Passenger gets instant karma after demanding pilot step in and fix seating arrangements, prompting pilot to upgrade his neighbor instead: 'I'll stop when I can put my seat back'

Author image for Eleonora Bader
Eleonora Bader
Apr 3, 2024 7:00 AM EDT

When a Karen complains only to get hit with karma, all is good in the world. 

One very tall passenger relayed their story on r/maliciouscompliance, explaining the predicament they found themselves in when they boarded a plane and got in their seat, only to have the person in front of them recline their seat all the way back. The thing is, it was physically impossible for the passenger to recline their seat, because the tall dude was… well, tall.

The passenger got furious real fast and yelled for the flight attendant to help him out. After that failed, the passenger wanted to speak to the pilot, causing a delay, and more annoyed passengers. When the pilot arrived, he was less than pleased, and let's just say that it didn't exactly work out how the entitled person thought it would… Read below for more, and then check out this thread where Gen X explain what they can't understand about the newer generations.

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  • 01
    "Sir, sit down. I wasn't talking to you."
    via Canva
  • 02
    "I demand to be put in a seat that is able to recline"
    via u/earthshaker495
  • 03
    A few years ago I was on a flight from LA to Singapore (takes 16+ hours). I'm a tall dude - around 6'3" (~190cm) - so I don't fit very well in economy class seats. On most planes my knees are often very close or right up against the seat in front of me. This makes it impossible for the person in front of me to recline their seat, which usually isn't a problem once the person in front of me sees how cramped I am in those tiny seats.
    via u/earthshaker495
  • 04
    However for this particular flight, the man in front of me was not having it. He tried to recline his seat, but couldn't because my legs were there. He turns around and sees what's happening and asks me something along the lines of, "Do you mind letting me put my seat back?" I respond with, "I wish I could but I physically can't. I'll do my best to give you as much space as I can, but it won't be much." At this point he starts to get angry and just starts pushing as hard as he can back on his se
    via u/earthshaker495
  • 05
    I decide I'll just wait him out; he'll eventually get tired. After about 10-15 minutes of this, he calls a flight attendant over and proceeds to demand a new seat. The flight attendant tells him there are no available seats and he will have to deal with it. He demands to speak to the pilot. So the flight attendant goes up front to talk to the cockpit. Keep in mind that throughout this he is still pressing with all his might against my knees, with only short breaks to yell at the flight attendant
    via u/earthshaker495
  • 06
    to speak to the pilot and wan't happy about this) comes back and tries to explain to the man that he can't change seats because there are no other coach seats free. The man continues to demand a seat that is able to recline, give me an upgrade, this is unacceptable, making a scene etc. The co-pilot finally gives in and says while looking at the man, "Sir, would you like to sit up in business class?"
    via u/earthshaker495
  • 07
    The man stands up and mutters something similar to, " finally." To which the co-pilot responds, "Sir, sit down. I wasn't talking to you." He turns to me and repeats, "How would you like a seat in business class?" I have, to this day, never seen someone as furious as the man as I walked past him to my new business class seat (with free drinks).
    via u/earthshaker495
  • 08
    workingwet The pilot made the right call. I hope to hell he had a eating grin while saying it and you two giggled all the way to business class. 19.0k Reply Share earthshaker495 OP. The copilot kept his cool pretty well. I definitely had a eating grin big enough for the both of us. Combined with the muffled laughter of the other passengers it turned out pretty well. Also happy cake day! 13.3k Reply Share ...
    via u/workingwet, u/earthshaker495
  • 09
    atomskeater Does this guy think the pilot = manager? Pilot is busy flying the plane, ps off. Planes are a nightmare for basically everyone, and it would be better if people like this were more considerate. I never recline because it barely does anything and potentially makes the person behind me more cramped. The fact that this dude really acted like you should have just popped off your kneecaps so he could have a meager 2 inch recline really rusts my pans. 3.5k Reply Share
