Blocking of adjacent seat
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Blocking of adjacent seat
I recently flew FRA-IST and the return on TK in economy. This was booked from EWR all on a UA ticket. I also separately flew IST-AYT and ADB-IST.
On the return, I went to the vip (*G) church in area. After I got my BP, the agent asked me if I'd like the adjustment seat blocked. At first I was confused, he explained he can block the seat so no one sits next to me. I agreed. The flight was nearly full and indeed no one was next to me.
Is this normal? I didn't get this service on any other flights
On the return, I went to the vip (*G) church in area. After I got my BP, the agent asked me if I'd like the adjustment seat blocked. At first I was confused, he explained he can block the seat so no one sits next to me. I agreed. The flight was nearly full and indeed no one was next to me.
Is this normal? I didn't get this service on any other flights
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
Really interesting. It wasn't offered to me during my TK flights, I hear this goodwill gesture from you.
I haven't flown IST-FRA, but flown FRA-IST recently and no gesture was made to me and I was kicked out of the priority boarding lane because Elites, Elite Plus's and *G's are not allowed to board early because of the COVID restriction ( back-to-front boarding ) and priority boarding is only offered to Business Class pax. That flight was operated with an A330-300 and had more than 95% occupancy in Economy Class.
I haven't flown IST-FRA, but flown FRA-IST recently and no gesture was made to me and I was kicked out of the priority boarding lane because Elites, Elite Plus's and *G's are not allowed to board early because of the COVID restriction ( back-to-front boarding ) and priority boarding is only offered to Business Class pax. That flight was operated with an A330-300 and had more than 95% occupancy in Economy Class.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: TK M&S, LH MM, Global Entry, Hertz Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,087
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Really interesting. It wasn't offered to me during my TK flights, I hear this goodwill gesture from you.
I haven't flown IST-FRA, but flown FRA-IST recently and no gesture was made to me and I was kicked out of the priority boarding lane because Elites, Elite Plus's and *G's are not allowed to board early because of the COVID restriction ( back-to-front boarding ) and priority boarding is only offered to Business Class pax. That flight was operated with an A330-300 and had more than 95% occupancy in Economy Class.
I haven't flown IST-FRA, but flown FRA-IST recently and no gesture was made to me and I was kicked out of the priority boarding lane because Elites, Elite Plus's and *G's are not allowed to board early because of the COVID restriction ( back-to-front boarding ) and priority boarding is only offered to Business Class pax. That flight was operated with an A330-300 and had more than 95% occupancy in Economy Class.
I was not offered it on FRA-IST, however, I was connecting from EWR-FRA on UA. My only interaction with a TK agent was when I asked them to print me a boarding card. Wasn't offered anything at that point. Though I was never asked to show my COVID test either which was surprising.
On each of my TK flights, I was able to board early as a *G. Maybe your flights were earlier in the pandemic. They still do back to front but they are allowing priority boarding.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
This was the first time anyone offered it so I was caught off guard but I also have only flown TK a handful of times. I had just had a minor argument with the guy about the requirement to fill out a form even though I was just transiting Germany. Anyways, even if only *G get this perk, that's still a lot of people (at least pre-COVID).
I was not offered it on FRA-IST, however, I was connecting from EWR-FRA on UA. My only interaction with a TK agent was when I asked them to print me a boarding card. Wasn't offered anything at that point. Though I was never asked to show my COVID test either which was surprising.
On each of my TK flights, I was able to board early as a *G. Maybe your flights were earlier in the pandemic. They still do back to front but they are allowing priority boarding.
I was not offered it on FRA-IST, however, I was connecting from EWR-FRA on UA. My only interaction with a TK agent was when I asked them to print me a boarding card. Wasn't offered anything at that point. Though I was never asked to show my COVID test either which was surprising.
On each of my TK flights, I was able to board early as a *G. Maybe your flights were earlier in the pandemic. They still do back to front but they are allowing priority boarding.
The station manager was at the priority lane and checking boarding pass when I said "Elite Plus" he said "Nein" in German and sent me back to the regular lane.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Interesting. 21 Mar 2021 TK1588 FRA-IST and TK 2426 IST-AYT, 24 Mar 2021 TK2329 ADB-IST, 27 Mar 2021 TK1587 IST-FRA, All had no issue in the priority lane. They were turning away people in front of me but did not turn me away. The one time I was asked, I said "Star Gold". I do recall on TK1588 I think, they were boarding the regular line and the priority line simultaneously. I was standing in the regular line near the front, then saw the "Star Gold" on the priority line so got out of line and went to the end of the priority line not realize they did both simultaneously and ended up boarding later than I would have in the regular line.