MSPeconomist

Recently I boarded a 777 to find some jerk in my favorite seat 7A that I had carefully selected in advance. He clearly was settled in and argued about moving to his seat which I think was 11B (definitely in the second BE cabin and definitely in the center). He tried to tell me that he had made a mistake in reading his boarding pass, it didn't matter, the seats were the same, his bag was in the bin, he was settled in and his stuff was organized, he beverage was there, he had opened the water bottle, we would all arrive at the same time,......I just called for the GA who had come on board (and with whom I had had a brief conversation earlier where she congratulated me on getting the best seat on the 777 and I indicated that I always try hard to get 7A or 7D) and insisted that the jerk move. When he tried to tell the GA his "mistake" story I loudly laughed and said that I didn't believe he wasn't aware of exactly what he was trying to do. I rode in 7A that day.

18sas

I wouldn't have minded at all if he had simply asked (beforehand). I should have said "Most people ask politely instead of pointing." or "Next time try asking first."

wpxstar

Just talking to my wife about this type of situation... if this had happenned on a long haul with a carefully selected seat- and I would have done exactly what you did. That is just plain obnoxious that someone would poach a long haul seat.

MSPeconomist

To me, the pointing has connotations of an order being given to a dog. It's extremely rude. I would have been livid and no way would that guy have gotten my seat.

MSPeconomist

It happens. In fact, once a nonrev grabbed my BE seat and settled in, shoving my possessions aside (the seat was clearly occupied at that point) when I went to the lavatory. He spilled beer on my pillow and was insistent and obnoxious about it, demanding to know why I wouldn't switch. In retrospect, I wish I had lodged a major complaint.......

KevinDTW

I love this one -- so if they're all the same, go sit in your own %&*$ seat!

MSPeconomist

That's what I said, but without the expletive.

ScrodmanFL

Bingo.

Ask first, don't expect me to give in to someone's rude behaviour!

MSPeconomist

I've been in situations where I've told the person very explicitly that I might have considered switching seats if he had asked politely instead of just taking my seat. Usually the response is a dumb stare.

mbwmbw

+1. If the person asks you first then fine. Don't just sit in someone else's seat without asking first. Otherwise I won't be switching with you.

KevinDTW

Expletives are only for venting here on FT IIRC, I think it was you who said it best elsewhere: don't argue or negotiate, just get the FA.

MSPeconomist

......and I've seen expletives get people kicked off of flights.

SDQBound

I also had a nonrev grab my seat (about 4 years ago). When he saw my intentions to claim my seat, he asked if I could switch seats. I told him I had selected it in advance because of a personal preference with that seat, his answer was that his personal preference was not having another man sitting by his girlfriend (Also with a big bold NRSA in the BP). It turned out that his girlfriend was not even in the right seat.

MSPeconomist

Wife and girlfriend both on the plane? Wow.

BTW, where was this? Not wanting another man sitting next to girlfriend would seem to seriously limit her life in terms of job, riding public buses and subways, going to church, waiting for medical appointments, etc. Could this have happened in the middle east or someplace similar?

SDQBound

Sorry, fixed my post, I meant to say girlfriend. Too much stress with my own wedding prep. Surprisingly, this was SDQ-JFK, the couple was from the U.S.