    via u/atomskeater
  • 10
    [deleted] ⚫ Does this guy think the pilot = manager? Pilot is busy flying the plane, ps off. Planes are a nightmare for basically everyone, and it would be better if people like this were more considerate. I never recline because it barely does anything and potentially makes the person behind me more cramped. If I think about planes as just the bare minimum required to float you through the air to get to your destination, like a cheap bus in the sky, I don't ever get my expectations up and it's
    via u/deleted
  • 11
    ShesQuackers ⚫ My fiancé is 6'9 and sends a virtual high-five because you understand his pain and got the best revenge he's heard of. 3.8k Reply Share ...
    via u/ShesQuackers
  • 12
    Th3 sman What airline were you on? I'm 6'2 and usually just slide my legs underneath the seat in front of me and have never had issues with someone reclining 177 Reply Share klifford . It was Urban Legend Airways. 276 Reply Share ...
    via u/Th3sman, u/kliff0rd
  • 13
    Hardest ToSwallow This brings me great joy that the steward did that. The d e deserved it. And a few wet wys coming his way if you ask me. 865 Reply Share Fluffcake. It was the best possible call he could make. It not only solves the problem for the person throwing a fit, but it also doesn't reward throwing a fit. If he upgraded the guy throwing a fit, he'd have as many fits as there was open seats in buisness class to deal with before take- off. 156 Reply Share
    via u/HardestTdToSwallow, u/Fluffcake
  • 14
    scullywasright I'm a frequent flyer, and I'm skeptical. The Snopes article posted sounds about right. I find it hard to believe that the co-pilot came out too. :/ 84 Reply Share 96nairra "He demands to speak to the pilot." I just imagined the pilot coming to the guy to talk with him while the plane goes 90 degrees downwards and crashes Reply Share 15
    via u/scullywasright, u/96nairra
  • 15
    peetonium Im 6'4" and travel extensively internationally. I have yet to be on an overseas flight where I couldnt stick my feet under the seat in front of me, allowing recline. Honestly, i would not be happy not being able to recline on a long flight. I never complain when the folks in front of me do it. Yea, it reduces the area for a laptop but a little propping and it works fine. If not available for free, I'll typically pay for the more legroom seats (economy plus, etc) where its simply not a
    via u/peetonium
  • 16
    Edit: just remembered one overseas flight where i coudnt get my legs under. KLM 747 combi freighter, last row. Amsterdam to Chicago. That was a bad one... 59 Reply Share PsychDocD Yes- and the international flag carriers that fly long-haul tend to be roomier than your typical domestic flight on a Southwest or similar carrier. 9 Reply Share
    via u/PsychDocD
  • 17
    blackbellamy 6 yr. ago Ahh, seat drama. I had a guy on my commuter bus who always reclined all the way and got aggressive with people if they complained. He looked like Lawrence Tierney so people just let him win. One day he did that to me, I'm 6'2 so I locked my legs and let him strain. He got puffy but I won that one. He took that personally and gave me dirty looks on other trips. One day I was already sitting in an aisle seat and he got on, gave me a nice long look and took the seat in front
    via u/blackbellamy
  • 18
    notice this, he was still settling down. Then he reclined his seat violently. He thought I was going to block him and he gave it his full effort. The seat snapped back so hard it missed the old lady's face by like two inches. She yelps, and everyone around is like what the fck is this guy doing? Tierney swings his fat head around, sees where I am, is visibly surprised and starts to stammer "That guy, that guy, the seat". Out of nowhere this other dude comes charging up the aisle and grabs Tierne
    via u/blackbellamy
  • 19
    Everyone calms down instantly, the aisle guy makes sure the lady is ok, we all sit there for another two hours and that's the end of that. I never see the guy again. 13 Reply Share
    via u/blackbellamy
  • 20
    Jakeomaticmaldito Fellow 6'3" dude, you are a very lucky man. I seriously hope this happens to me someday. 105 Reply Share
    via u/Jakeomaticmaldito

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boarding ticket demands upgrade flight attendant business class airport Awkward flight take off plane pilot co pilot passenger tall person malicious compliance reddit economy airplane
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