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 22, 2015, 8:17 am
#361
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: DL exDM MM
Posts: 762
Fortunately most FFs have already made up their minds, but some pax may become curious and try the bulkhead thus making for more competition for the best seats on the plane (oops, just violated Rule #1)...
I wonder if those who complain about bulkhead seating are really bulkhead fans trying to dissuade others from competing for bulkhead seats?
Mar 22, 2015, 8:18 am
#362
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 948
Crazy,sorry, not meant to be a personal attack. But the person and child had a loyalty upgrade which is no different from your "instrument"
If the person who changed seats with the kid, wanted his window back, he should have asked.
Kind of nice to let your kid fly in first, we would have given both kids the first and sat in the backs ourselves.
"what i paid for": you "paid" for a seat in first, not the "assigned seat". If you look at DLs rules, the FA can change your seat anytime she/he wants to.
With few exceptions (eg bad leg, different seat configuration, trading window for middle), I believe that one who who will not give up their seat is the sad person and that is the problem with our society today - we are too concerned with ourselves instead of others!
If the person who changed seats with the kid, wanted his window back, he should have asked.
Kind of nice to let your kid fly in first, we would have given both kids the first and sat in the backs ourselves.
"what i paid for": you "paid" for a seat in first, not the "assigned seat". If you look at DLs rules, the FA can change your seat anytime she/he wants to.
With few exceptions (eg bad leg, different seat configuration, trading window for middle), I believe that one who who will not give up their seat is the sad person and that is the problem with our society today - we are too concerned with ourselves instead of others!
Last edited by theddo; Mar 22, 2015 at 12:01 pm Reason: More postitive tone
Mar 22, 2015, 8:52 am
#363
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: AA Gold, Delta DM Hilton Diamond SPG Gold, and Foodland premium.
Posts: 824
It was a buddy pass rider. Both the FA and the person who reached out to me via FT indicated that. The person who reached out via FT knew something about the passenger/situation that I had not posted, and asked to verify we were talking about the same passengers, which indicated to me the situation was dealt with. It was a short flight, we needed to take off and I wasn't complaining, so it wasn't dealt with at the time, but the FA and, later, the pilot, were livid. Had it not been for them, I would have just let it pass and known to never switch seats without clarity again.
Also, the younger daughter may have been older than four, but there is no way she was eight.
Also, the younger daughter may have been older than four, but there is no way she was eight.
Mar 22, 2015, 9:27 am
#364
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Michigan
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 855
The First Rule of the Bulkhead Club should be, "We don't talk about the superior benefits of bulkhead seating."
Fortunately most FFs have already made up their minds, but some pax may become curious and try the bulkhead thus making for more competition for the best seats on the plane (oops, just violated Rule #1)...
I wonder if those who complain about bulkhead seating are really bulkhead fans trying to dissuade others from competing for bulkhead seats?
Fortunately most FFs have already made up their minds, but some pax may become curious and try the bulkhead thus making for more competition for the best seats on the plane (oops, just violated Rule #1)...
I wonder if those who complain about bulkhead seating are really bulkhead fans trying to dissuade others from competing for bulkhead seats?
Mar 22, 2015, 9:44 am
#365
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
Quote:
Originally Posted by Asiaflyguy
not sure how this qualifies as a DYKWIA...? Granted she seems a high maintenance,but not sure I see the DYKWIA in the post...
If you use phrases like "this is the worst flight I've ever had" and threaten to never fly the airline again over a one hour delay...you ARE a DYKWIA.
Originally Posted by Asiaflyguy
not sure how this qualifies as a DYKWIA...? Granted she seems a high maintenance,but not sure I see the DYKWIA in the post...
If you use phrases like "this is the worst flight I've ever had" and threaten to never fly the airline again over a one hour delay...you ARE a DYKWIA.
Nice signature.
Mar 22, 2015, 2:02 pm
#366
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: DL exDM MM
Posts: 762
LOL, maybe this will help fend off your competition. In bulkhead seats you have to fight for overhead space, you have to get into the overhead after takeoff if you want to grab your laptop or anything else from your bag, some configurations don't have much leg room, FAs have a tendency to chat loudly in the galley when you're trying to sleep and the lights from the galley can be annoying when you're trying to sleep.
