AITA for not unlocking the door at the pilates studio?
In the quiet intensity of a hot pilates class, two coworkers found themselves caught in an unexpected clash of expectations and emotions.
What began as a simple invitation to share a new experience quickly spiraled into a confrontation, revealing the fragile boundaries of trust and responsibility.
As the door locked behind the instructor and the class pressed on, the silent tension grew heavier than the heat of the room.
One waited outside, frustrated and shut out; the other, trapped inside, torn between etiquette and empathy—both wondering where the line was crossed.
I recently invited one of my coworkers to a hot pilates class. It was both of our first time at this studio. The class started at 12 noon. At 11:55 I was already set up in the studio and I texted my coworker to ask if she was close. She said she was 5 mins away.
At 12:05 she still had not arrived and the pilates instructor locked the door to the building and started the class. My friend texted me at 12:10 telling me the door was locked and to let her in.
I did not feel comfortable leaving the class to go unlock the door as I assumed the instructor locks it for a reason and it was my first time there. I told my friend the class had started and I couldnt leave.
After the class my coworker had texted me telling me she was mad at me for not getting up and unlocking the door for her. But how can she be mad at me when SHE was late? AITA???
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AFTER THIS STORY DROPPED, REDDIT WENT INTO MELTDOWN MODE – CHECK OUT WHAT PEOPLE SAID.:
What started as a simple post quickly turned into a wildfire of opinions, with users chiming in from all sides.
pottersquash - :- YTA for not telling the instructor you knew someone was coming but was running late. Now you've created a bad impression in a potential customers mind.
Walktothebrook - :- NTA. It was not your door to unlock and you could not disturb the instructor mid class to unlock the door. There is an old say, snooze you lose.
aj_alva - :- NTA. From my understanding Pilates requires a certain amount of concentration. The instructor locked the door because it is not the kind of thing you would want people walking in and out of.
Being that it was her first class, she should have made it a priority to be on time. In my opinion, leaving her outside saved you both from potential embarrassment and bad first impressions.
RaineMist - :- NTA If your coworker didn't want to be locked out, she should've been there on time. The instructor probably locks the doors to prevent interruptions in the class.
FairyCompetent - :- NTA and you shouldn't have still been in your phone after the start of class. You shouldn't have seen her text at all.
Federal__Dust - :- NTA. Most workout studios have this rule in place and once 5-10 minutes has elapsed from the beginning of class, doors are closed and people aren't allowed in.
This allows the instructor to be fully present for the beginning of class and for everyone to settle in instead of getting distracted by someone walking in and setting up.
You're not responsible to check your phone every 30 seconds to see if your late friend has arrived. It's not your studio, it would be extremely rude for you to unlock the door.
PrairieBunny91 - :- NTA. I teach yoga. Class begins on time and I lock the doors.
I get that things happen and we all run late from time to time, but I need to be respectful to the entire class and their time, which means not delaying the class and not allowing people to interrupt.
I also admittedly would not be very happy if one of my students disrupted class by getting up and unlocking the door for a late student.
The original poster (OP) is facing conflict because their coworker is angry about being locked out of a class, yet the OP feels justified in prioritizing the class rules and their own comfort over accommodating the coworker's tardiness.
Was the OP wrong for refusing to leave a paid, starting class to let in a late coworker, or should the OP have prioritized the relationship by breaking the studio's likely security protocol for the friend's sake?