Seat Swap Request Horror Stories
#961
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
Yes, it has been discussed here before. Yes, it's a selfish choice, just like any choice is when one makes a preferred selection in a first-come-first-served world. You could make your "picture the guy forced to select only middles" argument against selecting a window or aisle in the first place, so the logic there is flawed. Yes, the guy may be unlucky and not pick the seat between me and my wife (so he never knows what could have been) or he picks that one and gets an "upgrade" to a window or aisle.
This really feels like a non-issue to me.
This really feels like a non-issue to me.
And as someone who has been assigned a middle-seat only to find it was between a couple that had booked aisle and window I was more than happy to take my impromptu "upgrade."
#962
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,455
If I and my wife book two aisles across from each other, are we violating courtesy by not sitting on the same side of the aircraft and gaming the system by sitting "together" while not taking a middle?
#963
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Southern California
Programs: AA EXPlat, 2.4MM; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 580
Of course it isn't a violation of courtesy or anything else. If my wife and I are in the main cabin we generally take aisle-across seats.
#964
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,455
Well, I don't think so either obviously. But what's the difference between taking two desirable seats separated by an aisle and two desirable seats separated by a not so desirable seat. I don't get the idea that if two people are booking together and one doesn't book the undesirable seat it's considered by some to be discourteous or selfish.
#965
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
Well, I don't think so either obviously. But what's the difference between taking two desirable seats separated by an aisle and two desirable seats separated by a not so desirable seat. I don't get the idea that if two people are booking together and one doesn't book the undesirable seat it's considered by some to be discourteous or selfish.
Two pax booking adjacent aisles don’t intend to move. They recognize that aisles may not line up perfectly, they can’t hold hands or be constantly passing things back and forth due to normal aisle traffic. Same for those who book two windows.
Two pax booking aisle and window window leaving the middle seat open intend to sit together more often than not. Or be a pest to the middle seat occupant by holding conversations, passing items, or otherwise being discourteous. Those who book with this intention are usually the same ones who request seat swaps so they can stay with their SO when last minute bookings mean they’re not in the same row. If you can’t bear to be separated, then book adjacent seats.
#966
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 115
When you reserve two aisle seats you reserve two seats. When you reserve an aisle and a window you try to reserve three seats.
#967
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
It shouldn't need a "hall monitor" to let someone know their behaviour is boorish, but once pointed out it takes a certain kind of bad manners to continue.
#968
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 35
#969
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Plum Nelly
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Delta Sky Miles, and S&H Green Stamps
Posts: 636
#970
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,884
#971
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 177
So now we are having the same pointless conversation across two threads!
The Official Rules* are, a couple may freely book a window and aisle in the hope of having the middle free, provided that if they are unlucky and the middle seat is assigned:
(a) They ask politely if the middle seat occupant would mind switching
(b) The switch is entirely at the discretion of the middle seat occupant (ie they may choose to switch to window or aisle, or not switch at all). The requesters must accept this decision as final without protests, eyeroll, DYKWIA or similar behaviour.
(c) If the middle seat occupant declines to switch, the aisle/window occupants must under no circumstances chat, pass things, intrude on the middle space or in any way make the middle seat occupant uncomfortable.
(d) Also, the middle seat occupant may not "punish" the requesters if for some bizarre reason think they hold the high moral ground and/or the requesters are breaking some sort of sacred moral code (they aren't). No belching, grunting, spreading, snoring, getting up 15 times for the loo etc. Just behave like a normal decent person already.
(*According to me, and all sensible people)
Now, stop it, and get a life, you people.
The Official Rules* are, a couple may freely book a window and aisle in the hope of having the middle free, provided that if they are unlucky and the middle seat is assigned:
(a) They ask politely if the middle seat occupant would mind switching
(b) The switch is entirely at the discretion of the middle seat occupant (ie they may choose to switch to window or aisle, or not switch at all). The requesters must accept this decision as final without protests, eyeroll, DYKWIA or similar behaviour.
(c) If the middle seat occupant declines to switch, the aisle/window occupants must under no circumstances chat, pass things, intrude on the middle space or in any way make the middle seat occupant uncomfortable.
(d) Also, the middle seat occupant may not "punish" the requesters if for some bizarre reason think they hold the high moral ground and/or the requesters are breaking some sort of sacred moral code (they aren't). No belching, grunting, spreading, snoring, getting up 15 times for the loo etc. Just behave like a normal decent person already.
(*According to me, and all sensible people)
Now, stop it, and get a life, you people.
Last edited by secondsoprano; Oct 25, 2018 at 7:06 pm Reason: more info
#972
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Erstwhile Accidental AC E35K
Posts: 2,916
Mrs Sopwith and I have done the aisle/window seat choice a few times. As long as airlines persist in charging for seat selection (directly or indirectly) I'm going to select what we want from among what is available at the time. And we don't offer to switch because that wasn't the point. We do tend to minimize crosstalk and passing things, but I don't see it as any different than a FA passing things back and forth across two seats.
If someone is unlucky enough to get the seat between us, that comes with the territory as far as I'm concerned. Next time pay the $ to select a seat, or book earlier if you have to.
We've also done the two adjacent aisle seat choice a few times and feel the same way. If they're available we'll take them without compunction if that's what we want.
I've put up with enough crap from other rowdy groups who heckle each other over two or three rows, stand in the aisle to chat with the person next to me or across from me with their butt in my nose, kids kicking my seatback, etc. I don't need any more crap from people who are offended when we sit quietly one seat apart.
If someone is unlucky enough to get the seat between us, that comes with the territory as far as I'm concerned. Next time pay the $ to select a seat, or book earlier if you have to.
We've also done the two adjacent aisle seat choice a few times and feel the same way. If they're available we'll take them without compunction if that's what we want.
I've put up with enough crap from other rowdy groups who heckle each other over two or three rows, stand in the aisle to chat with the person next to me or across from me with their butt in my nose, kids kicking my seatback, etc. I don't need any more crap from people who are offended when we sit quietly one seat apart.
#974
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Erstwhile Accidental AC E35K
Posts: 2,916