Mar 23, 2015, 9:05 am
#367
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Big Muddy Mile Marker 332
Programs: Delta-PM, HHonors-Diamond, Hyatt-Explorist, Hertz - Presidents
Posts: 335
Mar 23, 2015, 9:21 am
#368
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 960
Mar 23, 2015, 9:21 am
#369
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,398
Had a guy with a small child yesterday on my BOS/DTW flight (girl looked like she was over 2 but apparently she wasn't if she was a lap child). I think it was a gate upgrade because I saw the machine spit out a slip when the GA scanned his phone and he boarded with his wife and she took an aisle seat in EC.
He was my seat mate and boarded a few people ahead of me and I noticed he had some things on my seat and figured since he had a small child he was just getting situated so I put my bag in the bin and he proceeds to sit down in my seat. He told me he needed an aisle since he was holding a child and the GA only had windows available.
I thought it took a lot of nerve to just take the seat and tell me he was taking the aisle. I told him I wanted the aisle and wasn't going to take the window and he got a lot nasty about it and said it was a short flight. He asked a couple other people to trade that were in aisles and no one would and had the nerve to ask the FA to try to do a seat swap and she wouldn't.
I guess it wasn't that big of an issue to have a window seat because he didn't give it up and didn't need to get out of his seat the entire flight. If it was that big of a pain for him to be with a lap held child in a window seat he should have declined the upgrade or given the girl to his wife who was in a coach window seat.
I would have probably switched with the guy (and just warned him I was going to be getting up to use the bathroom during the flight and if the girl was asleep he would have to deal with it) if he wouldn't have just sat down in my seat and would have asked. When someone is sitting in my seat and tells me they want it, then I am not going to do a seat swap
He was my seat mate and boarded a few people ahead of me and I noticed he had some things on my seat and figured since he had a small child he was just getting situated so I put my bag in the bin and he proceeds to sit down in my seat. He told me he needed an aisle since he was holding a child and the GA only had windows available.
I thought it took a lot of nerve to just take the seat and tell me he was taking the aisle. I told him I wanted the aisle and wasn't going to take the window and he got a lot nasty about it and said it was a short flight. He asked a couple other people to trade that were in aisles and no one would and had the nerve to ask the FA to try to do a seat swap and she wouldn't.
I guess it wasn't that big of an issue to have a window seat because he didn't give it up and didn't need to get out of his seat the entire flight. If it was that big of a pain for him to be with a lap held child in a window seat he should have declined the upgrade or given the girl to his wife who was in a coach window seat.
I would have probably switched with the guy (and just warned him I was going to be getting up to use the bathroom during the flight and if the girl was asleep he would have to deal with it) if he wouldn't have just sat down in my seat and would have asked. When someone is sitting in my seat and tells me they want it, then I am not going to do a seat swap
Mar 23, 2015, 9:41 am
#370
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Big Muddy Mile Marker 332
Programs: Delta-PM, HHonors-Diamond, Hyatt-Explorist, Hertz - Presidents
Posts: 335
LOL! It's taken tho! Scheduled Time of Departure
Mar 23, 2015, 10:55 am
#371
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
Now that's just crazy talk.
My daughter (13) and I were quite late to JFK. We were final boarding JFK-AMS last week. We sat separate in KLM business class. We both survived. It was a great flight. I felt it was not right to inconvenience people who were settled already when we were some of the last to board the business class cabin. My daughter did not have any issues with this. (Row 4 and Row 5, BTW)
My daughter (13) and I were quite late to JFK. We were final boarding JFK-AMS last week. We sat separate in KLM business class. We both survived. It was a great flight. I felt it was not right to inconvenience people who were settled already when we were some of the last to board the business class cabin. My daughter did not have any issues with this. (Row 4 and Row 5, BTW)
That's amazing - you both arrived at the same time and she wasn't abducted during the flight never to be seen again? After reading some of the stories one would think that a child not next to a parent could be taken off of the flight during some sort of Steven Segal incursion and removal. It's nice to know there are normal, sane passengers. Those stories don't seem very popular.
(Hoping this post is buried by the time B_K wakes up)
Mike
*I happen to know the OP in the real world, as do many others on this forum, and can assure you that he and his family are among the most lovely individuals that one could hope to meet. No reputations were harmed in the making of this post.
