Empty seat / asked to move
Jul 16, 2019, 11:48 am
#46
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
Recently I’ve noticed the seat next to me is rarely occupied (eg I’m in 64K and 64J is empty on the 747). This leads to the cabin crew asking me to move seats so a couple can sit together. Any idea why this is happening? Should I expect some avios? I have emerald status so there is no seat fee to be refunded.
Jul 16, 2019, 12:27 pm
#47
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
My personal record on a single flight was being asked to move twice during boarding by different people for different reasons so ended up in my third seat of the day. It was an AA domestic first sector on a 737. The only downside was that it completely confused the cabin crew at meal time. Upsides were that more than a quarter of the remainder of the cabin were very well disposed towards me during the flight 
Jul 16, 2019, 12:52 pm
#48
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: London
Posts: 30
I’ve purchased countless full fare tickets and had to pay for assigned seating and when I don’t, I take what I’m given.
Jul 16, 2019, 1:07 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,434
My strategy is to say "yes, but only if the seat you're offering me is better than this one." and then to ask them exactly which seat they are offering. And then I decide if it is actually better or not. I've always found this works well, since my initial 'yes' makes them feel I am being willing and helpful, even if the final decision is 'No'.
Most recent deployment was to move from an exit aisle to second last row middle so that a couple could sit together on a 2 hour flight. They did not take it well but could, at least, see why.
Jul 16, 2019, 1:10 pm
#50
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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On a recent flight to Tenerife in CE, I was sat in 1D. The CSM asked if I would move to 5C so that a mother and child (around 10) could sit together. I declined stating that I had specifically chosen this seat. Net result was traveller in 5A moved into 1F. Turned out as well the mother and child were on a ET ticket as well.
I hope you reported this to BA. FAs shouldbn't be giving free upgrades, especially when it inconveniences those who have paid for CE.
Jul 16, 2019, 1:38 pm
#51
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
My strategy is to say "yes, but only if the seat you're offering me is better than this one." and then to ask them exactly which seat they are offering. And then I decide if it is actually better or not. I've always found this works well, since my initial 'yes' makes them feel I am being willing and helpful, even if the final decision is 'No'.
Jul 16, 2019, 1:45 pm
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
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Posts: 30,520
The AA domestic ones tend to be annoying because typically, it’s upgraded pax not sat where they want who expect you as paid j/f customer to give up your pre assigned seat for them. I have even had multiple occurrences of people just sitting where they want hinting that you’d slow down boarding if you refuse and ask them to return to their seat. People who know me know I’m the rather gentle type as a matter of course but I become totally inflexible if people try to force their way.
Jul 16, 2019, 1:47 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,451
The cabin crew seeking a multiple shift seems odd to me.
If two passengers are separated and want to sit together, seems to me their are two possibilities - the seat next to each of them. That's it.
Also, we all know about 64K (even I know about that seat and I stopped flying BA a few years ago; but I had that seat twice, back in the old AMEX IAP days). Surely the CC know it's a special seat as well.
If two passengers are separated and want to sit together, seems to me their are two possibilities - the seat next to each of them. That's it.
Also, we all know about 64K (even I know about that seat and I stopped flying BA a few years ago; but I had that seat twice, back in the old AMEX IAP days). Surely the CC know it's a special seat as well.
Jul 16, 2019, 1:55 pm
#54
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,609
Evening IB flight to Madrid, 1C. I was asked by 1A if I wouldn't mind moving so he could work with 1D, I saw no problem with that but as we were rolling I said I'd move when the seatbelt light went out, everyone happy. Everyone that is except the Spaniard in 1D who appeared not to want to spend the flight working with 1A and was visibly harrumphing and rolling his eyes. Anyway the light went out and I turned to tell him he could move if he wanted, and he was feigning sleep. He did manage to wake up long enough for a meal and a couple of mini-bottles of Rioja, after which he dropped off again. Much more realistically this time.
1A, who turned out to be quite a serious intercontinental CEO type, was less than amused. He spent a good part of the meal service visibly stacking and sorting papers to discuss, but was eventually forced to give up. I imagine the taxi to the hotel was a bit frosty.
As far as seat change requests go, it doesn't happen much. I'm usually loathe to give up legroom, and I like a centre aisle long haul in Y and W so I tend to stick fast to those. I think the reason these threads get attention somewhat disproportionate to their actual frequency of occurrence is a good old British fear of being embarrassed in public.
1A, who turned out to be quite a serious intercontinental CEO type, was less than amused. He spent a good part of the meal service visibly stacking and sorting papers to discuss, but was eventually forced to give up. I imagine the taxi to the hotel was a bit frosty.
As far as seat change requests go, it doesn't happen much. I'm usually loathe to give up legroom, and I like a centre aisle long haul in Y and W so I tend to stick fast to those. I think the reason these threads get attention somewhat disproportionate to their actual frequency of occurrence is a good old British fear of being embarrassed in public.
Jul 16, 2019, 2:15 pm
#55
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LBA
Programs: KLM FB Gold, LH M&M
Posts: 454
If it was such a big deal for them, they could have sorted it out before they got to the airport.
Jul 16, 2019, 2:17 pm
#56
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
Different people become anxious and stressed for a variety of different reasons and not everyone understands the processes for seating as well as most people on here.
Jul 16, 2019, 3:22 pm
#57
Join Date: May 2011
Location: CWL
Programs: BA Blue, Hilton Gold
Posts: 300
Husband and I were politely asked by AA cabin crew to swap row in domestic first on a Hawaii - mainland flight. Happy to help and swapped, with grateful family now close to their kids. The net result was the cabin crew went out of their way to provide us with great service, and both husband and I had one of the worst gin induced hangovers known to man the following morning!! Be warned- being nice can seriously backfire!!!
Jul 16, 2019, 6:03 pm
#58
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 158
I would move if it was to seat a parent and child together - it's the right thing to do.
Can someone please try this answer next time
"I'd like to stay in my assigned seat so that if the plane crashes, my seat will match up with the passenger manifest and any remains identified in my seat area can be repatriated to my family"
Can someone please try this answer next time
"I'd like to stay in my assigned seat so that if the plane crashes, my seat will match up with the passenger manifest and any remains identified in my seat area can be repatriated to my family"
Jul 16, 2019, 6:31 pm
#60
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,147
I think it's actually quite interesting to see what other members think, would say, their experiences etc from the various posts and with a few funny ones too such as that by A P Yu.
I think it's a perfectly fit thread for the BA Board.