Seat Swap Request Horror Stories
Sep 14, 2016, 8:17 am
#826
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 948
Like many others on the thread, my experience is that those who desire swaps in the main always want to improve their situation rather than offering up their own more attractive seat for trade.
My own experience was on a BA flight from AMS to LGW. I had selected seat 1F when online check in opened (and I had nearly the whole cabin to choose from at that point), and was one of the first to board and settle into my seat with my book. I became aware of a couple of older ladies standing in the aisle having a discussion ABOUT me rather than WITH me.
One of the ladies was clearly my 1D seat mate, and they wanted me to swap seats with her friend, but weren't asking me outright - it was things like "I'm sure she'll move for you" and "we need to sit together" rather than "Excuse me would you mind swapping seats with me as I would like to sit next to my friend?". I interrupted their chat and told them that I would not be changing my front row window seat for her aisle seat at the rear of the cabin, and suggested that if they wished to sit together, that they could ask the person at the back if they would like to swap for the front row.
At this point, the companion attempted to sit in 1E (BA block out the centre seat in their business cabin) at which point the cabin crew member intervened and told her to go to her seat, and reiterated that they should ask the other passenger if they wished to swap. Needless to say, Mrs 1D had no intention whatsoever of changing her prime seat for a window seat in row 6, and the sat down very grumpily (I don't think her friend bothered asking her seatmate to swap!
It was funny watching the behaviour of Mrs 1D though. She dumped her huge bag in the centre seat immediately the seatbelt light went off trying to stop me getting any benefit from it (didn't need it as I already had everything I needed for the flight), tried to obstruct the F&B service ( but the nice FA simply leaned round the bulkhead to hand me my drink and then my food tray), and refused to move to let me out for the loo - again the set up meant that I didn't actually need her to move, so all her attempts to make me uncomfortable and punish me for not giving in were absolutely wasted. Her infantile behaviour was not lost on other passengers in the cabin either, quite a few of whom laughed with me as we were waiting for our luggage. The cabin crew were also highly amused by her antics, as the chap who had thrown the middle seat squatter out rolled his eyes in her direction as I went back to my seat.
My own experience was on a BA flight from AMS to LGW. I had selected seat 1F when online check in opened (and I had nearly the whole cabin to choose from at that point), and was one of the first to board and settle into my seat with my book. I became aware of a couple of older ladies standing in the aisle having a discussion ABOUT me rather than WITH me.
One of the ladies was clearly my 1D seat mate, and they wanted me to swap seats with her friend, but weren't asking me outright - it was things like "I'm sure she'll move for you" and "we need to sit together" rather than "Excuse me would you mind swapping seats with me as I would like to sit next to my friend?". I interrupted their chat and told them that I would not be changing my front row window seat for her aisle seat at the rear of the cabin, and suggested that if they wished to sit together, that they could ask the person at the back if they would like to swap for the front row.
At this point, the companion attempted to sit in 1E (BA block out the centre seat in their business cabin) at which point the cabin crew member intervened and told her to go to her seat, and reiterated that they should ask the other passenger if they wished to swap. Needless to say, Mrs 1D had no intention whatsoever of changing her prime seat for a window seat in row 6, and the sat down very grumpily (I don't think her friend bothered asking her seatmate to swap!
It was funny watching the behaviour of Mrs 1D though. She dumped her huge bag in the centre seat immediately the seatbelt light went off trying to stop me getting any benefit from it (didn't need it as I already had everything I needed for the flight), tried to obstruct the F&B service ( but the nice FA simply leaned round the bulkhead to hand me my drink and then my food tray), and refused to move to let me out for the loo - again the set up meant that I didn't actually need her to move, so all her attempts to make me uncomfortable and punish me for not giving in were absolutely wasted. Her infantile behaviour was not lost on other passengers in the cabin either, quite a few of whom laughed with me as we were waiting for our luggage. The cabin crew were also highly amused by her antics, as the chap who had thrown the middle seat squatter out rolled his eyes in her direction as I went back to my seat.
Sep 14, 2016, 9:56 am
#827
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,572
That is exactly what I do (standing), but only because I know some people are bothered by sitting. The standing/sitting distinction seems arbitrary, but to each his own.
Sep 14, 2016, 11:16 am
#829
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,366
It's not at all arbitrary, the distinction is clear: you ask before sitting it's a request. You park your arse in my seat without asking it's poaching. There only seems to be one person in this thread who seems to have trouble seeing the difference.
Sep 14, 2016, 12:07 pm
#830
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: IAH
Posts: 29
I also don't understand why someone would need to stand by the seat they want as opposed to going to their assigned seat first. Presumably they want the trade to sit with their companion. They can take their assigned seat and their companion can ask about the swap before the passenger sits down. If they're not trying to sit with a companion surely they don't deserve the new seat over it's rightful owner as they think it is better than the one they already have.
When travelling with my family of 5 I book windows and aisles in 3 adjacent rows. That way we may luck out to have an empty middle seat and if not and desire to sit together usually the middle passenger would prefer an aisle or window and make the trade and if they don't so be it. Most of the time we don't even ask, I'm happy in the aisle with one of the kids at the window with a passenger in between (note, virtual non-existent interaction needed, we're not disturbing the middle passenger). We've also experienced plane changes and our seats shifted around far apart from each other for a TPAC but there is no need to sit together, we can survive sitting separately.
