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
#1426
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And now we have gone political. Let's make this very simple and then return to our normally scheduled programming. Everyone has the right to ask for someone to swap with them, and everyone also has the right to say no, or yes, or my personal favorite "let me think about it, I will get back to you when we land"
#1427
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
If we don't stand by our principles, they are not principles. I have yet to be offered a better seat in a swap. Rare exceptions a few here experienced only prove the rule. If we make our issues so important to us that we would displace others and feel we have a right to impose on others, we will live in the world you fear Trump is causing.
#1428
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Posts: 650
If we don't stand by our principles, they are not principles. I have yet to be offered a better seat in a swap. Rare exceptions a few here experienced only prove the rule. If we make our issues so important to us that we would displace others and feel we have a right to impose on others, we will live in the world you fear Trump is causing.
However, in my view if there is no downside to me and an obvious upside to the other person, I think it just makes the world a better place to help people out. Lord knows we can use a little friendly compassion in today's world. Plus you never know when that good deed comes back to you.
I had short flights round trip earlier this month between LGA and DTW. Both in Comfort. And in both cases when I got to my aisle seat there was someone sitting in it. In both cases I said "excuse me, that is my seat". In both cases the person sitting there had the window in the same row. And in both cases they made a weak reference to thinking that A was the aisle, but they immediately moved. No argument. I strongly prefer the aisle and was not going to switch if asked, fortunately I was not asked so no argument.
#1429
Join Date: Jun 2008
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...In both cases the person sitting there had the window in the same row. And in both cases they made a weak reference to thinking that A was the aisle, but they immediately moved. No argument. I strongly prefer the aisle and was not going to switch if asked, fortunately I was not asked so no argument.
#1430
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 461
In Ear Monitors. Stick them in your ears.
If anyone but an employee attempts to engage, one simply dismisses with a shoo-fly gesture of the hand and a grunt. The grunt should say,"move on." There need not be annoyance in your grunt. Grunt with no malice. An insulting grunt is not your goal. Practice in the mirror. Strive for a grunt that kills hope but no more.
If anyone but an employee attempts to engage, one simply dismisses with a shoo-fly gesture of the hand and a grunt. The grunt should say,"move on." There need not be annoyance in your grunt. Grunt with no malice. An insulting grunt is not your goal. Practice in the mirror. Strive for a grunt that kills hope but no more.
#1432
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I respect the fact that you live by the same ethics in both directions; so many people don't these days. Therefore I don't have a problem with your stance.
However, in my view if there is no downside to me and an obvious upside to the other person, I think it just makes the world a better place to help people out. Lord knows we can use a little friendly compassion in today's world. Plus you never know when that good deed comes back to you.
I had short flights round trip earlier this month between LGA and DTW. Both in Comfort. And in both cases when I got to my aisle seat there was someone sitting in it. In both cases I said "excuse me, that is my seat". In both cases the person sitting there had the window in the same row. And in both cases they made a weak reference to thinking that A was the aisle, but they immediately moved. No argument. I strongly prefer the aisle and was not going to switch if asked, fortunately I was not asked so no argument.
However, in my view if there is no downside to me and an obvious upside to the other person, I think it just makes the world a better place to help people out. Lord knows we can use a little friendly compassion in today's world. Plus you never know when that good deed comes back to you.
I had short flights round trip earlier this month between LGA and DTW. Both in Comfort. And in both cases when I got to my aisle seat there was someone sitting in it. In both cases I said "excuse me, that is my seat". In both cases the person sitting there had the window in the same row. And in both cases they made a weak reference to thinking that A was the aisle, but they immediately moved. No argument. I strongly prefer the aisle and was not going to switch if asked, fortunately I was not asked so no argument.
#1433
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York
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Posts: 650
I suspect that people sitting in C+ on DL flights between LGA and DTW travel often by airplane and therefore are perfectly aware that A is a window seat. Those people knew perfectly well that they did not have an aisle seat and yet they deliberately tried to sit in your seat, hoping that you would allow them to stay there. Disgusting!
#1434
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When this happened to me, the poacher in my seat was assigned to something like 24E versus my 3C seat. He pretended to be confused.
Another time a poacher tired to grab my 7A on a 777 TPAC, knowing full well that it wasn't his 4C or something. It was not an innocent mistake, and then he had the audacity to insist that I was being unreasonable in making him move as all seats arrive at the same time.
