How to get someone to swap seats, in Business on long haul?
Oct 10, 2012, 6:46 pm
#47
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
Offering a bottle of something from the onboard duty free might be a less tacky way to sweeten the pot (could also be said humorously)...
Barring that, just be nice and offer to trade down. Even if you have two window seats, offering forward or backward as appropriate (opposite of FEBO).
Barring that, just be nice and offer to trade down. Even if you have two window seats, offering forward or backward as appropriate (opposite of FEBO).
Oct 10, 2012, 7:44 pm
#48
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
Offering a bottle of something from the onboard duty free might be a less tacky way to sweeten the pot (could also be said humorously)...
Barring that, just be nice and offer to trade down. Even if you have two window seats, offering forward or backward as appropriate (opposite of FEBO).
Barring that, just be nice and offer to trade down. Even if you have two window seats, offering forward or backward as appropriate (opposite of FEBO).
Oct 10, 2012, 7:50 pm
#49
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Home
Posts: 1,910
If you really wanted to be nice, you could say offer a box of chocolate or something that you just happen to have in your bag from your trip.
In the end, if you want to change seats, feel free to ask and be nice about it. Window for Window, etc. If you have a middle seat, offer to take another middle seat. If you have a better seat you are willing to give up, you will get a much better response.
Oct 10, 2012, 9:40 pm
#50
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO
Posts: 1,719
The only time I wouldn't trade in biz/first would be a 3-across situation placing me into a middle in exchange for an aisle/window or perhaps if it would put me in a poor position for FEBO when I knew I'd get a terrible meal, but I've never actually had this situation occur. Unless both members of a couple looking to trade are seated in a middle it's usually easy to make a trade happen in premium cabins.
In coach I rarely trade because I'm always sitting in an exit row or bulkhead, and most trades would involve a serious downgrade in seat quality.
I've never had a problem asking to trade to sit next to friends/SO, but I've also never asked anyone to take a markedly inferior seat.
Oct 10, 2012, 9:51 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,230
I'd do it for $100 certainly. There's really nothing objectively wrong with a middle seat in business class. It's not like you're rubbing shoulders/elbows with a seatmate on each side.
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Oct 11, 2012 at 6:34 am Reason: Merge consecutive posts by same member.
Oct 10, 2012, 10:49 pm
#52
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Victoria, B.C.
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA Gold LT
Posts: 1,937
It really is this simple. When traveling solo I will almost always trade seats if seated in First/Business as there rarely are bad seats. Even if I prefer an aisle I'll still trade for a window, and I've even offered when noticing couples or parents/kids seated apart who I could tell wanted to sit together but were too shy/timid to ask.
The only time I wouldn't trade in biz/first would be a 3-across situation placing me into a middle in exchange for an aisle/window or perhaps if it would put me in a poor position for FEBO when I knew I'd get a terrible meal, but I've never actually had this situation occur. Unless both members of a couple looking to trade are seated in a middle it's usually easy to make a trade happen in premium cabins. .....
The only time I wouldn't trade in biz/first would be a 3-across situation placing me into a middle in exchange for an aisle/window or perhaps if it would put me in a poor position for FEBO when I knew I'd get a terrible meal, but I've never actually had this situation occur. Unless both members of a couple looking to trade are seated in a middle it's usually easy to make a trade happen in premium cabins. .....
Just be polite and ask nicely. However some people are picky about their seats, and if they are, you will just have to respect tthat.
Oct 10, 2012, 11:27 pm
#53
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
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Moderator action
Now that it has had some responses on the AA Forum, as it is a general question this will relocate to TravelBuzz!
JDiver, Senior Moderator
JDiver, Senior Moderator
Oct 11, 2012, 12:44 am
#54
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
In my opinion, this is highly immature. In most cases, the seat poacher is not aggressive or demanding, and will move if you really don't want to switch. FAs are busy trying to get the plane ready and don't want to be bothered by trivial nonsense, especially when you haven't even made an attempt to sort it out yourself.
Last edited by cbn42; Oct 11, 2012 at 12:50 am
Oct 11, 2012, 1:17 am
#55
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I have to disagree here. Do not stand around in the aisle and block it while waiting for the seat owner to show up, because you are blocking other passengers and the FA will tell you to move. And do not go to your seat and wait, because once the seat owner settles into his seat, it's an extra burden to move. If someone wants my seat, I would prefer to be told before I put my stuff in the pocket, open the headphones, unravel the blanket, etc. If the seat you want is visible from your assigned seat, then of course sit there and wait.
In my opinion, this is highly immature. In most cases, the seat poacher is not aggressive or demanding, and will move if you really don't want to switch. FAs are busy trying to get the plane ready and don't want to be bothered by trivial nonsense, especially when you haven't even made an attempt to sort it out yourself.
In my opinion, this is highly immature. In most cases, the seat poacher is not aggressive or demanding, and will move if you really don't want to switch. FAs are busy trying to get the plane ready and don't want to be bothered by trivial nonsense, especially when you haven't even made an attempt to sort it out yourself.
Oct 11, 2012, 1:32 am
#56
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Scotland but English and proud of it!
Programs: BA Prem, LH Blue, Thai Gold ,KLM Ivory, Priority Club Plat, HiltonH Gold, Marriott gold
Posts: 1,046
I occasionally decline a request to change seats. On short flights I don't really care; but on the longer flights, TATL, TPAC or coast-to-coast, I sometimes decline. Changing one aisle seat to a different one, no problem and I've never declined this request. Changing from an aisle to a window or vice versa is different, though. On long flights, my seat selection/location generally matters a lot to me.
I find it particularly offensive when I decline and the person who asked gets angry. The person asking to change has no right to my seat. S/he is asking for a favor. It won't always be granted. I always reserve my seat in advance. If someone cares that much about the seat, s/he should, too. And if the reservation was made too late to do that, that's one of the benefits of reserving early, just like the availability of lower fares.
I find it particularly offensive when I decline and the person who asked gets angry. The person asking to change has no right to my seat. S/he is asking for a favor. It won't always be granted. I always reserve my seat in advance. If someone cares that much about the seat, s/he should, too. And if the reservation was made too late to do that, that's one of the benefits of reserving early, just like the availability of lower fares.
Oct 11, 2012, 2:03 am
#57
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MFR
Posts: 327
It is so odd that people think they are entitled to someone else's seat, that we should automatically agree to their request, and that we are somehow in the wrong if we don't. Sometimes even the FA's have this attitude.
I was on a 3 hour flight with my two daughters, both in their early twenties, and my baby grandson, who had a ticketed seat. Although his car seat was already strapped in (no small undertaking), the FA actually asked them to move to accommodate another family. She didn't realize that I was traveling with them, sitting across the aisle. I quickly declined the request. What was she was thinking, asking passengers who obviously had a lot of paraphernalia and a car seat to move? Probably that they were young and would just agree because she asked! And where she wanted to move them turned out to be the last row, the one with non-reclining seats next to the lavatories!
Oct 11, 2012, 10:46 am
#58
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The OP was thoughtful enough to ask here in advance, has added "thank you for the responses" posts a number of times, and seems like a kind person.
I would imagine the multiple posts advising him not to be rude/arrogant/nasty are probably superfluous.
I would imagine the multiple posts advising him not to be rude/arrogant/nasty are probably superfluous.
Oct 11, 2012, 2:54 pm
#60
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,098
My advice is to take your assigned seats when you board (as in, don't try and squat in someone else's) then ask those around you politely. Be prepared to take "no" for an answer. It is theirs to give and not yours to demand. This should probably work. Otherwise, it's not a big deal not to sit together for a few hours.