I was travelling to Las Vegas to meet up with some friends. I pre-booked my seat with more legroom due to my disability, at an extra cost. With this airline, they charge extra for certain seats. I chose a window seat, which cost me an additional $45.

When I boarded, there was a surprise. There was a man in my seat. Another man sat in the aisle seat, while the middle was empty. To be sure, I checked my seat number, and the man was sitting in my seat.

I politely asked him to move. I am fairly small, and both men were about 6 feet tall and over 200 lbs. When they opened their mouths, it definitely appeared like they were used to using their size to get their way. The man in the aisle immediately told me that the man at the window didn’t have to move, and I could sit in the middle.

That’s when he stood up, towering over me. The man in my seat didn’t move. His friend tried to physically intimidate me. But here is the thing…I worked in front line healthcare. I am used to men attempting to use their size and mouth to intimidate, and this behavior does not work with me. I’m petite, but big men don’t scare me.

He said, I shouldn’t make a scene about it. That really irritated me, but I didn’t raise my voice, and was very polite. I said I wasn’t making a scene, but was asking nicely for the seat I paid for. I decided to change tactics. I turned my head to the man in my seat and told him that I would make him a deal. He gives me $50 cash, and I will give him my seat. I told him I paid an additional $45 for the seat, and with tax it should be around $50. He gives the money, and the seat would be his.

This is when he turned to me in shock and said, “You want me to pay you $50 for your seat?” I answered, “So you are admitting that you knew this wasn’t your seat. I am going to call the airline staff, and they can take you to your seat. After all, I booked this seat due to me having a disability (which is true), and you are trying to steal it.”

Everyone around us turned to look at him, and they did not have kind looks on their faces. He turned 14 shades of red, and moved to the middle seat. He pulled his hoodie over his head, and sulked the rest of the flight. His friend did the same.

The moral of this story is simple. Do not use size and gender to intimidate others. It may just backfire on you, and make your next flight a lot less comfortable.