Giving up seats to families and/or old people?
Aug 22, 2016, 2:19 pm
#136
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 948
>But we are talking WN here so any unused seats will simply be used by other passengers.
Aug 22, 2016, 5:21 pm
#137
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PDX
Programs: DL, UA, AA, BA, AS, SPG, MR, IHG, PC
Posts: 862
Aug 22, 2016, 7:35 pm
#139
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
But we are talking WN here so any unused seats will simply be used by other passengers.
You loudly demand the status quo?
Aug 24, 2016, 10:03 am
#140
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,674
I'm sorry, but I stand by my position: It is not my responsibility to inconvenience myself for someone else's problem. You can ask. Just be prepared to take, "no" for an answer. Your argument is, first last and always, with the airline, not with other passengers. That said, I will consider the reason for a request. I will always help out in an emergency, or for the elderly or infirm, or for a family traveling for an emergency.
Please note, too, that "equal for equal" is in the eye of the person being asked, not the person asking for the swap. All airline seats are not created equal and different people have different reasons for preferring certain seats. You are not in a position to judge.
As for GAs and FAs contributing to the drama, I agree. They should enforce seating assignments, rather taking the "squeaky wheel get's greased" approach.
Please note, too, that "equal for equal" is in the eye of the person being asked, not the person asking for the swap. All airline seats are not created equal and different people have different reasons for preferring certain seats. You are not in a position to judge.
As for GAs and FAs contributing to the drama, I agree. They should enforce seating assignments, rather taking the "squeaky wheel get's greased" approach.
Exactly.
Aug 24, 2016, 10:20 am
#141
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP; Avis PC; Hertz PC; Marriott LT Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,133
Maybe she did it for the cameras. 
Aug 26, 2016, 3:34 am
#142
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
..her actions regarding the card were just silly - I was right in front of her waiting and held the card for all of five minutes just to hand it right back to her. Maybe she did it for the cameras.
Maybe she did it for the cameras.
Aug 26, 2016, 1:21 pm
#143
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Guadalajara MX,
Programs: VB, UA, AM
Posts: 163
Was on SFO-EWR midnight flight: was kindly asked to swap seats by a lady who wanted to sit next to her daughter. We exchanged seats that were of equal value to me: E+ window for E+ window. I haven't even settled into my new seat when again I am asked to swap seats so that two friends can sit together. I refused the seat swap into a E- middle seat and this lady just goes off the rails, threatens to be loud and disruptive during flight if I don't swap with the friend. FA came to rescue by stating that if she really wanted to sit by her friend that she would have to give up her E+ for that of someone in E-. Thankfully the FA and I had similar reasoning: seat swap for equal or better seat according to the person being requested.
Aug 26, 2016, 1:27 pm
#144
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP; Avis PC; Hertz PC; Marriott LT Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,133
Was on SFO-EWR midnight flight: was kindly asked to swap seats by a lady who wanted to sit next to her daughter. We exchanged seats that were of equal value to me: E+ window for E+ window. I haven't even settled into my new seat when again I am asked to swap seats so that two friends can sit together. I refused the seat swap into a E- middle seat and this lady just goes off the rails, threatens to be loud and disruptive during flight if I don't swap with the friend. FA came to rescue by stating that if she really wanted to sit by her friend that she would have to give up her E+ for that of someone in E-. Thankfully the FA and I had similar reasoning: seat swap for equal or better seat according to the person being requested.
Aug 26, 2016, 2:33 pm
#145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,451
Was on SFO-EWR midnight flight: was kindly asked to swap seats by a lady who wanted to sit next to her daughter. We exchanged seats that were of equal value to me: E+ window for E+ window. I haven't even settled into my new seat when again I am asked to swap seats so that two friends can sit together. I refused the seat swap into a E- middle seat and this lady just goes off the rails, threatens to be loud and disruptive during flight if I don't swap with the friend. FA came to rescue by stating that if she really wanted to sit by her friend that she would have to give up her E+ for that of someone in E-. Thankfully the FA and I had similar reasoning: seat swap for equal or better seat according to the person being requested.
