Originally Posted by
Dr Jabadski
Many different concerns for neighbors of seat poachers:
- Ethics, UA charges more for E+ seats, some view E to E+ poaching as "theft".
- Practicality, (sometimes) if a FA sees someone illegitimately moving from E to E+ they will explain it’s a more expensive seat and tell the person to return to their assigned seat.
- Comfort, empty middle seats allows for more personal space and FEELS like MUCH more space.
- Comfort, distance from malodorous food, clothing, body, noise and/or inappropriate behavior.
- Fairness, some people legitimately change seats immediately prior to boarding based on expected occupied and/or empty seats.
- Safety, (arguably) an empty middle seat in the exit row is safer for all others.
- et. al.
- Unfortunately, repercussions of notifying the authorities (FA), lots of crazy unpredictable people out there.
I've certainly seen seat poaching but never confronted anyone unless they were in my seat.
Maybe I mentioned it before in this thread, but I had a coworker in a window seat. The kid in the middle asked to switch with him but he ofcourse said no. Towards the end of the flight when he got up to use the lav, he returned to find the kid in his seat. Rather than make a fuss about it (since the flight was almost over, he sat in the middle. I would have never allowed that to happen.
Though these days, if you refuse a request to change, somehow you are the bad guy. So a seat poacher just needs to ask.
I have seatpoached myself. Rarely, I end up in E- because seating map shows no E+ but then see open E+ seats after boarding so I'll jump up. I've never been caught but I see nothing wrong with it since all MP members can access E+ for free. I do recall a flight where I saw a coworker on a flight. I was in the exit row. He asked the FA if he could move and he was denied citing that it costs more. I later asked if he had status and he said yes. He wasn't aware that he could have chosen that seat for free. I wonder if the FAs are aware.
I'm not sure how an empty seat in the exit row is safer. If you only have one person and he is incapacitated, now you have no one to quickly open the door. If there are two or three people, maybe one of those people are able to open. On a normal day, what percentage of people sitting in an exit row actually have the strength to lift the door or would know what to do? So in my mind, the more people in the exit row, the higher the chance that at least one person will be able to do it when the time comes. If you know of any studies on this, I'd be interest in reading about it.
Originally Posted by
iainmc
On a Polaris LHR-DEN flight I had 9L - which has the larger footbox - being 6'4" with us size 13 feet, i go for rows 9 or 1 always. I get on and some dude is in my seat - knowing my size, i don't force it, but this guy was a foot smaller than me. I asked and he said sat int he wrong seat - he was 10L- but didnt want ot move because he was all unpacked I should take his seat. I refused and he didn't want to budge - i went to the purser who understood and said you want your big feet to fit in. For the length of the flight, the little man was the noisiest and most demonstrative jerk in the world. I got even by taking a load more time to pack my stuff before getting off.
I'm the same, always choose bulkhead window in polaris. Some planes, that's only two seats. Though it is better in Polaris vs the old J seats.
I don't fully understand your story.
1. After going to the purser, did the person move?
2. How is taking more time to pack your stuff "getting even"? Were you in the row blocking him (and everyone behind him)? I guess you were in no hurry to get home or to the lounge?