Would you switch a good seat for a worse seat?
#61
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,655
I once swapped an aisle seat at the back of the plane for an aisle seat halfway to the front, but otherwise identical so that two related people could sit together. This was an DC to Stockholm trip so not exactly a couple of hours on a midcon.
Only problem was that the person who was in the middle seat came along a few minutes after I had settled into my new seat, and he was huge, easily 300lbs. The cabin attendant could see my discomfort and plied me with free drinks for the duration of the flight.... after that I decided that unless I could see me new seatmate and 'size them up' it would be a thanks but no thanks.
Only problem was that the person who was in the middle seat came along a few minutes after I had settled into my new seat, and he was huge, easily 300lbs. The cabin attendant could see my discomfort and plied me with free drinks for the duration of the flight.... after that I decided that unless I could see me new seatmate and 'size them up' it would be a thanks but no thanks.
#62
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,366
I was asked to move from a bassinet seat (on an overnight flight) to allow a couple with a child to take the seat. I refused, but the passengers on the other side bassinet must have agreed. The parents took turns holding the infant on their lap, they never once used the bassinet and didn't even fold it down. I'd booked my seat months in advance, I'd even chosen to fly on that particular date because that seat was available, I wouldn't have been happy if I'd given it up for these people.
Last edited by BadgerBoi; Jan 6, 2015 at 9:14 pm
#63
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SYD
Programs: QF
Posts: 490
Almost certainly not. I rarely fly less than 9 hours per segment and if folks wanted to sit together or particular seats then they should have pre selected. This applies for Economy, Business or First. I was asked to switch last week on a LHR to HKG from Business to Premium Economy so a couple could sit together, some people astound me. If asked again in about 10 minutes time I'll probably refuse again.
#64
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Over the North Atlantic
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 494
Almost certainly not. I rarely fly less than 9 hours per segment and if folks wanted to sit together or particular seats then they should have pre selected. This applies for Economy, Business or First. I was asked to switch last week on a LHR to HKG from Business to Premium Economy so a couple could sit together, some people astound me. If asked again in about 10 minutes time I'll probably refuse again.
#65
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 321
In a strange way, if I am ever in turbulence, I find it rather ... soothing... to be next to, looking out the window... neurological stuff, don't ask, therefore I always sit in the window, and if requested, I would have to politely decline.
#66
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 215
#67
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 128
I often switch my aisle for a middle and I'm usually the one making the request. When we travel as family we book aisle, aisle, window. If someone sits between my husband and son, I will generally offer to trade my aisle for their middle. I was only turned down once, and it was an older woman who said she was afraid of flying and felt safer sitting between two strong men. During a bit of turbulence she was holding both of their hands.
#68
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BWI, PHL, IAD
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium; Mileage Plus 1K, 1 MM; Global Entry
Posts: 1,516
Long answer it was funny.. Flying Southwest I'm in the aisle my Doc buddy is in window seat. Last two people on the plane are mother and daughter. Daughters maybe 14. I'm in row five so when the flight attendant gets on the loudspeaker and asks will somebody move so they can sit the family together he stared right at me. I ignore him. This time he walks forward making it a aparent to everybody around me that he's basically asking me. I tell him no thanks.. He then proceeds to announce on the loudspeaker if somebody doesn't move the planes not going anywhere. I tell him I'm in no hurry. By this time my buddies laughing hysterically cause he knows what an ... I can be.
Now he decides to saunter over to me with the woman and her child in tow. I explained to him this is not a nanny state. I'm telling him on Southwest there's three ways at least to be able to sit together.
One is to pay the early boarding, two is to be in front of the computer to book 24 hours prior online, And three is to be there on time to get up and leave your house so that you can do family boarding between the A group and the B group. And that it was not my duty to make allotment for somebody that refuses to help himself.
But in the end karma bit me in the .... No I did not have to move, But the woman that gave up her seat to sit in the middle between me and my doc buddy, Well let's just say we need to pick up both armrests to get her in between us...
So I did get to keep my aisle seat but I spent half the flight hanging in the middle of the aisle so as not to get crushed
Now he decides to saunter over to me with the woman and her child in tow. I explained to him this is not a nanny state. I'm telling him on Southwest there's three ways at least to be able to sit together.
One is to pay the early boarding, two is to be in front of the computer to book 24 hours prior online, And three is to be there on time to get up and leave your house so that you can do family boarding between the A group and the B group. And that it was not my duty to make allotment for somebody that refuses to help himself.
But in the end karma bit me in the .... No I did not have to move, But the woman that gave up her seat to sit in the middle between me and my doc buddy, Well let's just say we need to pick up both armrests to get her in between us...
So I did get to keep my aisle seat but I spent half the flight hanging in the middle of the aisle so as not to get crushed
#71
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,366
I'm guessing from your handle that seat assignments have been pretty important to you - whereas with me it's just a preference, with you you've had kids and it would have been a problem if you hadn't selected your seats.
#73
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
#74
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
I would've just laughed and thank them for having sense of humor.
#75
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Ah the age old question of whether to swap seats. As others have already said, I would only swap for an equal or better seat, never for lesser. The only exception would be is if the seat I would swap to was worse but there was a really hot woman in the seat next to it. I may go ahead and take that.
A couple funny situations in my past:
1) A few years ago I was in First Class. A young teenage girls comes up and asks me if I'd be willing to swap for her economy seat. Her reasoning as she put it was: "I've always wanted to experience first class but have never had that opportunity. Would you make my dream come true?"
2) One year I was in an aisle seat. Woman on my right tells me that her husband is sitting on my left (middle seat) and if I would be willing to swap with him so they could talk to each other. I had to applaud her bravado to ask such a stupid request. Of course my reply was I'll trade you my aisle for your aisle and you can sit to him.
A couple funny situations in my past:
1) A few years ago I was in First Class. A young teenage girls comes up and asks me if I'd be willing to swap for her economy seat. Her reasoning as she put it was: "I've always wanted to experience first class but have never had that opportunity. Would you make my dream come true?"
2) One year I was in an aisle seat. Woman on my right tells me that her husband is sitting on my left (middle seat) and if I would be willing to swap with him so they could talk to each other. I had to applaud her bravado to ask such a stupid request. Of course my reply was I'll trade you my aisle for your aisle and you can sit to him.