Seat Swap Request Horror Stories
#16
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Programs: Delta Silver thanks to Million Miles; Choice Plat., point scrounger everywhere
Posts: 1,594
Here's a somewhat different twist on the situation. I was flying MGA-IAH in F on a 737 (I don't remember which version). I was in row 2 and was asked to switch to row 4 to allow a man to sit with his elderly father. Empowered by FT and knowing that row 4 meant limited recline and the possibility of not getting my choice of meals I proudly refused. Ever afterward I have regretted being such a selfish jerk. How much worse is row 4 than row 2 anyway, and how good is the food whatever you get? Luckily, there were non-selfish passengers and the two managed to sit together.
I don't know all the facts, but I wonder if these people first offered a person in Row 4 a better seat in Row 2 before approaching you and asking you to swap your Row 2 seat for an inferior seat in Row 4. In the coach section, more often than not those seeking to unify groups will seek to do so by placing the unified group in the front of the cabin versus offering the seat or seats they have in front to a person or persons in the rear.
Perhaps the airlines should stop giving out seat reservations for the very back row of coach, and perhaps even of first class. These rows can be treated as family unification areas. Anyone wanting to be unified with their family should be allowed to move to the back row, with new seat assignments being given, preferably before boarding.
#17
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,946
Perhaps the airlines should stop giving out seat reservations for the very back row of coach, and perhaps even of first class. These rows can be treated as family unification areas. Anyone wanting to be unified with their family should be allowed to move to the back row, with new seat assignments being given, preferably before boarding.
#18
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: SPG Gold, Delta Platinum
Posts: 528
#19
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 38
Did not know where our seats would be
On a free miles trip, one leg was from Chicago to Frankfurt on Luft. Prior to boarding my wife and I were ask to change seats so a family could be together. No problem, we have traveled when our kids were young and sometimes you are not able to get seat together. Then we are called up a second time to change seats, again no problem. As long as I had leg room I would make the change (I'm 6'5"), their reply was that I would have no problem. This was our first overseas flight and did not pay attention to the seat number. When we entered the plane we found out we were bumped up to business class. Way to go! Sure made that overnight flight comfortable.
#20
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Programs: Delta Silver thanks to Million Miles; Choice Plat., point scrounger everywhere
Posts: 1,594
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,691
#22
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL
Posts: 289
Not really a horror story - was flying from NY to Denver. I had an aisle fairly close to the front, my husband was also in an aisle seat about 10 rows back. Young couple boards - one has the middle next to me, the other middle across the aisle. Man asks if I'd switch with his wife. I said no at first but they were a cute young couple so I changed my mind and moved. As I sat, the gentleman in the aisle next to me said something to the effect of, "You gave up an aisle for a middle?" I told him it seemed more important to them and this wasn't my first (nor probably my last) time in a middle seat. Besides, my husband and I were split up so - no big deal. He asked me if my husband had an aisle seat. I said yes, about 10 rows back. With that, he got up, asked me my husband's name and switched seats with him.
I called it quick karma.
I called it quick karma.
#23
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
Virgin Atlantic, circa 1996. My father and I were flying BOS-LHR... this happens at check-in:
AGENT: Oh dear... your seats were erroneously assigned to someone else (taps on his keyboard) shoot, flight is completely full - looks like all we have are scattered middle seats.
DAD: You don't have anything together? My son is only 10 and I don't want to sit apart from him for seven hours.
AGENT: Unless you want to fly tomorrow this is all we have. Tell you what, as soon as you get through security go straight to the gate and talk to the agent, I'm almost positive they'll be able to move somebody around so you can sit together.
He hands us our boarding passes and puts our bags on the belt. As we're walking away he calls us back.
AGENT: Hang on, I found a pair. Here's your new boarding passes.
My father looked at the boarding passes and his jaw dropped, they were for 1H and 1K
DAD: Thomas... you and I are both going to sleep very well tonight.
