Global Adventurer

I thoroughly clean any seat I sit in and everything around with several Lysol or alcohol wipes, even before covid. And use a seat pad.

TechMarauder

This happened to me last week on a United 767-300 Polaris-fitted flight. I picked window 5L because it was away from the aisle And next to the window. I purposely boarded towards the end and there is a lady in my seat who looks like she moved in for the weekend on a 3 hour flight. She covered the seat, she was in a makeshift hazmat suit, had wipes and snacks all around as well as her gadgets. I was more shocked at the extent she spread out as opposed to wondering whether or not she made a mistake. It clearly said 5L over here seat but she shrugged and just said “do you want me to move?” Since I was one of the last folks to board I just sucked it up and proceeded to wipe down my new seat/screen and got settled. I did tell her that in the future, she should double check she had the right seat before she “moved in.” All in all, it was still a flatbed Polaris seat and the flight was fine but sometimes a little more consideration and awareness can make the flying experience easier for all of us.

MSPeconomist

When you allow seat poachers to keep your seat, you just encourage them to continue this misbehavior.

Jaimito Cartero

Seat poachers get no quarter.

Gig103

Funny, because the more settled they are into their poached seat, the more enjoyment I'd get insisting on them moving. "Don't forget your carry-on in the overhead bin!"

cmd320

I tend to select my seats very specifically and I'm very particular about where I sit. If someone is in the seat I selected and there isn't an identical seat available, you'd better believe they're going to be sent packing no matter how settled in they are or how close to departure the flight is.

Global Adventurer

You dag gone skippy 😀 I have several flights coming up in comfort and first class. I'll be prepared to tell them they need to get to stepping, and "don't forget your carry-on"🤣

Intl359Widget

Seat Poaching is one of my travel pet peeves so I make sure to claim my territories accordingly if I choose a specific seat. However if I get upgraded at the gate then I have no choice in my seat choice but it’s annoying to see someone try to poach a seat that I was just upgraded into.

flyerCO

This happens on AA 737 in F frequently. First row is row 3, unless a recently remoded 737, then it's row 1. Thus it's very frequent to see people in wrong seats. Cant say I've seen anyone think anything of it.

charlesdemar

For me, it's a real simple solution - show me your boarding pass. Because I 100% guarantee you're a liar because mine shows me in this seat. Want to argue? Take it up with the FA. Get up and out, bye Felicia.

When I'm traveling, I have a marginal amount of patience and I'm not going to waste any of it on ridiculous poachers.

MSPeconomist

Sometimes it's better to get a FA in the beginning. Strictly speaking, the other person (in your seat) isn't obligated to show a boarding pass to a random stranger (versus an airline employee , TYSA employee, or other airport/government official).

rickg523

I ask and don't argue the point. If refused, I simply show my boarding pass to the FA while standing in the aisle at my row and let nature take its course.

Orange County Commuter

I don't ask for your boarding pass. I just hit the call button and step aside. I let the FA deal with the poachers.

Of course my all time favorite was the poacher who stole my exit row LHR to ATL seat and then proceeded to act like a spoiled 5 year old to the FA "DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I SPEND ON THIS AIRLINE" etc.... FA walks away with both of our boarding passes. Comes back in a few minutes, hands me a new pass and smiles. Opps! I am now in BE and Mr "DYKWIA" is in coach... Thanks for your act sir, it really helped me out!

charlesdemar

This. I'll be polite and show you my boarding pass (as I know I'm in the right) and give you the chance to move or prove me wrong. The if necessary, I'll just escalate it up and let the authority on the plane make an uncomfortable spectacle for the poacher.

I used to be much more meek about it all when I started business travel some 23 years ago, but, nope, done with it all at this point. Cranky old man, I've become!

rickg523

​​​​​​Wanting to sit in the seat you selected and were assigned rather than middle of the last row isn't what I call being cranky. Because no one poaches your seat because it's worse than theirs.