Stranger

They can afford tickets but not the relatively minor cost for seat assignment? Come on.

Anyway, if indeeed they are that tight, then if they want to take a chance and risk not being seated together, they should live with the outcome rather than blame everyone else.

Nothing wrong, as long as they recognize that it may not happen in which case they won't be in a position to complain. however if they don't pay for seat assignments, and still feel entitled to sit together, no sympathy here.

superangrypenguin

Totally agreed. I have no sympathies for people who expect something without paying for it. If you want to chance it, go ahead, but if you don't get what you want, don't complain/whine or make a pouty face. This is the real world.

SparseFlyer

I completely agree.

But just for the sake of discussion, isn't that what AC told their FFs after the last enhancements?

If you want to fly with all the perks and business seats, then just buy J. If you want to chance it, go ahead, but you get what you paid for?

zorn

I have the solution for long-standing problem families with small children who need (or perceive the need) to sit together, and all the hassles that occur when they do not sit together.

Offer a "Family Convenience Package" when a passenger 5 or under is listed in the travelling party. Either make the package free or make it a bargain compared to seat selection for the whole party.

This package offers seat selection in the last X rows of the aircraft for the entire party and a "pre-boarding" option. This is all indicated on their boarding pass.

The pre-boarding announcement is then changed to "We are now boarding passengers holding Family Convenience boarding passes."

The people who need more time will be settling out of the way of other priority passengers likely near the front of the plane. At deboarding time they don't clog the aisle. They have assigned seats so there is less of a need for begging and pleading for seat switching.

superangrypenguin

And more ancillary fees for AC. Win-win

Geoflying

And they could also point out that in the event of the plane crashing passengers in the rear of the aircraft are more likely to survive than those in the front

24left

Actually brilliant. ^


See next post for anecdote.

yyznomad

May I ask (and may you respond)... from where to where?

If this was not on a fin with PE, then a SE on a Y/B fare would trump you as well... so not necessarily entire cabin paid J...

24left

Further to zorn's excellent idea "The Family Convenience Package", I would add the following from personal experience.

Twice, I opted to give up my paid seat to a mom with an infant. I found a seat in the last row and it was fine.

On the third occasion where a family unit was seated separately, the mother was seriously annoyed that this happened and that none of the "preferred" pax would volunteer to move. Part of the family unit got pref seats assigned at the gate.

The FA gently explained to her that the Pref's paid extra for their seats and were not obliged to give them up.

Needless to say, the "discussion" continued, boarding was delayed while they were in the aisle. The FA suggested everyone take their seats and she would try to see if anyone would move.

Musical seats ensued as the FA looked for enough volunteers to get the family members seated closer together.

IMHO, while these incidents might be rare, they will continue as long as some pax do not want to pay for their seat assignments and then get upset when they board.

Zorn's idea would be great if executed properly and most importantly, if a family actually buys it. How do you sell this to those who won't pay for seats with their Tango tickets?

drvannostren

They have these at IAH as well, but I'm not sure if they are in the business of denying anyone not in the right group. I saw UA using them for GIG and GRU flights at the same time (opposite sides of the hallway) and thought it was very cool, but I only saw 1 giant line that would then split through the 5 gates, it didn't seem very well organized, I did however see 1 person get a big red X and have to get manually checked, not sure if that was passport or something up with the BP but I don't think he was just out of his group.

mkjr

what an absurd joke for those that suggest J after SE.

fin 645

http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/141117.html

"Zones 3, 4 and 5: General boarding for Economy Class customers"

"Naturally, customers who requested wheelchair assistance will still be invited to board first, and those travelling with children under the age of 6 can continue to board in advance of general boarding."

"Customers who have been assigned zone 1 or 2 may continue to use dedicated lanes to board at any time once general boarding has started."

canadiancow

Why?

Is someone who flies 67,000 miles in J not worth more than someone who flies 10,000 miles in J?

superangrypenguin

Yes. Anyone who argues this has not done marketing 101. I can't be bothered with the math, but it's much more than just basic math.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_lifetime_value

CLV (customer lifetime value) calculation process consists of four steps:

forecasting of remaining customer lifetime (most often in years)
forecasting of future revenues (most often year-by-year), based on estimation about future products purchased and price paid
estimation of costs for delivering those products
calculation of the net present value of these future amounts[5]

PLeblond

Wasn't aware that was a perk of Y/B fares. I've never purchased one.

Then by all means, I say they should also board with SE/J. Chances are most people who purchase Y/B are probably also FFers...

Although in a 5 tier system (hopefully it won't be that complicated...) 'priority' doesn't necessarily mean 1st group. So let the debate rage on.

And again, thanks for participating in my education.....