Seat changing etiquette? Onboard to preferred seats
#31
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,365
There is nothing at all wrong in any legal, moral or ethical sense of moving into a preferred seat.
The airline is charging a fee for advanced booking. The OP did not advance book. The airlines allows (in general) seat swaps within the cabin. As long as the cabin crew is allowing seat swaps, OP is 100% within all rights to grab an empty seat.
Fairly rare though that one has empty preferred seats and not wide open seats in the back. I would rather have and empty middle (or full row) in the back than be in the middle in a preferred seat.
The airline is charging a fee for advanced booking. The OP did not advance book. The airlines allows (in general) seat swaps within the cabin. As long as the cabin crew is allowing seat swaps, OP is 100% within all rights to grab an empty seat.
Fairly rare though that one has empty preferred seats and not wide open seats in the back. I would rather have and empty middle (or full row) in the back than be in the middle in a preferred seat.
#32
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 451
I actually agree with EricH. If I saw someone that was lucky enough to get a row to themselves, I would not move there. Unless it looked like someone who would not lay down (e.g., a very tall person, an older person, something). In that case, I would maybe ask but preface my question with something to the effect that I completely understand if they want the row. I still am even hesitant to do that.
#33
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,159
Economy v's Economy Plus they definitely know - but that's not what is being asked here.
#34
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
Sorry I thought we were talking about changing assign seats,
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 114
Thanks, everyone
I will remember to login T-24 and try to grab the free seats. Back or front doesn't matter to me. But there is no reason for everyone to be packed in so close.
This brings up a really important issue. You may have paid the extra money now thinking you will have gotten seats in the lightly filled part of the aircraft only to find it fill up at check-in. I think the fee you pay at booking is for the first choice of seats and not for the guarantee that what you see is what you will get in terms of the empty seat map. So it really makes very little sense to pay this fee, at least to me personally.
I will remember to login T-24 and try to grab the free seats. Back or front doesn't matter to me. But there is no reason for everyone to be packed in so close.
This brings up a really important issue. You may have paid the extra money now thinking you will have gotten seats in the lightly filled part of the aircraft only to find it fill up at check-in. I think the fee you pay at booking is for the first choice of seats and not for the guarantee that what you see is what you will get in terms of the empty seat map. So it really makes very little sense to pay this fee, at least to me personally.
Last edited by sarpotd; Oct 16, 2019 at 11:02 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
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#37
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: CLE/RSW
Programs: Marriot Lifetime Plat
Posts: 206
Few years back I was flying EWR-DUB on 777-200 in Y with two others, we booked three seats together in a row in E+. Had a tight connection and arrived to the plane with nobody still boarding (still 20 minutes before close). Plane maybe 30% full, many empty rows in both E and E+. We didn't move but after the door closed the FA told us to spread out so we could sleep, so we all took separate rows.
Point being - the FA may suggest, or you may ask. Don't poach, but I don't think there's anything wrong with asking. Then again, like others have mentioned, the flight may be full, just those seats not assigned.
Point being - the FA may suggest, or you may ask. Don't poach, but I don't think there's anything wrong with asking. Then again, like others have mentioned, the flight may be full, just those seats not assigned.
#38
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Join Date: Aug 2017
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Posts: 10,514
If the plane is indeed fairly empty, let others take those preferred seats.
Pick a row of three seats+ and enjoy a lie-flat.
Pick a row of three seats+ and enjoy a lie-flat.
#39
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SoCal
Programs: UA Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 833
I actually agree with EricH. If I saw someone that was lucky enough to get a row to themselves, I would not move there. Unless it looked like someone who would not lay down (e.g., a very tall person, an older person, something). In that case, I would maybe ask but preface my question with something to the effect that I completely understand if they want the row. I still am even hesitant to do that.
#41
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 19
A bit tangential, but since preferred seating is being discussed, thought I would raise something odd. Flying ORD-SRQ tomorrow with my wife on separate PNRs. First one was a changed ticket, with fare difference refunded in form of voucher. Then used said voucher to book my wife's ticket. Why then can, at check-in, I reserve a preferred seat for free, but my wife can't? She is being charged $13.
Potential reasons I see:
1. Original reservation of mine was with a Global Services member. I split off to use my credit.
2. Original reservation was actually a first class fare (can't remember bucket).
Both tickets are regular, not basic economy. Neither of us have any status, credit cards with UA, etc.
It's no big deal to me; just stick with my old E- seat. Just weird and curious why.
Potential reasons I see:
1. Original reservation of mine was with a Global Services member. I split off to use my credit.
2. Original reservation was actually a first class fare (can't remember bucket).
Both tickets are regular, not basic economy. Neither of us have any status, credit cards with UA, etc.
It's no big deal to me; just stick with my old E- seat. Just weird and curious why.
#42
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,126
A bit tangential, but since preferred seating is being discussed, thought I would raise something odd. Flying ORD-SRQ tomorrow with my wife on separate PNRs. First one was a changed ticket, with fare difference refunded in form of voucher. Then used said voucher to book my wife's ticket. Why then can, at check-in, I reserve a preferred seat for free, but my wife can't? She is being charged $13.
Potential reasons I see:
1. Original reservation of mine was with a Global Services member. I split off to use my credit.
2. Original reservation was actually a first class fare (can't remember bucket).
Both tickets are regular, not basic economy. Neither of us have any status, credit cards with UA, etc.
It's no big deal to me; just stick with my old E- seat. Just weird and curious why.
Potential reasons I see:
1. Original reservation of mine was with a Global Services member. I split off to use my credit.
2. Original reservation was actually a first class fare (can't remember bucket).
Both tickets are regular, not basic economy. Neither of us have any status, credit cards with UA, etc.
It's no big deal to me; just stick with my old E- seat. Just weird and curious why.