What kind of an person doesn't change seats so that a father can sit next to his 13-year-old son? This happened on a US LAX-CLT flight, a whopping 4 hour flight, in first class nonetheless. This person was so married to his aisle seat that he refused to move to a window seat.

Is this behavior typical in your experience, or the exception rather than the rule?

What kind of an person doesn't change seats so that a father can sit next to his 13-year-old son? This happened on a US LAX-CLT flight, a whopping 4 hour flight, in first class nonetheless. This person was so married to his aisle seat that he refused to move to a window seat.

Is this behavior typical in your experience, or the exception rather than the rule?

Well I would say yes it's unusual but I have refused to move on UA from an E+ Aisle to E- Window so a parent could sit with their kids.

However in F, I think that's a little excessive. I like aisles so I'm not clausterphobic at the window but I don't feel that way in F.

Very much the exception. I have changed my FC seat many times for a family and have always gotten "stuck" with a window seat 8 times out of 10.

They should have said something to the lead F/A. I'm sure he/she would have made that passenger move.

What kind of an person doesn't change seats so that a father can sit next to his 13-year-old son? This happened on a US LAX-CLT flight, a whopping 4 hour flight, in first class nonetheless. This person was so married to his aisle seat that he refused to move to a window seat.

Is this behavior typical in your experience, or the exception rather than the rule?

I understand your frustration, but couldn't the father and son have moved to coach if they wanted to sit together? I assume two people in the back would have been glad to swap two seats together for two separated first class seats. I know people are funny about their favorite seats, and while I probably would have swapped, I understand why some folks want to keep the seat they chose (for any number of reasons - I like the aisle seat so I don't have to crawl over somebody to go the the lav!). :D

What kind of an person doesn't change seats so that a father can sit next to his 13-year-old son? This happened on a US LAX-CLT flight, a whopping 4 hour flight, in first class nonetheless. This person was so married to his aisle seat that he refused to move to a window seat.

Is this behavior typical in your experience, or the exception rather than the rule?

What other details are there? Was he being asked to move from 1B to 5F? Maybe there was a less public reason like he was taking a diuretic? Depending on the circumstances, I'd probably politely decline as well.

I tend not to surrender my seat for any reason in any part of the aircraft. I took the time to find a fare with an open seat I wanted. The OP has some responsibility here why shift it to the other customer?

1. OP could have called CP desk at time of booking/upgrade clearance to try to get seats together.

2. IMO if you get upgraded to F ya takes what ya get. It's a perk not an obligation.

What kind of an person doesn't change seats so that a father can sit next to his 13-year-old son? This happened on a US LAX-CLT flight, a whopping 4 hour flight, in first class nonetheless. This person was so married to his aisle seat that he refused to move to a window seat.

So, you didn't want to sit in your assigned seat, and you asked someone to move so you could have his seat, and he is an person because he said no? :confused:

Sorry dude. You don't score seats together, you don't get torqued at the other guy for it. It's your problem, not his. Per PP the right answer is to trade for 2 seats together in the back of the bus. Or book sooner. Or offer the other guy $$ for the seat. Or is it not that important to sit together, and you just want to put someone else out at no cost to you. :td: to OP rude & bad attitude

Very unusual. I see people swap around all the time and I always offer if I see that it will help some people out. HP never had companion upgrades at the same upgrade window, so invariably, a spouse or two got upgraded day-of-departure, ended up in a different row and people moved around to accommodate them -- no big deal 90+% of the time.

Only one time that I can remember did some guy get all defensive and loud, and claim "I've had this seat reserved for months, I'm not going to give it up." :( (And this was an aisle in row 2 for an aisle in row 3. :confused: ) I said, "Hey, many, chill, it was just a request. If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you. It's not a problem." Having witnessed the guy's little mini explosion, two other people offered to move around -- so that I could sit with my mother, no less.

If the one person would not move, why did he not politely ask the other person who would have been sitting beside either him or his son? Or did he?

They should have said something to the lead F/A. I'm sure he/she would have made that passenger move.

No, while the F/A does technically have the power to make anyone move anywhere - they should not force pax switches except when there is a weight/balence issue, a ill pax, pax on strecher, or a very young child. I have never seen a F/A move anyone for a non-necessary situation like the above issues. And while I would have moved for the OP, sitting with your 13 y.o. is not a necessary situation. The pax was fully within their rights to refuse. If I was that pax and for whatever reason was berated by the F/A for not moving I would take it up with Customer Relations instantly.