Mar 23, 2015, 10:58 am
#372
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA | CLT, formerly LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, (soon former) Caesars7*, (former) Wynn Black, HR "Icon"
Posts: 8,172
Oh, please, you're not such a hero. What teenager has ever wanted to sit next to a parent for nine minutes, never mind nine hours in the air? Cries of, "Dad, you're embarrassing me!" would have filled the cabin.*
(Hoping this post is buried by the time B_K wakes up)
Mike
*I happen to know the OP in the real world, as do many others on this forum, and can assure you that he and his family are among the most lovely individuals that one could hope to meet. No reputations were harmed in the making of this post.
(Hoping this post is buried by the time B_K wakes up)
Mike
*I happen to know the OP in the real world, as do many others on this forum, and can assure you that he and his family are among the most lovely individuals that one could hope to meet. No reputations were harmed in the making of this post.
(oh, and thanks for the *small print* disclaimer, I happen to think you are a pretty decent person yourself... strange, but decent... )
Mar 23, 2015, 11:54 am
#373
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
Mar 23, 2015, 12:19 pm
#374
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: DL exDM MM
Posts: 762
Had a guy with a small child yesterday on my BOS/DTW flight (girl looked like she was over 2 but apparently she wasn't if she was a lap child). I think it was a gate upgrade because I saw the machine spit out a slip when the GA scanned his phone and he boarded with his wife and she took an aisle seat in EC.
He was my seat mate and boarded a few people ahead of me and I noticed he had some things on my seat and figured since he had a small child he was just getting situated so I put my bag in the bin and he proceeds to sit down in my seat. He told me he needed an aisle since he was holding a child and the GA only had windows available.
I thought it took a lot of nerve to just take the seat and tell me he was taking the aisle. I told him I wanted the aisle and wasn't going to take the window and he got a lot nasty about it and said it was a short flight. He asked a couple other people to trade that were in aisles and no one would and had the nerve to ask the FA to try to do a seat swap and she wouldn't.
I guess it wasn't that big of an issue to have a window seat because he didn't give it up and didn't need to get out of his seat the entire flight. If it was that big of a pain for him to be with a lap held child in a window seat he should have declined the upgrade or given the girl to his wife who was in a coach window seat.
I would have probably switched with the guy (and just warned him I was going to be getting up to use the bathroom during the flight and if the girl was asleep he would have to deal with it) if he wouldn't have just sat down in my seat and would have asked. When someone is sitting in my seat and tells me they want it, then I am not going to do a seat swap
He was my seat mate and boarded a few people ahead of me and I noticed he had some things on my seat and figured since he had a small child he was just getting situated so I put my bag in the bin and he proceeds to sit down in my seat. He told me he needed an aisle since he was holding a child and the GA only had windows available.
I thought it took a lot of nerve to just take the seat and tell me he was taking the aisle. I told him I wanted the aisle and wasn't going to take the window and he got a lot nasty about it and said it was a short flight. He asked a couple other people to trade that were in aisles and no one would and had the nerve to ask the FA to try to do a seat swap and she wouldn't.
I guess it wasn't that big of an issue to have a window seat because he didn't give it up and didn't need to get out of his seat the entire flight. If it was that big of a pain for him to be with a lap held child in a window seat he should have declined the upgrade or given the girl to his wife who was in a coach window seat.
I would have probably switched with the guy (and just warned him I was going to be getting up to use the bathroom during the flight and if the girl was asleep he would have to deal with it) if he wouldn't have just sat down in my seat and would have asked. When someone is sitting in my seat and tells me they want it, then I am not going to do a seat swap
To paraphrase my comment in # 4985; If a pax requests a seat swap expecting, or in this case, demanding the request to be granted he is definitely DYKWIA.
The gate-generated UG is an interesting phenomenon. One is happy to be upgraded but then suddenly not satisfied with the seat assignment.
Mar 23, 2015, 12:45 pm
#375
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta DM/1.3MM, Marriott PP/LTP, Natl EE, Etihad Guest, FT FNG
Posts: 662
^ for you and ^^^ for all the others in aisle seats on your flight.
To paraphrase my comment in # 4985; If a pax requests a seat swap expecting, or in this case, demanding the request to be granted he is definitely DYKWIA.
The gate-generated UG is an interesting phenomenon. One is happy to be upgraded but then suddenly not satisfied with the seat assignment.
To paraphrase my comment in # 4985; If a pax requests a seat swap expecting, or in this case, demanding the request to be granted he is definitely DYKWIA.
The gate-generated UG is an interesting phenomenon. One is happy to be upgraded but then suddenly not satisfied with the seat assignment.