an altercation with a “squatter”.

“In the middle of my flight, a swarm of FAs (flight attendants) approached the woman sitting in the seat across from me. She had apparently snuck into the seat a few hours later, and the main FA just realized it,” the Redditor said. .

Users responded in the comments section: “I would be so ashamed to be caught for something like this in the confined space of an airplane on a long trip,” one said .

“Ah the thought of being confronted for doing this gives me anxiety lol,” another added.

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An article titled “Main Extra Squatter” in the subreddit “r/americanairlines” shared the story of a passenger who saw a squatter get away with remaining seated in the seat.

“I booked a Main Extra seat close to departure because I saw an empty row and thought I’d get an entire row to myself. When boarding and just before the door closed, a person came and sat in the seat I had assumed was empty,” the caption reads.

The Redditor went on to share that they thought the seat was booked last minute and didn’t suspect anything until a flight attendant approached the fellow traveler.

The traveling companion was unable to locate his ticket to indicate where his assigned seat was.

“When the FA comes back, she asks my neighbor his name again and calls him because he is 10 rows away from where he is supposed to be,” the message said.

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The user went on to write: “FA pauses for a moment before telling them ‘ah you can just stay there’ and leaves. After all the lies and posturing given by my neighbor, FA doesn’t not transferred to their headquarters.”

Leff suggests that instead of stealing seats, passengers can try their luck on board by simply asking others to swap seats.

“Have a compelling reason that will resonate with the person you’re asking and have something decent to offer in return so it’s not too difficult for the person to give you what you want,” a- he declared.

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Leff added: “You need decent trade bait! Don’t offer a middle seat in the back in exchange for an aisle of extra legroom.”