HGH

I could have sworn this was already a dedicated thread, but my google-foo failed me. I am interested in how others would handle this, as it always happens away from the FAs.

Twice this summer I've had to get someone out of my assigned seat. Both times, it was an MCE. Once, my seat was paid for a week before, and the other was a seat change at check in. Both times the other person said something like, "Oh I am in seat so-and-so" and moved, without actually checking their boarding pass, to another MCE seat. Seriously? Both times, their new seat was on the other side of the aisle in a different row. Both times the person was a solo traveler, so nothing like a "please switch with me" scenario.

Out of curiosity, during boarding, how would you handle this if the person didn't move so easily? Physically stand your ground and block the aisle? Attempt to get a FA's attention? Try to swim upstream back to the FAs?

FlyingEgghead

All that tells me is they were not in doubt about what seat number was on their BP. So either they misread the seat number placards on the plane (so now they re-check those and move), or they intentionally tried to poach a seat. (It's conceivable that they also lied to you about their actual seat and just picked another still-empty seat to move to and stay in MCE, but you don't mention them being subsequently confronted by anyone else.)

Why does solo preclude a desire to switch? They might want left side vs. right, or window vs. aisle, and not have been able to get their preference. That doesn't excuse preemptively taking someone else's seat, of course, but it could be a motive.

HGH

I guess it really doesn't, just think it is a more likely scenario to deliberately assume a switch with someone to sit next to a travel partner. Not really important for what my question here is: How would you handle the situation if they didn't move so easily, given this is mid-plane during boarding and a FA is not near by.

MathMusic

I have definately used the flight attendant call button for this in the past, and they will be proactive in getting everyone to their actual assigned seat.

I had a flight where the flight attendant had to move my party out of bulkhead seats due to the FA placing some pre-board wheelchair users there, and that shuffle caused enough confusion to call her back to settle everyone out. Admittedly she said to use the call button so was aware of it from the beginning.

arollins

These situations occur frequently, It could be a mistake on the passenger, seat poacher, someone that wants to seat next to a friend, desire to be close to the front, whatever. Hi, are you 8C, and show him your boarding pass, wait for reaction, if passenger does not move, then bring it up to their attention, or as I have done, ask for $57 which is what I paid to select the seat, they will immediately move. As they do so, just mumble a bit out loud to your self, "why can't people wait till the end before switching seats"

FAA1996

You can use the call button or there's usually an FA all the way at the back if you don't want to fight your way upstream. My last flight on Friday had a family of 6 removed because they refused to sit in their assigned seats, one of the party was belligerent and was asked off the plane and rest of family chose to follow suit. Another 6 passengers on standby quickly took their seats.

fdog

Had this happen a couple days ago. The lady was clueless about seat numbers, it was obvious because the FA reviewed her boarding pass and moved her across the isle.

If someone is recalcitrant about moving out of my seat, it's been a call-button event. It's easy enough to stand out of the isle while you wait.

All the best, James

ijgordon

It's really not that hard, in most cases.
You say "I think you may be sitting in my seat" while showing your boarding pass.
"What seat is on your boarding pass?"
"Oh, your seat is on the other aisle / 1 row back / last row of the plane"
You can do all this non-confrontationally because it's fair to initially assume it was a mistake (or YOU may be the one making the mistake! ).

The "poacher" may ask if you'd take their seat, and of course you could choose to do that (e.g., if it's across the aisle and you don't really care), or you politely decline ("no, I'd like to stick with my pre-selected seat, thank you").

If they give you any sort of issue, then you can say "Okay, well I'm going to call for the flight attendant" and you press the call button while remaining standing in the aisle. Maybe you try to let people move by you, but if you don't, it makes it easier for the FA to come up from the rear.

kabroui

One thing I notice quite a bit on some flights are people when they board will show the FA their BP and then FA will audibly tell them the seat number and tell them approximately where to go.
My first assumption is inexperienced flyers, but then I also realized that anywhere in the world, there are people who are, to one extent or another, illiterate and cannot read the bp... or perhaps can't make the connection between the number on the boarding pass and the seat number., or are n a challenging situation due to language differences. Also, I have to confess I have boarded aircraft where the seat numbers are ambiguous (aisle vs window), or they are in some weird place like on the armrest or on the video screen where someone boarding in a hurry just won't see it, and I have taken the wrong seat.

So, I always assume innocence until there is evidence to suggest otherwise, and simply smile, showing the person my bp, and an 'excuse me but I think we have some seat confusion here' and see what the response is. It's usually an error and no reason for a confrontation... as a recent deadheading TK pilot nearly created with me when he told me to get out of his seat and demanded to see my boarding pass before realizing he was in 2A and not in 3A.

BeanTownBoy

I have to admit that when I was flying 2x or 3x a week, sometimes with connections, I would sometimes sit in the incorrect seat (e.g., the seat number from my previous flight). Sometimes the row indicator is
not quite aligned with the seats. In all instances, I was embarassed, apologized profusely, instantly popped out of my seat and sometimes added with a laugh "this is this first time I've been on one of these here aeroplane flying machines!"

steamboatdevil

I have had people read the gate number as the seat number. They are often similar... Like C5, for example

carlosdca

If after the friendly request the person does not want to move. Just call the FA (callbutton or waive at FA)
If boarding is still going, I would try to get out of the way somehow to let the boarding process continue.

enviroian

My SOP for this situation (it's happened several times)

1. Ask (politely) may I see your boarding pass
2. passenger shows me his pass and
3. If BP is a different seat I politely say wrong seat pal
4. If BP is the same seat I immediately reach up above his head to hit the call button and wait for flight attendant assistance.

carlosdca

The OP question was what to do in cases the person does not want to move, not how to ask.

For the initial interaction, FYI, personally, I don't like your approach. Some people may refuse to show their BP, like who are you? they don't need to show anything to anybody other than the FA.

My approach is to show my own BP, "Hello, good morning, I am on 8C -showing BP-I think this is my assigned seat". 99% of the times that prompts people to check their BP and correct the mistake. Or perhaps a friendly conversation and seat swap.

Rarely a person would refuse to move out of your assigned seat. It happened to me once though, when a toddler was on my assigned seat, the mother next to him said "I have to travel next to MY CHILD!!!". I waived at the FA who assigned me another aisle seat and gave me some miles on the spot on her tablet (This was DL though).

enpremiere

Perhaps they are Southwest refugees or perhaps it's finally dawning on some pax that these are just flying busses and aside from what some have paid for them, seats are just temporary spaces that we occupy but nothing more.

Also, there is a small subset of the population who may be correct seat inhibited. They'll just never find their own seat by themselves.