UA Seat Poaching Attempt Experiences [Consolidated]
Feb 10, 2022, 5:54 am
#151
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,682
My seat was poached Monday flying out of IAH. My incoming flight was late and I thought I would misconnect, but I got the "we're holding your flight a few extra minutes" text. I arrived at the gate and was last to board and found a squatter in my J seat. Squatter/ poacher asked me to take his original seat, which I thought was actually better and I would have chosen myself if it had been available through the App. I was still tempted to say no but decided to do it since I really was getting a seat I liked more. I told the Purser I had switched because another pax was in my assigned seat. A charge to my credit card for drinks, etc., was not an issue since this was in First, but what other problems could occur? Meal selection priority/ pre-ordered meal mix-up (not an issue on this short flight)?
Feb 10, 2022, 6:30 am
#153
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
My seat was poached Monday flying out of IAH. My incoming flight was late and I thought I would misconnect, but I got the "we're holding your flight a few extra minutes" text. I arrived at the gate and was last to board and found a squatter in my J seat. Squatter/ poacher asked me to take his original seat, which I thought was actually better and I would have chosen myself if it had been available through the App. I was still tempted to say no but decided to do it since I really was getting a seat I liked more. I told the Purser I had switched because another pax was in my assigned seat. A charge to my credit card for drinks, etc., was not an issue since this was in First, but what other problems could occur? Meal selection priority/ pre-ordered meal mix-up (not an issue on this short flight)?
Feb 10, 2022, 11:28 am
#155
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: USA
Programs: UA, WN, Hilton Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 56
May 12, 2022, 2:38 pm
#156
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Miami & Leon, MX
Programs: UA 1K, DL GOLD, IHG LIFE PLAT, BONVOY'ED GOLD
Posts: 547
I had a seat poaching instance one a crj recently which ended up working to my advantage. I got upgraded to the window seat on the 2 seater side, and as I boarded I see a gentlemen sitting in my seat, telling me if I wouldn’t mind Sitting in the solo seat so he could seat next to his wife 🥳
May 12, 2022, 2:44 pm
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I had a seat poaching instance one a crj recently which ended up working to my advantage. I got upgraded to the window seat on the 2 seater side, and as I boarded I see a gentlemen sitting in my seat, telling me if I wouldn’t mind Sitting in the solo seat so he could seat next to his wife 🥳
But in the end I would probably take the solo seat.
May 12, 2022, 3:21 pm
#158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,916
Had a dude in my economy aisle seat the other day. I just looked at him and he got up and said, "Oh, I thought you weren't coming." (it was late in the boarding process)
He moved to a middle seat behind me where he was wedged in a by a POS. I did not feel sorry for him...
He moved to a middle seat behind me where he was wedged in a by a POS. I did not feel sorry for him...
May 12, 2022, 4:06 pm
#159
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
If it's the same row, that's one of those situations where you're getting an objectively better seat (and even if it's a different row, unless you're gaining or losing the bulkhead), so I'd be a lot more forgiving.
May 12, 2022, 7:40 pm
#160
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,153
That is probably the only poach where I am unlikely to refuse on principle (solo bulkhead would be highly dependnent on convenient overhead bin space and my desire [or lack of] to work in flight)
May 12, 2022, 7:46 pm
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,004
I was thinking of the other POS acronym and wondering how you came to the conclusion that he/she behind you was a POS. "Piece of...." vs "Person of..."
May 18, 2022, 3:47 pm
#162
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
I generally dislike aisle seats because I don't like getting hit in the knee/elbow/head by every person and/or their bag and/or the beverage cart. So they're not only positive. (I do select them when travelling alone, despite that.)
Jun 21, 2022, 7:20 am
#164
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Latin America and USA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold
Posts: 456
Just observed this on UA1682 SJO-IAH. A group of people boarded, and 2-3 of them just helped themselves to whatever seats they wanted up front (they were ticketed up front, but not sitting in their selected seats) and clogged the aisles trying to exchange with other people. Then, a big guy walks up, sees somebody in his seat 1F. The person in 1F says "Hi, would you mind swapping seats because (((reasons that really don't matter)))?" Mr. 1F loudly says "yeah I mind! I sit in the front row, period." FA comes back, sees what's going on, tells everybody to get in their assigned seats, and then boarding happened pretty quickly.
Gotta remember that. So simple. So clear. "Yeah I mind!"
Gotta remember that. So simple. So clear. "Yeah I mind!"
Oct 25, 2022, 12:26 pm
#165
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: NorCal
Programs: UAMP
Posts: 81
Ended up with E+ at check in and took 21D as I anticipated a few trips to the lav after 40+oz of coffee at IAH. Turns out 21E/F were empty so I took advantage and used the space to spread out and rest after my mini red-eye from SFO.
An hour into the flight a guy in a hoodie slides into 21D as I'm sprawled out so I consolidate to 21E/F. No problem, I get it, they're packed in E- and I've got more than I could have asked for.
Dude is laying low, very nervous like an inmate who escaped onto the bus leaving San Quentin and is waiting for the prison guard to notice him. Fifteen minutes later the FA notices and lays down the "SIR WHERE IS YOUR ASSIGNED SEAT", but he keeps dragging his feet hoping that the FA will give up. Didn't happen. I lost sympathy for him as he was coming across as a certified grifter at this point. Guy flew too close to the sun and was sent back to the 29 inch pitch middle seat.
I'm kinda glad to get my row back... I've tasted the small Premier victories and I'll have no less 😀
An hour into the flight a guy in a hoodie slides into 21D as I'm sprawled out so I consolidate to 21E/F. No problem, I get it, they're packed in E- and I've got more than I could have asked for.
Dude is laying low, very nervous like an inmate who escaped onto the bus leaving San Quentin and is waiting for the prison guard to notice him. Fifteen minutes later the FA notices and lays down the "SIR WHERE IS YOUR ASSIGNED SEAT", but he keeps dragging his feet hoping that the FA will give up. Didn't happen. I lost sympathy for him as he was coming across as a certified grifter at this point. Guy flew too close to the sun and was sent back to the 29 inch pitch middle seat.
I'm kinda glad to get my row back... I've tasted the small Premier victories and I'll have no less 😀
Last edited by sgtbalski; Oct 25, 2022 at 12:39 pm Reason: Spacing