The plane was already filling up by the time I reached my row, the aisle tight with passengers adjusting bags and settling in. When I looked toward my assigned seat, I noticed someone already there—a woman wearing oversized sunglasses, leaning back with her arms folded as if she were resting. For a moment, I double-checked my boarding pass. The row and seat number matched. There was no mistake.
I greeted her politely and explained that I believed she might be in my seat. At first, there was no response. She remained still, giving no indication that she had heard me. I held my boarding pass where she could see it, hoping to resolve the situation quietly. After a short pause, she opened her eyes just enough to acknowledge me and casually gestured for me to move past her, as if I should simply take a different seat.
