AC once downgraded 5 (or 6) paid business to economy from HKG to Toronto. Each got an empty seat next to them. I got a row of 4 to myself. The FA's new of our situtation. One asked if I would give up one of my seats during the boarding process when I was still beyond pissed (note, I was continuing on from Toronto to south america). I growled and they knew the answer was NO! After about 8 hours curled up on 3 of the seats, a guy took over one of them. It didn't bother me so I didn't say anything.

As an aside to this thread, the compensation was the difference in price + about $400 US, nothing else, not even business class food. And the people in the AC forum thought I got compensated fairly. But that's another story.

This can be something of a game in economy long-hauls. In April I flew to Brussels -- shoulder season, mid-week, not particularly crowded according to the seat map. It was clear that some of the pax were regulars on that route, and they had figured out a routine for choosing assigned seats strategically so they could colonize center rows and stretch out overnight. I had hoped to do the same thing, but they had the moves and the timing. At least I had Ambien.

I have been extremely lucky with seats on all my recent flights. Non status, i'd say 15% of time I have been upgraded, 50% of the time i have a bulkhead/exit seat (usually at the part where the business aisle meets the economy cabin (15m of legroom ) 30% of the time i get 3 or more seats (the best was on a completely full Air NZ 747, 2nd row middle 4 seats all mine (every other seat as far as i could see was full), I had to go to the restroom and come back and someone has poached 2 of my seats. I sit down and then I get asked if I want to go to business. I could see her from my business class seat was priceless. (I have no idea why this happened, I did have a nice chat with the check in agent, maybe the FA thought “hmm he had 4 seats, he could be important” and thus helped me out when i lost them).

On the rare occasion I don’t get a nice seat But its very rare, even when I don’t plan ahead (ie waiting on standby), still end up with a bulkhead or exit row

: ) now if only I had such luck on the stockmarket.

I fly once or twice a year from Hawaii to the mainland, almost always on red-eyes. On my most recent trip, the FA moved a passenger up to my row from the row behind. The two remaining people behind me stayed seated next to each other on the window and middle seat. The person who moved to my row was eating loudly much of the time and kept her reading light on. This was the only time in over twenty five years that a FA moved a passenger to my emptier row. I was upset - I think it is the luck of the draw to have an empty row. Noting rude about protecting your space.

+2

The seats in the back couple of rows are generally the last assigned and least desirable. When I see someone that has managed to snag a whole row (while I sit crammed in a middle seat), I might be jealous that they were quicker, had more status, knew the agent, etc., but I certainly don't think they are rude for stretching out and taking advantage of it!

I have been given a middle and isle seat when downgraded once, it was nice but I wasn't given a BP for it. I worried because the flight out someone jumped up to our middle seat since it was an exit row.

Had it happened on this return full flight, how would I had defended my extra seat?

BTW once the stranger seat mate found out about my added benefit, he seemed happy, and I can share..

Why do I always find sand on the isle seats?

Totally agree ^

Oh geez..

LOL

More than once I have had the window seat in a 2-3-2 config, with someone sitting next to me, and a number of the window/aisle combos empty. After the doors were closed, I moved to an empty window/aisle, taking the window, leaving my 'companion' behind, only to have the companion move to the window after takeoff. Bonehead!

Why? He may not be such a frequent flyer that he has the courage to get up after the doors are closed (or just take another seat to begin with). After you showed him that one can swap seats, it's not surprising that he moves to the window seat he prefered more anyway...

HTB.