Originally Posted by RobOnLI

Just had a seat blocked next to me (on two flights!) for the first time in many years.

LHR-EWR and I specifically selected a middle seat on the 767 to get the row of 3 to myself. The flight had maybe 30 people in coach, if that. An hour after I checked in I re-checked the seat map and saw someone grabbed the seat next to me which made me mad given how empty the map was. I went back to "View Boarding Pass Options" and the seat map during check-in showed it available to me. I don't know what someone else would have seen. Boarded the flight dead last and the purser came and introduced himself and then a different FA came up and welcome me and told me the whole row is available to me and even showed me the iOS device which showed the seat map and my status and the seat next to me blocked.

EWR-xxx I was in a bulkhead window and the seat next to me showed occupied in the seat map and during re-OLCI. Short flight so I wasn't worried. Board the plane, almost last, and right behind a handicapped person. The FA wanted to move them closer to the front so brought out her iOS device, asked where I was sitting and said, "Oh, you're my 1K in the back. The seat next to you is blocked, FYI."

Would love to see this come back as a normal thing if the flight isn't full.

-RM
PS - this was on a Basic Eco ticket