Empty seat / asked to move
 

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.

Just say no - it REALLY annoys me when crew / ground staff ask for this. They know perfectly well that those seats (64A/K etc.) are good seats and pre-booked normally by OWE - it is largely BA's own policy of making non-status passengers pay for seating which creates the mess of couples not being allocated seats together, so it's BA's job to sort it out and not mine. I have been asked this 3-4 times now and on the last couple have just politely declined without further issue.

Just say no thanks.

I wouldn't give up my 64K seat for a couple. Like for like no problem as in say 17 A to 17K on the lower deck as an example.

As for Avios I wouldn't be interested nor if you agreed to should you get any as youd be doing it more as a goodwill gesture.

I guess you can always say no, you'd chosen that seat many weeks in advance as it is one you prefer for whatever reason, and whilst you are sympathetic to the couple, you don't want to move?

I wouldn't expect any Avios to be on offer, but if you were to move you could say (tongue in cheek?) that you'd be prepared to make the sacrifice for a couple of glasses of LPGS (or whatever your poison is) from the front of the plane...

I'd refuse if they were asking you to move to a worse seat with no direct access...

This happened once, when i'd been moved without asking, and I noticed this only when looking down at my boarding pass going through security. I went back to the check in desk and they put me back in 64k and I was a happy bunny!

if you have status you are more likely to have a free seat next to you due to this https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...ts-status.html

just say no and you can keep your seat and the free seat next to you.

out of many flights across the last few years where I have had a blocked seat i haven't been asked to move under similar circumstances.

Just politely decline, don't see why this is an "issue" worthy of a thread

Leave out your Frequent Flyer number, select seats at OLCI, retro-claim after the event. I suspect a polite decline (after checking the alternative seat offered) would be easier and faster. It doesn't happen to me very often so you seem to be unlucky, hence you could go down the rabbit's foot route I suppose.

Ever so often I get these requests, rarely on BA flights (mainly AA in domestic First) but when flying BA they are exclusively related to 747 upper deck seats. Why does this happen? I think a common cause is the desirability of the upper deck and the practicality of securing two seats together, particularly when seats are assigned at check in. So it’s quite natural for couples who find themselves separated to seek ways as a final attempt to sit together and for cabin crew to assist as far as possible.

If you are asked to swap seats to accommodate a couple, the decision rests with you and it’s not a matter to get stressed over.

There is no way I'd swap - don't come up with excuses or explanations - just politely reject