How ‘seat sitters’ are enjoying the perks of flying free first class: ‘Such a low move’

Seat chasers are taking their “hacking” to a new level by hoping to not only snag a better seat on a plane, but trying to snag free drinks in the process.

Airline passengers are doing whatever it takes to get free “pre-flight drinks,” even if it means taking someone’s seat for a few seconds.

A Reddit user shared a story about a flight attendant meeting a passenger who tricked the beverage system by posing as a first class passenger.

The user was on a Delta Air Lines flight from Providence, Rhode Island, to Atlanta, Georgia, in row 2.

Just then the Reddit user saw two women “coming [aboard] kuturu” and sit in the first row.

“They throw their bags up and settle down. A few moments later, a woman comes on the plane and lets them know that one of those seats is hers.”

The person added, “They quickly stand up, laugh and say, ‘We’re newbies.’ The flight attendant asks what row they’re in and they say 24. They drop their bags and go back to their row.”

After the awkward encounter happened right in front of the passenger, the flight attendant told the Reddit user about a similar circumstance experienced on a previous flight.

However, this sitter wanted something besides the upgraded seat.

The flight attendant told the story of how “people sat down, got their pre-flight drink and then said, ‘I’m just going to say hi to my sister in the back of the plane,'” and left with free booze to avoid definitely back,” the Reddit user wrote.

The flight passenger and Reddit user went on to say that the women sitting in the front row may have hoped to do the same.

“They might have been totally lucky if that woman didn’t come on the flight right after them,” the social media poster said. “Either that or they thought they were flying a great Southwest flight and could land anywhere.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Redditor for comment.

Other Reddit users chimed in, calling the behavior shameful and “disgusting.”

“I honestly refuse to believe that people are using such a lowly movement to get ‘free’ alcohol,” one user commented. “And the pre-departure drink isn’t that great!”

“Some people have no shame. They pulled a fast one and then maybe[ed] even on social media,” another Reddit user responded. “Dignity and respect for others are out, pranks and revenge are out.”

This isn’t the first time someone has taken advantage of the first class pre-boarding drink only to return to their current seat.

Another Redditor posted on the r/delta forum, commenting on an experience with a first class seat.

The passenger was upgraded to first class because the original passengers did not show up. When the Reddit user arrived at the new seat assignment, a woman was found sitting in the seat.

The user then claimed that “this lady had just seen an open seat in first class and thought she’d see if she could get away with sitting there.”

The Reddit thread creator also said that the first class seat had ordered a beer while sitting in the seat, “which was later delivered to him [the rightful seat owner] and she ‘drank with pleasure,’” as Fox News Digital previously reported.

The trend of reclining seats has been growing in recent months – and the controversial attempt to upgrade an airplane seat has left other fliers disappointed.

Instead of claiming the seat or trying to upgrade themselves, Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the View From the Wing blog, suggested people try their luck by asking to switch seats. with someone else on board.

“Have a compelling reason that will resonate with the person you’re looking for,” Leff previously told Fox News Digital.

He said that if a passenger has “something good to offer in return, it’s not that difficult for the person to give you what you want.”

Etiquette experts have also weighed in on the trend, sharing tips on how to best interact with a host on board a flight.

California-based etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall said it’s best to approach the seat scenario calmly and in good faith.

“If the seat refuses to move, don’t get involved; don’t recruit other passengers to rally,” Randall told Fox News Digital earlier.

Instead, “ask the flight attendant for help immediately.”