bocastephen

Exactly - and if you don't want to switch, good for you for standing your ground. I am very much against the new family seating policy - if you are traveling with kids, and you want to sit together, then do what any other non-elite customer is required to do - buy the seats at time of purchase so everyone can sit together. Having said that, I think United needs to stop with the corporate-program of blocking half the E- seats and let non-Elite customers buy those seats when they buy their ticket.

zombietooth

Most of us select our seats for a reason. I always select aisles in domestic F and bulkheads in international J because I am tall. No swapping unless I go to an equivalent seat. I don't care if I get the stink-eye from anyone.

mfirst

not sure what you mean that "it's not supposed to happen".... I thought it was well outlined in the COT that seat selection is not a "right" and with the new UA initiatives to keep families together....

canadiancow

I've never been seated apart from anyone due to lack of planning. It's always IRROPS, or because UA decided to move our seats after it was carefully selected at time of booking.

Not everyone is ignorant or trying to scam you.

That doesn't mean you need to accept the request, but if you walk into every situation expecting the worst of others, I'm not surprised you'd get a "look of death".

workshy

I've been on both sides. When my kids were smaller, AA changed plane type so my pre-booked adjacent seats got re-arranged. Gate agent at HNL was unhelpful and told me to ask people on the plane to switch. I hated having to ask but I had to because my daughter was only 5 at that time. Finally found someone who was kind enough to agree. It was super stressful worrying whether kids and I can sit together on a long flight. So no, not everyone is trying to scam you out of your seat.

halls120

I agree that everyone is not trying to scam us. That said, on any flight longer than 90 minutes, I’m not giving up my aisle seat.

chavala

I love when a couple asks me to switch so they can sit together, and when I refuse they say “but it’s such a short flight, what does it matter where you sit?”

SFO_UGS

QUOTE: So no, not everyone is trying to scam you out of your seat.

QUOTE: ​​Not everyone is ignorant or trying to scam you. That doesn't mean you need to accept the request, but if you walk into every situation expecting the worst of others, I'm not surprised you'd get a "look of death".

Sigh. How in the world did you conclude I was "expecting the worst of others?" (Rhetorical question...no response needed. ) And, who said anything about a "scam?" I apologize for being clueless, but in what context would someone use a "scam" to get a seat?? Exactly how would that work??? Makes zero sense to me. I see it as someone who wants to be accommodated because of poor planning or, in my example, hoping for the upgrade (which they got) but now wants someone to move their seat to accommodate their need to sit together. In my example, I was completely indifferent that the couple was upgraded. But I'm not giving up my aisle seat I strategically targeted when I made the reservation; scam or not! 🙂

halls120

Easy. Years ago I was flying out of Yaounde to Brussels in premium economy in an aisle seat. As boarding progressed, a gentleman with a cane approached me, holding a boarding pass for the window seat and asked if I would consider changing seats with him. I declined, and he took his window seat without comment. During the next 6 hours, he got up to use the lav three times, each without the use of his cane, and when he left the aircraft, he did so without the assistance of his cane.

Occupationalhazard

I will move for an equivalent seat - I just did a 5E for 1B to re-unite an older couple. The husband asked politely after we were seated and, miracle of miracles, there was O/H space for my smallish backpack over 1B. I also did a bulkhead aisle for bulkhead aisle where the person had a full leg cast on their left leg which was better suited to my original seat. I then declined a subsequent switch out of business class to re-unite a couple. Sorry, not trading J for cattle class.

If is not like for like I generally decline. I did get paged once at JFK and, as the husband (negotiator in the couple) was polite and got to it before boarding, I happily switched like for like. He was super nice an offered to switch back if necessary until I finally said, "Look, just take 'Yes' for an answer," and then smiled.

Anyone who is already in my seat gets a hard no. Whiners? Hard no. Trying to get me to take a lesser seat? Hard no.

O/H

bocastephen

someone actually had the nerve to dare ask you to give up your J seat for coach??? Are they nuts?

ttuna3

Off Duty FAM DYKWIA seat DEMAND a couple of years back.

I'd swapped my normal window with a young USCG LTJG since he wanted to see a couple of sights from the air. The FAM (off duty) boarded late and demanded that I move back from 2C to somewhere back in coach. It didn't smell right so I asked the FA to speak to the Captain about what was going on since he obviously wasn't wearing appropriate attire. Captain come back and asks all of us to the FWD galley. He asks the FAM a couple of questions, tells me and the JG to talk to the FAM while he checks his paperwork. We ask the FAM for his ID just as the Captain comes back out and says he doesn't see any FAMs assigned and that: A) He wants to see his assignment paperwork, B) since both the JG and I are both in uniform and on official business he's going to need to explain himself and that the FAM needed to give all of us a look at his ID right now. FAM starts to play a posse comitatus line on me and the Captain reminded him that the LTJG was Coast Guard and is allowed to enforce federal law anywhere in the US, and oh by the way, he's a Navy Reserve CDR as well. Captain gives the FAM a choice to give us his ID until we take off/land and head back to his seat in Coach or get off his plane. FAM heads back to his actual seat, Captain takes a picture of the ID, hands it and tells us to take pictures and then go back to the rear galley after takeoff to grill the FAM and then file a report through official channels on the jerk. Heard back from the FAM service, the Navy NIS (my service) and the USCGIS (the LTJG) asking what was going on. Also heard from the airline a day later, lots of apologies all around and I think the FAM was at least grounded for a long while if not fired outright.

DJ_Iceman

Glad you held your ground on that, but at least when I was on active duty we were not allowed to sit in premium cabins in uniform. I'm also surprised the captain would have you involved (in uniform or not) while he's dealing with a FAM issue, and especially that he would say out loud there was no FAM assigned to the flight. To be clear, I'm not doubting your account, just saying there was a lot of weirdness there!

ttuna3

I'd got an upgrade a couple of days before and the GA bumped up the JG. I was held up at an official meeting with the Admiral in charge of my program and needed to catch my regular ship that evening so I just headed straight to the airport, the JG had a similar issue on his side.
I was a little surprised by the Captain saying that he didn't have paperwork but the only people in earshot where the three of us. The only reason we got involved was that the FAM were trying self upgrade using their official status when not on or going to duty. The fact it was our seats entered into the mix as well. I know exactly what would happen if anybody on the Navy side had tried that and it would not be pleasant for them (and their boss as well). As I noted in the last post both of our services didn't seem to have an issue with us being in uniform since they didn't say anything about it when they called afterwards. They prefer we don't travel in uniform but if the job needs to be done then it happens sometimes. I just remember the old Regs banned travel in a working uniform.
A lot of times when I got though ORD I see the fresh out of Boot Camp Sailors heading home in their crackerjacks, so I think that the Navy is kind of OK with it...

Aussienarelle

When my child finished boot camp when I flew out to ORD he asked me to bring civilian clothing as he had to ship his clothing home when he first got to bootcamp. His first leave weekend (after PIR) he was required to wear his uniform all weekend. The civilian clothing was for A school leave. When I see a young person in military uniform I swap my seat for their seat.