tom911

The only time I can recall declining was on the upper deck of a UA747 in an emergency exit row. It had double legroom compared to other business seats and I had booked that row months out. The person next to me asked me to vacate the seat so his wife could join him (she was seated one row ahead). I declined. He didn't ask the person next to his wife if he'd move back a row and switch with him. Guess he didn't want to give up his extra legroom, either.

silverforumsurf

most people are willing to swap a regular business seat for another regular business seat no problem.

Mark_T

Except in the case of a 777 if you are trying to persuade someone to move from an aisle into the middle seat ...

Personally I'd check-in early and ask about row 8 as they tend to hold those two seats back for airport allocation if they can and they would make a great pair for the two of you to be in.

abaheti

I would not try the cash incentive angle. I, for one, would be insulted, and anyone saying "no" isn't looking for $100. More likely they are seated next to someone they want to stay near, or they are going to wonder about the seat you're giving them (aisle/window). In my experience, it isn't even about what kind of story you can tell; wanting to sit next to your spouse is understandable to everyone.

Ask in the Club, ask the FAs, and then politely ask passengers (especially those who have worse seats than you do!).

If you end up with one aisle and one window, you are golden, as swapping like for like is almost never a problem for people (me included) -- and giving someone an aisle or window vs a middle is often considered a present.

For me personally, I tend to be up a bunch on long-haul flights so window is a harder sell, for example. On my last flight to LHR, though, I got upgraded into a middle on UA and a woman was standing there to ask me if I would be willing to swap my middle next to her husband for her aisle... everybody wins.

billgrates3

When traveling with Mrs.G3 I have several times asked to swap and never been refused ... but the important thing is to ask to swap the better seat, not the less desirable one. For other single business travelers, that usually means giving them another aisle seat, not a window... and +/- one row is usually not an issue.

pauleeepaul

Assuming it is a 772 there is 8H/J that are released c 24 hours before departure to consider too.

Agreed $100 is a needless/ineffective insult.

FlyMeToTheLooneyBin

Yeah. I don't understand why some people expect others to get the worse seat in a trade. Although I have done it once (we had two windows, and had to ask someone in the aisle to take a window), if there is an option to give the other party the better seat, that would be my first offer.

rymetymeuk

I'm glad I asked you all, great advice. Thank you! Ill let you know what happens. Appreciate it

oldgoldflyer

You are in business class, not at a Middle Eastern bazaar. Keep your $100 in your pocket. Ask someone to switch with you, if that doesn't work, talk to the lead flight attendant.

mvoight

I don't thinking asking to switch, if you have 2 windows, is an outrageous request. At the same time, I don't think people should be treated rudely if they don't want to switch. I book seats based on my own personal requirements. If I am on a TATL flight in BC on a 763, I am NOT going to want to move from the middle section (aisle/aisle) to a window/aisle pair. I recall a guy in the bulkhead row on 763 was asked to move out of a seat he stated he always flew in, and had booked months in advance. The FA did the asking. He refused, and during to flight she was rude to him. The person who requested the move actually had wanted nobody next to her. The odd part of this was there were other rows she could have sat in with nobody next to her.

BigEyedFish

I find being nice to someone often works really well - as well as using a little humor..... 'I'll buy you a drink' or something similar (it's funny in business, and nice in coach)

nitrobass24

Just take your normal seat, then during takeoff, have your wife freakout, scream etc....then go ask her seatmate if he/she will switch with you....I bet they say yes

DFWDave

When my wife and I were dating we traveled from DFW to Gatwick together. My mileage upgrade (before the days of co-pay) went through several hours before the flight, but we each had middle seats. My wife not understanding the gravity of the situation (length of flight and different between TATL J and domestic F) gave me a really hard time that we would not be sitting together (we were one behind the other). Trying to save face, I asked each of the occupants of the 4 adjoining aisle seats about a swap, and all 4 said no. Before she got settled, the last of the 4 relented and agreed to swap. I was out of the doghouse (no $100 required). After that flight, my (now) wife understood the difference and indicated that I should feel free to upgrade us on the return, even if it meant sitting apart.

will2288

Seems quite rude of that pax to ask you to move to a worse seat (by the fact he didn't ask the other pax, it suggests he was well aware which seats were better). As long the askee is willing to trade down, it is fair and reasonable to ask to switch. But to only ask if you are trying to get better seats is rude. I think you were definately in the right to decline. A response of, 'Sorry, I really like this seat/row but perhaps the gentleman next to you wife would switch' seems like a good option.

yoonny

Easy. Just pop loose a seat and move it next to your wife. Very easy to do on AA.