MojaveFlyer

Right, I meant if the FA came out on the OP's side at the time instead of later. Good question as to whether there is an "interfering with the GA card". Maybe a tactic would be to stand pat to the GA and then if the GA brings an FA over, ask the FA if s/he is asking or insisting, but in a gracious tone, and just suck it up if the FA says you gotta go... it's going to go downhill fast after that.

halls120

This. x1000. If she's uncomfortable about doing it on an airplane, then she needs to buy the whole row of seats to guarantee her privacy.

mduell

First things first, the airline can choose to reseat you at any time for any reason or no reason at all. Doesn't matter if or how much you paid, how long you held the seat assignment, etc. They make this very clear in the CoC you agree to when you buy the ticket.

No child requires a bassinet - if the parent would like one, they should make the effort in advance to secure one. I think the airline was too generous here with accommodating their last minute request at the expense of other passengers.

I would politely decline any reseating requests to worse seats, but ultimately comply with demands from flight crew.

If you kept your seat, I'd assume the mom would have done everything possible to make the flight miserable, given their reported behavior and sense of entitlement. A little baby poo goes a long way.

Speaking of "standard practice", it's standard practice to reserve bassinet-eligible seats in advance:
A limited number of bassinets can be reserved for use, free of charge, on international aircraft only.

It's also standard practice with bassinet requests to only give free E+ seats to one adult and up to one companion:
Along with bassinet requests, we will provide accompanying seat assignments for an adult traveling with an infant and up to one travel companion.

Kacee could you share the regulation with us?

The only regulation I'm able to find relating to compliance with crewmember instructions is specifically with regard to smoking and seatbelts:

§ 121.571 Briefing passengers before takeoff.
(a) Each certificate holder operating a passenger-carrying airplane shall insure that all passengers are orally briefed by the appropriate crewmember as follows:
(1) Before each takeoff, on each of the following:
(i) Smoking. Each passenger shall be briefed on when, where, and under what conditions smoking is prohibited including, but not limited to, any applicable requirements of part 252 of this title). This briefing shall include a statement that the Federal Aviation Regulations require passenger compliance with the lighted passenger information signs, posted placards, areas designated for safety purposes as no smoking areas, and crewmember instructions with regard to these items.
(iii) The use of safety belts, including instructions on how to fasten and unfasten the safety belts. Each passenger shall be briefed on when, where, and under what conditions the safety belt must be fastened about that passenger. This briefing shall include a statement that the Federal Aviation Regulations require passenger compliance with lighted passenger information signs and crewmember instructions concerning the use of safety belts.
(emphasis mine)

Maybe a moot issue in this case the request or demand never actually came from flight crew anyway, just from an overzealous GA.

This is an actual regulatory issue, there are a limited number of excess oxygen masks on the aircraft and every passenger must be provisioned with one.

Tchiowa

Not a regulation, but UA's Contract of Carriage says that they can refuse to transport: "Passengers who fail to comply with or interfere with the duties of the members of the flight crew, federal regulations, or security directives;"

Which seems like a catch-all they can use for any refusal to follow FA's instructions if they want.

mickeydfly13

Get a smaller laptop and it'd be easier to work.

PirateJeff

I had a lady on Amtrak indicate that I might not be comfortable sitting next to her as she would be feeding. I informed her it was a non-issue for me

cyclogenesis

I completely agree with you.. BUT I also think that that advocacy has to come with public acceptance and comfort... It seems to much so that it is expected that a feeding mother must hide or be hidden..

Whip it out and get it done. And I say this a proud husband of a BF mother and BF-ed daughter.. If the Mum was uncomfortable then tough.. get over it..

As for the whole bassinet thing it just sounds like UA need to get their crapola together on this and come out with some clear policy and make sure that this stuff is not dealt with at the gate The need should be dealt with at booking and a flag raised if there is going to be an issue giving plenty of time for UA to address issues before all seat assignments are taken (being moved from bulkhead to another E+ seat is far better than going to E-)..

krazykanuck

Have you used a normal size laptop in E- recently? Try doing that in E- on a slimmed Airbus and report back on how easy it is to do anything. I don't consider having to type while not being able to read the screen to be very useful.

Kacee

FAA regs make it a civil violation to interfere with a crewmember's performace of duties. 14 C.F.R. §§ 91.11, 121.580, 135.120.

This is interpreted to give the crew wide latitude. See, for example, IATA Guidance on Unruly Passenger Prevention and Management. A passenger can thus be held liable under these regulations for causing any sort of disturbance that interferes with the flight crew's duties. This includes arguing with the flight crew, since it distracts them from their normal duties. See, e.g., In re Bengry; In re Ignatov..

So is there a reg which specifically says "if you refuse to follow any crew instruction, that's a violation?" No. But as a practical matter, failure to follow instructions can be deemed interference, you can be thrown off the aircraft (the pilot needs no justification at all to do that), and the FAA can commence a civil enforcement action (although as a practical matter those seem to be limited to fairly egregious cases).

erik123

It actually is not standard practice on any US airline as these seats can't be assigned in advance except for those that pay or elite. (NWA used to assign at booking when they were still around).

It is standard practice on most non US airlines to assign bassinet seats at booking. Some will block them for assignment to those that have an infant w/o seat booked 24 hrs before the flight or at the airport.

cw082350

I wonder how if the individual had a medical condition would they have made him move....I for one have had several blood clots and would not have moved...so I usually travel business or bulk head..Would they have made me move?

Baze

Never said it was easy, just that there are many, many people who do it so saying it is "impossible" was over the top. If it were impossible then no one would do it.

Germanfflyer

Since this was in Germany - UA would have problem our authorities are not as airline friendly as the US - you can not mandate to reseat people just because you say so - there has to be a valid reason - and " I am not comfortable" with the guy next to me - is not one that is going to float with the authorities...

Kacee

I believe the pilot has authority to order a passenger removed from his/her aircraft anywhere in the world.

Germanfflyer

Yes he can - but if it is done without a valid reason - EU261 compensation is due as it is considered denied boarding!

Not wanting to change seats for a family is not considered a valid reason!

I am also quite sure the captain would not have interfered as he knows - forcing a passenger to change seats for no safety reason is going to be a problem to explain in the paperwork.
Unload luggage etc. it is going to cost - and he would need to explain to the airline + maybe to the legal of the passenger as he seeks compensation for the damages for the lost flight.