Seat Swap Request Horror Stories
Jul 21, 2019, 5:49 am
#1036
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,331
Ok could do with some advice on how to follow up on this... on a 4ish hour flight, in Y.
About 20 minutes in the CC comes to me and says "Sorry sir, but would you mind swapping seats? The gentleman a few seats forward would like to sit next to the lady next to you. It's still an aisle seat."
Well, I mean ok, an aisle seat for a futher-forward aisle seat, not end of the world if a couple wants to sit together. I look to my seatmate, who says:
"Actually, please don't. You're nice and quiet, but I only just met him, he bought me coffee in the airport, and I really don't want to talk to him."
Uh.
I say to the CC "well, I think it's really up to her", and she pleads with the CC to pass the message forward she's sleeping or somesuch, so not only does he not swap, he doesn't come back to see what's going on. I make it clear I'm not moving if she doesn't want me to.
All that said: WWYD now? Leave it to her to take it up with the airline? Assume the guy spun such a story to the CC that the CC thought it was natural she'd want the same thing? Send a message to the airline explaining what happened and gently suggesting this isn't how the situation should have gone down?
About 20 minutes in the CC comes to me and says "Sorry sir, but would you mind swapping seats? The gentleman a few seats forward would like to sit next to the lady next to you. It's still an aisle seat."
Well, I mean ok, an aisle seat for a futher-forward aisle seat, not end of the world if a couple wants to sit together. I look to my seatmate, who says:
"Actually, please don't. You're nice and quiet, but I only just met him, he bought me coffee in the airport, and I really don't want to talk to him."
Uh.
I say to the CC "well, I think it's really up to her", and she pleads with the CC to pass the message forward she's sleeping or somesuch, so not only does he not swap, he doesn't come back to see what's going on. I make it clear I'm not moving if she doesn't want me to.
All that said: WWYD now? Leave it to her to take it up with the airline? Assume the guy spun such a story to the CC that the CC thought it was natural she'd want the same thing? Send a message to the airline explaining what happened and gently suggesting this isn't how the situation should have gone down?
Jul 21, 2019, 6:18 am
#1037
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,867
Jul 21, 2019, 7:04 am
#1038
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,331
Nothing confusing about that - the CC probably just assumed that the request came from a legitimate couple who had been split up by seat assignments. It probably never occurred to the CC that the request came from a guy who was hitting on a woman he had just met in the airport, without her knowledge or consent.
Jul 21, 2019, 7:25 am
#1039
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 30
I'd probably give a heads up to the FA. I tend to drink a lot of water on flights and I wouldn't want to have to worry if I use the restroom my seatmate will be harassed. They can also use the info they've been given to make an informed decision about giving this person booze, which may escalate the situation.
Jul 21, 2019, 10:14 am
#1041
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
I'd probably give a heads up to the FA. I tend to drink a lot of water on flights and I wouldn't want to have to worry if I use the restroom my seatmate will be harassed. They can also use the info they've been given to make an informed decision about giving this person booze, which may escalate the situation.
Jul 21, 2019, 2:04 pm
#1044
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Jul 21, 2019, 2:06 pm
#1045
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,228
Jul 21, 2019, 3:00 pm
#1046
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,867
Early departure so no booze involved. I slept most of the flight.