Travel etiquette in seeking airline aisle seat.
Mar 29, 2013, 7:27 pm
#76
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Programs: Delta, Starwood, Hilton
Posts: 455
Travel etiquette
I'm 70 and don't think it's healthy to sit for 14-17 hours with only getting up. one or two times. At my age it really hurts to sit that long. So either I let my husband have the aisle and he puts up with it or I ask the person on the aisle to change.. Most of the time I have wangled an aisle seat for myself. Mostly I manage to get an aisle seat for myself.
Mar 29, 2013, 7:47 pm
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
When I sit next to those who constantly get up for whatever reason, at some point, I just slide my legs as close to the seat as I can and turn my legs toward the aisle and just let them squeeze by.. if they are going to get up on the hour, they can earn it.. I do that upon return as well.
Often I have my laptop out (and what ever other crap I'm working on), drinks on the center console etc and its just a royal PITA to get up, down, up down on the hour every hour.
Often I have my laptop out (and what ever other crap I'm working on), drinks on the center console etc and its just a royal PITA to get up, down, up down on the hour every hour.
Mar 29, 2013, 7:57 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,507
Based on various responses, I guess I'm a polite window pax but a ....... of an aisle pax for declining to move.
Mar 29, 2013, 10:45 pm
#79
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: Delta SkyMiles FO
Posts: 123
My fiancee and I were upgraded at the last minute once. I had 1D & she had 2A. We both asked our aislemates to switch, and both declined. Mine needed 1C for the easy access to the lav. Hers had family across the aisle. We both ended up having pleasant conversations with our aislemates.
I didn't feel comfortable asking, and it didn't work for either of us. However, we knew beforehand that we may not sit together, so there was no reason to make it uncomfortable for someone who had preselected his seat.
I didn't feel comfortable asking, and it didn't work for either of us. However, we knew beforehand that we may not sit together, so there was no reason to make it uncomfortable for someone who had preselected his seat.
Mar 30, 2013, 9:32 am
#80
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
What really bugs me in this thread is this underlying sense of entitlement as witnessed by those who would label you with all manner of unsavory descriptions if you don’t give up your seat for them or someone else who they seem to deem worthy of your seat. To see it these people's way, once they've asked you for your seat, you never really had any right it anyway. And then they have the nerve to warn us of the risk of "bad karma" to support their selfish positions.
That said, I'm usually willing to help most people out, though as has been mentioned earlier in this thread, the inability of two grown adults to be apart for even a few hours is mystifying.
That said, I'm usually willing to help most people out, though as has been mentioned earlier in this thread, the inability of two grown adults to be apart for even a few hours is mystifying.
i have not been asked to change seats twice in about a thousand flights. both were reasonable requests, and i complied. on one, i was asked if i would mind sitting with that lady over there..that was no lady, that was my wife(groucho marx)
this topic again shows that the FTer is the biggest .....er(can i use that word? if not delete it), complainer, egocentric jerks in the world. most of them doing this complaining are probably on domestic free UG seats.' and brought on twice the amount of carry on luggage allowed.
this topic again shows that the FTer is the biggest .....er(can i use that word? if not delete it), complainer, egocentric jerks in the world. most of them doing this complaining are probably on domestic free UG seats.' and brought on twice the amount of carry on luggage allowed.
That is why many consider it impolite to even ask for someone to change seats. The action of asking places the person in a very uncomfortable position and leaves them with no positive outcome. It puts the asker in a position of dominance and leaves the askee with no options.
Mar 30, 2013, 10:54 am
#81
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
Once I get it, I don't want to lose it.
For the person who has to get up all the time, after I get sick of it, I still let them out, I'm just not getting up to do it
Mar 30, 2013, 1:14 pm
#82
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 111
I have changed seats for those who were polite and wanted to sit by their travel companions like a spouse, partner, or a child in the past.
I still am not happy with Airtran who issued 4 tickets for me, my mother, my niece (age 8) and nephew (age 10) and had us sitting each in different seats when returning from Disney World. My mother in a rare moment of being polite was able to speak to the flight attendant and another passenger to have either her or me sitting with the kids as they were together but not with their aunt or grandmother in the 3rd seat. The passenger that switched understood and changed seats with my mother as she was sitting with the kids at the time. The kids ended up sleeping most of the flight anyways.
I still am not happy with Airtran who issued 4 tickets for me, my mother, my niece (age 8) and nephew (age 10) and had us sitting each in different seats when returning from Disney World. My mother in a rare moment of being polite was able to speak to the flight attendant and another passenger to have either her or me sitting with the kids as they were together but not with their aunt or grandmother in the 3rd seat. The passenger that switched understood and changed seats with my mother as she was sitting with the kids at the time. The kids ended up sleeping most of the flight anyways.