I'm with the OP. Courtesy goes a long way with me. There might be a good reason not to switch seats (FAM?), but the minimal comfort advantage of FC window vs. aisle or row 2 vs. row 3 or 4 or 5 or 1 does seem to be a good reason? If we would all provide a little more courtesy to each other, the world would be a less angry place. "I was here first" is what school children say. Adults usually are more mature than that.

If I were in that situation, I would have been tempted to have my 13 year child sit next to the passenger who refused to switch seats. Then, I would have stood in the aisle as much as possible carrying on a conversation with my child. Not to be rude, but to spend as much quality time with my child as possible. ;) ;)

If I were in that situation, I would have been tempted to have my 13 year child sit next to the passenger who refused to switch seats. Then, I would have stood in the aisle as much as possible carrying on a conversation with my child. Not to be rude, but to spend as much quality time with my child as possible. ;) ;)

That's rude. You are irritating someone who took their rightfully assigned seat for the intention of berating them for doing something they were entitled to.

I'm with the OP. Courtesy goes a long way with me. There might be a good reason not to switch seats (FAM?), but the minimal comfort advantage of FC window vs. aisle or row 2 vs. row 3 or 4 or 5 or 1 does seem to be a good reason? If we would all provide a little more courtesy to each other, the world would be a less angry place. "I was here first" is what school children say. Adults usually are more mature than that.

If I were in that situation, I would have been tempted to have my 13 year child sit next to the passenger who refused to switch seats. Then, I would have stood in the aisle as much as possible carrying on a conversation with my child. Not to be rude, but to spend as much quality time with my child as possible. ;) ;)

Seems like standing in the aisle and talking to your son for the flight doesn't exactly follow your "If we would all provide a little more courtesy to each other..." mantra. Furthermore, why must we (or the OP) assume this pax to be so evil in his intent? Maybe there was a medical reason? Maybe he had a tight connection and didn't want a window or a window further back? Must we assume the worst?

And, I was thinking as was me4yankees. There had to be someone who was sitting next to the father. Why didn't this person move instead?

That's rude. You are irritating someone who took their rightfully assigned seat for the intention of berating them for doing something they were entitled to.

As I said, I would have been tempted. I try not to give in to my temptations, especially if they are motivated by irritation.

For me a lot depends on how the request to move is delivered. I have moved my F seat many times to help couples sit together when they ask me nicely. If someone tries to order me out of my seat, or seems to assume they're entitled to it, or I get on the plane and he (it's always a he) has already helped himself to my seat, then the heck with 'em. Politeness counts.

It would depend on how I was asked. For a long flight I like the aisle seat because I always get stuck next to Mr. Iron Kidneys that never moves from his seat. So I would probably say no if it was a long flight.

I might decline as well, sometimes I have. It depends on how I'm asked, whether I think I'll need to get up often, and also, there have been times where I've taken a look at the person I might be sitting next to, and decided I'd rather stay where I am. It doesn't happen often, but certain people can make a trip very unpleasant when you have to sit next to them! There have also been times when I volunteered to move and allow people to sit together, and they declined the offer, saying they'd already spent enough time together...

To clarify, I just observed the incident, it didn't happen to me or my son. The father asked in as polite a way as he could've, and was sort of taken aback when the guy said no. Other pax moved to accomodate the 2, so they ended up sitting together.

Glad to hear it seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

Could of also been an Air Marshal who has to sit in an aisle seat.

I would be reluctant to trade a Row 2 aisle for a Row 6 window unless I was planning on sleeping the flight away. I might, if I was asked properly, but if I had a tight connection or other reasonable reason, I would probably decline. There is no hard and fast rule I follow, I've agreed in the past and declined as well. A request like that should be handled as a request, not a demand that gets an angry response if the answer is "no" and if the response to "no" were nasty, I would then know I made the right decision.

What kind of an person doesn't change seats so that a father can sit next to his 13-year-old son? This happened on a US LAX-CLT flight, a whopping 4 hour flight, in first class nonetheless. This person was so married to his aisle seat that he refused to move to a window seat.

Is this behavior typical in your experience, or the exception rather than the rule?

I prefer and window seat; I won't switch for an aisle. Frankly, my attitude is why didn't you plan ahead--if you really want to be with someone, I bet you can switch with people in coach. ;) I've done it; it works!

