Two passengers are arguing that they have the same seat on an airplane flight. What should the flight attendant do first?

• A. Ask one passenger to volunteer to take a later flight.
• B. Ask both passengers to immediately exit the plane.
• C. Let the passengers work through the issue themselves.
• D. Listen to the passengers explain the problem and ask to see their tickets.

Answer: (D)

When a seating dispute arises, the first step is to listen to the passengers and verify the facts by asking to see their tickets or boarding passes. This approach sets a calm, respectful tone and gathers objective information about who is assigned to which seat. By reviewing the tickets, the flight attendant can confirm whether there was an error, a misread, or a late change, and then decide the appropriate action—such as reassigning seats or consulting a supervisor—without guessing or escalating the situation. This method protects passenger rights, follows policy, and reduces the chance of unnecessary disruption. The other options skip this essential fact-finding step or push to a quick, less fair resolution, which can worsen the conflict.