Two passengers given identical boarding pass for the same seat; situation escalates into bizarre territory

Frequent travelers often enjoy perks such as complimentary checked luggage, priority check-in lanes, and sometimes even first class upgrades. Recently, a United Airlines elite 1K member was thrilled to discover they had been upgraded from seat 15B in economy to 2A in first class.

Excited, the passenger stowed their suitcase in the overhead compartment, placed their electronics in the seatback pocket, and set their backpack under the seat. Just as they settled in, a woman boarded and claimed that the seat was hers.

To their surprise, the flight attendant addressed the upgraded passenger instead of the woman, asking for their boarding pass. The passenger showed it, clearly displaying seat 2A. The attendant then suggested there had been a glitch with the upgrade and instructed them to return to their original seat, 15B. They complied, gathering their belongings and resettling.

Moments later, another woman approached, insisting the passenger was in her seat 15B. Again, a flight attendant demanded to see the boarding pass, which still showed 2A. The attendant then told the passenger to leave seat 15B and wait at the back of the plane, leaving them feeling awkward and stranded.

After all passengers had boarded, the crew checked the boarding pass of the woman in 2A, revealing she was on the wrong flight. She was asked to leave, and the passenger was finally able to return to their rightful seat. However, by then, all overhead bin space was taken, forcing them to relocate their luggage to the rear of the plane.

The passenger reported staying calm and polite throughout the ordeal but considered reporting the incident to the FAA due to safety concerns. Boarding pass errors, though rare, can lead to confusion. In 2024, another incident occurred when a man followed a family onto a Delta flight unnoticed, only being caught after the family raised an alarm.

This story serves as a reminder that if someone claims you are in the wrong seat, it is wise to ask a flight attendant to verify their boarding pass, as mistakes can happen and passengers may even be on the wrong flight.

Author: Sophia Brooks