I tend not to surrender my seat for any reason in any part of the aircraft. I took the time to find a fare with an open seat I wanted. The OP has some responsibility here why shift it to the other customer?

1. OP could have called CP desk at time of booking/upgrade clearance to try to get seats together.

2. IMO if you get upgraded to F ya takes what ya get. It's a perk not an obligation.


Tracy, welcome to FT! I agree with you. A few weeks ago, I was in an exit row window seat in coach. The person beside me wanted me to switch with his girlfriend (she was in the seat in front). The other two seats in front were occupied by a couple. I told him the reason I wouldn't switch is because the seat in front doesn't recline. In any event, he kicked up a stink, so I got an FA. She realized the issue immediately and explained the reclining seat issue. She interrupted him to offer to put them both, together, on a later flight if they really want to fly together. It turns out that they didn't; they stayed where they were assigned.

No, while the F/A does technically have the power to make anyone move anywhere - they should not force pax switches except when there is a weight/balence issue, a ill pax, pax on strecher, or a very young child. I have never seen a F/A move anyone for a non-necessary situation like the above issues. And while I would have moved for the OP, sitting with your 13 y.o. is not a necessary situation. The pax was fully within their rights to refuse. If I was that pax and for whatever reason was berated by the F/A for not moving I would take it up with Customer Relations instantly.

Bingo! My experience is that they don't force a customer to move. A gate agent explained to me that the GA's assign seats. FA's can be forceful--I've seen them walk up and say, "Sir, I am going to move you to NN, so that this couple can sit together." All you have to say is "no you're not." Even Southwest doesn't force passengers out of seats on which they've laid a claim!! :)

I'm with the OP. Courtesy goes a long way with me. There might be a good reason not to switch seats (FAM?), but the minimal comfort advantage of FC window vs. aisle or row 2 vs. row 3 or 4 or 5 or 1 does seem to be a good reason? If we would all provide a little more courtesy to each other, the world would be a less angry place. "I was here first" is what school children say. Adults usually are more mature than that.

If I were in that situation, I would have been tempted to have my 13 year child sit next to the passenger who refused to switch seats. Then, I would have stood in the aisle as much as possible carrying on a conversation with my child. Not to be rude, but to spend as much quality time with my child as possible. ;) ;)


It seems to me that the behavior you describe in the second paragraph is an example of what you criticize in the first--lack of courtesy.

What kind of an person doesn't change seats so that a father can sit next to his 13-year-old son? This happened on a US LAX-CLT flight, a whopping 4 hour flight, in first class nonetheless. This person was so married to his aisle seat that he refused to move to a window seat.



While this wasn't a first class flight, I was on an E70 sitting in the bulkhead window seat. A guy sat next to me and his wife was across the aisle about a foot away from him. She asked me if I would switch so she could sit next to her husband. It kind of irritated me although I'm not sure why. I said to her that she's a foot away from him now and the flight is a 40 minute flight. I did finally switch with her and ended up sitting next to someone who I had a great conversation with and we're going for lunch later this month. So it all worked out great.

Bobi

I think it all depends on the actual seats. First in any seat is still pretty good. I can squeeze around an aisle seatmeat to hit the lav, so that isn't an issue. Now if someone wanted me to move out of an exit row seat to a crappy non exit row seat, I'd decline. I took the time to reserve that seat.

If it is a parent - child issue, though, I would do my best to try to help them out, as long as it did not involve a serious change (like getting stuck in between two obese people). Even though I don't have kids, I can empathize with a parent wanting to sit by their children. And unless it is a really short flight, I'm not going to opt for a middle seat, period.

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Bingo! My experience is that they don't force a customer to move. A gate agent explained to me that the GA's assign seats. FA's can be forceful--I've seen them walk up and say, "Sir, I am going to move you to NN, so that this couple can sit together." All you have to say is "no you're not." Even Southwest doesn't force passengers out of seats on which they've laid a claim!! :)

But couldn't the FA say that you're ignoring/disregarding a crewmember instruction (which, as they will no doubt be sure to point out, is a federal crime)?

I meant to add to my earlier post that my husband, son and I were flying F to CDG and my son refused to change his aisle seat when asked. He's 6'7" and is more comfortable with the aisle.

Bobi

We have a son who flys with us frequently. Of course we try to book our seats together, but we also recognize that this is not alway possible. When he was younger, so long as one of us could sit with him, we were happy. But now that he's older ( 16 ) it really doesn't matter to us, though it would of course be nice. We've never asked anyone to move on our account however, because as elites who are sitting in the better seats, we don't want to impose upon others. We've UG our son to Envoy on several occasions and a few times he had to sit apart from us. He could care less and so could we.

