Jul 14, 2015, 2:48 pm
Last edit by: BadgerBoi
The Definitive Guide to Seat Poaching
1. Don't do it.
2. Alternatively to #1: Asking politely (and not demanding) to swap for an equal or better seat is acceptable by most (but the final decision always lays with the original seat holder)...but, be warned, some FT'ers may breathe fire at you.
3. Keep in mind that Point 2 is not seat poaching.
1. Don't do it.
2. Alternatively to #1: Asking politely (and not demanding) to swap for an equal or better seat is acceptable by most (but the final decision always lays with the original seat holder)...but, be warned, some FT'ers may breathe fire at you.
3. Keep in mind that Point 2 is not seat poaching.
Seat Swapping, Seat Poaching and Seating Etiquette: The Definitive Thread
Oct 10, 2017, 6:28 am
#1546
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SE USA
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Wondering (although we'll never officially know) if this was a FAM bump based on experience. Friend and I are doing a TATL trip in November (outbound in approx 30 days). Separate reservations. He originally had 3A and I have 4A. Aircraft type: Airbus A330-300.
Today he noticed he was moved to 8J (the only window seat left, now all A/J seats are gone). I'm still in 4A. He reached out to Delta to see what happened. They said "there was an aircraft swap" (which isn't true as the flight was booked, it was an A330-300 and it's still an A330-300).
A little disappointed at the swap as we had back-to-back seats while both getting a window. Now if we want to sit together, we'd have to move to a pair of two in the middle section.
Has anyone else had experience with mysterious bumps if they previously selected 3A on an A330?
Today he noticed he was moved to 8J (the only window seat left, now all A/J seats are gone). I'm still in 4A. He reached out to Delta to see what happened. They said "there was an aircraft swap" (which isn't true as the flight was booked, it was an A330-300 and it's still an A330-300).
A little disappointed at the swap as we had back-to-back seats while both getting a window. Now if we want to sit together, we'd have to move to a pair of two in the middle section.
Has anyone else had experience with mysterious bumps if they previously selected 3A on an A330?
First time I did not say anything because I got another good seat (which ended up being broken, but that is pure coincidence).
The next time it was not a good seat so I decided enough is enough and I called - they researched and found out a travel agent had booked it 3 weeks out (mine was 6 months out) and when they resolved the dupe they moved me! I said no way and they moved the other person and gave it back to me.
Oct 10, 2017, 12:26 pm
#1547
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
It's important not to fall victim to the cognitive error of "The Spotlight Effect" where we tend to think people are watching and thinking about us more than they actually are.
The fear of seeming like a jerk is what seat usurpers are hoping will get you to comply. Same with panhandlers, religious recruiters and MLM people.
Oct 10, 2017, 2:03 pm
#1548
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
First, it's not the FAA, which imposes regulations, but Congress, which passes laws that came up with this one. From what I've read, it means airlines can't impose a charge, e.g. for a seat reservation, so that a parent can sit with a child. I'm not aware of anything that gives parents with children superior rights to seating over those traveling without children, i.e. I doubt if people are going to get displaced, but I may be wrong.
Does it mean people will get displaced? Possibly. But I would venture an educated guess that they will "triage" who gets moved based on fare class. They will start with standby's, then non-revs, base fare E-, then maybe lowest price E+ without program status etc etc etc. I doubt they will get far beyond base fare E- in most cases.
In short, this shouldn't impact the pax who paid extra $$ for premium seat selection.
And no, I still wouldn't give up my seat to reunite a family.
Oct 10, 2017, 2:21 pm
#1549
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MEM
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Gold, Marriott/SPG Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 424
It may be likely you'll never see them again, but going through life treating every person you see as an isolated and single interaction seems to be a rather obtuse way to go about things.
Do you harbor that same attitude (of not caring what other people think about you) with people who work in your same building? People who live in your same city? People who live on your same street? Or do you only draw that line with people on an airplane that you hope to never see again?
Oct 10, 2017, 3:07 pm
#1550
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 948
I would add that the law does not say "Families need to be seated with the child", just that at least ONE parent does. The whole family that thinks they are going to be reunited on the AC because of this law are seriously mistaken.
Does it mean people will get displaced? Possibly. But I would venture an educated guess that they will "triage" who gets moved based on fare class. They will start with standby's, then non-revs, base fare E-, then maybe lowest price E+ without program status etc etc etc. I doubt they will get far beyond base fare E- in most cases.
In short, this shouldn't impact the pax who paid extra $$ for premium seat selection.
And no, I still wouldn't give up my seat to reunite a family.
Does it mean people will get displaced? Possibly. But I would venture an educated guess that they will "triage" who gets moved based on fare class. They will start with standby's, then non-revs, base fare E-, then maybe lowest price E+ without program status etc etc etc. I doubt they will get far beyond base fare E- in most cases.
