Unnecessary daggers thrown...
#76
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In the sticks
Programs: VS FC Gold, BA EC Gold, Amex Centurion, EK Gold, ex-G-ATVK driver
Posts: 1,831
Be careful what you wish for! I am sure I’m not alone on discovering after an event, that I was sharing a cabin with a pax who enjoyed spleen venting both on board, with an orchestra of tumbleweed, and then later on, on FT. Let’s just say it’s often interesting to witness some accounts ;-)
I hasten to add it was definitely not the same situation as the OP, with whom I sympathise, but it is a small world. The similarity is that we live in a world with more than its fair share of bubble living self-entitlement depite the tumbleweed. With that, I’m off to self-righteously self-reflect on my own sanctimonious self-serving narcissism.
I hasten to add it was definitely not the same situation as the OP, with whom I sympathise, but it is a small world. The similarity is that we live in a world with more than its fair share of bubble living self-entitlement depite the tumbleweed. With that, I’m off to self-righteously self-reflect on my own sanctimonious self-serving narcissism.
#77
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
When I run into this kind of entitlement and indignant behavior, I actually enjoy the "daggers" and the passive aggressive barbs. I enjoy watching them steam at my refusal to play "unite the couple". I relish the fact that they are angry and upset. I consider it punishment.
And I like your fellow pax's comment about being Gold. If they were, they would most likely have been able to get seats together. Either they booked last minute and STILL expected it, or they were lying. Either way, I hope they enjoyed not sitting together.
And I like your fellow pax's comment about being Gold. If they were, they would most likely have been able to get seats together. Either they booked last minute and STILL expected it, or they were lying. Either way, I hope they enjoyed not sitting together.
#78
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,985
Demeanour, attitude and manners play a big part. If someone behaves in a self entitled way, demands to swap or "instructs" me to move then the answer is inevitably going to be no. Use a bit of charm and I might agree.
#81
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
Look, it was a distressing experience for me as I'm not a confrontational person (by my DNA). In hindsight, I should have suggested that the wife swap with someone downstairs, but in that situation, it's not too easy (unless you've been in that situation before) to think of these things.
#82
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 114
This is an unfortunate consequence of the BA seat layout. I've never turned down a seat change request on QR or CX, because most seats offer the same amount of privacy. I refuse to sit in a BA aisle seat, I feel so exposed.
Last year I flew HKG-LHR. The booking was relatively last minute so I couldn't snag a window. Settled on 53E, which in past experience was private enough once the dividers were up.
When a large family boarded and started sitting in the aisle seats all around me, I braced myself for the inevitable seat switch request. To be fair, the mother approached it beautifully: instead of asking me to switch, she asked "Did you choose that seat specifically?" I replied that I had and would switch for a window. They only had aisle/middle seats so the matter was dropped.
I came to regret this, as the two teenage girls beside me spent the majority of the flight standing in their seats and talking to each other over me. I had noise cancelling headphones but couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Made for a very uncomfortable and sleepless flight!
Last year I flew HKG-LHR. The booking was relatively last minute so I couldn't snag a window. Settled on 53E, which in past experience was private enough once the dividers were up.
When a large family boarded and started sitting in the aisle seats all around me, I braced myself for the inevitable seat switch request. To be fair, the mother approached it beautifully: instead of asking me to switch, she asked "Did you choose that seat specifically?" I replied that I had and would switch for a window. They only had aisle/middle seats so the matter was dropped.
I came to regret this, as the two teenage girls beside me spent the majority of the flight standing in their seats and talking to each other over me. I had noise cancelling headphones but couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Made for a very uncomfortable and sleepless flight!
#83
#84
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BKK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de la Brosse a Cheveux Dore, SK *GfL, BA Gold, WY G, HH DIA, IC Plat Amb., Hertz PC
Posts: 3,702
Not all things are down to the layout though - last year flying BKK-LHR in 2A/B on the 772 (first row), we boarded only to find a couple who apparently could not distinguish the number 2 from whatever else they had. Having learned from experience I let the crew sort it, so turned straight around to the CSM who went to boot them out - at first though, they conveniently could not find their BPs....At no point was there any suggestion from the CSM that we move though, and he (before i managed to request it - which I would have done) offered to find replacement blankets and pillows for us, as the seat poachers naturally had made themselves comfortable in an attempt not to be moved But big credit to the CSM though, who turned out to be a good laugh in-flight too.
