Seat Swap Request Horror Stories
Dec 16, 2016, 1:04 pm
#916
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PDX
Programs: DL, UA, AA, BA, AS, SPG, MR, IHG, PC
Posts: 862
I lost my empty empty middle to somebody moving out of his family's row of three to give the other two more room. When the FA asked if he was in his assigned seat, he wouldn't move back and she didn't force him. He said he was more comfortable in my row. Most FAs just want to avoid confrontation.
Dec 16, 2016, 1:52 pm
#917
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 960
Dec 16, 2016, 3:17 pm
#918
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: LST
Programs: HH, VA, QF, SQ, Air NZ
Posts: 169
Dec 16, 2016, 5:42 pm
#920
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Dec 16, 2016, 5:50 pm
#921
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
Programs: Alaska Million Miler, United Million Miler, Wyndham Rewards Diamond, Choice Hotels Diamond
Posts: 12,148
How do you establish ownership over a seat that hasn't been assigned to you or a traveling partner? As London Elite mentioned above, this would seem an awkward thing to actually enforce...
Last edited by Seat 2A; Dec 16, 2016 at 6:00 pm
Dec 16, 2016, 7:35 pm
#922
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
You'd have to come equipped ... with enough material to make the seat look occupied ... or non-op .... or filthy ...
Dec 16, 2016, 8:18 pm
#923
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,884
Dec 16, 2016, 8:32 pm
#924
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
When I was younger and less observant of rules, I used a sticker on my weekly train commute that made the seat look torn and expose some metal. It did work fairly well, I have to admit.
Dec 16, 2016, 9:16 pm
#925
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Programs: Delta Silver thanks to Million Miles; Choice Plat., point scrounger everywhere
Posts: 1,595
It seems like you could say something like "The gate agent told me they were blocking this seat for us. Do you have a boarding pass showing this seat assignment?"
Dec 16, 2016, 9:29 pm
#926
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,884
Well, you *could* say something like "Do you know at what distance Tuberculosis is contagious? I was hoping to keep this seat empty until we could get an authoritative answer."
Dec 16, 2016, 9:29 pm
#927
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,042
I did ask the FA to help. She asked the guy to move but he refused, saying he was more comfortable in my row. He was not going gently and she didn't push it any further.
Dec 16, 2016, 9:38 pm
#928
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Dec 16, 2016, 10:40 pm
#929
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Programs: AA PLT, 1.8mm
Posts: 6,988
the few times that someone has attempted to sit in an empty middle (I'm always aisle), I politely ask what they're doing as they try to squeeze past me and inform them that is my seat as I bought 2 seats for my comfort and mild claustrophobia. The person has always apologized and returned to their original seat. As in life, having a believable poker face (or being a sociopathic liar) is a useful skill to have.
Dec 16, 2016, 11:15 pm
#930
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,373
