I think this passage is also very interesting (quoting Rabinowitz): > “He started to tell me it was forbidden by the Torah. I interrupted him to say the Torah

I think this passage is also very interesting (quoting Rabinowitz): > “He started to tell me it was forbidden by the Torah. I interrupted him to say the Torah says nothing about a man sitting next to a woman. He conceded I was right, but said there was a general principle that a person should not put himself in a dangerous situation." So not only is it not explicitly forbidden by the Torah -- this whole thing is somebody's interpretation -- but the general principle being invoked says, don't put yourself in a dangerous situation; it doesn't say that you get to rearrange everyone around you! Either find an acceptable seat yourself, or get off the plane!