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
Mar 9, 2017, 5:17 pm
#931
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Midwest
Programs: Delta PM, Hhonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 114
I think you missed the point of my posts. No one is assigning "FAULT" here. I stated several times that, in the end, I didn't care about switching because I had no plans to recline so I was totally unaffected. So it was not this guy's, or the FA's, FAULT that I had 24E. I voluntarily accepted it.
And I admitted that the only reason I even contemplated further action later would have been out of spite, not out of feeling bad because I didn't get the seat I wanted. I didn't forego such action because I wanted to be the "better person" in the encounter. I let it go because it didn't ultimately affect me and further action (simply for spite) is a d-bag thing to do.
The point of my posts was that if the guy did it on purpose, which the evidence seems to suggest that he likely did, then he is a seat poacher, which is what this thread is about.
And intentional seat poachers (those that just take with no intention of asking for a switch) are scum, so it takes no effort or assignment of FAULT for me to feel superior to them.
And I admitted that the only reason I even contemplated further action later would have been out of spite, not out of feeling bad because I didn't get the seat I wanted. I didn't forego such action because I wanted to be the "better person" in the encounter. I let it go because it didn't ultimately affect me and further action (simply for spite) is a d-bag thing to do.
The point of my posts was that if the guy did it on purpose, which the evidence seems to suggest that he likely did, then he is a seat poacher, which is what this thread is about.
And intentional seat poachers (those that just take with no intention of asking for a switch) are scum, so it takes no effort or assignment of FAULT for me to feel superior to them.
If the person in the wrong seat doesn't respond by apologizing and immediately getting up, I take it as proof that it was intentional and treat them accordingly.
Mar 9, 2017, 11:04 pm
#932
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAS - where you can get married and divorced in the same 24 hour period. Perfect for the woman who's saving herself for marriage and the man who wants a one night stand.
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, UA, AA, AS, WN kettle, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,613
Mar 10, 2017, 9:47 pm
#933
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Midwest
Programs: Delta PM, Hhonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 114
If someone in my assigned seat makes eye contact and implies in any way that I should just take a different seat, I take it as proof that it was intentional and treat them accordingly.
Mar 11, 2017, 10:32 am
#934
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SLC
Programs: DL FO, KM, & 1.7MM; UA nothing; HH♦; National EE
Posts: 6,344
Mar 11, 2017, 3:32 pm
#935
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Mar 11, 2017, 8:41 pm
#936
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,447
My wife and I had opposite aisles in F which is our preferred domestic seating. When we boarded tonight both window passengers offered to swap and were surprised that my wife thanked them but declined with the explanation that we preferred to sit the way we were and that's how we selected our seats.
It was nice of them to offer.
It was nice of them to offer.
Mar 12, 2017, 7:11 pm
#937
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAS - where you can get married and divorced in the same 24 hour period. Perfect for the woman who's saving herself for marriage and the man who wants a one night stand.
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, UA, AA, AS, WN kettle, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,613
Besides if they are drooling excessively, I don't want to sit in a wet seat.
Last edited by puddinhead; Mar 12, 2017 at 7:20 pm
Mar 26, 2017, 5:06 pm
#938
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Appears there was some confusion. I didn't know that 38F actually meant 5C.
First time someone from Y has ever tried to poach me. Ended that in about 5 seconds.
First time someone from Y has ever tried to poach me. Ended that in about 5 seconds.
Mar 26, 2017, 5:44 pm
#939
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BDU
Programs: DL:MM, Marriott:LTT
Posts: 8,779
This happened last week on a non-DL 14hr+ flight....
Middle row with four seats, me on far aisle, three women traveling together in the other three seats, two around sixty, one apparently an adult daughter of one of those women...
I get up about four hours into the flight to go to the restroom, wind up talking to another passenger for ten or so minutes, return to my seat to find one of the older women sitting in my seat, on my pillow, fast asleep. The younger woman is stretched across the two middle seats. In a firm voice, I instruct the woman in my seat to get out of my seat. She says she thought I had moved seats, so it's her seat now. ?? I point out that my computer is still there, my headphones and phone are plugged in and sitting on the tray table and that she had seen me standing in the back talking to the other passenger when she went to the lav ten minutes ago (she said hello), so that didn't make sense. The daughter instructed me to find another seat - only middle seats were left - because she wanted to stretch out. I reached over and hit the call button. Two flight attendants eventually told the women there was no discussion to be had. They then asked that I be assigned a new seat because they didn't want to sit near me after this altercation, so the FAs found the two women new seats. They were middle seats in different cabins. One was in the last row and the other towards the front of the plane. The third woman, who was on the aisle, actually seemed happy to be rid of her two flying mates.
