alanh

I like that -- "Sure, just pay me the $400 fare difference." Odds of them taking that deal are about equal to the odds of me going from F to Y for free.

xooz

Everyone's pointed out that perhaps women get asked to move more than men, but in my experience, it is the women who are doing the asking more often than not. It's like the couple believes that no one could say no to the woman.

Ancien Maestro

More likely more than $400.. they might actually take it as compared to retail.. more of a difference?

I dunno.. my wife thinks the man should ask.. and always pressures me to do the 'dirty' work.. asking that is.. in various instances.. not just travelling..

pragakhan

Just crazy how often this topic comes up. Just say no, put the headphones back on and go on with life LOL

Oddest thing to see this discussion so much..

Ancien Maestro

LOL..

These are topics that seems to get alot of FTers interested? Another topic idea.. Will You Switch Seats with my Child?

exbayern

Oh, I agree that it is also often the woman doing the asking. Just wander over to a leisure (especially Disney-related) travel site and bring up this topic.

We are all horrible human beings for refusing to switch so that someone who chose not to pay for a seat assignment can force us out of our seats.

And I have met more than a few of those women in person, including the woman who screamed at me at the gate at MCO for not moving even though I had a visbile physical reason for not doing so, and the (non-rev) woman who screamed her husband's position and station with UA at me on a flight for not moving.

I would say that I have seen more women than men on the internet being the ones trying to move people, but in real life my experience has been split equally amongst rude entitled women and rude entitled men.

pacer142

If I had paid for a seat assignment and the swap was not completely equivalent in *my* view, I would want that money refunding by the airline or paying to me by the person asking for the swap.

If I've paid for something, I should have it or have a refund. That's different from if I've just asked for it, chosen it myself (on low-costs with no allocation) etc.

Neil

drewguy

I think any traveling couple that books A/C with an open B that later gets filled is presumptively obliged to offer to exchange window or aisle for the middle.

byronczimmer

What if the person in the middle really likes their seat?

kipper

Then the couple is out of luck.

bseller

I disagree. I will often book this combination with my GF. She likes to read, and I don't mind watching iPad movies.
We BOTH hate the middle.

YMMV. Dave

Fredd

IMHO a moral obligation to switch would kick in only if the couple want to converse or do crosswords literally across the middle seat pax. Mrs. Fredd and I recently chose seats across the aisle from each other on one of our recent no-status SYD-DRW flights on QF and that worked out well.

Needless to say, a major reason to book aisle-window is the hope that you discourage anybody from booking the middle.

bseller

Fair enough, I can see where you come from here.
Yes, that can work nicely if both like aisles.

Dave

Fredd

As to the thread, we would rarely ask to switch any more. Like others, we split our itins on UA for UG purposes and if we end up apart in C on 10-14 hour flights we might ask if the people beside us haven't already boarded and settled in, but only if it's an even to good swap for them.

Between flying a lot and having just celebrated our 42nd anniversary, Mrs. Fredd in particular seems to get along just fine without me at her side for a few hours.

emanon256

Twice, I was the person stuck in the middle of people traveling together.

Once on DL, it was two drunken middle aged men. This was the only seat left when I booked, and even though I checked every day, and asked at the gate, I never got a new seat. They kept joking back and forth and reaching over and hitting each other. I offered to trade, and they both informed me they don't like middle seats.

Another time on UA, my flight was canceled and I was re-booked in a middle seat between a husband and wife. They kept asking me to pass things back and forth, and they spoke to each other the entire flight across me. Again, I asked to trade, and neither wanted the middle seat.

I understand my trade off was not a good one, middle for aile or window. But in both cases, I think it is incredibly inappropriate of them to book an aisle and window, and then expect to carry on as if there was no one in the middle seat.