We are wandering off from the thread subject "Seat poaching" . Aisle versus window is a debate with no end / no conclusion. If desired we can open a new thread.
For here, let's get back to the thread topic.

WineCountryUA
UA coModerator

My shoulders, eyes, and brain love the window but my bladder distinctly prefers the aisle and as I've grown older, my bladder has obtained veto powers.

Same - I don't have a problem with OP's strategy here. But it means is they're controlling seat selection. If they took middle plus window/aisle then some passenger could select the remaining (non-middle) seat right off the bat, and no thanks would be owed other than to their own good fortune (or maybe thanks to EF?). Instead OP/spouse are asserting control over that window/aisle and then expecting someone to personally thank them for "gifting" it to them. That seems a bit much.

If I were assigned that middle seat and this proposal made I would probably give oral acknowledgement such as "sure" or "yes" and nothing more - I might even expect a "thanks" in return given they're making the request. Is OP expecting a free drink or repeated gratitude?

As the original poster, all we're asking for is a simple acknowledgement and thank you. We're not looking for hero worship, drinks, or gratis snack boxes. Since the consensus here is that an unexpected shift from a middle to an aisle seat is something to be entitled to vs. appreciated, we'll keep that in mind for our future travels.

My primary issue with being asked to switch seats is if it is similar or better, but even then I would pause since my CC is connected to my assigned seat.

These days I am more likely to say no unless the GA is involved and my CC is mapped to my new seat.

This is understandable, and we're ok if someone were to say "no"...just hasn't happened yet. Your point is good one on the credit card front with a risk of mis-aligned purchases.

Why? The middle seat pax is accommodating your request. Seems to me the person making the request should be the one expressing thanks when the request is accommodated.

You didn't pick window/aisle to benefit a "lucky" middle seat pax - you picked those seats in the hope the middle would remain empty.

That's always been our view. If I'm the one asking, I'm the one to say thanks.

We phrase it as "If you're interested, we're willing to switch seats so you have the aisle." As noted upthread, we do not *need* to sit together and do not ask within that context.

As mentioned above, this thread has been very enlightening as to expected behavior.

I can not see how anyone would see this as anything other than ask for them to move. You cannot put the onus on them.

I don't think anyone has said the middle seat holder is "entitled" to a switch. The consensus seems to be that you are hoping for an empty middle (don't we all), and when it doesn't work you offer to switch because your preference is to sit together not with someone between. The middle seat holder likely recognizes that you played the game and it didn't work, so hardly feels like you're owed much.

If you're resentful of not getting thanks in this scenario, then don't bother offering. I have done this multiple times with my spouse - if we can get an aisle and window we do, and then let it ride.

When I first started flying, I was a window guy. Always. After a miserable flight on a Cathay Pacific 747 some 20 years ago, I changed. From that time forward I have been 99% aisle. The only time I will choose window is if it is in the first row of coach or PE.

Curious as to how it was �miserable�.

Maybe reply and continue this off topic (for this thread) discussion here: window vs aisle seat preference.

So, we need to reopen a thread that has not been commented in for over 11 years? It is best to open a new thread.

Because about that time I started having back problems (corrected by surgery years later) and not being able to easily get up and walk around every few hours because your seat mates were fast asleep was agony.