Please don't page me at the gate to ...
Sep 21, 2014, 7:57 pm
#47
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 51
It could be a bit much in that it's strongly worded (I don't mean to imply that the OP isn't generally a decent human being) but it's the truth from where I sit and it was invited in the OP. I generally treat people pretty nicely on all forums - but also in person. Thinking it's an unacceptable annoyance to be paged to have a question asked is a bit much. Calling someone out for it is not. It's only my opinion. Do I need to have 1000+ posts to have an opinion here? I would think that my years on the planet should be enough.
Last edited by 33teeth; Sep 21, 2014 at 8:06 pm
Sep 21, 2014, 8:30 pm
#48
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Sep 21, 2014, 10:33 pm
#49
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Sep 21, 2014, 11:01 pm
#50
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I don't really understand why paging is an issue. It's been done for me and my two year old daughter, and I think it's much easier than asking on the plane. A seat change at the gate means I can much more quickly get seated on board. An on board request can be complicated when traveling with someone who requires special equipment to be attached to the seat (a car seat or a CARES harness).
Of course, I completely get not wanting to switch to a lesser seat. But I don't get why paging is an issue, particularly when it is likely to make the boarding process a whole lot easier.
Of course, I completely get not wanting to switch to a lesser seat. But I don't get why paging is an issue, particularly when it is likely to make the boarding process a whole lot easier.
Sep 21, 2014, 11:47 pm
#51
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Sep 22, 2014, 3:37 am
#52
Join Date: Jan 2011
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I'd say OP also meant paging should only be reserved for emergency issues or seat upgrades etc, and not so someone can try to switch seats with him.
Sep 22, 2014, 7:33 am
#53
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I was politely asked to switch F seats this morning on AS 615. I did. Sorry to make all the folks who buy F more irate when those polite requests come in. If it makes you feel any better, I was on an upgrade and so obviously it wasn't like a full paying F customer was abused.
Sep 22, 2014, 9:30 am
#54
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
I'll be the voice of dissent. Do you know the full story of the family looking for accommodation? Is it possible there's more to it than just the convenience of a family sitting together, hence the (mildly) drastic measure of paging you to the desk?
I have 2 sons with ASD and it absolutely would not be a workable solution for my wife and I to fly separated from them, even by a row or a few feet. If that meant giving up an upgrade and keeping our original coach seats, so be it. That said, if it would be workable to maintain the upgrade I would be genuinely grateful to a GA who made an effort to sort it out. I wouldn't be bothered by the GA being 100% transparent when explaining the situation to anyone else involved, but others might appreciated discretion as well, and I can understand that and would personally hope their privacy was put ahead of the OP's desire to not have his name announced in public.
I'm not saying this is the OP's situation, but sometimes there is more at play than meets the eye. If it were this type of situation, I wouldn't think anything the GA did was out of place. The OP would certainly be within his rights to cling to his assigned seats, but it would make me question his humanity a bit if, knowing the details, he still wouldn't swap and still felt as annoyed at the request.
If it's 100% clear that it's mom/dad and their teenage kids with no other issues at play and you want to be that guy, go for it. But if there's a chance there's more involved that you just don't know, maybe think about making someone else's rough situation a little easier, even if there's only a chance that's the case.
I have 2 sons with ASD and it absolutely would not be a workable solution for my wife and I to fly separated from them, even by a row or a few feet. If that meant giving up an upgrade and keeping our original coach seats, so be it. That said, if it would be workable to maintain the upgrade I would be genuinely grateful to a GA who made an effort to sort it out. I wouldn't be bothered by the GA being 100% transparent when explaining the situation to anyone else involved, but others might appreciated discretion as well, and I can understand that and would personally hope their privacy was put ahead of the OP's desire to not have his name announced in public.
I'm not saying this is the OP's situation, but sometimes there is more at play than meets the eye. If it were this type of situation, I wouldn't think anything the GA did was out of place. The OP would certainly be within his rights to cling to his assigned seats, but it would make me question his humanity a bit if, knowing the details, he still wouldn't swap and still felt as annoyed at the request.
