Do you encounter people sitting next to you who seem offended because you are there?
May 19, 2010, 3:37 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
One thing that perplexes me is the following: on AA, elites can reserve the exit rows. So on an MD80 with 2 - 3 seating across the row, I'll choose the aisle seat on the 3-seat side. Invariably, another single elite will select the window. This means that, if the plane is not sold out, we have at least a chance of that middle remaining empty (if the flight is sold out, then the matter is moot).
The fly in the ointment is when I have reserved that aisle, and then an pair of elite fliers selects the two seats next to me, rather than two seats in the completely empty exit row immediately in frot of my row.
By doing that, they have just guaranteed both themselves and me that we will have a full row, and absolutely no chance for an empty seat (even if that chance is small). I've even had it happen that the row remains empty up until the day of the flight, when the empty exit row seats are claimed by general passengers at the gate.
The fly in the ointment is when I have reserved that aisle, and then an pair of elite fliers selects the two seats next to me, rather than two seats in the completely empty exit row immediately in frot of my row.
By doing that, they have just guaranteed both themselves and me that we will have a full row, and absolutely no chance for an empty seat (even if that chance is small). I've even had it happen that the row remains empty up until the day of the flight, when the empty exit row seats are claimed by general passengers at the gate.
May 19, 2010, 5:04 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: California
Programs: AS,WN,UA,B6,hotels
Posts: 4,239
One thing that perplexes me is the following: on AA, elites can reserve the exit rows. So on an MD80 with 2 - 3 seating across the row, I'll choose the aisle seat on the 3-seat side.
The fly in the ointment is when I have reserved that aisle, and then an pair of elite fliers selects the two seats next to me, rather than two seats in the completely empty exit row immediately in frot of my row.
The fly in the ointment is when I have reserved that aisle, and then an pair of elite fliers selects the two seats next to me, rather than two seats in the completely empty exit row immediately in frot of my row.
May 19, 2010, 6:14 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: MEL, Australia
Programs: QF PS, EK SkyWards Blue, SQ Krisflyer
Posts: 256
At the time i thought; this guy's inconvenience is worth me not spending my first few weeks back home sick as a dog, but now i think, what right do i have to take a seat thats a) not assigned to me and b) actively decreases someone else's space.
The guy was pretty nice about it and i made a point of being friendly to him. Truth be told id probably do it again, but a bit more sheepishly next time.
May 19, 2010, 8:09 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Programs: Delta Silver thanks to Million Miles; Choice Plat., point scrounger everywhere
Posts: 1,595
I don't know what airline you fly, but if you switch this problem will go away as it does not exist on any of the airlines save for the one you have been flying.
May 19, 2010, 11:24 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Programs: AC *E/PC Gold /BW Diamond/Hertz Gold Plus/SPG Gold/Marriot Silver/ TUMI Alpha
Posts: 1,470
...was in Glascow a few years back when AC pilots went on strike.
So I show up at the airport and of course no flight...so I am on a J ticket so i ask well wahtcha gonna do about gettin' me home.
2 options...one was J on A US carrier (cant remember which) to NYC...overnight in NYC then Y home to YYZ.
OR
Canada 3000 (now bankrupt) a charter flight direct to Toronto. So the hell with staying over night I can get home in 7 hours. So they book my 3 seats (this is an all Y charter) in a row so I can stretch out.
I forget I have no status and get to the gate to see its general boarding.
Well the AC agent goes to the GA explains the situation and they let me through (trust me I wouldnt have mind waiting in line).
OK so now people are kinda wondering whats going on but no big deal.
So I board and the flight is jammed (made worse by AC strike).
So I sit in my row and plop down in the middle so i can figure which way to spread out.
Before doors closed some guy comes up to me and says "can you move over I'd like the aisle".
I said " no you can't have the aisle its my seat".
"OK I'll take the window"
"No thats mine too"
Now hes getting loud..."what do you mean you dont control the whole aisle" and now about 1/2 the plane is looking at him.