I suspect that is only if you are given a choice - I have had discussions with the QR ground staff at CPH twice where they told me to move (after boarding, and after settling in!) so a family could sit together in three of the 1-2-1 seats on the 788. No choice given, just rather rudely "move" - to 5K which is the window-coffin with no actual window! I asked her if that is really how she wants to speak to their paying customers, who had selected seats in advance? - Surely that family could have done the same, as QR does not charge for seat assignments. She blamed QR operations and said it never happened to her before - to which I replied "well, that is a lie because you personally did the same thing to me a few months ago" (which is absolutely true - only that time was 1A to 1K so I did not mind the switch, only the way of being presented with it)
#85
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Singapore - the hot, little red dot
Programs: BA, SQ
Posts: 861
I am frequently asked if I could swap seats and the response is always the same.
I would, but don't want my family standing by my grave, mourning your charred remains IF we crash. I've never once had a come back.
Although that did cost me an hour and a half delay once, while we waited to offload a nervous passenger sitting in front who had clearly overheard said response and couldn't stop crying.
C'est la vie!
I would, but don't want my family standing by my grave, mourning your charred remains IF we crash. I've never once had a come back.
Although that did cost me an hour and a half delay once, while we waited to offload a nervous passenger sitting in front who had clearly overheard said response and couldn't stop crying.
C'est la vie!
Not quite dagger eyes tough
I've found when I've moved (rarely though) cabin crew have gone out the way to treat me specially. It's their appreciation of not needing to potentially defuse a situation.
When I moved it was from a window seat to a middle seat. Again the husband/wife thing. Strangely though the middle seat offered was an empty pair, hence I moved to have more private space. I guess some husband/wives just want to face each other...
#86
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: SYD
Programs: BAEC GGL, HH D, QFF, EB
Posts: 404
I assume you're referring to 'bassinet-gate'. I think you're wrong in that the two cases are wildly different. In bassinet-gate a whole family HAD reserved the seats needed to accommodate family inc baby, only to have equipment change throw those plans into disarray. BA could have done more to help them however in the end they ended up with half of what they wanted and did the right thing trying to get the family back together again in one row. They did nothing wrong. In this case though, well...I think we know who is doing something wrong and it boggles the mind that a GCH doesn't pre-book seats anyway? It's not going to cost anything.
#87
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
I am frequently asked if I could swap seats and the response is always the same.
I would, but don't want my family standing by my grave, mourning your charred remains IF we crash. I've never once had a come back.
Although that did cost me an hour and a half delay once, while we waited to offload a nervous passenger sitting in front who had clearly overheard said response and couldn't stop crying.
C'est la vie!
I would, but don't want my family standing by my grave, mourning your charred remains IF we crash. I've never once had a come back.
Although that did cost me an hour and a half delay once, while we waited to offload a nervous passenger sitting in front who had clearly overheard said response and couldn't stop crying.
C'est la vie!
#88
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: perth
Programs: SPG(LTG), QANTAS gold, Korean, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,500
I would have suggested that is she were so stressed about sitting away from her husband that there would be economy passengers willing to swap so they could sit together.
#89
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 104
BA's yin yang is a magnificent way to enjoy these situations.
Establish dominance of the divider gap.
NEVER BREAK EYE CONTACT WHILE THE DIVIDER IS DOWN.
On how many other airlines could you play motorized divider games with dagger lady?
Establish dominance of the divider gap.
NEVER BREAK EYE CONTACT WHILE THE DIVIDER IS DOWN.
On how many other airlines could you play motorized divider games with dagger lady?
Last edited by NWIFlyer; Aug 16, 2018 at 11:34 pm Reason: Remove animated gif per rule 8
#90
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL (for now) and Lifetime Gold, Marriott fan thanks to Bonvoy Moments
Posts: 5,115
Regardless of one’s own status surely the correct response to the “I’m a gold cardholder” is either:
- “I thought the upper deck was for Premier and Gold Guest List only, when did that change?”, or
- “and where is the giraffe going to sit?”
- “I thought the upper deck was for Premier and Gold Guest List only, when did that change?”, or
- “and where is the giraffe going to sit?”