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Seat changing etiquette? Onboard to preferred seats

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Old Oct 15, 2019, 6:40 am
  #16  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,356
Originally Posted by txaggiemiles
Why not warn the OP about stealing blankets and pillows too?
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
The OP was specifically about "preferred seats"

I believe this post:

Originally Posted by Often1
<snip>
Sneaking into E+ is no difference than sneaking into F. It is a theft of service.
is in reply to its preceding post:

Originally Posted by SFO_LOW_CLOUDS
Agreed, it is not theft.

However, moving into E+ without permission and without paying is theft.
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 9:31 am
  #17  
 
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Long story short, book those seats at check-in, up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. On board, ask the FA if it's ok to move to regular economy seats farther forward.
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 9:36 am
  #18  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
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I seriously doubt the FAs have any idea which are "preferred seats" and which are not.
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 9:38 am
  #19  
 
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Originally Posted by threeoh
I seriously doubt the FAs have any idea which are "preferred seats" and which are not.
That's exactly what I was wondering too.

And on the flip side of this: most passengers sitting in the back have no idea where E+ begins.
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 9:44 am
  #20  
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Join Date: Feb 2016
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Originally Posted by threeoh
I seriously doubt the FAs have any idea which are "preferred seats" and which are not.
They can look it up.

Most don't care as long as you're not moving to E+.
SFO_LOW_CLOUDS likes this.
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 10:55 am
  #21  
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Originally Posted by narvik
That's exactly what I was wondering too.

And on the flip side of this: most passengers sitting in the back have no idea where E+ begins.
Don't the E+ rows have an Economy Plus label on the bins? (it’s been a while since I have flown United in Economy, so my memory is fading). Since “Preferred” seats are varying from aircraft to aircraft and presumably aren’t marked in any way, it would be hard to blame someone from self-changing into an empty row/seat after boarding ends. Pretty sure we all have or would do it, even those who scream “theft”. E+ and higher, of course, is a different story.

Of course, the last time I saw an empty coach seat worth moving into was a decade ago as well.
Dublin_rfk likes this.
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 11:50 am
  #22  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Originally Posted by threeoh
I seriously doubt the FAs have any idea which are "preferred seats" and which are not.
They know, it is their little world, they also have a seat chart,

With status they will still say stay in your seat till after take off and then move,
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 11:52 am
  #23  
 
Join Date: May 2010
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Originally Posted by satman40
They know...
But do they care?
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 1:04 pm
  #24  
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Originally Posted by JimInOhio
How can it be “theft” when, at check-in, it was “free”?
It’s about not following the rules.
ContinentalFan is offline  
Old Oct 15, 2019, 1:53 pm
  #25  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal
Programs: UA Plat, National Exec Elite
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Originally Posted by ContinentalFan
It’s about not following the rules.
Originally you said it was "theft". I guess now you're changing your tune to say "not following the rules"...Which rule?
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 2:11 pm
  #26  
 
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Originally Posted by narvik
But do they care?
You never know till you ask, I have been told no,

Never had one of them said in a loud voice please return to your assigned seat.,
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 2:17 pm
  #27  
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Originally Posted by ExplorerWannabe
If they charge more for those seats then yes, you ARE in effect "stealing" by switching seats by not asking. If however, you ask and the FA or GA gives you the go-ahead ...

The airlines are nickel-and-diming us with the extra charges but they do it because the data has shown people will pay. I've moved to empty seats or empty rows myself but that was back before they started charging for every little thing including figuring out what the more desireable seats were.
How does a regular person know what seat is dearer
Annalisa12 is offline  
Old Oct 15, 2019, 2:20 pm
  #28  
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Washington, DC, USA
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Consider that someone may have paid for a preferred seat because there was an empty seat adjacent to it. If you take that seat, they've lost something for which they paid and all you've gotten is a seat in a different row from your assigned seat. Be nice, take your assigned seat.
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 2:32 pm
  #29  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal
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Posts: 833
Originally Posted by EricH
Consider that someone may have paid for a preferred seat because there was an empty seat adjacent to it. If you take that seat, they've lost something for which they paid and all you've gotten is a seat in a different row from your assigned seat. Be nice, take your assigned seat.
They paid for a preferred seat. Not a Preferred seat with an empty seat next to it.
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Old Oct 15, 2019, 3:46 pm
  #30  
formerly Sleepy_Sentry
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 614
Originally Posted by phkc070408
Unfortunately it is theft. Even though you’re receiving the same legroom, same food service, etc, those seats require extra payment.

As Wine mentoned, they should open up at t-24, so log in right at that time and move yourself forward before those seats get taken by others. This way it’s free and official, since you will have a boarding pass with those seats on it.
I would call it misappropriation at worst. It's pretty unfair of airlines that advertise "seat selection" as a reason to buy up to regular economy and then say, "Oh wait, we meant these seats, not those seats."
danielflyer is offline  


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