UA Seat Poaching Attempt Experiences [Consolidated]
#32
Join Date: Feb 2016
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Now I follow, thought you were asking why he wasn't charged initially. The FA was more focused on getting him back to coach. For all I know they could have ended up charging him. As I noted the guy seemed fairly inebriated already and I was kind of hoping he would get taken off the flight after that stunt.
#33
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Join Date: Aug 2015
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Now I follow, thought you were asking why he wasn't charged initially. The FA was more focused on getting him back to coach. For all I know they could have ended up charging him. As I noted the guy seemed fairly inebriated already and I was kind of hoping he would get taken off the flight after that stunt.
#34
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
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I think the only way this would have worked would be if the j passenger boarded and decided to sit in the back (ie with guy's wife/family) without telling the GA. I guess there would have to be an open seat in the back.
It is possible that the guy really just wanted to charge his phone and thought this was the easiest way. Inexperienced flyers sometimes do strange things that are logical to them.
One time early in my flying history I boarded and sat in the first row of F vs the first row of Y by accident until the right occupant showed up. Back then I thought the seats looked similar and was just thinking I was in a bulkhead.
I remember a really old Post on FT of an old lady that took a FTers F seat and refused to move (even with FA involvement if I recall). Rather than possibly delaying the flight to drag her off, the FTer just sait inthe back. If I recall, this was a short domestic flight.
It is possible that the guy really just wanted to charge his phone and thought this was the easiest way. Inexperienced flyers sometimes do strange things that are logical to them.
One time early in my flying history I boarded and sat in the first row of F vs the first row of Y by accident until the right occupant showed up. Back then I thought the seats looked similar and was just thinking I was in a bulkhead.
I remember a really old Post on FT of an old lady that took a FTers F seat and refused to move (even with FA involvement if I recall). Rather than possibly delaying the flight to drag her off, the FTer just sait inthe back. If I recall, this was a short domestic flight.
#35
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SLC
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This is my favorite for poaching....economy plus
https://loyaltylobby.com/2015/12/09/...-bound-flight/
https://loyaltylobby.com/2015/12/09/...-bound-flight/
#36
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
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Posts: 2,879
It does appear that way. After the Dao thing, United said they would no longer kick someone off the plane in case of over-booking, but some people think this means they can do whatever they want with no repercussions.
#37
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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I had a flight from LAX to IAH a few months back. I am E+ aisle seat. A "guy" came up and asked if I would switch with him so he could sit with his wife who was in the middle seat next to me. He said his sit was just in front of me on the aisle. I switched with him no big deal. As boarding was finishing a gentlemen came up and stated that was his seat. I looked at his ticket and it actually was. The "guy" actually had a middle seat next to him. He looked at me like oops I made a mistake with an I got you grin on his face. His face turned south when I rang the bell for the attendant saying he was in my seat. Luckily everyone around minus his wife told the attendant what he tried to do.
#38
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: USA
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Posts: 1,189
That was the first thought in my mind and I was going to comment on it until I noticed the date of the incident. I'm actually amazed that we haven't seen scammers using the Dao incident as a template for getting cash or a free upgrade.
#40
Join Date: Aug 2012
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Now I follow, thought you were asking why he wasn't charged initially. The FA was more focused on getting him back to coach. For all I know they could have ended up charging him. As I noted the guy seemed fairly inebriated already and I was kind of hoping he would get taken off the flight after that stunt.
#41
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Fayetteville, AR, USA
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Posts: 129
Similar Try
I was on an AA flight when a young man comfortably parked himself in the right bulkhead window seat. Soon afterward, a young woman boarded and saw him in her seat. She also quietly challenged him. The FA got involved and determined that he was assigned a main cabin seat. The FA asked him what made him think he could sit there. He replied, "When I checked in last night it was empty, so I thought I would sit here."
He was quickly dispatched to the main cabin.
He was quickly dispatched to the main cabin.
#42
Join Date: Nov 2012
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#43
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Programs: Executive Club Gold
Posts: 19
Seen it 3 times in the past year!
Maybe its just coincidence but I've personally witnessed 3 attempts this year at self-upgrading and not even to somewhere worthwhile like J or F. Each time the culprit was some millennial grifter whose self confidence was in inverse relation to their competence. I know the breed well from my academic career - they try the same mixture of bravado and what passes in their tiny minds for 'charm' when asking for essay extensions. I'm rarely fooled. First was in the WT+ cabin on a LHR HKG flight. Boarding complete and some millennial lounge lizard emerges from Y, slopes up to the unoccupied aisle seat across from me, settles in, enjoys the PDB of cheap Cava and looks generally very pleased with himself. I had my suspicions something was afoot but I held my tongue. Up we go - millennial lounge lizard (MLL) reclines, inflates neck pillow and proceeds to get comfy. Up comes a FA who discreetly, although within my earshot, tells him, "no sir, this is a different class of service, please return to your seat". Back slinks MLL looking not so much chastened as thwarted. Second time was on an all economy configured A320 of Aegean Airlines from Athens to Edinburgh. I paid the supplement to sit in the mid cabin exit row for a bit of extra legroom. Again, after boarding was complete, a very-pleased-with-himself MLL sat in the unoccupied seat next to me with a cheery, 'hello, how are you today?'. I responded, "oh, did you also pay the supplement to sit in this row?" He replied, "no, I just figured boarding was complete, this seat was free and I'd sit here - you don't mind do you". To which I replied, "not at all - let me just flag down a FA to ask about my refund for the seat which I paid extra to sit in but which you feel can be yours for free". MLL exited stage left in double quick time. Third time was on a cheap 'n' cheerful AirAsia hop from DMK to HAN. When I fly AirAsia I alway cough up the minimal surcharge to sit in one of their exit row/extra leg room 'hot seats', distinguished by the red headrests. Again, after boarding was completed one of a party of what can only be described as "loud, obnoxious millennial American frat boys on tour" (which I'll abbreviate as MFB) proceeded to plonk himself down in a free seat next to me, testosterone and beer sweat oozing from every pore, manspreading triumphantly in his newfound domain. I arched my eyebrow at a passing FA who was clearly already on the case (AirAsia polices this kind of seat larceny pretty effectively). MFB puffed up his chest and mansplained loudly to the petite Thai FA that he wasn't moving as his original seat didn't recline adequately. The FA to her great credit didn't back down, inspected his seat finding no fault and essentially smiled sweetly whilst staring him down from the aisle, making it very clear that until he moved and she sat down, the plane wasn't going to Hanoi. He moved amidst a cloud of wounded American male pride. A sweet moment indeed. I've yet to witness this behaviour in J but I'm flying to CPT in CW on Saturday, so I'll keep my eyes peeled!
Last edited by Decca; Dec 11, 2018 at 4:09 pm Reason: typo
#45
Join Date: May 2010
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