She swapped seats with her because she had accidentally reserved the wrong seat and didn’t want to sit away from her husband. She seemed unwelcoming, and I was surprised by how daring her request was. When I didn’t do what she asked immediately, she seemed irritated and told me in a rude manner that I didn’t need all the space in my luxurious seat. Her husband joined the conversation and advised me to be practical, saying there was no real need for me to be so honest.Their extreme arrogance and belief that they should be treated differently were unexpected. I could feel people looking at us, some curious, others sympathetic. I took a big breath and decided not to fight. I gave my boarding pass to the staff calmly and sarcastically told them to enjoy the seat. The woman swiftly grabbed the ticket from me and quietly grumbled about selfish people in the front row. Her husband suggested that I didn’t merit help. As I walked to her seat in row 12, I started to feel more and more irritated. But I didn’t want to create a disturbance—I had another plan in mind. When I sat down in the middle seat of row 12, a flight attendant who had witnessed the incident approached me. She moved closer and said that the couple had lied to me about my seat – they were supposed to be in row 12. I smiled at her and said I had a plan to improve our situation. The seat I had in the middle was not as comfortable as the previous one, but I knew it would be worth it. I tricked the couple into thinking they had won, but I was actually preparing for my next move. One hour after the plane departed and things got quieter, I called the flight attendant and requested to speak with the main flight attendant.The person in charge paid close attention as I told them what happened, emphasizing how the couple deceived me into moving seats. She thanked me for sharing the information with her and promised to handle the situation. After a short time, she returned with two options for me: I could return to my original seat, or I could receive a large amount of airline miles as compensation, which would be enough for upgrades on my next three flights. I chose to get miles because they were worth more to me than the extra cost of flying in premium class instead of economy on this flight. While the plane was in the air, I noticed things happening close to row 3 where the couple was seated. The person who manages the plane’s money, along with another member of the flight crew, talked to them about their dishonesty. She informed them that their behavior went against the airline’s rules, and they might face consequences, such as being unable to fly until an investigation is completed. The woman became very pale as she tried to clarify things. She nervously admitted they were not married, she was his hidden girlfriend, and they were in a relationship. After I arrived, I gathered my belongings and couldn’t resist glancing back at the couple once more. Their proud expressions changed to a mix of anger and shame when they had to face the consequences that would impact them for a long time following the flight. As I strolled through the airport, I felt very joyful.In my 33 years of life, I’ve learned that sometimes, wanting revenge is not about making a big scene. It’s about calmly watching people who think they have succeeded realize how much they have actually failed. And that’s how it’s done!
