Passenger records Delta crew after rejecting a smaller seat, then he’s kicked off the flight: ‘He had every right to refuse’

Refusing to give up your assigned airplane seat shouldn’t cost you your flight. But one Delta passenger reportedly got kicked off a plane after declining to move to a smaller, less comfortable seat. He had initially agreed to help another couple, but changing his mind came with unexpected consequences.

Airplane seat swaps often leave passengers frustrated. Some travelers have refused to give up their window seats, while others regret agreeing to move. But this man’s attempt to keep his original seat apparently turned into something much bigger.

In a video shared by TikTok account @jsnews30, passenger Santiago Daza reportedly clashed with crew members on a Delta flight from Bogotá to Atlanta. He began recording the interaction with his Meta smart glasses, but things took an unexpected turn.

What happened next was the last thing he expected

According to the video, Daza was already sitting in his assigned seat when flight attendants approached him with a request. Another traveler wanted to sit beside their partner, and the crew asked whether he would switch places.

At first, he agreed. However, after seeing the replacement seat, he realized it was smaller and less comfortable than his original one. He changed his mind and decided to stay where he was.

Seat changes aren’t always an improvement, and even a free Delta Comfort+ upgrade can leave passengers unhappy. But Daza was being asked to sacrifice his comfort simply to accommodate another couple.

The disagreement didn’t end there. Another crew member approached and asked for his name, making him concerned about what might happen next.

Daza activated his Meta smart glasses and began recording the interaction. When a staff member noticed, they instructed him to stop filming, but he continued documenting the encounter.

Shortly afterward, he was informed that the captain had decided to remove him from the flight. He eventually had to gather his belongings and leave the aircraft, despite having been seated in his assigned place before the dispute began.

According to Infobae, Delta later rebooked Daza on another flight, but the disruption affected his travel plans and caused additional expenses. The airline reportedly offered him $150 in compensation, which he refused.

Daza also claimed that customer service couldn’t find any report from the captain or crew explaining why he had been removed. He began pursuing a formal complaint, seeking answers about the incident.

Delta maintained that passengers must follow crew safety instructions. However, the airline didn’t publicly identify which instruction Daza had violated. 

The incident sparked criticism from viewers who felt the airline had gone too far. Many argued that someone else’s seating preference shouldn’t come at another traveler’s expense. Some believed “he had every right to refuse a worse swap.”

“How is forcing to switch seats a safety issue? He needs to file a lawsuit especially after getting kicked off,” one commenter wrote.

Another questioned why the couple couldn’t find a different solution. “First of all and the most important why did the spouse not get moved to the worse seat and upgrade the other person,” they asked.

One viewer defended Daza’s decision, writing, “If it’s his assigned seat he has absolutely every right to refuse to move.”

Others believed couples should plan ahead rather than expect strangers to accommodate them. “If people want to sit with their partner they should book in advance,” one viewer argued.

One commenter claimed Daza was unusually tall, writing, “This guy is really tall. Around 7ft. He always gets a row that has more leg room. Like 1st row behind wall or emergency exit row. He had a video yrs ago about seats he gets. Some rows he just can’t fit.”

Although Daza was rebooked, the specific reason for his removal remains unclear. With his complaint reportedly underway, the dispute has left passengers questioning how far a crew’s authority should extend over assigned seating.

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