Campground Entitlement: Why “First Come, First Served” Still Matters (and Seat Stealing Needs to Stop)
Picture this: It’s peak camping season. The birds are singing, the fires are crackling, and you—having planned months in advance—are finally settling into the perfect lakeside spot you reserved. Suddenly, someone strolls up to the office, late to the game, and demands: “Can’t you just move the other guests so I don’t have to switch spots?”
If you’re already rolling your eyes, you’re not alone. This is the true story of a front desk hero who stood firm against the forces of last-minute entitlement, as shared in a viral r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk post. But this isn’t just about campgrounds. From tent sites to airplane seats, the battle between planners and “seat stealers” is as old as the reservation system itself.
The Great Campsite Shuffle: When Planning Meets Entitlement
The drama began innocently enough. A guest wanted to book two campsites—no big deal. But at the eleventh hour, they decided to tack on an extra three nights at the front of their stay. The diligent front desk clerk explained they’d need to switch sites in the middle, since their preferred spot was already reserved on those dates. A reasonable solution, right?
Not for everyone. Enter the Background Lady, who chimed in with, “Wait, can’t you move the other guests so we don’t need to move?” The employee (u/OssieinOZ, our OP) politely but firmly declined: “No, I will not do that as these guests have booked first and are confirmed as is.” Apparently, this was a shocking revelation.
As the OP vented, “Please, for the love of god, where do you take the gall from to demand I inconvenience guests who have booked prior to you, because you want to travel in the height of our season and can’t plan better?”
And Reddit had thoughts—oh, did they ever.
“Seat Stealers” and the Law of the Land
It turns out, the entitled attitude isn’t unique to campgrounds. The comments section erupted with tales of similar behavior everywhere from hotels to airplanes. As u/DaneAlaskaCruz pointed out, “Yup, happens all the time with camp sites and hotel rooms. … Also happens with plane seats. I absolutely despise it when I’m boarding a plane and someone is in my window seat.” The sentiment was echoed by many: if you book it, it’s yours.
u/GirlStiletto took it to another level, recalling a time when a seat thief on a plane was escorted off by security—thanks to an undercover Air Marshal. “Made the rest of the flight wonderful,” she quipped. The consensus? Never, ever give up your assigned seat. As one commenter put it, “Imagine paying for front row seats at a concert and someone is in your seat and won’t move. Got up and get out! Now!”
The psychological thread running through these stories is clear: Some people treat the world as if everyone else is just an NPC (non-player character) in their personal game. As u/BabserellaWT summed up, “But… those other people aren’t real! They’re just NPCs in my life story!”
Why Reservations Matter: It’s Not Just About Fairness
So why does this touch such a nerve? For one, reservations are the backbone of order in busy environments. u/d4sbwitu nailed it: “People choose not to understand that first come first served relates to the reservation process in this case. … How would you feel if you booked 2 months in advance for a specific spot and got to the location to find that you had been moved for another guest that booked a week ago? It’s pure selfishness.”
This is especially true for regular campers, as u/SongBirdplace and others explained. Some families return year after year, forming small campground communities, and their chosen spots have sentimental value. u/saaandi shared that her family reserved the same three spots every Memorial and Labor Day, creating cherished routines. If someone tried to bump them, “hell would be raised.”
It’s not just about nostalgia, though. There are practical reasons, too. Prime sites might be closer to the river or bathrooms, while others offer privacy or a better view. As u/Common-Parsnip-9682 noted, “When we camp, my husband definitely scopes out the whole campground so he can pick his favorite spots for next time he comes. He would know if his reservation was moved.”
The Golden Rule of Reservations
What can we learn from these tales of campsite and seat entitlement? For starters, don’t be the person who expects others to pay for your poor planning. As u/No-Surround-1225 cleverly suggested, “What if somebody calls after you and I make a change to your reservation behind your back? … That’s what you’re asking me to do to somebody else.”
Whether it’s a tent site or an airplane seat, the system only works if everyone respects the reservations. As u/lady-of-thermidor put it, “You selected your seat and paid accordingly. No other passenger can just take it. Seriously. Make an issue of it.”
And yes, that applies whether you’re a tall traveler eyeing the extra legroom, a parent with kids, or an RV kingpin with “people” coming. (Special shout-out to the commenter whose neighbor’s “people” never showed up—they just sulked in their RV all week.)
Conclusion: Stand Your Ground (and Your Campsite)
Entitlement isn’t going anywhere, but neither is common sense. The next time someone asks you to give up your reserved spot—be it beside the campfire or by the airplane window—remember the wise words of the internet: Don’t reward their idiocy. Stand your ground, enjoy your stay, and let the NPCs sort themselves out.
Have you ever dealt with an entitled “seat stealer” or campsite usurper? Share your wildest reservation stories in the comments below—let’s keep the campfire tales burning!
Original Reddit Post: Guest demands I inconvenience guest who booked prior