eternaltransit

Is this on board or at check-in? If it's onboard then having an objection there would likely result in another FT member posting this gold member's behaviour on one of the DYKWIA threads

At check-in I think they would just seat the couple together and if that means there's only 53B and C available, that's where they are going to go. Seat block isn't a published benefit and there's only anecdotal and inconsistent evidence of it being an unpublished one (if it is even one at all).

subject2load

I think you've answered your own question, warakorn.

Any such 'seat blocking' has AFAIK never been part of any formal or advertised customer proposition/promise/guarantee, and EK crew would therefore never be minded to 'enforce' it - whether in the exact scenario you describe or in other, similar, circumstances.

That said, I have never been personally affected/involved, so would be interested to hear if others know different.

Ps post crossed with comments by eternaltransit

CalFlyer

I have successfully "defended" the empty seat in such a situation. Was Platinum at that time, and the FA found a different solution.

RadioGirl

This.

I always book an aisle seat in the centre section. I use the Emirates website, CheckMyTrip and (before its recent downgrade, FlightStats) right up to the last minute to view/get/keep a row where the adjacent seat is empty. (eg I'm in D, E is empty and F/G are taken.) Except on completely full flights this has worked at boarding.

On one flight after the doors closed but before takeoff, another passenger from further back in the plane came forward and said she had seat E; her original seat was broken (or something had spilled??) and she'd been told this was the only empty seat.

On another flight F and G were occupied by a couple whose three sons (~6 to 12 yo, not teenagers, not toddlers) were a row back. We were fine through the first meal service, then I dozed off and woke up to find the mother in E, a kid in F and dad in G.

Whatever.

jackiedada

I have been dong this for quite some time now. The only issue I experienced was when I was in G, and another lady in D and the lady decided she wanted to sleep, and just after take-off lay down flat on DEF, leaving me for the rest of the flight trying to dodge her feet. So from now on, I make it a point to sit in F and put my bag in G and if I know the entire row is free, to keep my carry-on bag in D, and sit in F. This way I am able to keep 'squatters' away from either aisle.

RadioGirl

That was not me. I don't stretch out unless I've got the whole row.

Seriously, that's a good tip; I'll try that the next time I can get a row with two or three empty. I guess you're putting your bag on the seat after take-off, not during boarding, right?

My approach: early in the process I book the aisle in a row where the next seat is also empty but the other two are taken, on the theory that a single middle seat is going to be least attractive choice. If the rest of the row is empty or if both middle seats are available, it seems more likely that couple or group of 3 will fill up the rest of the row. Closer to the flight, I might change to a row with more empty seats if the flight load looks low. But most of my flights are pretty full in Y so I don't like my chances of two or three empty seats in my row; in at least one case that E seat that looked empty up to the last minute ends up full.

Last GVA-DXB was absolutely packed and the guy booked in E was sitting in D when I boarded. He said he needed an aisle because he might have to get up (at least once) during the (6 hr) flight to use the loo. (Guess he thought he was the only one.) He lost the argument.

Budley

For some reason I am yet to fathom, most flights I take these days seem to be pretty full.

A few weeks ago I was on a QF A330 flight (EK code share) from SYD to BKK. Note that I am both EK and QF Gold.

I'd selected a window seat towards the back hoping that no one would jump into the aisle seat next to me. When I enquired at check-in, the seat was empty, but when I checked before boarding it was occupied. So I went up to the friendly Qantas lounge person and asked if there were any seats on the flight with an empty seat next to it. I was told that there was an aisle seat just across from my original seat with two empty seats next to it. So I just changed my seat and had a great flight to BKK. Glad I did as the person who had decided to sit next to my original seat was quite large. Why he couldn't have done what I did heaven only knows.

A few days later I was booked on a NZ flight in Y from AKL to SYD. I am lifetime Star Gold, but maybe that is irrelevant. The flight was almost full, but for some reason I had a whole row of 3 to myself. When that happens I always sit on the aisle until the doors are closed, then I move to the centre seat. Tends to deter interlopers.

FWIW, the NZ 320's beat the pants off the EK-QF codeshare 738's in Y. There is much more legroom and the seats are quite a bit wider. Doesn't really matter if the flight is not full, but otherwise it matters a great deal.

Tibs94

There's no such thing as Gold+. + on the manifest means there is further information about the customer that can be found in the reservation system. eg SPML/OLCI/SEQ NO/EQPT/NOBP

ft101

Not questioning your knowledge, but it has been mentioned on here for a while about Gold Plus being as described above, so different from what you claim.

What is your source of information?

luxuslover

I have been now a Platinum since Emirates introduced Platinum two years ago but they never blocked the seat in Y next to me.. I know that Lufthansa does that for their Senators but so far I have to experianced that by Emirates.

HelloKittysMum

When I was gold I did occasionally get middle seat (I always go for window) blocked but that was on flights where there were a few (but not loads) of empty seats.

CalFlyer

Well, I can tell you that "Gold preferred" or "Gold plus" exists at least on the list at the gate. I have not checked the manifest, though.

Havoc10G

Makes sense that it would exist for upgrade purposes as others have mentioned. As far as seat blocking goes I think you will always get further if you are proactive in my experience. Is seat blocking automatic? I don't think so not even for io's. Will EK block it for you if the flight isn't full, yes but I think you have to ask and the nearer to travel the better. Personally I would prefer a system were it automatically blocks the seat then releases it if they sell it later but I guess they don't have that system.

eternaltransit

Don't they just automatically upgrade you to F (space available) if you are iO though :P

Havoc10G

Haha I wish! Only for landing, timing of that upgrade can be at discretion of purser. Officially though io no different than any other tier ie opup's if travel class overbooked. You are at the front of the queue though. My own experience is that you get upgraded about 50% of the time.