Flight attendant warns: Never change seats spontaneously on the plane!

Normally, each passenger has their own seat on the plane. But what if I don’t like the person next to me or I can spread out further in another row? Can I spontaneously sit somewhere else in this case?

The fact that every passenger is assigned a fixed seat before a trip is just as much a part of everyday life as checking in or waiting in line for boarding. Many airlines give you the opportunity to choose the seat that you think is the most advantageous for your trip before the plane takes off – changing is actually no longer planned here.

But what if the plane is rather empty and I’m unhappy with my neighbor? Can I still spontaneously change seats on the plane? A flight attendant now says: no way. Because it poses a security risk.

Flight attendant: »Changing seats on an airplane can be dangerous

American Airlines flight attendant Serenity Haley explained in a recent video to her 11,200 followers why you should never change seats on an airplane without notifying the crew. “Before takeoff, we always do what’s called a weight and balance test to make sure the plane’s weight is right and it’s balanced for takeoff,” explains Haley. Basically, aircraft are balanced in such a way that the center of gravity is approximately in the middle of the aircraft.

Flight attendant Haley continues, “When guests change seats, they change the balance of the plane.” As such, Haley recommends always checking with the crew before attempting to “move” yourself, just to be on the safe side.

Discuss the change with the crew beforehand

Even on flights with German airlines, you should talk to the crew before changing. “Basically, passengers cannot change their seats on board themselves. This is only possible after consultation with the crew,” emphasizes Eurowings spokeswoman Laura Karsten. “One of the reasons for this is that the cockpit crew creates a so-called load sheet before each flight, which determines how the aircraft is in the air. The distribution of seats in the aircraft is also relevant for this.”

Jörg Waber, spokesman for Lufthansa, also confirmed: “A change of seat is always done by the crew.” The weight distribution in the aircraft also plays a role.