With a little help from the flight attendant, I set my plan in motion. Once airborne, I approached the couple with a calm, confident tone and asked—loud enough for others to hear—for $200 in compensation for the premium seat they insisted on taking. They were stunned, and the whispers of nearby passengers added pressure.
Cornered and embarrassed, they handed over the money. I walked back to my new seat $200 richer, greeted by approving nods and even a free drink from the crew. What started as an irritating encounter became a satisfying win—and a reminder that sometimes, the best way to deal with entitlement is with a well-timed lesson in accountability.