Another time a poacher tired to grab my 7A on a 777 TPAC, knowing full well that it wasn't his 4C or something. It was not an innocent mistake, and then he had the audacity to insist that I was being unreasonable in making him move as all seats arrive at the same time.
#1435
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SLC
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Posts: 971
When this happened to me, the poacher in my seat was assigned to something like 24E versus my 3C seat. He pretended to be confused.
Another time a poacher tired to grab my 7A on a 777 TPAC, knowing full well that it wasn't his 4C or something. It was not an innocent mistake, and then he had the audacity to insist that I was being unreasonable in making him move as all seats arrive at the same time.
Another time a poacher tired to grab my 7A on a 777 TPAC, knowing full well that it wasn't his 4C or something. It was not an innocent mistake, and then he had the audacity to insist that I was being unreasonable in making him move as all seats arrive at the same time.
My response is usually "If it doesn't matter, why are you trying to weasel your way into a better seat?"
#1436
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When this happened to me, the poacher in my seat was assigned to something like 24E versus my 3C seat. He pretended to be confused.
Another time a poacher tired to grab my 7A on a 777 TPAC, knowing full well that it wasn't his 4C or something. It was not an innocent mistake, and then he had the audacity to insist that I was being unreasonable in making him move as all seats arrive at the same time.
Another time a poacher tired to grab my 7A on a 777 TPAC, knowing full well that it wasn't his 4C or something. It was not an innocent mistake, and then he had the audacity to insist that I was being unreasonable in making him move as all seats arrive at the same time.
#1437
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
However, in my view if there is no downside to me and an obvious upside to the other person, I think it just makes the world a better place to help people out. Lord knows we can use a little friendly compassion in today's world. Plus you never know when that good deed comes back to you.
As to good deeds coming back...lets not assume some magical universal providence that operates behind the scenes. That's superstitious talk. There is no evidence, nor is there any rational reason, nor any science, that points to on subjectively moral act influencing another unrelated one in the future. A guy can beat a child and win the lottery the next day. Another can save a child and die in agony in a car wreck. This isn't the movies, and invisible karmic justice isn't operating as a function of the universe.
#1438
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
That is perhaps the most grating excuse for trying to take someone's seat. I've only witnessed it on WN to date (in regard to boarding position), but it's arrogant nonetheless. Hearing "Oh, I don't think the order matters, we all get there at the same time" from a mom with two kids trying to weasel her way into A30-60 boarding would have sent me over if the GA didn't tell them to stand aside and wait for family boarding.
My response is usually "If it doesn't matter, why are you trying to weasel your way into a better seat?"
My response is usually "If it doesn't matter, why are you trying to weasel your way into a better seat?"
Sooo..if it doesn't matter..why did you poach someone else's seat? Clearly it matters to you.
One "gentleman" who used this line on me responded to that with "Don't give me back talk..". Like I was his teenaged kid instead of a 38 year old man at the time. The FA moved him to his middle and I had to put up with him muttering and elbowing me the whole flight.
But I enjoyed it. I really did. The knowledge that the poacher is steaming and uncomfortable is very very satisfying. I am not afraid of awkwardness, the evil eye or any of the discomfort people fear after a conflict
#1439
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However, in my view if there is no downside to me and an obvious upside to the other person, I think it just makes the world a better place to help people out. Lord knows we can use a little friendly compassion in today's world. Plus you never know when that good deed comes back to you.
#1440
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Had A First - Put Together Unknowingly
Had a first. Flying with my wife today. We were upgraded via RUC a few days ago. We were initially upgraded to 1A and 1B (the only set of two together), but my wife hates bulkheads so I moved her to 3A and me to 2B. When I checked in last night, that's what we had. When we got to the gate and my wife pulled up her boarding pass via the Delta App, it showed 2A (and the machine spit out a receipt for 2A when she scanned her phone as she boarded.)
Wonder what happened. We didn't ask anyone to swap us. Did a GA notice we were traveling together and move the original occupant of 2A to 3A and put her beside me? Or perhaps 2A misconnected or switched to another flight and the GA saw 2A was open and moved her beside me? Odd that it happened without us even being asked or is inquiring about it.
Wonder what happened. We didn't ask anyone to swap us. Did a GA notice we were traveling together and move the original occupant of 2A to 3A and put her beside me? Or perhaps 2A misconnected or switched to another flight and the GA saw 2A was open and moved her beside me? Odd that it happened without us even being asked or is inquiring about it.