I was minding my own business waiting for the Larnaca – Amman flight to take off when the last two passengers boarded the flight and began asking the flight attendant for something or another. The attendant finally walked up to me, interrupted my reading and politely asked if I minded changing seats so the middle-aged couple could sit together.

I never liked this habit in passengers who impose on others for their own convenience. I looked at them and they seemed like they really wanted to be together so, good manners descended upon me and I said okay. I got up and went back a couple of rows to the seat that belonged to one of them and the man looked back and mouthed a “thank you”. I nodded acknowledgement and we got on with seat belting and settling down for our short flight.

The man sat down in the aisle seat and his wife took the window seat and proceeded to busy herself with the outside scenery. He opened his newspaper and began to read. 10 minutes later, he folded his paper and engaged in a conversation with the passenger across the aisle from him. A while after that the man in front of him got in on the act and the three of them were deep in some worthy debate.

By the time we landed at Amman Airport, the couple that displaced me had not exchanged a single word for the entire 50 minutes flight. Nothing unusual about that; my wife and I are just as happy not talking to one another for long stretches of time and I suspect many other couples are like that.

But why insist on inconveniencing a stranger so you can sit together but not talk to each other?

I think there are two possible reasons. The first is that we have a deep psychological need to be next to the ones we love when we face mortal danger and flying is still considered a hazardous endeavour.

The second reason, which if true annoys the hell out of me, is that the husband actually wanted to sit next to his chums so they can gossip for an hour or so.

The romantic in me hopes it was the first reason, but the devil inside tells me I have been duped and I should investigate reasons for my displacement more closely in the future. I am going to work on a questionnaire, which I shall keep in handy so when someone comes and asks: excuse me sir, would you mind if we swap seats? I shall bring out my 5-page questionnaire and ask him/her to complete before I make a final decision.