In short, this shouldn't impact the pax who paid extra $$ for premium seat selection.
And no, I still wouldn't give up my seat to reunite a family.
Last edited by theddo; Oct 11, 2017 at 12:45 pm
Oct 10, 2017, 3:28 pm
#1551
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
It doesn't matter what other people think of you. You will never see them again.
It's important not to fall victim to the cognitive error of "The Spotlight Effect" where we tend to think people are watching and thinking about us more than they actually are.
The fear of seeming like a jerk is what seat usurpers are hoping will get you to comply. Same with panhandlers, religious recruiters and MLM people.
It's important not to fall victim to the cognitive error of "The Spotlight Effect" where we tend to think people are watching and thinking about us more than they actually are.
The fear of seeming like a jerk is what seat usurpers are hoping will get you to comply. Same with panhandlers, religious recruiters and MLM people.
Oct 10, 2017, 3:39 pm
#1552
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
I would add that the law does not say "Families need to be seated with the child", just that at least ONE parent does. The whole family that thinks they are going to be reunited on the AC because of this law are seriously mistaken.
Does it mean people will get displaced? Possibly. But I would venture an educated guess that they will "triage" who gets moved based on fare class. They will start with standby's, then non-revs, base fare E-, then maybe lowest price E+ without program status etc etc etc. I doubt they will get far beyond base fare E- in most cases.
In short, this shouldn't impact the pax who paid extra $$ for premium seat selection.
And no, I still wouldn't give up my seat to reunite a family.
Does it mean people will get displaced? Possibly. But I would venture an educated guess that they will "triage" who gets moved based on fare class. They will start with standby's, then non-revs, base fare E-, then maybe lowest price E+ without program status etc etc etc. I doubt they will get far beyond base fare E- in most cases.
In short, this shouldn't impact the pax who paid extra $$ for premium seat selection.
And no, I still wouldn't give up my seat to reunite a family.
Oct 10, 2017, 4:28 pm
#1553
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
I've always said that parents should be seated near their children, but it was up to the airline to ensure that happened, not other pax. I'm hoping this law will cut done on seat-poaching and whining swap demands by parents by shifting the burden to the airline. I'm also looking forward to the airline telling a parent, "I'm sorry, we have no adjacent seats left on the flight you want to book," and preventing the parent from booking singles in an attempt to get around it.
Oct 10, 2017, 4:37 pm
#1554
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
As I understand the way the legislation is written, the airline won't be able to charge extra for a parent to sit with the child, so long as it's within the same class. So, for example, if the only seats available in coach (3x3 configuration) are 15B, 15C, and 19B, and 15C is a "preferred" seat for which the airline wants a $30 fee, a passenger traveling with a child will be able to get 15B and 15C without having to pay the $30 fee.
Oct 10, 2017, 7:58 pm
#1555
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: AA PLT PRO, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plt. Premier
Posts: 587
That's my understanding, as well. I suspect, too, that if the airline charges for reserved seating, that charge would be waived for a parent and child. I'm not aware of anything in the legislation that mandates airlines to seat parents with their children by making room if only single seats are available.
Oct 10, 2017, 8:34 pm
#1556
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That's my understanding, as well. I suspect, too, that if the airline charges for reserved seating, that charge would be waived for a parent and child. I'm not aware of anything in the legislation that mandates airlines to seat parents with their children by making room if only single seats are available.
Oct 10, 2017, 8:49 pm
#1557
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Oct 10, 2017, 9:18 pm
#1558
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What I hope won't happen is that airlines and the DOT implicitly let families cheat (not even game) the system by purchasing one good seat and putting everyone else in BE, then demanding that all of the BE brats be given otherwise expensive seats near the one good seat.
IMO when you purchase a BE fare, you sit in whatever middle seat the computer assigns. Period. No exceptions.
IMO when you purchase a BE fare, you sit in whatever middle seat the computer assigns. Period. No exceptions.
Oct 10, 2017, 10:19 pm
#1559
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
That's my understanding, as well. I suspect, too, that if the airline charges for reserved seating, that charge would be waived for a parent and child. I'm not aware of anything in the legislation that mandates airlines to seat parents with their children by making room if only single seats are available.
Oct 10, 2017, 10:36 pm
#1560
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
The exact wording is that children be “seated adjacent to the seat of an accompanying family member over the age of 13,” so long as it's the same cabin and one of the sponsors specifically stated it was to eliminate leaving "them at the mercy of other passengers who must decide whether to trade seats". It pretty clearly allows for requiring adjustment of passenger seats to accomplish this and as I mentioned before, that's already United policy. It will be nice to not have a passenger determine when a parent is worthy of sitting next to their child.