Jan 27, 2024, 10:41 pm
How do you handle a seat change request? Do you ever feel like a jerk for saying no?
Dec 30, 2022, 1:02 pm
#106
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That is an awfully long flight to be stuck in an undesirable seat
Especially when planning it in advance.
Dec 30, 2022, 1:47 pm
#107
Join Date: May 2018
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not sure if this is best suited for a poll - but want to get people's thoughts on this.
Yesterday - OOG-SFO (afternoon flight) that I was taking for work....finished work in the morning and need to take this flight to be at work this morning
no upgrade or even reasonable WFBF options - limited E+ seating even with tickets purchased a month ago
but was able to score 777 bulkhead aisle seat in the rear cabin that had nice leg room (I am 6 ft, lean) and got on early due to status and had room for my briefcase/work carryon (which includes stuff that can not be checked)
as I was getting comfortable - a young woman who was assigned the seat next to me (which had been one of the few last empty seats on a full flight) at the last minute (was open 2-3 hours prior) - asked me if I would change seats with her son so that they could sit together....she said that she couldnt change with the person next to her son because it was a family of 3 in the middle row and her son had an aisle seat about 10 rows up.....
how could I say no?
(hence part of this post)
so, I change seats - the plan has already boarded, there is no overhead space for my briefcase which then needed to be stored under my general E seat for the now cramped flight......
I have various thoughts on this.....but see what others think or would have done.
Yesterday - OOG-SFO (afternoon flight) that I was taking for work....finished work in the morning and need to take this flight to be at work this morning
no upgrade or even reasonable WFBF options - limited E+ seating even with tickets purchased a month ago
but was able to score 777 bulkhead aisle seat in the rear cabin that had nice leg room (I am 6 ft, lean) and got on early due to status and had room for my briefcase/work carryon (which includes stuff that can not be checked)
as I was getting comfortable - a young woman who was assigned the seat next to me (which had been one of the few last empty seats on a full flight) at the last minute (was open 2-3 hours prior) - asked me if I would change seats with her son so that they could sit together....she said that she couldnt change with the person next to her son because it was a family of 3 in the middle row and her son had an aisle seat about 10 rows up.....
how could I say no?
(hence part of this post)
so, I change seats - the plan has already boarded, there is no overhead space for my briefcase which then needed to be stored under my general E seat for the now cramped flight......
I have various thoughts on this.....but see what others think or would have done.
My default answer would have been 'no,' all things considered. However, lots of flight cancellations recently. It's entirely possible she actually planned ahead and had her family seated together, then her flight was cancelled due to any of the reasons flights around the USA have been cancelled in the recent week, and now they are put on the next available flight in whatever seat possible. I'd have more sympathy in that case.
That's way too detailed to ask about in the moment, though. I'd probably say no, and if she volunteered any info about a previous flight cancellation, I'd change my calculus and switch.
Dec 30, 2022, 1:51 pm
#108
Join Date: Mar 2011
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not sure if this is best suited for a poll - but want to get people's thoughts on this.
Yesterday - OOG-SFO (afternoon flight) that I was taking for work....finished work in the morning and need to take this flight to be at work this morning
no upgrade or even reasonable WFBF options - limited E+ seating even with tickets purchased a month ago
but was able to score 777 bulkhead aisle seat in the rear cabin that had nice leg room (I am 6 ft, lean) and got on early due to status and had room for my briefcase/work carryon (which includes stuff that can not be checked)
as I was getting comfortable - a young woman who was assigned the seat next to me (which had been one of the few last empty seats on a full flight) at the last minute (was open 2-3 hours prior) - asked me if I would change seats with her son so that they could sit together....she said that she couldnt change with the person next to her son because it was a family of 3 in the middle row and her son had an aisle seat about 10 rows up.....
how could I say no?
(hence part of this post)
so, I change seats - the plan has already boarded, there is no overhead space for my briefcase which then needed to be stored under my general E seat for the now cramped flight......
I have various thoughts on this.....but see what others think or would have done.
Yesterday - OOG-SFO (afternoon flight) that I was taking for work....finished work in the morning and need to take this flight to be at work this morning
no upgrade or even reasonable WFBF options - limited E+ seating even with tickets purchased a month ago
but was able to score 777 bulkhead aisle seat in the rear cabin that had nice leg room (I am 6 ft, lean) and got on early due to status and had room for my briefcase/work carryon (which includes stuff that can not be checked)
as I was getting comfortable - a young woman who was assigned the seat next to me (which had been one of the few last empty seats on a full flight) at the last minute (was open 2-3 hours prior) - asked me if I would change seats with her son so that they could sit together....she said that she couldnt change with the person next to her son because it was a family of 3 in the middle row and her son had an aisle seat about 10 rows up.....
how could I say no?
