no1cub17

Just a shot in the dark but I'm wondering if any of you are interested in arranging seat swaps ahead of time. Of course this can be done via PM as well in case folks don't want to share their travel plans publicly with AA lurking. For example, my wife and I have a flight coming up where 8B and 9A (MCE on a 738) are available but neither 8AB or 9AB are available together. Of course we'd like two seats together so I'm wondering if the passenger in 8A would be willing to take 9A. I hate asking during the boarding process as you never know what kind of reaction you'll get. Anyway if you all think this is stupid please feel free to ignore :-D

Navig8R

The odds that the passenger in either 8A or 9B meet all of the following criteria, you have better chance to be struck by lightning;

1) They are members of FT
2) They are on your exact flight
3) They occupy the seats you are interested in

Also, not sure how you expect anyone on FT (assuming they met the above criteria) to seat swap with you if the specific flight info isn't shared publicly. There is no reason why one of those two passengers wouldn't be willing to switch rows if the seat type and fare class remain the same. Just ask during boarding

no1cub17

Haha figured I'd get a response like this. Worth a shot I guess.

I'm happy to ask during boarding but you never know what kind of DYKWIA is having a bad day and will make a scene over nothing. Have seen it too many times of late. Mods feel free to close this thread.

IAHtraveler

The passengers on 8A/9B are already meeting #2 and #3 . Really, they need to be members of FT, and actually be active in the AA forum/see this post. That's very unlikely, IMO.


We had this recently on a last-minute trip where we were scattered across the aisle and asked people to swap with us. It was a hassle because they were also trying to swap to sit closer together. So moving up/back a row to seats that appear the same, it's not always easy to make happen.

remedy

Navig8R

Alright, I'll play. Let's take this a step further; AA should integrate a seat swap capability into their seat map's. For example, while you're in the seat map, AA should give you the ability to click on the occupied seat(s) that you're interested in, which will launch a pop-up window. Within that pop-up window, you can provide a dollar value for how much you'd pay for that seat. After you hit submit, AA will automatically send an email to the passenger occupying that seat, stating that another passenger would like to purchase your seat. Said passenger has the ability to accept, counter or decline the offer all together. Lets say they accept, said passenger will receive the dollar value entered in the window, AA takes 2% to cover the transaction, everybody wins.

A DYKWIA will deny the seat swap regardless of the medium (in a forum or in person).

no1cub17

Exactly. I'm guessing we'll just settle for non MCE seats and move on with life. Or maybe some upgrades will clear and we'll get lucky.

But my bad for asking I guess.

AAMillionaire

If you expect someone to trade seats with you, you are the DYKWIA.

neilk

Just check the seat maps at the various elite upgrade times 100/72/48/24 hours before the flights. I often have good luck getting seats together after being in various seats in MCE.

Rule is to never offer someone a worse seat than your own, but you know that.

Gig103

My wife and I always book window + aisle, and we've survived so far! We don't ask to swap seats, but I've had the middle person offer to take my aisle, to which I always politely decline. But the reason I'm sharing this is because if you can get 9AC or something, 9B is probably more likely to be willing to swap. And worst case of no swap, neither of you are in a middle!

And the advice of frequently checking the seat map helps too; on a last minute booking for a funeral we were in middle seats in separate rows, but I checked frequently w/ the smartphone app and eventually managed to get us our preferred window + aisle.

no1cub17

Hahaha you're kidding right? The whole reason I posted this in the first place was that I don't want to come across as a DYKWIA on board. But apparently I'm wrong for even asking. I never expect anything from anyone these days - people are generally the worst versions of themselves when traveling. But 8A and 9A are identical seats on the 738 so it would be nice if someone would swap, is all I'm saying.

no1cub17

Yup that's exactly what I'll do. First world problem to be sure.

UpgradeMe

4. They read this thread.

AAMillionaire

No, I'm not kidding. You come across as a DYKWIA if you expect something to which you feel entitled but is not yours. You have no idea why someone chose a particular seat and it doesn't matter. Row 8 is not row 9. Period.

Yes, it would be nice to swap. But don't claim that someone is wrong or rude or insensitive if they do not. That's DYKWIA behavior.

dayone

Not at all my experience.