Thankfully the FA heard this guy (who didn't?) and came to settle the guy down. Now unfortunately he was loud so, so was she, and she said..."oh he purchased the entire row..those are all of his seats."
His response to me was "what an a-hole" and he went and sat back down.
Now I can feel about 100+ eyes burning a hole in the back of my head.
too make matters worse the FA's were fawning on me the whole flight "look we know this isnt business class on air canada but we would like to make your trip as pleasant as possible....food choice...lots of booze...you get the idea.
In conclusion while waiting at the baggage area I must of heard "who does he think he is/"....or ..."what a dick" at least 10 times.
Fun flight.
So I show up at the airport and of course no flight...so I am on a J ticket so i ask well wahtcha gonna do about gettin' me home.
2 options...one was J on A US carrier (cant remember which) to NYC...overnight in NYC then Y home to YYZ.
OR
Canada 3000 (now bankrupt) a charter flight direct to Toronto. So the hell with staying over night I can get home in 7 hours. So they book my 3 seats (this is an all Y charter) in a row so I can stretch out.
I forget I have no status and get to the gate to see its general boarding.
Well the AC agent goes to the GA explains the situation and they let me through (trust me I wouldnt have mind waiting in line).
OK so now people are kinda wondering whats going on but no big deal.
So I board and the flight is jammed (made worse by AC strike).
So I sit in my row and plop down in the middle so i can figure which way to spread out.
Before doors closed some guy comes up to me and says "can you move over I'd like the aisle".
I said " no you can't have the aisle its my seat".
"OK I'll take the window"
"No thats mine too"
Now hes getting loud..."what do you mean you dont control the whole aisle" and now about 1/2 the plane is looking at him.
Thankfully the FA heard this guy (who didn't?) and came to settle the guy down. Now unfortunately he was loud so, so was she, and she said..."oh he purchased the entire row..those are all of his seats."
His response to me was "what an a-hole" and he went and sat back down.
Now I can feel about 100+ eyes burning a hole in the back of my head.
too make matters worse the FA's were fawning on me the whole flight "look we know this isnt business class on air canada but we would like to make your trip as pleasant as possible....food choice...lots of booze...you get the idea.
In conclusion while waiting at the baggage area I must of heard "who does he think he is/"....or ..."what a dick" at least 10 times.
Fun flight.
May 20, 2010, 7:15 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 49
Here is one trick that is working most of the times in order to get a full 3-seat row to yourself.
When occupancy rate is below 70% on a longhaul flight, you have a good shot getting an empty 3-seat row by adhering to that strategy.
This works good on B744, B77W (e.g. AF or EK).
Here is how it works:
Always select a window seat at the back.
Usually there are less people in the back. Secondly when looking for empty seats, most people look forward and not backward to find such a seat.
One example:
You have seat 49A. Seats 49B and 49C next in the row stay empty.
Once you have seattled down on 49A, there is a serious risk that someone could move into 49C.
That's why during boarding, taxi, take-off, and shortly afterwards you should always stay in seat 49B. With that if another passenger wants to move to 49C, he has no free seat next to him, because you are sitting there, that's why he is not going to move.
After the plane has reached cruising altitude, you may move to 49A and stretch out. Make sure to cover seats 49B and 49C with some stuff.
Now, shortly after boarding another passenger might approach you and ask you to move from 49B to 49A, so that the other passenger can be seated on 49C.
In that situation you can play the language game. Don't show your boarding pass. Speak some Russian or really bad English with a strong Russian accent. "These seat are my lucky seat, I love Ninetyfour B."
The other passenger might say: "OK, I'll take the window seat 49A."
If the passenger is really insisting on getting that seat, you can show him your boarding pass with 49A written on it.
Trust me, the passenger is not going to bother you any longer and will just leave.
When occupancy rate is below 70% on a longhaul flight, you have a good shot getting an empty 3-seat row by adhering to that strategy.
This works good on B744, B77W (e.g. AF or EK).
Here is how it works:
Always select a window seat at the back.
Usually there are less people in the back. Secondly when looking for empty seats, most people look forward and not backward to find such a seat.
