Is someone in this middle seat?
Dec 25, 2019, 8:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 175
Is someone in this middle seat?
My daughter and I are taking a trans-pac flight in a couple of days and I noticed that the seat between us appears occupied on the seat map. Did someone really choose to sit there? Or is this UA holding the seat open for my confort?
Dec 25, 2019, 8:48 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
Sure. UA does this all the time so they can sell fewer seats.
pure coincidence or someone who is hoping you two will move and they will have whole row, or you will relent and give them an aisle.
pure coincidence or someone who is hoping you two will move and they will have whole row, or you will relent and give them an aisle.
Dec 25, 2019, 8:51 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
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Posts: 14,890
if you sign up for a free account on Expertflyer, you can search for a flight to create a seat alert to see if it’s occupied or blocked. Not sure why someone would intentionally put themselves in a middle between two already seated while there is an empty row right in front. Try moving up to the row ahead?
Dec 25, 2019, 9:05 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Posts: 10,514
The middle seat picker knows exactly what he/she is doing.
Dec 25, 2019, 9:37 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,126
Empty row, especially on flights with a light load. Most flights are made up of 2 or more passengers traveling together, so they are unlikely to select separate seats. If the seat configuration stays as is, the middle seat picker would graciously offer to switch seats, so OP and the daughter can sit together; while the middle seater would then sit in either window or aisle.
The middle seat picker knows exactly what he/she is doing.
The middle seat picker knows exactly what he/she is doing.
Dec 25, 2019, 10:30 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1K, *wood LT Plat
Posts: 826
For awhile (god, i don’t even remember how many years ago), United routinely and actively blocked middle seats for elites. I have noticed it a handful of times this year as a GS, but with full loads seems like they often get filled near the end...
Dec 25, 2019, 10:38 pm
#9
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This works quite well. I do this sometime based on a view of the flight load.
Dec 25, 2019, 10:38 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Delaware
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 1,393
Maybe a little OCD to make the seat map pretty?
Dec 25, 2019, 11:08 pm
#11
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Dec 25, 2019, 11:17 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 175
It's not a blocked seat (I asked when I called United to extend some expiring PlusPoint). So, I moved up one row.
I wonder if there are situations when passengers aren't shown all available seats. Perhaps an elite from a partner airline?
I wonder if there are situations when passengers aren't shown all available seats. Perhaps an elite from a partner airline?
Dec 25, 2019, 11:25 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
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Posts: 4,422
I've been on OTA that have a "skip seat assignment" button. Maybe someone did that or missed a button to select seats and the system, seeing a solo passenger, filled in between you?
Dec 25, 2019, 11:25 pm
#15
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Among the last 2 TPAC RT, only 1 segment the seat map was actually correct that someone was really sitting next to me, i.e. A and C with B open. 2 others were showing C occupied but ending up getting the whole row all by myself. 1 was op-up.