I say give that pax a break because he doesn't have to explain himself to anyone, especially in F on a longer flight. He's entitled to the seat that he chose and it's that simple. It's not rude, it's not selfish and he does not have to explain himself. As it turns out, another pax moved, so what's the big deal. Life is about choices and accepting them.

Barry

It would be a cold day in H**L before I give up 1G &1H from CLT to FRA on a Airbus 330... but then again I flew hard to get those seats....

Also, as I mentioned in another thread but didn't get any opinions on...

Suppose you are in Row 1 of Envoy on an airbus (after October 2006)... You paid the $300.00 upgrade for the lay flat bed and then you are displaced for the air marshall.... Not much you can do about it... and I have read that it happens often, but once US starts charging for it....mght the situation with the Air Marshalls change?

But couldn't the FA say that you're ignoring/disregarding a crewmember instruction (which, as they will no doubt be sure to point out, is a federal crime)?

I think that some perspective is needed here. First, it's not a valid request--moving seats to accommodate another customer. If you want to go down that path, let's say they need change and make a request to passengers who have five singles--can they demand a wallet search? Do you have to comply? Practically speaking, FA's don't 'order' one passenger to switch seats to accommodate another; they can be forceful in the request, as I pointed out earlier, but that's the extent of it.

What kind of an person doesn't change seats so that a father can sit next to his 13-year-old son? This happened on a US LAX-CLT flight, a whopping 4 hour flight, in first class nonetheless. This person was so married to his aisle seat that he refused to move to a window seat.

Is this behavior typical in your experience, or the exception rather than the rule?

I don't move off the aisle. I'm a tall person, and I specifically get aisle seats whenever practically possible. I'll swap an aisle for aisle if it's a "one for one" (eg, non-bulkhead F to non-bulkhead F or exit for exit row--I'm not trading the exit-aisle for something else), but other than that, I'm taking the aisle seat. It's not personal--it's the seat I went out of my way to seek out.

If I were in that situation, I would have been tempted to have my 13 year child sit next to the passenger who refused to switch seats. Then, I would have stood in the aisle as much as possible carrying on a conversation with my child. Not to be rude, but to spend as much quality time with my child as possible. ;) ;)

I'd stand in my seat and rustle in the overhead that entire time. Or, I'd find the nearest FAM or flight attendant and insinuate that the "guy standing in the aisle is playing with something that looks like wires and a battery inside his shirt" and watch as the carnage ensued. Be very careful escalating stupid actions--some are more coy about it than others.

But couldn't the FA say that you're ignoring/disregarding a crewmember instruction (which, as they will no doubt be sure to point out, is a federal crime)?

On the jetway attached to terra firma in whatever state you happen to be in? Unlikely. Further, no FA in their right mind wants to grief that will come from the civil suit after any criminal charges are dismissed--after all, you gonna charge someone with refusing to move from the seat the airline assigned them?

... You paid the $300.00 upgrade for the lay flat bed and then you are displaced for the air marshall....

Unlikely to happen. After September 30, 2006, the $300 buy-up to Row 1 can only take place at airport on day of departure. By that time, airport control would already know how many, and which, Row 1 seats are left for sale ... the FAMS would most likely have Row 1 seat assignments before then.

On topic, I'd gladly exchange any domestic aisle for aisle, any row - I prefer an aisle for easy access to the bathroom because of diuretic medication prescribed. In Envoy, only a FAM can dislodge me from my favorite seat :)

On the jetway attached to terra firma in whatever state you happen to be in? Unlikely. Further, no FA in their right mind wants to grief that will come from the civil suit after any criminal charges are dismissed--after all, you gonna charge someone with refusing to move from the seat the airline assigned them?

Good point. I guess with all the made-up rules anymore, I just expect to hear that any disagreement with an FA can result in prosecution. Not that I think an FA would do that - 99% are the most incredibly nice/friendly/helpful/funny people you'll ever meet; but, like any other profession, you'll have a minority who will attempt to exert authority they don't have in a situation which doesn't warrant it (e.g. changing seats).

