Here are all the right (and wrong) ways to ask to swap seats.

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So, youve booked aflightalong with a travel companion.

Ask the gate agent for help.

Adult and child board airplane with Flight Attendant welcoming passengers

Credit:Eyesfoto/Getty Images

To begin, Rawls suggests starting at the gate.

Always wait until boarding is finished.

Then and only then you may kindly ask a fellow passenger if you may swap with them.

Be mindful of who youre asking to swap seats.

Once boarding is complete, its time to make your move.

However, Rawls says its critical to think long and hard before asking someone to swap seats.

Consider where the person youre trying to swap with is sitting.

Trying to move up a class?

Yeah, sorry, thats a no-no.

Typically passengers pay a premium for those seats, so it’s not appropriate.

Be cognizant of the flight crews time.

You should always wait until they’re not visibly busy for the best outcome, Rawls shares.

Finally, always take ‘no’ for an answer.

Did the person say no?

Thats a shame, but getting upset wont help the situation.

After all, they paid for their seat too.

It’s their seat.