After that experience I've been finding ways to fly in front of the curtain ever since
AGENT: Oh dear... your seats were erroneously assigned to someone else (taps on his keyboard) shoot, flight is completely full - looks like all we have are scattered middle seats.
DAD: You don't have anything together? My son is only 10 and I don't want to sit apart from him for seven hours.
AGENT: Unless you want to fly tomorrow this is all we have. Tell you what, as soon as you get through security go straight to the gate and talk to the agent, I'm almost positive they'll be able to move somebody around so you can sit together.
He hands us our boarding passes and puts our bags on the belt. As we're walking away he calls us back.
AGENT: Hang on, I found a pair. Here's your new boarding passes.
My father looked at the boarding passes and his jaw dropped, they were for 1H and 1K
DAD: Thomas... you and I are both going to sleep very well tonight.
After that experience I've been finding ways to fly in front of the curtain ever since
Last edited by thomwithanh; May 10, 2013 at 7:48 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, National Executive
Posts: 5,452
Here's a somewhat different twist on the situation. I was flying MGA-IAH in F on a 737 (I don't remember which version). I was in row 2 and was asked to switch to row 4 to allow a man to sit with his elderly father. Empowered by FT and knowing that row 4 meant limited recline and the possibility of not getting my choice of meals I proudly refused. Ever afterward I have regretted being such a selfish jerk. How much worse is row 4 than row 2 anyway, and how good is the food whatever you get? Luckily, there were non-selfish passengers and the two managed to sit together.
#25
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: SPG Gold, Delta Platinum
Posts: 528
This guy certainly agrees....
http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/28/hi...ine-complaint/
http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/28/hi...ine-complaint/
#26
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Hertz Prez Circle
Posts: 572
Here's a conundrum: SEA to EWR I was asked by a gentleman if I would switch an E+ aisle with his middle seat so he could sit with his wife and son in my row.
Well, no. I don't think so.
The wife had the worst sewer breath. The stink was awful especially when she took these large heaving breaths... the kinda stank cloud where you squirm and kick and can't think straight.
There's no winning sometimes.
Well, no. I don't think so.
The wife had the worst sewer breath. The stink was awful especially when she took these large heaving breaths... the kinda stank cloud where you squirm and kick and can't think straight.
There's no winning sometimes.
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
A story I forgot to share in the OP: I was in the aisle seat of a five-seat middle section on a wide-body. The flight was an 8-hour TATL flight.
The woman next to me, in the middle, asked me to switch because she'd be going to the bathroom often. I declined.
The woman next to me, in the middle, asked me to switch because she'd be going to the bathroom often. I declined.
#28
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: US
Programs: DL GE
Posts: 1,654
http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/...reyfus/n35222/
Julia Loius-Dreyfus doesn't get why people wouldn't switch with her, even her Dentists husband! LOL
Julia Loius-Dreyfus doesn't get why people wouldn't switch with her, even her Dentists husband! LOL
#29
Join Date: May 2008
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, Hyatt Lifetime Glob, Marriott Titanium/Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,272
http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/...reyfus/n35222/
Julia Loius-Dreyfus doesn't get why people wouldn't switch with her, even her Dentists husband! LOL
Julia Loius-Dreyfus doesn't get why people wouldn't switch with her, even her Dentists husband! LOL
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,221
Since there have been a few funny/horrifying stories of seat swap requests over in this thread, I thought I would try to start a "master thread" for venting about such requests.
I'll start with a couple I've mentioned elsewhere:
I once was next to a woman, who was in a middle seat, and whose boyfriend was in the middle in front of her. After they got settled, he looked at her and said "well, go ahead, ask!" and she proceeded to ask me to switch with her boyfriend.
I'll start with a couple I've mentioned elsewhere:
I once was next to a woman, who was in a middle seat, and whose boyfriend was in the middle in front of her. After they got settled, he looked at her and said "well, go ahead, ask!" and she proceeded to ask me to switch with her boyfriend.