The FA told me this type of thing happens almost every flight. I've flown many international flights and had only had something like this happen once before: a few week's earlier. Both flights were ME3 or ME3-similar airlines, but on the second airline, the offending passenger was American. Drunk, reeking of alcohol and cigarettes, but American.
Middle row with four seats, me on far aisle, three women traveling together in the other three seats, two around sixty, one apparently an adult daughter of one of those women...
I get up about four hours into the flight to go to the restroom, wind up talking to another passenger for ten or so minutes, return to my seat to find one of the older women sitting in my seat, on my pillow, fast asleep. The younger woman is stretched across the two middle seats. In a firm voice, I instruct the woman in my seat to get out of my seat. She says she thought I had moved seats, so it's her seat now. ?? I point out that my computer is still there, my headphones and phone are plugged in and sitting on the tray table and that she had seen me standing in the back talking to the other passenger when she went to the lav ten minutes ago (she said hello), so that didn't make sense. The daughter instructed me to find another seat - only middle seats were left - because she wanted to stretch out. I reached over and hit the call button. Two flight attendants eventually told the women there was no discussion to be had. They then asked that I be assigned a new seat because they didn't want to sit near me after this altercation, so the FAs found the two women new seats. They were middle seats in different cabins. One was in the last row and the other towards the front of the plane. The third woman, who was on the aisle, actually seemed happy to be rid of her two flying mates.
The FA told me this type of thing happens almost every flight. I've flown many international flights and had only had something like this happen once before: a few week's earlier. Both flights were ME3 or ME3-similar airlines, but on the second airline, the offending passenger was American. Drunk, reeking of alcohol and cigarettes, but American.
Mar 26, 2017, 8:13 pm
#940
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
I am in 11C on a 739 ATL-LGA. I board last as usual, get to my seat and find a guy sitting in 11C but 11A is open. I prefer the window so I say "hey, I'm in 11C but I like the window so if you wan the aisle that's cool with me" and he agrees. As we're taxiing it's clear his IFE screen isn't working. And he's pretty antsy about it. He even PUSHED THE CALL BUTTON (gasp) once we got airborne.
A) should I offer to switch back? The person in 11B is already pretty wrapped up in a movie and would be unnecessarily disturbed.
B) If he asks to switch am I obligated? I would probably say yes anyway but just looking for opinions.
FWIW, now that we're airborne it seems he's given up and got out his laptop.
A) should I offer to switch back? The person in 11B is already pretty wrapped up in a movie and would be unnecessarily disturbed.
B) If he asks to switch am I obligated? I would probably say yes anyway but just looking for opinions.
FWIW, now that we're airborne it seems he's given up and got out his laptop.
Mar 26, 2017, 8:20 pm
#941
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
I am in 11C on a 739 ATL-LGA. I board last as usual, get to my seat and find a guy sitting in 11C but 11A is open. I prefer the window so I say "hey, I'm in 11C but I like the window so if you wan the aisle that's cool with me" and he agrees. As we're taxiing it's clear his IFE screen isn't working. And he's pretty antsy about it. He even PUSHED THE CALL BUTTON (gasp) once we got airborne.
A) should I offer to switch back? The person in 11B is already pretty wrapped up in a movie and would be unnecessarily disturbed.
B) If he asks to switch am I obligated? I would probably say yes anyway but just looking for opinions.
FWIW, now that we're airborne it seems he's given up and got out his laptop.
A) should I offer to switch back? The person in 11B is already pretty wrapped up in a movie and would be unnecessarily disturbed.
B) If he asks to switch am I obligated? I would probably say yes anyway but just looking for opinions.
FWIW, now that we're airborne it seems he's given up and got out his laptop.
Mar 26, 2017, 8:22 pm
#942
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,042
I am in 11C on a 739 ATL-LGA. I board last as usual, get to my seat and find a guy sitting in 11C but 11A is open. I prefer the window so I say "hey, I'm in 11C but I like the window so if you wan the aisle that's cool with me" and he agrees. As we're taxiing it's clear his IFE screen isn't working. And he's pretty antsy about it. He even PUSHED THE CALL BUTTON (gasp) once we got airborne.
A) should I offer to switch back? The person in 11B is already pretty wrapped up in a movie and would be unnecessarily disturbed.
B) If he asks to switch am I obligated? I would probably say yes anyway but just looking for opinions.
FWIW, now that we're airborne it seems he's given up and got out his laptop.
A) should I offer to switch back? The person in 11B is already pretty wrapped up in a movie and would be unnecessarily disturbed.
B) If he asks to switch am I obligated? I would probably say yes anyway but just looking for opinions.
FWIW, now that we're airborne it seems he's given up and got out his laptop.
Mar 26, 2017, 8:45 pm
#943
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Update: he's watching delta studio on his laptop so all is well.
Mar 26, 2017, 9:18 pm
#944
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
FA also hooked him up with something via her tricorder