Switching seats between Economy and Business with Traveling Companions [Consolidated]
Sep 12, 2011, 7:08 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: LHR
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Switching seats between Economy and Business with Traveling Companions [Consolidated]
I'm travelling next week with my aunt and we are travelling on the same outbound flight but a different return. I called United but they say they cannot merge the outbound itinerary’s in order to avail of the companion upgrade feature.
If I were to get a UDU on the domestic leg of our trip, would there be a problem with me giving my aunt my boarding pass, taking her E+ seat and letting her have my F seat?
Would it be a case of explaining it to the flight attendant or is this considered foul practice? If It makes any difference, we will be travelling with my mother who is on an F ticket for the entire journey.
I don't want to try it only to find it is frowned upon!
Thanks
If I were to get a UDU on the domestic leg of our trip, would there be a problem with me giving my aunt my boarding pass, taking her E+ seat and letting her have my F seat?
Would it be a case of explaining it to the flight attendant or is this considered foul practice? If It makes any difference, we will be travelling with my mother who is on an F ticket for the entire journey.
I don't want to try it only to find it is frowned upon!
Thanks
Sep 12, 2011, 7:33 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
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Posts: 2,862
The only time they ever attempt to verify is when it is meal time. Your aunt can always state that you are sitting in the back of the bus if asked. So far I have never had problems with giving up my UDU seat to my mother.
I have only seen them count the number of open FC seats (rarely happens on domestic) and check if that matches with the total on the passenger manifest.
I have only seen them count the number of open FC seats (rarely happens on domestic) and check if that matches with the total on the passenger manifest.
Sep 13, 2011, 11:34 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
As long as the change is permanent, it should not be a problem. Just sit in their seat and they sit in your seat. If for some reason you actually get asked about it, just have the person up-front say "I'm traveling with (your name) and we switched seats."
If you're switching seats mid-flight, it might be a bigger issue.
If you're switching seats mid-flight, it might be a bigger issue.
Sep 13, 2011, 12:25 pm
#8
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Last time I did it (always for my SO), I got her 17A on the old 777, so lots of kudos for little pain. However, she deemed that I was getting on too well with my seat mate in 17B (who had also swapped with her BF) and so there was some difficulty later to ensure that everything was in order (sadly, it was). But the difficulty was from the SOs, not the FAs.
Sep 13, 2011, 2:08 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
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I was on a CO flight where the GA came on board and called someone from Y to fill a vacant F seat. He sent a woman up to take the seat and the GA announced that if the person specified wasn't going to take the seat, she was obligated to offer the upgrade to the next elite on the list. So the guy took the seat.
I have never seen this on UA, and it is a sample of only 1, so as always, YMMV.
I have never seen this on UA, and it is a sample of only 1, so as always, YMMV.
Sep 14, 2011, 9:35 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
I was on a CO flight where the GA came on board and called someone from Y to fill a vacant F seat. He sent a woman up to take the seat and the GA announced that if the person specified wasn't going to take the seat, she was obligated to offer the upgrade to the next elite on the list. So the guy took the seat.
I have never seen this on UA, and it is a sample of only 1, so as always, YMMV.
I have never seen this on UA, and it is a sample of only 1, so as always, YMMV.
If they have not called out a name and end up with a gender switch, it shouldn't be an issue.
Sep 14, 2011, 9:38 am
#11
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Agreed, -- clearly the better strategy would have been for the person called up -- to take the upgraded seat & then deal w/the pax switch after the flt was in progress, so as not to create any confusion!@:-)
Jun 4, 2012, 1:54 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 66
Switching seats from Economy to First with Non-Upgraded Parter
My girlfriend and I are traveling from the states to Australia. I have enough miles for one first class ticket on United. I have status with them as well, so I was planning on booking the award ticket in her name and booking the economy ticket in mine as its more likely I get upgraded. If I don't get upgraded will we be able to switch seats 1/2 way through the flight so we both get some sleep? Or do we have to stay in our assigned seats?
Jun 4, 2012, 2:06 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
What kind of upgrade were you thinking of?
UA (along with just about everyone else) does not upgrade status members on international flights (OK.. on long haul international flights!
) for free..... especially not from Y to F...
UA (along with just about everyone else) does not upgrade status members on international flights (OK.. on long haul international flights!
) for free..... especially not from Y to F...