Oh well, I guess I've taken this a little off-topic. In the case of the OP, if it were me, I would have gladly changed seats. In F, I don't care whether I have an aisle or a window. I might have had to think about it for a moment if it were the non-recline or limited-recline last row (but I still would have moved). Y is another story, and I've moved before for a mom and her child (to a middle seat - ugh!), but anymore, I probably wouldn't move unless I could get a similar seat to what I had (usually aisle).

The hardest switch I've made was from an aisle seat to a middle seat on a 2-hour flight. The fellow next to me wanted to sit next to his son who was on the other side of the aisle, in the middle. He initially asked the lady on the window but she didn't oblige (he asked pleasantly, she declined pleasantly). I knew that I could be in the same situation one day and I'd be grateful for the same favor so I just volunteered. His expression of gratitude and my feeling of satisfaction more than compensated for the inconvenience involved.

I've seen a flight attendant on an Asian airline unilaterally ask a fellow on the aisle to move to a middle seat to allow a family to sit together, almost as a directive rather than a request. He obliged but I thought it was an unreasonable way to handle the situation. I think these situations should be handled between the parties involved (as a rule, anyway), unless there are extenuating circumstances that warrant the mediation of the cabin crew.

Somewhat in the same vein, I'm reluctant to have the airline queue a request for me to be seated next to a colleague on the same flight. On one occasion on an Asian airline we were already on board, settled into our original non-adjacent seats, when they came up and told us that we could sit together. The problem is that the new seats they assigned to us were seats I make a point of avoiding (bulkhead seats with minuscule leg room). With some difficulty I was able to retain my original seat but I learned not to attempt this kind of change unless I know the new seat that is offered so that I can accept or decline it.

On the jetway attached to terra firma in whatever state you happen to be in? Unlikely. Further, no FA in their right mind wants to grief that will come from the civil suit after any criminal charges are dismissed--after all, you gonna charge someone with refusing to move from the seat the airline assigned them?

I think that's a great point. Depending on the passenger, the airline would face civil action and would probably settle. Chances are, the flight attendant would be fired--he or she should be!

The hardest switch I've made was from an aisle seat to a middle seat on a 2-hour flight. The fellow next to me wanted to sit next to his son who was on the other side of the aisle, in the middle. He initially asked the lady on the window but she didn't oblige (he asked pleasantly, she declined pleasantly). I knew that I could be in the same situation one day and I'd be grateful for the same favor so I just volunteered. His expression of gratitude and my feeling of satisfaction more than compensated for the inconvenience involved.

I've seen a flight attendant on an Asian airline unilaterally ask a fellow on the aisle to move to a middle seat to allow a family to sit together, almost as a directive rather than a request. He obliged but I thought it was an unreasonable way to handle the situation. I think these situations should be handled between the parties involved (as a rule, anyway), unless there are extenuating circumstances that warrant the mediation of the cabin crew.

Somewhat in the same vein, I'm reluctant to have the airline queue a request for me to be seated next to a colleague on the same flight. On one occasion on an Asian airline we were already on board, settled into our original non-adjacent seats, when they came up and told us that we could sit together. The problem is that the new seats they assigned to us were seats I make a point of avoiding (bulkhead seats with minuscule leg room). With some difficulty I was able to retain my original seat but I learned not to attempt this kind of change unless I know the new seat that is offered so that I can accept or decline it.

If my husband and I are separated, we just deal with it - I'll see him the whole trip, I can deal with sitting by myself and reading uninterrupted!

But I think it's different with families. First of all, believe me, you WANT me to be seated by my one son.

I have gone to such great lengths to secure good seats, only to have it screwed up and then no one on the plane would switch with us. It can be upsetting. One time, I called 330 days out to secure FF seats and requested the bulkhead. (Son was younger and would sometimes kick the seat in front. To make sure this never happened, we used to request the bulkhead and it used to work out fine). Anyway, I got us 4 seats in the bulkhead. Then, a month before we departed, USAir changed the type of plane so the seat #s were different, and we somehow got assigned all over the plane. USAir would not change prior to the flight. So, sometimes people do make proper arrangements that get messed up. I could not have booked any more in advance!

Practically speaking, FA's don't 'order' one passenger to switch seats to accommodate another; they can be forceful in the request, as I pointed out earlier, but that's the extent of it.
F/As can make any PAX move for safety reasons, including getting a family with very young children seated together.

F/As can make any PAX move for safety reasons, including getting a family with very young children seated together.

Those aren't the issue discussed in the OP. If it really is a child, that's a different issue, but it's also something that GA's take care of.