When travelling with my family of 5 I book windows and aisles in 3 adjacent rows. That way we may luck out to have an empty middle seat and if not and desire to sit together usually the middle passenger would prefer an aisle or window and make the trade and if they don't so be it. Most of the time we don't even ask, I'm happy in the aisle with one of the kids at the window with a passenger in between (note, virtual non-existent interaction needed, we're not disturbing the middle passenger). We've also experienced plane changes and our seats shifted around far apart from each other for a TPAC but there is no need to sit together, we can survive sitting separately.
Sep 14, 2016, 12:13 pm
#831
Join Date: May 2015
Location: South Florida
Programs: DL Skymiles KE Skypass
Posts: 2,363
When travelling with my family of 5 I book windows and aisles in 3 adjacent rows. That way we may luck out to have an empty middle seat and if not and desire to sit together usually the middle passenger would prefer an aisle or window and make the trade and if they don't so be it. Most of the time we don't even ask, I'm happy in the aisle with one of the kids at the window with a passenger in between (note, virtual non-existent interaction needed, we're not disturbing the middle passenger). We've also experienced plane changes and our seats shifted around far apart from each other for a TPAC but there is no need to sit together, we can survive sitting separately.
I understand selecting a window/aisle in the row of 2 and hoping the middle will stay free as a better choice than a middle with either the window or aisle in the row of 2.
Sep 14, 2016, 12:22 pm
#832
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: IAH
Posts: 29
Question-Do you actually pay to select your seats upon booking and if you do, why not select the entire row of 3 on one side of the plane and the other two in the row in front or behind?
I understand selecting a window/aisle in the row of 2 and hoping the middle will stay free as a better choice than a middle with either the window or aisle in the row of 2.
I understand selecting a window/aisle in the row of 2 and hoping the middle will stay free as a better choice than a middle with either the window or aisle in the row of 2.
Sep 14, 2016, 1:29 pm
#833
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
I asked him what seat he was assigned, just in case it happened to be better. He showed me a BP for a middle seat a few rows up, and tried to fold the BP so I wouldn't see the "NRSA" printed on the pass...that means he is non-rev. However, I glimpsed it before he covered it up.
The second indication was that his GF, who he wanted to sit next to, later took out her UA id badge and placed it on her tray table, and got into a conversation with the window seat pax...basically telling him that both she and her BF (the poacher) were airline emps flying non-rev, and that he was a WN employee.
Normally you won't get so lucky as to get a full admission like that. However, you can usually tell by asking to see their BP and looking for NRSA, and by their interaction with the cabin crew which tend to be very familiar. You may also see them before the flight at the GA desk because they are flying standby most of the time and eager to see if they are going to make the flight.
Sep 14, 2016, 1:32 pm
#834
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
The thing is that the non-rev is question wasn't even riding on his/her own airline. United can't really punish someone that doesn't work for them. And I seriously doubt Southwest would even take the time to figure who it was out of thousands of employees, especially when it wasn't even on their own metal. Unless you got their name, I doubt any boss would look much into it.
I did hear back from UA on the matter and advised that the GF had been counseled as to proper non-rev behavior. I did not hear from WN. I assume this means she was responsible for him and therefore he was non-reving on her buddy pass.
Sep 14, 2016, 1:39 pm
#835
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
Besides, I don't want to feel their assheat in my seat once I sit in it.
Sep 14, 2016, 1:44 pm
#836
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,456
It was funny watching the behaviour of Mrs 1D though. She dumped her huge bag in the centre seat immediately the seatbelt light went off trying to stop me getting any benefit from it (didn't need it as I already had everything I needed for the flight), tried to obstruct the F&B service ( but the nice FA simply leaned round the bulkhead to hand me my drink and then my food tray), and refused to move to let me out for the loo - again the set up meant that I didn't actually need her to move, so all her attempts to make me uncomfortable and punish me for not giving in were absolutely wasted. Her infantile behaviour was not lost on other passengers in the cabin either, quite a few of whom laughed with me as we were waiting for our luggage. The cabin crew were also highly amused by her antics, as the chap who had thrown the middle seat squatter out rolled his eyes in her direction as I went back to my seat.
I continue along this line until I've completely and utterly swamped THEIR passive aggressive nonsense with some of my own. Usually takes about five minutes. After that, it's just another flight sitting next to a stranger.
Sep 14, 2016, 3:49 pm
#837
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
I also don't understand why someone would need to stand by the seat they want as opposed to going to their assigned seat first. Presumably they want the trade to sit with their companion. They can take their assigned seat and their companion can ask about the swap before the passenger sits down.
You're saying it's less inconvenient to sit down in your seat and then get up and move to another seat, than to just go and sit directly in your new seat?
Sep 14, 2016, 4:08 pm
#838
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: QFF Gold, Flying Blue, Enrich
Posts: 5,366
What new seat? It's the poacher who'll be moving.
Sep 14, 2016, 5:22 pm
#839
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
The "companion" may be a child, and usually it's better if an adult makes the request.
Sep 14, 2016, 6:30 pm
#840
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
At least it's at my choice. I cannot sit my seat if someone is there already, and then I have to engage in an awkward interaction. If I am already there, I am probably going to say no anyhow as I almost always refuse swaps because they are not offering a better seat..if they ARE offering one, then getting up is worth the trouble.