Switching seats between Economy and Business with Traveling Companions [Consolidated]
Feb 13, 2020, 5:53 pm
#226
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Interestingly, AA is getting grief on Twitter right now over a similar issue.
https://twitter.com/AmericanAir/stat...50876792426496
https://twitter.com/AmericanAir/stat...50876792426496
https://www.foxnews.com/travel/plane......-seat-woman
what an awful response from aa
Feb 13, 2020, 10:31 pm
#228
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,830
Gotcha, thanks
Feb 25, 2020, 11:24 am
#229
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: UA,WN,AA,DL, B6
Posts: 4,168
First Class Seat
This was on AA passenger got in trouble with FA for giving his first class seat to a relative and trading and taking a coach seat.
In the days I was a CO Elite status flyer and got upgraded to F often. On many occasions gave the first class seat to my mom. A few times on a shorter flight gave the F seat to a stranger so a husband and wife could sit together. The AA FA said it was a security issue to trade seats since first class is located right behind the cockpit. I don’t get that everyone goes through the same security.
Anyone else have issues with this. Do we need to get approved before exchanging seats between first class and coach.
In the days I was a CO Elite status flyer and got upgraded to F often. On many occasions gave the first class seat to my mom. A few times on a shorter flight gave the F seat to a stranger so a husband and wife could sit together. The AA FA said it was a security issue to trade seats since first class is located right behind the cockpit. I don’t get that everyone goes through the same security.
Anyone else have issues with this. Do we need to get approved before exchanging seats between first class and coach.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 25, 2020 at 11:29 am Reason: moved to master thread
Feb 25, 2020, 12:34 pm
#230
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,417
This was on AA passenger got in trouble with FA for giving his first class seat to a relative and trading and taking a coach seat.
In the days I was a CO Elite status flyer and got upgraded to F often. On many occasions gave the first class seat to my mom. A few times on a shorter flight gave the F seat to a stranger so a husband and wife could sit together. The AA FA said it was a security issue to trade seats since first class is located right behind the cockpit. I don’t get that everyone goes through the same security.
Anyone else have issues with this. Do we need to get approved before exchanging seats between first class and coach.
In the days I was a CO Elite status flyer and got upgraded to F often. On many occasions gave the first class seat to my mom. A few times on a shorter flight gave the F seat to a stranger so a husband and wife could sit together. The AA FA said it was a security issue to trade seats since first class is located right behind the cockpit. I don’t get that everyone goes through the same security.
Anyone else have issues with this. Do we need to get approved before exchanging seats between first class and coach.
I have not heard anyone claim that F cabin pax get heightened security screening. And I have no idea how that would be handled with at-the-gate upgrades many airlines use (and if it is, then has anyone every seen an upgrade lost because they didn't meet the "security" requirements?).
Feb 27, 2020, 1:17 am
#231
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: UA,WN,AA,DL, B6
Posts: 4,168
Just saw a article about different airlines and rules about switching seats in classes. United says not allowed do to the safety and security of other passengers. Don’t get that. If I buy a first class ticket I don’t go through extra security. Just because your seating closest to the cockpit door F passengers don’t get extra security.
Jun 19, 2021, 2:05 pm
#232
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 83
Link cash ticket with award ticket and swap seats
1. I am planning to book AUS-EWR (Economy) using cash and EWR-BOM (Business) with miles. Will I be able to link the 2 tickets and get the same baggage allowance as the EWR-BOM segment?
2. Can 1 family member swap his business seat with another family member's economy seat at the beginning of the flight for the entire duration?
Thanks!
2. Can 1 family member swap his business seat with another family member's economy seat at the beginning of the flight for the entire duration?
Thanks!
Jun 19, 2021, 2:42 pm
#233
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
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1. I am planning to book AUS-EWR (Economy) using cash and EWR-BOM (Business) with miles. Will I be able to link the 2 tickets and get the same baggage allowance as the EWR-BOM segment?
2. Can 1 family member swap his business seat with another family member's economy seat at the beginning of the flight for the entire duration?
Thanks!
2. Can 1 family member swap his business seat with another family member's economy seat at the beginning of the flight for the entire duration?
Thanks!
They will check the bag through to BOM in AUS and you should get the business allowance, if you don't buy a BE ticket AUS-EWR, in which case that won't work.
Generally speaking, you are o.k. swapping a seat for the entire flight with a family member; you cannot switch seats during the flight.
Jun 19, 2021, 3:55 pm
#234
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Is it possible to book award and revenue (cash) tickets on the same PNR? No.
You can check bags thru two separate UA PNRs. (cash or award) Allow extra time and UA will usually offer the higher allowance
Checking baggage through on separate UA operated reservations...
Doing at boarding and never changing can work -- just inform the head FA. During the flight, that is much trickier. Some crews will allow and a few will push back. At best just once and best not to take things (like food and drinks) back to the other passengers. That sort of sharing is highly frowned upon
Jun 19, 2021, 5:50 pm
#235
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 83
You cannot link tickets. Your greatest risk is a flight irops; book a LONG connection in EWR. Is EWR-BOM less miles than AUS-EWR-BOM? That's rare. Or is there no X/XN available AUS-EWR?
