How do you handle someone sitting in your seat when you board?
Feb 26, 2014, 12:59 pm
#301
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: somewhere
Posts: 1,381
I once found someone who poached my window seat and asked me to sit in an aisle seat several rows back, just to be next to his wife in the middle seat. He refused to move until a flight attendant forced him to go back. After everyone boarded, the flight attendant told him that he could have my original window seat, and told me that I can sit in an empty first class seat. The look on his face was priceless.
Feb 26, 2014, 2:16 pm
#302
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
Please, poachers.. try and poach my seat. That is if the result is me ending up in First!
Agreed with your comment. Just adding to it.
Agreed with your comment. Just adding to it.
Feb 27, 2014, 10:52 am
#303
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MM, MVPGold100k, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,475
Just got home from a trip, and on the first leg SEA-ATL witnessed a GA come to a guy sitting in 14H and ask to see his BP, turns out the guy was supposed to be in 24H. He thought he was actually sitting in 24H and was obviously chagrinned to have sat in 14.
Feb 27, 2014, 11:25 am
#304
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: STL
Programs: WN, DL, AA; Hyatt or Wyndham
Posts: 1,079
Feb 27, 2014, 11:59 am
#305
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,332
In about 1996 I was flying BWI-MCO with a friend, and when we boarded we naturally had our BPs in our hands. I got to our seats, row 9 or 10, seats A-B, and a couple in their early 50s were already sitting there. I stopped, double-checked my BP, turned it toward the couple, and said politely (with a smile), "Excuse me, I believe you're in our seats." This prompted a furious examination of their BPs, which revealed that they were supposed to be seated somewhere farther back in the cabin. They moved. My friend and I sat down.
Does that qualify as the most boring? I included more inane, unneccessary detail in mine. Wait, I have one more detail: They served breakfast boxes on that flight. We each got a banana and a croissant.
Most boring yet?
Feb 27, 2014, 12:26 pm
#306
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
5/25/2001, LAX-CLE, Continental 248. I'd scored the bulkhead 5F and was chagrined to see an obese older lady sitting in it as I boarded. I politely told her she was in my seat, but very quickly abandoned any attempt to get her to move as I saw that she was in a blind panic. Her panic grew as the rest of the pax boarded. She said "they're going to cut me up in little pieces and put them in a garbage bag!"
She was clearly clinically psychotic. FAs talked to her and asked the captain to come and see whether she could make the flight. He came back and sat with her for ten or fifteen minutes. Unfortunately, the lady calmed down enough that the captain allowed her to remain.
During the flight she became completely unhinged, even smacking the window with her cane. She demanded to be let off the plane, soiled herself, and yelled about the people who were going to cut her head off. A heroic passenger sat with her, along with one of the FAs, soothing her for the whole flight.
It developed that other pax had seen her being dumped in the check-in line by family members who immediately skedaddled.
I'd had experience with psychotic people during several years as an EMT, so I strongly urged the FAs to ask for the plane to be met by paramedics. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. The FAs unloaded 1st and business class, then asked the economy pax to remain seated "because of the special situation" while they persuaded our deranged passenger to leave quietly. Unsurprisingly, this became an issue in itself; now that we were at CLE, she didn't want to leave the plane. After a standoff of a minute or so she suddenly leapt to her feet and ran out of the plane faster than I'd have believed possible.
I sent a letter to Gordon Bethune commending the FAs and the heroic passenger and received a call from corporate HQ. Unfortunately I wasn't home and they never called back, so I don't know what the outcome was. The captain made a serious error letting this poor woman stay on the plane, but of course his training was in aviation, not psychology. That was one rough flight!
Feb 27, 2014, 1:07 pm
#307
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: AA, DAL, blah, blah, blah...The usual.
Posts: 646
Just have to share this story from last week.
My fiancé and I are on a Jet Airways flight from BOM to Dubai.
We're in the 2nd exit row (18), middle and window seats. In front of us in the first exit row, a big American oil worker has settled into the isle seat, and an older Indian woman has made here way into the window seat. As the boarding continues, an Indian business man stops and politely informs the woman that she is in his seat and that she has the middle seat. She goes through all the usual arm waving and dismissive talk typical of an abstinent older woman in this part of the world. Finally, the businessman gives up and sits in the middle seat. So far, this story isn't post worthy, as such scenes play out on nearly every flight I've taken in South Asia.
