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
Jul 26, 2012, 5:28 pm
#121
Join Date: Aug 2001
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It always makes me chuckle when an OP doesn't like the direction his thread has taken and claims some right as the Creator to have it closed.
Jul 26, 2012, 5:30 pm
#122
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Jul 26, 2012, 5:31 pm
#123
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Jul 26, 2012, 5:36 pm
#124
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Tucson
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I am not as well-versed as some on Flyertalk (although I still get a chuckle out of my "What Part of Upgrade Don't You Understand" t-shirt); however, I do think people on here tend to take this a little too seriously. We all have our opinions, comments and suggestions. Everyone does not agree with me, although they should 
, and Lord knows I do not agree with everyone else.
So, IMHO, we should take this for what it is...a forum to exchange ideas, have a little fun and not take it too seriously. As I tell my staff: "If the head is not crowning or I am not doing chest compressions, there really is no reason to get too worked up". (Sorry, the doc in me comes out once in a while).
, and Lord knows I do not agree with everyone else. So, IMHO, we should take this for what it is...a forum to exchange ideas, have a little fun and not take it too seriously. As I tell my staff: "If the head is not crowning or I am not doing chest compressions, there really is no reason to get too worked up". (Sorry, the doc in me comes out once in a while).
Jul 26, 2012, 5:45 pm
#125
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: DL AA UA
Posts: 2,359
I have never heard of this rule. Why would a FA give a flying flip whether I paid with cash or skypesos?
Jul 26, 2012, 6:56 pm
#126
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: missing YX more every day
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Posts: 1,105
This [please don't solicit other pax for seat changes] sounds like a rule for real non-rev passengers -- employees/family/buddy-passes, etc. These have many rules, including dress, behavior, taking the last or no meal, etc, violating which can get these travel privileges revoked.
My understanding is that award tickets aren't really "non-rev" as such; they are part of what you paid for while flying to earn the miles in the first place. An award ticket certainly can be treated appropriately when fare status comes into play for meal choices, changes allowed, etc, but it's a "revenue" ticket in general, and not subject to the special behavior guidelines above. . . .
I do remember a thread in which the meal choice / no meal treatment for award pax on TATL/TPAC flights came up, though, with much hearty discussion. IIRC, PMNW sometimes took meal orders by elite status.
This thread is getting pretty far afield from the original post, but so what? Most conversations do the same thing. We have a Belgian sheepdog that occasionally tries to herd our three cats. It doesn't work, the dog finally lets them free-range, and we're all happy.
Last edited by AKC6; Jul 26, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Jul 26, 2012, 7:45 pm
#127
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,365
You'r lucky he did not try to get a replacement ear off of you.
Last edited by exwannabe; Jul 26, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Jul 26, 2012, 8:14 pm
#128
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, SPG Plat
Posts: 885
My wife and I, both PMs, often experience this situation - on 45 minute flights to 6 hour flights. And, in each case, we try to pre-select aisle seats (easier to swap) and regardless of where we are seated we ask politely upon boarding of our seat mates with no expectation of them agreeing to reposition.
I'd estimate we are at about 50%. In some cases people have volunteered to change from 2B (aisle) to 4D (window) without our even asking once they saw we were together. On the other hand, we've experienced people who wouldn't switch from 2B (aisle) to 2C (also aisle, same row) to accommodate us (seated in 2A and 2C) upon request. Again, we never have any expectation of people moving but that last one (which has happened more than once) still baffles me.
I'd estimate we are at about 50%. In some cases people have volunteered to change from 2B (aisle) to 4D (window) without our even asking once they saw we were together. On the other hand, we've experienced people who wouldn't switch from 2B (aisle) to 2C (also aisle, same row) to accommodate us (seated in 2A and 2C) upon request. Again, we never have any expectation of people moving but that last one (which has happened more than once) still baffles me.
Jul 26, 2012, 8:22 pm
#129
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
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A theory...
On the other hand, we've experienced people who wouldn't switch from 2B (aisle) to 2C (also aisle, same row) to accommodate us (seated in 2A and 2C) upon request. Again, we never have any expectation of people moving but that last one (which has happened more than once) still baffles me.
Jul 26, 2012, 8:31 pm
#130
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, SPG Plat
Posts: 885
I tend to favor leaning on my right elbow rather than my left. Thus, the left aisle seat has me leaning toward the aisle while the right aisle seat has me leaning toward a stranger. While it wouldn't preclude me from making an aisle for an aisle seat exchange, there may be some out there who are more inflexible.
Jul 26, 2012, 8:38 pm
#131
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Jul 26, 2012, 8:44 pm
#132
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
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That maneuver is practiced quite often over on WN. Since seating is open selection, a lot of guys will choose their seat based on the "hot babe" sitting in the adjacent seat. No word yet on whether the "hot babe" ever gets up and abandons her seat in hope of upgrading to a better, less creepy seatmate.
Jul 26, 2012, 8:47 pm
#133
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Last edited by plagwate; Jul 26, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Jul 26, 2012, 8:48 pm
#134
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,365
I tend to favor leaning on my right elbow rather than my left. Thus, the left aisle seat has me leaning toward the aisle while the right aisle seat has me leaning toward a stranger. While it wouldn't preclude me from making an aisle for an aisle seat exchange, there may be some out there who are more inflexible.
On a 2-2-2 BE config, I sit down in middle left. Father with kid (10?) board and kid sits next to me, dad in front of him.
I immediatly start to get up and ask dad if he wants to switch, and he says no!
I am thinking, ...? Is right center that much better than left center that he would rather not switch to sit with his kid?
A few seconds later the dad realizes that the seats are the same (sans left/right) and we switch.
But in those few seconds I was really confused.
Jul 26, 2012, 10:15 pm
#135
Join Date: Oct 2010
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I have no issue with switching seats for a 5,000 mile voucher... The other passenger need only explain to the FA why the seat switch is worth a 5,000 mile voucher.