Originally Posted by be001

Business for business, window for window,not changing to bulkhead or ANYTHING different. Except 2 rows forward. And he says "i'd prefer not to"

I am waiting for him to ask to go to the bathroom. I am going to say "I'd prefer not to move right now"

Originally Posted by casualhopper

Virgin Australia, From BNE -> LAX, on the 773.

I'm on a consolidator fare, and have no status on VA. I kindly asked the gate agent if any bulkhead seats were available. I was granted a new boarding pass with a economy bulkhead "letter J" seat (Middle seat, Right most section).
On this particular flight, the H and J seats have significantly more leg room as K is blocked by the bulkhead.

As I went to my seat, I found a large pile of stuff (purse, empty plastic bags) piled onto my seat, with a gentleman and his wife taking seats H and K respectively. As I sat down, the lady in K offered to trade seats with me.

I declined, but offered to take the husband's seat in H instead. They refused the swap, so I sat down.

A few minutes later, they brought a flight attendant over with them, who then pressured me to swap seats again into seat K. I produced my boarding pass, and again stated I'd be happy to swap seats with the husband - but not the wife, as I prefer having the extra leg room.

At this point, the flight attendant explains to me that bulkhead seats, especially aisle seats, are reserved for those who paid extra and those with elite status. I held my ground and stated that this is the seat that's on my boarding pass, and once boarded, amount paid no longer mattered.

Flight attendant left for a few minutes, came back, and upgraded both the husband and wife to a forward cabin (either W or J). That's fine with me, as I'm finally left alone in my seat.

On deplaning, the flight attendant sought me out and asked me for my boarding pass, so she can make a note of it to corporate. I handed her my boarding pass, and went on my way. This last action was somewhat infuriating - does Virgin really have a corporate policy of elites pushing kettles around however they like?

Originally Posted by casualhopper

Virgin Australia, From BNE -> LAX, on the 773.

I'm on a consolidator fare, and have no status on VA. I kindly asked the gate agent if any bulkhead seats were available. I was granted a new boarding pass with a economy bulkhead "letter J" seat (Middle seat, Right most section).
On this particular flight, the H and J seats have significantly more leg room as K is blocked by the bulkhead.

As I went to my seat, I found a large pile of stuff (purse, empty plastic bags) piled onto my seat, with a gentleman and his wife taking seats H and K respectively. As I sat down, the lady in K offered to trade seats with me.

I declined, but offered to take the husband's seat in H instead. They refused the swap, so I sat down.

A few minutes later, they brought a flight attendant over with them, who then pressured me to swap seats again into seat K. I produced my boarding pass, and again stated I'd be happy to swap seats with the husband - but not the wife, as I prefer having the extra leg room.

At this point, the flight attendant explains to me that bulkhead seats, especially aisle seats, are reserved for those who paid extra and those with elite status. I held my ground and stated that this is the seat that's on my boarding pass, and once boarded, amount paid no longer mattered.

Flight attendant left for a few minutes, came back, and upgraded both the husband and wife to a forward cabin (either W or J). That's fine with me, as I'm finally left alone in my seat.

On deplaning, the flight attendant sought me out and asked me for my boarding pass, so she can make a note of it to corporate. I handed her my boarding pass, and went on my way. This last action was somewhat infuriating - does Virgin really have a corporate policy of elites pushing kettles around however they like?

Originally Posted by payam81

You should have refused to produce your BP upon deplaning. You actually might get the GA at your embarkation in trouble.

Originally Posted by Badenoch

A traveler without a deep sense of personal entitlement would accept the answer and not fantasize about petty payback. It's attitudes like this that increase my resolve to never accommodate a seat swap request. Can't sit near your pregnant wife? Not my problem and I don't care.

Originally Posted by TheTakeOffRush

Out of curiosity, anyone ever take you up on it when you offer to accept cash for your seat? Is this flatly unauthorized (if a FA witnesses)?

Originally Posted by be001

Currently on a delta flight with my pregnant wife - this is the last week she can travel so, very pregnant. Our flight got delayed so we had to switch onto a new flight. Our seats aren't together. Business class. I am on the aisle. She is 2 rows forward on the window. We get on the plane and ask the guy next to her if he would mind switching. He says, sure, but he can't walk so we would need to find people to carry him. Nicest guy, but of course thats not necessary.

So I go to ask the guy next to me, maybe 31 years old. He can walk without help. He is mowing down on his eggs. I say, "hey man my wife is really pregnant, would you mind moving up to that window seat right up there?"

Business for business, window for window,not changing to bulkhead or ANYTHING different. Except 2 rows forward. And he says "i'd prefer not to"

I am waiting for him to ask to go to the bathroom. I am going to say "I'd prefer not to move right now"

Originally Posted by Proudelitist

I am sure it is considered "Gray Market" and the airline would not approve. To what extent they have instructed crews to stop it should they witness it is something I don't know.

I have never been offered nor asked for money during a seat swap, but I may just do it if the situation ever presents itself again. And it would be well above market prices, and of course, the requestor must have sufficient cash.

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

Paying by buying the other passenger a drink seems to be OK, but it's not a very big payment.

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

I wouldn't like the idea of some random FA retaining my boarding pass containing my full name, FF number, PNR, etc. She might be able to cancel the rest of your ticket or move you to extremely undesirable seats.

Originally Posted by rudycantfail0

..She angrily holds her boarding pass up so he can see it, and he realizes she's actually in a middle seat in the middle section. He tells her he'd like his original seat back. At this point, she strangely lost the ability to speak English. She started yelling at him in a language I didn't understand, gave him a dismissive wave of the hand, and eventually turned away and refused to communicate any further. He stood there for a minute saying "Excuse me. Excuse me." but eventually gave up and took the middle seat in the middle section..

Originally Posted by Badenoch

and not fantasize about petty payback.