Mar 30, 2013, 4:15 pm
#83
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
I still am not happy with Airtran who issued 4 tickets for me, my mother, my niece (age 8) and nephew (age 10) and had us sitting each in different seats when returning from Disney World. My mother in a rare moment of being polite was able to speak to the flight attendant and another passenger to have either her or me sitting with the kids as they were together but not with their aunt or grandmother in the 3rd seat. The passenger that switched understood and changed seats with my mother as she was sitting with the kids at the time. The kids ended up sleeping most of the flight anyways.
If you paid the fee and were moved, or had some sort of irregular ops which resulted in no seat assignment, I have some sympathy for your situation. If however you chose not to pay the fee, then I have very little sympathy for you choosing to put your family in that situation. Especially on carriers where one can choose to pay a fee to ensure that a party is seated together, I think that those who decide not to do so and then expect others to move (including those who did pay for seats) are being especially selfish. Unfortunately those people seem to exist all over the internet, especially on Disney travel fora.
Mar 31, 2013, 6:22 am
#84
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
I have changed seats for those who were polite and wanted to sit by their travel companions like a spouse, partner, or a child in the past.
I still am not happy with Airtran who issued 4 tickets for me, my mother, my niece (age 8) and nephew (age 10) and had us sitting each in different seats when returning from Disney World. My mother in a rare moment of being polite was able to speak to the flight attendant and another passenger to have either her or me sitting with the kids as they were together but not with their aunt or grandmother in the 3rd seat. The passenger that switched understood and changed seats with my mother as she was sitting with the kids at the time. The kids ended up sleeping most of the flight anyways.
I still am not happy with Airtran who issued 4 tickets for me, my mother, my niece (age 8) and nephew (age 10) and had us sitting each in different seats when returning from Disney World. My mother in a rare moment of being polite was able to speak to the flight attendant and another passenger to have either her or me sitting with the kids as they were together but not with their aunt or grandmother in the 3rd seat. The passenger that switched understood and changed seats with my mother as she was sitting with the kids at the time. The kids ended up sleeping most of the flight anyways.
you flew Airtran
Apr 2, 2013, 11:43 am
#85
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 159
Some people really do have chutzpah though - I have had a woman in economy middle seat ask me to switch my economy "comfort" aisle seat with her so she could be with her husband, seated next to me. They both spent the whole rest of the 7+ hr flight buzzing back and forth and giving me dirty looks. That is perhaps where the manners comes in. Can't blame them for trying, but they should have taken it with better grace.
Apr 2, 2013, 1:31 pm
#86
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
Some people really do have chutzpah though - I have had a woman in economy middle seat ask me to switch my economy "comfort" aisle seat with her so she could be with her husband, seated next to me. They both spent the whole rest of the 7+ hr flight buzzing back and forth and giving me dirty looks. That is perhaps where the manners comes in. Can't blame them for trying, but they should have taken it with better grace.
I am curious if the husband offered his E+ seat to the person sitting next to his wife. Somehow, I doubt it.
Mike
Apr 3, 2013, 10:47 am
#87
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Some people really do have chutzpah though - I have had a woman in economy middle seat ask me to switch my economy "comfort" aisle seat with her so she could be with her husband, seated next to me. They both spent the whole rest of the 7+ hr flight buzzing back and forth and giving me dirty looks. That is perhaps where the manners comes in. Can't blame them for trying, but they should have taken it with better grace.
All would be / should be happy !
Apr 3, 2013, 1:45 pm
#88
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: UK/MT,USA
Posts: 5
Oddly enough I got a similar "upgrade" on a recent flight. Some polite lady wanted me to swap my aisle seat with her son sat further down the plane. I asked if it was an aisle seat, she said yes. I had no qualms with that and did the swap, ended up in an exit-row aisle seat, very comfy 8 hours indeed!
Apr 13, 2013, 9:44 pm
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,720
Travel etiquette in seeking airline aisle seat.
If it was F for F and aisle for aisle I would probably do it. I try to take all my in-flight stuff out anyway before I sit down. If it was short flight and a family with a kid I would even take a window, but only in F or exit row.
For those who said "he should select his seats in advance" you must not live in the real world. Last minute upgrades, cancellations, and high loads don't always make it easy to get adjoining seats. You have no idea as to why he got the seats he did.
For those who said "he should select his seats in advance" you must not live in the real world. Last minute upgrades, cancellations, and high loads don't always make it easy to get adjoining seats. You have no idea as to why he got the seats he did.
Apr 13, 2013, 10:21 pm
#90
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
How is that anyone else's problem?