IADdelayed

Mods: I searched and did not find an existing thread for this, but please move if I missed it.

Recent IAD-RIC flight on G7. Had the 10:30 pm booked, but did standby for the 5:40 pm. Flight showing completely full until after final boarding call, at which time a couple no-shows were apparently offloaded. Was standing at the podium, constantly refreshing flight status / seat map, and about the time GA said she'd get me on the flight, I noticed 7A/B suddenly open (previously showing occupied). GA then handed me a BP for 7B.

Upon boarding, FA asked where I was sitting and I told him, then went towards my seat. To my surprise, two FAs were sitting in 7A/B. The one in my assigned seat was G7 (saw her employee ID lanyard); can't say for sure whether 7A was also G7. 7B saw me walking towards my assigned seat and quickly looked down at her phone, making no attempt to get up and move.

Walked back up front to let FA know there's a FA sitting in my assigned seat and showed him my BP. He shrugged his shoulders and told me quite indifferently to "go sit in an open seat in the back." (What is this...Southwest??) The only three open seats I could find as I walked back were (1) an E+ window with aisle occupied, and (2) 14C/D (E-).

As I sat down in 14D, a GA came on to speak with the FA working the flight (not the same GA who handed me my BP; there were two GAs working to board two different flights at the same time - this was the GA boarding the other flight). Couldn't hear what she was saying, but she was showing the FA her handheld device, pointing at me and then to 7B. Figured she was letting him know I was supposed to be in 7B. He (FA working flight) just kept shrugging his shoulders and making the dismissive "it's fine" hand gesture. This went on for a minute until the GA finally gave up and left, and off we went.

My theory is 7B was only given that seat when it appeared it would go out empty. But when my standby cleared, GA booted her out (which would explain why 7A/B suddenly opened up), and assigned it to me. Meaning she should have vacated it (or FA working flight should have made her move when he saw my BP). Or am I way off base here?

I realize it's inconsequential on such a short flight. But at 6' tall, it was a tight squeeze in E-, but more importantly - if this shouldn't have happened, what's to stop them from doing this to another pax on a longer flight?

Didn't argue at the time because (1) short flight, (2) flight already delayed and didn't want to delay it further, and (3) like to have my facts straight so as not to look like an idiot, and I genuinely wasn't sure in this case.

So - what's the deal here? Should the FA in 7B have moved, since I clearly had the latest BP? If so, should I write in, or just let it go?

mahasamatman

Are we supposed to know what G7 is, and is it relevant?

cranky1K

GoJet

IADdelayed

G7 is GoJet; they operate the CRJ-550s for UAX. Anyone who's flown the 550 will know that row 7 is the best row in economy with incredible legroom:

canadiancow

I find it works pretty well in all cases if you say "excuse me, I think you're sitting in my seat" as you show the boarding pass to them...

cfischer

Why didn't you tell the FA is 7B to vacate your seat? I doubt that would have been any problem ... it so, that would be a bigger issue.

Kmxu

If the FA dismissed you, you could go back to GA to resolve the problem.

mahasamatman

As per the OP,

fumje

To me it seems it's the seat poacher delaying the flight, not the person with the correct boarding pass.

mahasamatman

I would tend to agree, but how much is it worth pushing when FAs are on a power trip?

danielflyer

I would have asked the FA if she needed help finding her seat.

IADdelayed

Didn't want to be the jerk; figured it was the FAs job to tell his colleague to move. 😉

Plus the GA came on to (presumably) notify him of the last-minute seat shuffle, but he brushed her off as well. And I wasn't trying to delay the flight even further.

cfischer

My guess is ... there would have been no delay. FA in 7B gets up and you take your seat. FA knew she was in someone else's seat.

tarheelnj

All these solutions sounds good in theory, but I’m with the OP when actually dealing with this situation in real time (which I have), where you can be right but have a very annoyed FA.

Realistically, given the short flight, if the OP wanted to confront the FA in charge, best to remain on the plane at destination till everyone else is off, then address it with the FA (and friends, if still in 7AB). That way you at least have an escape if the FA causes a scene, and also it’s possible the flight deck crew will hear the dialogue as well.

As always, let your spider sense guide you, and remember that this is another airline, not really UA. I’ve had some wonderful FAs on these flights, but experiences vary.

prestonh

It's ua dao style to call cops and drag pax off planes in these sorts of situations. Or the fa pull the 'you didn't comply with my instructions ' line and have pax removed. Op was in a lose lose situation arguing with a ua fa.