They will check the bag through to BOM in AUS and you should get the business allowance, if you don't buy a BE ticket AUS-EWR, in which case that won't work.
Generally speaking, you are o.k. swapping a seat for the entire flight with a family member; you cannot switch seats during the flight.
They will check the bag through to BOM in AUS and you should get the business allowance, if you don't buy a BE ticket AUS-EWR, in which case that won't work.
Generally speaking, you are o.k. swapping a seat for the entire flight with a family member; you cannot switch seats during the flight.
And yes, EWR-BOM is 75k miles, AUS-EWR-BOM is 180k miles. Go figure.
You can not link or put on one PNR a cash and award ticket
Is it possible to book award and revenue (cash) tickets on the same PNR? No.
You can check bags thru two separate UA PNRs. (cash or award) Allow extra time and UA will usually offer the higher allowance
Checking baggage through on separate UA operated reservations...
Doing at boarding and never changing can work -- just inform the head FA. During the flight, that is much trickier. Some crews will allow and a few will push back. At best just once and best not to take things (like food and drinks) back to the other passengers. That sort of sharing is highly frowned upon
Is it possible to book award and revenue (cash) tickets on the same PNR? No.
You can check bags thru two separate UA PNRs. (cash or award) Allow extra time and UA will usually offer the higher allowance
Checking baggage through on separate UA operated reservations...
Doing at boarding and never changing can work -- just inform the head FA. During the flight, that is much trickier. Some crews will allow and a few will push back. At best just once and best not to take things (like food and drinks) back to the other passengers. That sort of sharing is highly frowned upon
Jun 19, 2021, 7:50 pm
#236
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
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BE ticket is Basic Economy. With that you can't claim to connect to an intl. C-class flight ... they will charge you regardless.
Jun 19, 2021, 9:29 pm
#237
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 27
You are correct & I was about to point this out. The rule is often inappropriately attributed to FAA, but it's actually DHS which prohibits pax movements between cabins on flights to/from USA.
That said, it's honored in the breach. Best way to get to "yes" is to ask politely, explain that you won't be a bother, don't do it during meal service (I mean the F service) and do it just once. Also, make sure the crew understands that you aren't looking for extra service (in other words, they aren't serving 2 pax the F meals !).
If the answer is "no" just grin and bear it. It only takes one dissatisfied FA to rat out his/her supervisor for the violation.
That said, it's honored in the breach. Best way to get to "yes" is to ask politely, explain that you won't be a bother, don't do it during meal service (I mean the F service) and do it just once. Also, make sure the crew understands that you aren't looking for extra service (in other words, they aren't serving 2 pax the F meals !).
If the answer is "no" just grin and bear it. It only takes one dissatisfied FA to rat out his/her supervisor for the violation.
Or looking for alcohol. Second person doesn’t get alcohol either.
Jun 20, 2021, 3:24 pm
#238
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 83
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA;33341435
You can check bags thru two separate UA PNRs. (cash or award) Allow extra time and UA will usually offer the higher allowance
[url
You can check bags thru two separate UA PNRs. (cash or award) Allow extra time and UA will usually offer the higher allowance
[url
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1752559-checking-baggage-through-separate-ua-operated-reservations.html
Thank you!
Last edited by rbaustin; Jun 20, 2021 at 3:51 pm
Jun 20, 2021, 4:01 pm
#239
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Thanks for the link to the other thread. In order to check bags through, they need to create a dummy booking in SHARES and that there needs to be a seat available for them to be able make the booking. Do they need to find a J class seat for the EWR-BOM segment and add it to the AUS-EWR PNR? Or do they need to find a Y class sear for the AUS-EWR segment and add it to the EWR-BOM PNR? Regardless how they do that, the first segment will be Y class and they might only allow Y baggage allowance instead of J allowance. Wanted to confirm this before buying tickets.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Once the dummy J segment is in the ticket, the ticket will have a J allowance even if the first segment is in Y.
After getting the bags handled the dummy segment is removed.
Again, allow time for this and don't rush the agent (this is not a popular activity)
More discussion in the referenced thread.
Oct 1, 2022, 2:05 pm
#240
formerly wunderpit
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ONT-SNA-LAX
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Posts: 1,337
Seat Swapping
There may be an existing thread for this question, but not sure.
Long haul flight. Wife is in Polaris. I am in Premium Econ with my daughter. We are both 1k (I am MM, wife is my companion). Is there a "courtesy" one-time seat switch allowed in a situation like this? More specifically, my wife would start in Polaris, do the meal service and all. About halfway through the flight, we would do a one-time switch and I would fly the remainder in Polaris. There would be no attempt at double-dipping meals or anything. I would probably just work and sleep.
Anyone ever do this?
Long haul flight. Wife is in Polaris. I am in Premium Econ with my daughter. We are both 1k (I am MM, wife is my companion). Is there a "courtesy" one-time seat switch allowed in a situation like this? More specifically, my wife would start in Polaris, do the meal service and all. About halfway through the flight, we would do a one-time switch and I would fly the remainder in Polaris. There would be no attempt at double-dipping meals or anything. I would probably just work and sleep.
Anyone ever do this?
