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Originally Posted by SPN Lifer
Exactly. But there's no harm in trying. "Seat blocking" strategems do not work on me either in busses, or when I have an "inferior" airline seat at door close, and the "musical chairs" begins.
Sometimes I have fun with it. I was on a 747 in coach (3-4-3) on an inside aisle, when a group of ebullient German-speaking soccer players took the three seats to my right, and some in the center rows fore and aft. Because they were all conversing loudly (and perhaps a little drunkenly), they did not seem inclined to move. The three-seat window row to my left was empty. Behind that row was a family consisting of parents and a mid-teenage boy. He saw me eyeing the empty row, and beat me to the punch, grabbing the window seat (perhaps even before the door was closed). Check. As soon as the door did close, I moved into the middle seat next to him, with a friendly, "It's always nice to be able to see out of the window, isn't it?" Mate. He almost immediately moved somewhere further aft, and I had the whole row to myself. |
Originally Posted by MKE-MR
This is exactly my issue/question. Several times now I have observed the following:
Somebody (me or other) is settled down comfortably in exit row window. Somebody else in aisle. Both people have status, so both assume that since the flight is maybe 40% full, that seat will stay empty between them. Door closes and somebody comes scurrying up from the back of the plane and wedges in between the other two, into the middle exit row seat. To me, that seems unfortunate at best, and unfair at worst. For all the reasons previously mentioned, if somebody wanted the seat they could have asked for it beforehand, at the gate, the FA, or even asked permission of the two people who are being inconvenienced. But in most of these cases the guy (never had a woman do this) doesn't even ask permission. He might say excuse me to get by, but that's it. I don't think that person is entitled to the seat. Am I wrong? Maybe I should say something when this happens to me, and just be a ----- about it, instead of quietly steaming for a few minutes (or longer if he's gigantic and elbowing me in the ribs the whole way while kicking off his shoes and revealing bare feet :mad: ) but being essentially non-confrontational. |
Open seating simplifies the issue
This question is much easier to answer on Southwest. You have as much right to any seat as anyone else. It is simple to determine how many passengers are on the plane before boarding starts, or you can estimate it from the size of the B and C lines. Then you can decide whether you want to try for an empty seat next to you or not. If there are fewer than 50 passengers, you can try for an empty row.
Your best bet in any case other than a full flight is to choose an undesirable row, certainly not the exit row. Some of the other techniques here work the same, but on Southwest they are not considered particularly rude because again anybody can choose any set. However, on Southwest there is a fun game you can play called "unite the couple". When you see two people occupying window and aisle and who appear to be traveling together, you choose the seat between them. They will almost always give you the aisle or window. Open seating takes some getting used to, but once you know the system it is superior IMO to assigned seating. Open seating lets you choose either where you sit (if you check in online and board early) or next to whom you sit (if you board later). Because of this element of choice, on Southwest a higher percentage of passengers will be satisfied with their seats. And you don't have to reserve your seat weeks ahead of time. |
When my daughter was a baby (5 months old), she and I flew on a wide body plane SEA/MSP/TPA. We were in the center section of the bulk head row in coach. I was on one aisle and another Mom with a new baby on the other aisle. All other seats in the row were empty.
The babies were angels and slept all the way to MSP, so I was very surprised when a gentleman attempted to take one of the middle seats the other Mom said, "Wow. I hope the babies don't start screaming again as soon as we take off". The man moved immediately. ;) She was light years ahead of me in the seat strategy game. |
The BO Strategy
[QUOTE=FemaleFlyer]I know this is selfish, but I was wondering about tactics to "protect" the empty seat next to you. QUOTE]
Don't shower the night before. Strong body odor will likely discourage others from sitting next to you. :) |
Kids as seat protectors
Originally Posted by Punki
When my daughter was a baby (5 months old), she and I flew on a wide body plane SEA/MSP/TPA. We were in the center section of the bulk head row in coach. I was on one aisle and another Mom with a new baby on the other aisle. All other seats in the row were empty.
The babies were angels and slept all the way to MSP, so I was very surprised when a gentleman attempted to take one of the middle seats the other Mom said, "Wow. I hope the babies don't start screaming again as soon as we take off". The man moved immediately. ;) She was light years ahead of me in the seat strategy game. |
We all want our cake and be able to eat it!!
We can all be selfish and want all the room to ourselves. We also often expect other people to behave more genorously than we would do. We all want the seats with more space and even the empty seat next to us with more space. We all want F comfort but only pay Y. HUMANS ARE A PECULIAR SPECIES HUH? |
Originally Posted by MKE-MR
I don't think that person is entitled to the seat. Am I wrong?
Originally Posted by MKE-MR
... if he's elbowing me in the ribs the whole way while kicking off his shoes and revealing bare feet ...
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