1. The starting assumption is any Ha’aretz report is inaccurate.
2. The “Hareidim” requesting a seat change invariably do so politely and request it voluntarily from a willing party. They don’t (and in fact can’t) coerce.
3. The request is typically made to someone travelling alone not to someone sitting next to a family member. There are more than enough single travelers that it isn’t necessary to ask someone sitting next to their spouse.
4. These reports are always hyped and greatly exaggerated by reporters who have a chip on their shoulder with their disdain for “Hareidim”.