Now the twist...
So the flight attendant comes by our row and explains the exit procedures and asks if we're willing and able to open the exit door. Yes.
She then gives the same speech to the woman in front of us.
"No."
She explains the process again.
"Get someone else to open the door."
The FA explains that, since you are sitting by the exit, YOU have to be willing to open it.
"Well I'm not. Get me some water; I'm thirsty."
By now the completely full plain is pushing back from the gate. We are trying to control our laughter at this woman (very unsuccessfully). The businessman offers to switch seats with her but, even though she's in his seat, she simply refuses to sit in a middle seat.
I couldn't hear all the conversations that took place; but eventually, the final seating arrangement involving five passengers in three different rows got the little Indian woman her exit row seat in the isle of row 18. Passengers were switching seats as the plane took off.
My fiancé and I are on a Jet Airways flight from BOM to Dubai.
We're in the 2nd exit row (18), middle and window seats. In front of us in the first exit row, a big American oil worker has settled into the isle seat, and an older Indian woman has made here way into the window seat. As the boarding continues, an Indian business man stops and politely informs the woman that she is in his seat and that she has the middle seat. She goes through all the usual arm waving and dismissive talk typical of an abstinent older woman in this part of the world. Finally, the businessman gives up and sits in the middle seat. So far, this story isn't post worthy, as such scenes play out on nearly every flight I've taken in South Asia.
Now the twist...
So the flight attendant comes by our row and explains the exit procedures and asks if we're willing and able to open the exit door. Yes.
She then gives the same speech to the woman in front of us.
"No."
She explains the process again.
"Get someone else to open the door."
The FA explains that, since you are sitting by the exit, YOU have to be willing to open it.
"Well I'm not. Get me some water; I'm thirsty."
By now the completely full plain is pushing back from the gate. We are trying to control our laughter at this woman (very unsuccessfully). The businessman offers to switch seats with her but, even though she's in his seat, she simply refuses to sit in a middle seat.
I couldn't hear all the conversations that took place; but eventually, the final seating arrangement involving five passengers in three different rows got the little Indian woman her exit row seat in the isle of row 18. Passengers were switching seats as the plane took off.
Feb 27, 2014, 2:10 pm
#308
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
Just have to share this story from last week.
My fiancé and I are on a Jet Airways flight from BOM to Dubai.
We're in the 2nd exit row (18), middle and window seats. In front of us in the first exit row, a big American oil worker has settled into the isle seat, and an older Indian woman has made here way into the window seat. As the boarding continues, an Indian business man stops and politely informs the woman that she is in his seat and that she has the middle seat. She goes through all the usual arm waving and dismissive talk typical of an abstinent older woman in this part of the world. Finally, the businessman gives up and sits in the middle seat. So far, this story isn't post worthy, as such scenes play out on nearly every flight I've taken in South Asia.
Now the twist...
So the flight attendant comes by our row and explains the exit procedures and asks if we're willing and able to open the exit door. Yes.
She then gives the same speech to the woman in front of us.
"No."
She explains the process again.
"Get someone else to open the door."
The FA explains that, since you are sitting by the exit, YOU have to be willing to open it.
"Well I'm not. Get me some water; I'm thirsty."
By now the completely full plain is pushing back from the gate. We are trying to control our laughter at this woman (very unsuccessfully). The businessman offers to switch seats with her but, even though she's in his seat, she simply refuses to sit in a middle seat.
I couldn't hear all the conversations that took place; but eventually, the final seating arrangement involving five passengers in three different rows got the little Indian woman her exit row seat in the isle of row 18. Passengers were switching seats as the plane took off.
My fiancé and I are on a Jet Airways flight from BOM to Dubai.
We're in the 2nd exit row (18), middle and window seats. In front of us in the first exit row, a big American oil worker has settled into the isle seat, and an older Indian woman has made here way into the window seat. As the boarding continues, an Indian business man stops and politely informs the woman that she is in his seat and that she has the middle seat. She goes through all the usual arm waving and dismissive talk typical of an abstinent older woman in this part of the world. Finally, the businessman gives up and sits in the middle seat. So far, this story isn't post worthy, as such scenes play out on nearly every flight I've taken in South Asia.