If it's 100% clear that it's mom/dad and their teenage kids with no other issues at play and you want to be that guy, go for it. But if there's a chance there's more involved that you just don't know, maybe think about making someone else's rough situation a little easier, even if there's only a chance that's the case.
Following that logic, why dont handicapped people automatically get to sit in business? They have suffered enough in life
Sep 22, 2014, 9:33 am
#55
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
I don't really understand why paging is an issue. It's been done for me and my two year old daughter, and I think it's much easier than asking on the plane. A seat change at the gate means I can much more quickly get seated on board. An on board request can be complicated when traveling with someone who requires special equipment to be attached to the seat (a car seat or a CARES harness).
Of course, I completely get not wanting to switch to a lesser seat. But I don't get why paging is an issue, particularly when it is likely to make the boarding process a whole lot easier.
Of course, I completely get not wanting to switch to a lesser seat. But I don't get why paging is an issue, particularly when it is likely to make the boarding process a whole lot easier.
Nothing is reserved for emergencies anymore. In California the alert system for cell phones was used for an Amber Alert. Is that valid?
Sep 22, 2014, 11:23 am
#56
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Paging is an issue in the same way getting called from a doctor's office about a family member. Maybe they just wanted to tell you about an appointment change, but it could be worse.
Nothing is reserved for emergencies anymore. In California the alert system for cell phones was used for an Amber Alert. Is that valid?
Nothing is reserved for emergencies anymore. In California the alert system for cell phones was used for an Amber Alert. Is that valid?
Sep 22, 2014, 11:50 am
#57
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Having logged over 1 million miles on Alaska, I'm surprised that I have no recollection of ever having been paged by the gate agent to switch seats except for a row 6 situation to help out a physically challenged passenger. I've just been lucky, I guess.
Those of us who fly a lot and consistently book aisle seats - or choose NOT to sit in row 4 - have well established and good reasons for doing so. This desire to always be near your traveling companion seems awfully needy to me. While I reckon there's no harm in asking someone if they'd be willing to switch seats, I personally think that anyone upgraded should be thankful for that alone.
Paging me by name at the gate wouldn't bother me so much - thankfully nobody knows or cares who I am, anyway - but aside from that I'm with you 100%, Eastbay1K.
Those of us who fly a lot and consistently book aisle seats - or choose NOT to sit in row 4 - have well established and good reasons for doing so. This desire to always be near your traveling companion seems awfully needy to me. While I reckon there's no harm in asking someone if they'd be willing to switch seats, I personally think that anyone upgraded should be thankful for that alone.
Paging me by name at the gate wouldn't bother me so much - thankfully nobody knows or cares who I am, anyway - but aside from that I'm with you 100%, Eastbay1K.
Last edited by Seat 2A; Sep 22, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Sep 22, 2014, 12:00 pm
#58
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
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1. If I was a public figure of any stature, gate page would bother me too.
2. Don't remember ever being gate paged, at least not for a seat change request.
3. I don't care whether I was upgraded (then selected a seat) or paid for F, my aisle seat is not for trading...except for another aisle seat. I don't get too bothered about row 4, though I never select it. I've said "no" a few times. If the person denied wants to grumble about it, I don't care.
4. Seat poachers are presumptuous a**holes. I'd prefer a gate page rather than having to break the bad news personally.
--mcz
2. Don't remember ever being gate paged, at least not for a seat change request.
3. I don't care whether I was upgraded (then selected a seat) or paid for F, my aisle seat is not for trading...except for another aisle seat. I don't get too bothered about row 4, though I never select it. I've said "no" a few times. If the person denied wants to grumble about it, I don't care.
4. Seat poachers are presumptuous a**holes. I'd prefer a gate page rather than having to break the bad news personally.
--mcz
Last edited by mczlaw; Sep 22, 2014 at 3:57 pm
Sep 22, 2014, 12:15 pm
#59
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Sep 22, 2014, 2:04 pm
#60
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I'll concede that the OP may have legit concerns/reasons that I've never personally had to consider for not wanting to be paged by name to the desk.