Most people travel on planes now and then and sometimes passengers can ask to swap seats, but a flight attendant has a brutal response for those who ask to do so09:23, 03 Jun 2026Updated 09:29, 03 Jun 2026Travelling on a plane can sometimes be stressful, and it can be even more eventful when someone asks to swap seats. It can be the last thing you want to happen if you work in the travel industry, and now a flight attendant has shared her thoughts on the controversial topic.‌The cabin crew member, who's known as Ms Attendant Tea on TikTok, recently shared a brutal response to plane passengers who ask to do it. While it may seem like a simple request to some who are jetting off on holidays, she insists there are some things people need to know about air travel.‌This isn't the first time the topic has been brought up either. Previously, someone else disclosed what happened when a pregnant woman asked them to swap seats while travelling.‌In the clip, Ms Attendant Tea said: "Crew wants to know why is it a problem if the flight attendant tells you 'no, you cannot move your seat?' What is wrong with sitting on the seat that you are assigned in your boarding pass or on your mobile app?"What is the problem with that? Now, if you wanted to change a seat, you could have done so when you booked the flight. I don't know, there are some sites of where you get the tickets from, it is an extra fee for you to select your seats, but you could have done that when you booked the flight."You may have had to pay a little extra, but you could have done that. Or, once you were assigned a seat, you could have taken care of that at the gate.‌"Now, let me say something. When you get to me on the plane, every weight has been accounted for. All the calculations have been done, and everything else so, yes, where you are sitting is calculated in our weight and balance, which is an issue."So, when you get on a plane and ask me 'can I sit here because I see [an] empty seat?', and I say 'no'. What is the problem?"Warning: Below video contains language some may find offensive‌Content cannot be displayed without consentShe said saying "no" doesn't make her "mean", as there's actually good reason why she does it. She doesn't understand why people have such a problem with it.It was also noted she doesn't like it when people ask her to explain why they can't swap, as she doesn't need to validate it to passengers. However, she noted it can potentially impact the weight and even delay a flight.‌While it may be something you've never considered before, the flight attendant raises vital points. It turns out there are some things you need to know about air travel.Why do they stop people swapping seats?Little you may know, flight attendants restrict unapproved seat swapping primarily to ensure aircraft weight distribution and balance. They also do this to maintain accurate passenger manifests for emergencies and to prevent service disruptions.While moving a few rows back might seem harmless, pilots calculate take-off weights based on specific seating. Therefore, a lot more goes into preparing the flight than some may realise.Article continues belowAs well as this, it can also impact other things too. Flight attendants often distribute specific meals, drinks and special services based on a highly organised seating chart. Swapping seats can lead to confusion and could also slow down the crew too.