Now the twist...
So the flight attendant comes by our row and explains the exit procedures and asks if we're willing and able to open the exit door. Yes.
She then gives the same speech to the woman in front of us.
"No."
She explains the process again.
"Get someone else to open the door."
The FA explains that, since you are sitting by the exit, YOU have to be willing to open it.
"Well I'm not. Get me some water; I'm thirsty."
By now the completely full plain is pushing back from the gate. We are trying to control our laughter at this woman (very unsuccessfully). The businessman offers to switch seats with her but, even though she's in his seat, she simply refuses to sit in a middle seat.
I couldn't hear all the conversations that took place; but eventually, the final seating arrangement involving five passengers in three different rows got the little Indian woman her exit row seat in the isle of row 18. Passengers were switching seats as the plane took off.
Mar 1, 2014, 8:13 pm
#309
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: STL / MCI
Posts: 92
A few years ago, my seat got poached 3 times on one trip to Austin. Luckily it was (mostly) a simple misunderstanding each time. The first time on the MCI-IAH leg on CO was the most memorable because the guy that poached my seat was an uncle of a 15 person family traveling back to Guatemala. Except for the children, no one in that party spoke much English.
When I boarded, I noticed that he was in my seat, and he didn't speak English (one of the GA's had to do some translating before boarding). At that time though, I just graduated high school and had (and still to this day retain) five years of Spanish.... He was surprised that I could speak it. Ironically, his seat was a couple of rows ahead of me where most of the rest of the family was. Unless he was trying to avoid them, then I guess it worked out in the end for us because I got my seat and he moved up to join his group.
It seems like most seating issues are just misunderstandings. Being polite, but firm, will get you what you want 99% of the time when it comes to this.
When I boarded, I noticed that he was in my seat, and he didn't speak English (one of the GA's had to do some translating before boarding). At that time though, I just graduated high school and had (and still to this day retain) five years of Spanish.... He was surprised that I could speak it. Ironically, his seat was a couple of rows ahead of me where most of the rest of the family was. Unless he was trying to avoid them, then I guess it worked out in the end for us because I got my seat and he moved up to join his group.
It seems like most seating issues are just misunderstandings. Being polite, but firm, will get you what you want 99% of the time when it comes to this.
Last edited by Poker2012chu; Mar 4, 2014 at 8:46 pm
Oct 16, 2014, 6:30 am
#310
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Staffordshire UK
Programs: FB LT Plat, BA LTG, LH HON
Posts: 273
Just flew back from MSP to AMS in Business. I boarded fairly late to find a guy in his twenties sat in my seat surrounded by the range of electrical items and associated crap that young people find essential for air travel. He explains that he is on his honeymoon and couldn't get a seat next to his wife, pointing at a smiley young woman across the aisle. He asks if I would swap seats with him as it's his honeymoon etc, etc. I asked him which was his seat as the rest of the cabin appears full. The response was astounding. "22B" he says. When I point out that that's a coach seat, he ignores this minor detail and restarts with the honeymoon story.
At this point, the FA arrives to find out what's going on. The young man quickly announces that I'd agreed to swap seats with him, with supportive clucking coming from the 'new wife'. When I said this wasn't the case, he starts on at the FA about his honeymoon, how difficult it would be to move all his stuff and wasn't there another BE seat I could sit in whilst he stayed there! He also stressed several times that he was a Silver Medallion!
As the FA moves him down the back, he then has the cheek to offer me $100 for the seat. I regretfully declined.
In hindsight I can't quite work out whether I was impressed with his ambition or appalled by his sense of entitlement.
PS I later saw him in the Lounge having an anima ted discussion with the lady on the desk. I did consider guesting him in, but......
At this point, the FA arrives to find out what's going on. The young man quickly announces that I'd agreed to swap seats with him, with supportive clucking coming from the 'new wife'. When I said this wasn't the case, he starts on at the FA about his honeymoon, how difficult it would be to move all his stuff and wasn't there another BE seat I could sit in whilst he stayed there! He also stressed several times that he was a Silver Medallion!
As the FA moves him down the back, he then has the cheek to offer me $100 for the seat. I regretfully declined.
In hindsight I can't quite work out whether I was impressed with his ambition or appalled by his sense of entitlement.