"Can you swap with my friend, so we can sit together?"
"Where is she?"
"In a middle seat on the last row in front of the lavs."
"Uh, no I don't think so. But I'm sure the person sitting next to her will be happy to swap with you so you can sit with your friend."
After that, what's really left to say?
Aug 26, 2016, 4:09 pm
#146
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: KSUX
Posts: 906
On a recent flight I was on in F there was a dad with his ~8 year old daughter asked if I was willing to switch with either her (4A) or him (4E) so they could sit together. I would have gladly swapped my window seat for hers except they were actually in the row behind me. The guy in 4F readily agreed to swap her when he asked. It was kind of nice to see someone not only politely ask if someone was willing to swap seats but offer the person he was asking to swap their choice of seats.
I guess for me whether or not I swap seats or even consider swapping depends on three things.
1. Cop an attitude or if you have the guts to settle yourself into my seat before at least having the decency to ask it's an instant no unless I happen to be in Y and you're offering me your J or F seat.
2. What seat you're offering me. I generally prefer a window seat but I'd have no problems switching to an aisle provided it isn't in a worse location (i.e. back of the bus or by the the lavs/galley). If it's a middle seat you can forget it unless it's in a better cabin.
3. Length of flight. If it's a short <90 minute hop I may consider a less than ideal (for me) swap if you're really nice about it and I'm in a generous mood but otherwise it's a no.
I guess for me whether or not I swap seats or even consider swapping depends on three things.
1. Cop an attitude or if you have the guts to settle yourself into my seat before at least having the decency to ask it's an instant no unless I happen to be in Y and you're offering me your J or F seat.
2. What seat you're offering me. I generally prefer a window seat but I'd have no problems switching to an aisle provided it isn't in a worse location (i.e. back of the bus or by the the lavs/galley). If it's a middle seat you can forget it unless it's in a better cabin.
3. Length of flight. If it's a short <90 minute hop I may consider a less than ideal (for me) swap if you're really nice about it and I'm in a generous mood but otherwise it's a no.
Aug 26, 2016, 4:34 pm
#147
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: HNL
Programs: AS MVPG, Global Entry
Posts: 771
Was on SFO-EWR midnight flight: was kindly asked to swap seats by a lady who wanted to sit next to her daughter. We exchanged seats that were of equal value to me: E+ window for E+ window. I haven't even settled into my new seat when again I am asked to swap seats so that two friends can sit together. I refused the seat swap into a E- middle seat and this lady just goes off the rails, threatens to be loud and disruptive during flight if I don't swap with the friend. FA came to rescue by stating that if she really wanted to sit by her friend that she would have to give up her E+ for that of someone in E-. Thankfully the FA and I had similar reasoning: seat swap for equal or better seat according to the person being requested.
Aug 26, 2016, 5:50 pm
#148
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: LHR / IAD
Programs: BA/AA/UA
Posts: 2,955
Aug 27, 2016, 1:35 am
#149
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Guadalajara MX,
Programs: VB, UA, AM
Posts: 163
She tried being a bit loud towards me but I just put in some Macks silicone earplugs AND my Bose qc35: couldn't hear much of anything she was saying. She settled down and got lost within her book after 20 minutes or so.
Aug 27, 2016, 1:36 am
#150
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Guadalajara MX,
Programs: VB, UA, AM
Posts: 163
I never understand why this conversation doesn't go like this:
"Can you swap with my friend, so we can sit together?"
"Where is she?"
"In a middle seat on the last row in front of the lavs."
"Uh, no I don't think so. But I'm sure the person sitting next to her will be happy to swap with you so you can sit with your friend."
After that, what's really left to say?
"Can you swap with my friend, so we can sit together?"
"Where is she?"
"In a middle seat on the last row in front of the lavs."
"Uh, no I don't think so. But I'm sure the person sitting next to her will be happy to swap with you so you can sit with your friend."
After that, what's really left to say?