Moving Seats Etiquette

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peakhour

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On QF7 last week in Y I had a curious situation arise, I wondered what people think.

Light load, as usual for long haul Y either before or just after the seatbelt sign went off many pax moved around into vacant seats/rows.

Lucky for me, I wss one of two people in the middle row of 4 on the a380 in the first few rows lower deck. Better still, shortly after take off my seat mate disappeared to the back of the plane like many others.

With 15+ hours ahead, awesome, I thought, I can lie down and sleep.

Here's the issue.

The seat mate had gone but left their passport! in the seat pocket and their personal drink container on the seat. They took their carry on with them.

So I waited until after the meal service thinking they might return, and when they didn't I deliberated for a few minutes and then I moved the drink container to the end of the row and laid down.

Around 13 hours later, when I returned from a walk, the mystery guest had finally reappeared and taken their assigned seat as if nothing had happened and without saying a word.

I've seen people do all sorts of things on planes over the years, but it's the first time I've come across someone essentially marking their territory by leaving their belongings one one seat whilst moving to another.

It's also one of the few times I've seen someone leave their passport unattended like that.

Thoughts?
 
Qantas do want you in your assigned seat for take-off and landing so I guess he figured he'd be coming back eventually.
 
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If I were in your position (literally), I'd just hand the items to cabin crew and let them interact with your seat mate instead, given the silence on his part in the first place.
 
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Passports go missing during flights and you were sleeping so saw nothing :)
 
I think hes an idiot for leaving his passport unattended but I usually hear the instruction to return to your seat so would expect him to return at some point.
 
Equally horrified at thought of someone leaving their passport for that length of time, and the idea that anyone would actually touch / take it. Tell crew, sure, but not acceptable to handle yourself, in my view.
 
Equally horrified at thought of someone leaving their passport for that length of time, and the idea that anyone would actually touch / take it. Tell crew, sure, but not acceptable to handle yourself, in my view.
I'm surprised at the number of people who do not secure their personal belongings at all times in public. Leaving passports, wallets, phones etc in carry on luggage or seat pockets is asking for trouble.
 
I remember sitting upper deck on A380 in J, 2nd row behind the galley/door. And the person next to me spots one of their buddies sitting the last row of J. They politely asked if I'd swap my seat with them so they could be together...I even more politely declined.

They ought to have offered Buddies seatmate a seat several rows ahead! that should be the etiquette.
 
Just when we were on the same topic:
heraldsun

This reminds me of the time I accidentally left some money in the front pocket (locked) of my suitcase and checked it in for a flight in Busan, Korea, only to collect it in Seoul with the front flap flapping in the breeze and the cash missing!

On topic, regarding the article, and the comments above, my main concern about the passenger leaving his passport, is someone stealing it while I was asleep!

If it was stolen, more the fool him for leaving it, but the last thing I needed was to get dragged into a police interview on arrival on a Sunday afternoon in Dallas!
 
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