PS I later saw him in the Lounge having an anima ted discussion with the lady on the desk. I did consider guesting him in, but......
Oct 16, 2014, 7:39 am
#311
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: California
Posts: 61
Quick and simple.. say, "I think I may be confused..my ticket shows 8C right here (pointing to ticket seat number - so they can see it).. Is this 8C or 9C?" -- if they play dumb, I say, "Let's get the flight attendant to help sort out MY problem."
Oct 16, 2014, 9:34 am
#312
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IND
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, National Exec Elite
Posts: 586
Seat poached to sit beside pro football player's SO
I got on a flight to AKR on a RJ and found a 20-something guy sitting in my seat trying to chat up a very beautiful woman.
I could tell she was NOT interested whatsoever in talking with him, so I informed him that he was in my seat.
He grumbled that it didn't matter where we sat and didn't move. I told him that I had reserved that particular seat for many months (true) and that the flight attendants would want us to sit in our assigned seats (not so true
. He grudgingly got up and moved across the aisle.
The woman literally thanked me for saving her from a dreadful flight talking with him. I'm sure he heard her say this, yet he continued to try to talk to her throughout the flight.
She told me that she was on her way to meet her boyfriend who played for the Cleveland Browns! Maybe she should've told him that...
Once we landed in Akron, I showed her where baggage claim was (she really didn't seem like she knew anything about flying) and then saw the guy who picked her up. He made me look absolutely tiny, and I am not a small guy. Mr. Poacher didn't try to talk to her at baggage claim.
Maybe I should've tried to get an autograph, but I'm a Steelers fan.
I could tell she was NOT interested whatsoever in talking with him, so I informed him that he was in my seat.
He grumbled that it didn't matter where we sat and didn't move. I told him that I had reserved that particular seat for many months (true) and that the flight attendants would want us to sit in our assigned seats (not so true
. He grudgingly got up and moved across the aisle.The woman literally thanked me for saving her from a dreadful flight talking with him. I'm sure he heard her say this, yet he continued to try to talk to her throughout the flight.
She told me that she was on her way to meet her boyfriend who played for the Cleveland Browns! Maybe she should've told him that...
Once we landed in Akron, I showed her where baggage claim was (she really didn't seem like she knew anything about flying) and then saw the guy who picked her up. He made me look absolutely tiny, and I am not a small guy. Mr. Poacher didn't try to talk to her at baggage claim.
Maybe I should've tried to get an autograph, but I'm a Steelers fan.
Oct 16, 2014, 12:54 pm
#313
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: Alas, not enough to earn miles
Posts: 169
Oct 16, 2014, 6:42 pm
#314
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,148
Originally Posted by Delta Hog
might be the most boring thing ever posted on FT...
Wait! Here's a real yawner! Earlier this year I sat in 2C on an Alaska 737 only to have the rightful occupant show up, whereupon I discovered I was supposed to be in 2D. Said occupant said no problem - he'd just take 2D. Later, in exchange for his kindness, I paused to let him go out ahead of me as we disembarked.
Oct 16, 2014, 6:58 pm
#315
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,366
I once boarded a Western Airlines 727 in Los Angeles, bound for Phoenix. Imagine my chagrin when it was announced that the flight was bound for Albuquerque, not Phoenix. Not only was I in the wrong seat, I was on the wrong plane and - we had already pushed back. They had to stop everything and lower the rear stairs, whereupon the walk of shame ensued - shoulders hunched, head bowed and eyes averted as I trudged all the way back through the coach class cabin and down the rear stairs. 70 some odd sets of eyes watched as I was escorted off the tarmac and back into the terminal.
Wait! Here's a real yawner! Earlier this year I sat in 2C on an Alaska 737 only to have the rightful occupant show up, whereupon I discovered I was supposed to be in 2D. Said occupant said no problem - he'd just take 2D. Later, in exchange for his kindness, I paused to let him go out ahead of me as we disembarked.
Wait! Here's a real yawner! Earlier this year I sat in 2C on an Alaska 737 only to have the rightful occupant show up, whereupon I discovered I was supposed to be in 2D. Said occupant said no problem - he'd just take 2D. Later, in exchange for his kindness, I paused to let him go out ahead of me as we disembarked.
She didn't notice a thing - I got away with it!