(hence part of this post)
so, I change seats - the plan has already boarded, there is no overhead space for my briefcase which then needed to be stored under my general E seat for the now cramped flight......
I have various thoughts on this.....but see what others think or would have done.
If that wasn’t possible, then take a different flight.
Dec 30, 2022, 1:59 pm
#109
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No way I would have done this - hopefully you get good karma in the future, but next time just say no.
Dec 30, 2022, 3:10 pm
#110
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I think I would have flagged down a flight attendant, helped the woman explain her situation, and also explain that I needed space to be able to work on the flight which is why I selected that particular seat in advance. Worst case I'd end up taking the offered swap, more likely case is that the FA figures out something that works well for everyone, best case would be some kind of battlefield upgrade or at least preferential treatment by the cabin crew for the rest of the flight.
Dec 30, 2022, 3:20 pm
#111
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Dec 30, 2022, 3:22 pm
#112
Join Date: Jan 2011
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That said, in your scenario the age of the child would likely play a role in my response (i.e. the younger the child, the more sympathetic I might be).
Dec 30, 2022, 3:30 pm
#113
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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Posts: 7,418
I am also guessing that without too much difficulty she could have found someone in the front of the cabin quite near her son, even if not directly next to him, who would be willing to swap for her extra legroom seat. And that might be what I suggested to her in those circumstances.
That said, in your scenario the age of the child would likely play a role in my response (i.e. the younger the child, the more sympathetic I might be).
That said, in your scenario the age of the child would likely play a role in my response (i.e. the younger the child, the more sympathetic I might be).
Dec 30, 2022, 4:29 pm
#114
Join Date: Oct 2011
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a young woman who was assigned the seat next to me (which had been one of the few last empty seats on a full flight) at the last minute (was open 2-3 hours prior) - asked me if I would change seats with her son so that they could sit together....she said that she couldnt change with the person next to her son because it was a family of 3 in the middle row and her son had an aisle seat about 10 rows up.....
Dec 30, 2022, 4:52 pm
#115
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,659
the boy looked about 8-10 years/old - she didnt look that old and it was just the 2 of them.
I got the sense that neither were savvy travelers to arrange seats in advance or realize the differences between the 2 seats - remember, this not far from the last seat on the plane and there were not too many other available pairs
I thought about getting the FA involved after I moved - but they looked swamped with a plane full of young families who looked like most had never traveled before and many felt the need to somehow bring on board everything they owned.... the entire trip was a zoo and hats off to the FA for maintaining some control.....
yes, it was very hard to be "that guy" to say no.... but it was a little frustrating (although - and maybe this was the karma - the FA did give me some extra free drinks which helped ease the pain)
.... and unrelated, but I also just posted the question - I couldnt get the IFE to work.....
I got the sense that neither were savvy travelers to arrange seats in advance or realize the differences between the 2 seats - remember, this not far from the last seat on the plane and there were not too many other available pairs
I thought about getting the FA involved after I moved - but they looked swamped with a plane full of young families who looked like most had never traveled before and many felt the need to somehow bring on board everything they owned.... the entire trip was a zoo and hats off to the FA for maintaining some control.....
yes, it was very hard to be "that guy" to say no.... but it was a little frustrating (although - and maybe this was the karma - the FA did give me some extra free drinks which helped ease the pain)
.... and unrelated, but I also just posted the question - I couldnt get the IFE to work.....
Dec 30, 2022, 5:24 pm
#116
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Dec 30, 2022, 9:18 pm
#118
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Wouldn't matter to me - it's United's problem, not mine. I am not going to inconvenience myself because people refuse to pay up for seats together. If they are on the flight due to IRROPS with no chance to select seats, then it's United's problem to entice non-Elite customers to move seats. Elite customers should never be asked or required to change seats involuntarily.
Dec 31, 2022, 7:40 am
#120
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: BOS
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Posts: 141
We flew TATL overnight and I had managed to snag a pair of honeymoon seats in Polaris. The couple behind us had a small baby. They were technically sitting next to each but the large seat separation on the non-honeymoon pairs made this really awkward for them. We proactively offered them to switch and they were utterly delighted. It was a minor inconvenience for us (after being married for 30+ years we can cope for a few hours 
) but a great benefit for the couple.
So I'm happy to switch for what I perceive to be a "real need" (when I see it) but in general I feel it's the airlines responsibility to sort of seating problems, especially if they create them in the first place.
Added benefit: the baby appeared to be happy and quiet all night. The baby slept "like a baby"
) but a great benefit for the couple. So I'm happy to switch for what I perceive to be a "real need" (when I see it) but in general I feel it's the airlines responsibility to sort of seating problems, especially if they create them in the first place.
Added benefit: the baby appeared to be happy and quiet all night. The baby slept "like a baby"