Plane passenger reignites etiquette debate after finding fellow traveler sitting in her assigned window seat

A keen traveler has reignited the debate about airplane etiquette after finding a fellow passenger sitting in her assigned seat.

'How do you respond to someone "accidentally" taking your window seat on a plane?' the woman titled the post, shared on Reddit's r/mildlyinfuriating forum.

She went on to describe that she 'recently' took a flight, for which she didn't pay extra for priority seating, and was ready to 'just sit wherever I was assigned.'

To her 'delight,' however, she had been assigned a window seat. 

'How do you respond to someone "accidentally" taking your window seat on a plane?' the woman titled the post, shared on Reddit 's r/mildlyinfuriating forum 

After backing down due to struggling with 'confrontation,' the woman accepted the middle seat without further argument - but didn't feel good about how things had played out (stock image)

This set up was especially appreciated as it was an eight-hour flight and she had 'wanted to sleep with the wall support the window seat offers.'

'However, when I get on the plane, a lady is in my seat,' the user continued.

'She says "oh, I didn't realize. You can just sit here," and points to the middle seat.

'I have a hard time with confrontation so I just accepted it,' the woman sadly admitted.

'If this were to happen again, how do I respond?' she asked Reddit. 

And, unsurprisingly, thousands took to the comments to give their input.

One offered up a simple, no-frills script: '"No, that doesn't really work for me. I'd like my seat."'

A second suggested a similar response, plus a back-up plan: 'Just say, "I'd rather have my window seat thanks" and if that doesn't work tell a flight attendant.'

Thousands took to the comments to offer advice on how the woman should handle such a situation should it happen again

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'My response is always "oh, no thank you" and I just stare at them until they move,' a third described.

'Feign ignorance from what she said. Look at your boarding ticket, say my seat is 35A, look above and check the seating arrangement, it shows window seat, what does it says in your boarding ticket? Act confused. Call the flight attendant. Say there is a mistake,' recommended a fourth.

To this, someone else chimed in: 'This is a great way to handle it if you don't like being confrontational.'

Another confirmed: 'Pretending to be an idiot is an amazing lifehack.'

A fifth shared how they reacted in a similar situation: 'This happened to me recently and I calmly said, "I have the window seat," and smiled while nodding and making eye contact.

'They acted confused and I repeated the same words and actions with an open-mouth smile and heavy nodding. They looked super upset but got up. I was very polite the entire flight and they were passive aggressive but harmless.'

The commenter concluded with a tidbit of wisdom: 'A lot of dealing with conflict is staying calm and resolute by repeating the truth until they understand that it's the only thing you're going to say until it happens.'

Travel etiquette has long been a hot topic of internet debate.

DailyMail.com has previously reported on key rules of travel etiquette, from being mindful of sleeping fellow passengers to avoiding 'smelly snacks.'

Another expert sounded the alarm about an increasingly commonplace breach of manners that he said was ripping apart 'the fabric of society.'