One example:
You have seat 49A. Seats 49B and 49C next in the row stay empty.
Once you have seattled down on 49A, there is a serious risk that someone could move into 49C.
That's why during boarding, taxi, take-off, and shortly afterwards you should always stay in seat 49B. With that if another passenger wants to move to 49C, he has no free seat next to him, because you are sitting there, that's why he is not going to move.
After the plane has reached cruising altitude, you may move to 49A and stretch out. Make sure to cover seats 49B and 49C with some stuff.
Now, shortly after boarding another passenger might approach you and ask you to move from 49B to 49A, so that the other passenger can be seated on 49C.
In that situation you can play the language game. Don't show your boarding pass. Speak some Russian or really bad English with a strong Russian accent. "These seat are my lucky seat, I love Ninetyfour B."
The other passenger might say: "OK, I'll take the window seat 49A."
If the passenger is really insisting on getting that seat, you can show him your boarding pass with 49A written on it.
Trust me, the passenger is not going to bother you any longer and will just leave.
May 20, 2010, 7:25 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 49
Second Strategy:
Imagine you have a ...... seat (with two people around you), but the occupancy rate is less than 70% on a longhaul flight.
In that case I suggest the following:
Get your bag, jacket, own pillow (I always take an own pillow to the plane) and move to the back.
You might see three empty rows in the back. However, since boarding is not finished, you don't know if these rows stay empty or not.
You may sit down there, but ultimately (bad luck) the last person to enter the plane is going to claim one seat in the row. You shouldn't take this risk.
That's why I suggest you to put your 3 stuff items (1 jacket, 1 bag, 1 pillow) one each on the middle seat on THREE(!!!) different empty rows.
Once there is stuff in that row, no other passenger dares to move his seat to that empty row, because he is thinking someone is sitting there.
Now, chances are high that a late boarding passengers have seats assigned in one or two of these rows. In that case remove your stuff from there.
Once boarding is completed, jump to the empty row that is remaining EMPTY and claim that row. You are the fasted, because the other passenger (luring also to get a row to themselves) won't be as fast, because they think that this row is already occupied, because of your stuff lying around there.
This is working most of the times.
Imagine you have a ...... seat (with two people around you), but the occupancy rate is less than 70% on a longhaul flight.
In that case I suggest the following:
Get your bag, jacket, own pillow (I always take an own pillow to the plane) and move to the back.
You might see three empty rows in the back. However, since boarding is not finished, you don't know if these rows stay empty or not.
You may sit down there, but ultimately (bad luck) the last person to enter the plane is going to claim one seat in the row. You shouldn't take this risk.
That's why I suggest you to put your 3 stuff items (1 jacket, 1 bag, 1 pillow) one each on the middle seat on THREE(!!!) different empty rows.
Once there is stuff in that row, no other passenger dares to move his seat to that empty row, because he is thinking someone is sitting there.
Now, chances are high that a late boarding passengers have seats assigned in one or two of these rows. In that case remove your stuff from there.
Once boarding is completed, jump to the empty row that is remaining EMPTY and claim that row. You are the fasted, because the other passenger (luring also to get a row to themselves) won't be as fast, because they think that this row is already occupied, because of your stuff lying around there.
This is working most of the times.
May 20, 2010, 8:42 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: DL Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,314
Ok.. reading all of the posts.. I think its common courtesy to ask politely before sitting.. what are they going to say.. no? Ask, if they didn't pay for that empty seat and refuse you.. Get an FA who will seat you down where you want properly. The end result is the same, not rude but polite.. and everyone feels good about it.
I have friends with a family of 4 who actually paid for 6 economy seats to travel to and from Australia.. This was cheaper than buying 4 first class tickets.. so there are people who pay for the seats.. but alot of people don't.. its still polite to ask though.
I have friends with a family of 4 who actually paid for 6 economy seats to travel to and from Australia.. This was cheaper than buying 4 first class tickets.. so there are people who pay for the seats.. but alot of people don't.. its still polite to ask though.