What would you have done? (asked to swap E+ aisle seat)
Aug 10, 2006, 12:33 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: United 1K, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 234
What would you have done? (asked to swap E+ aisle seat for middle non E+)
I was at the IAD today, waiting to board my flight back home to California aboard A319. I was holding on to my boarding pass with my favorite seat assignment - 6D (bulkhead aisle: best seat on A319 in the Economy cabin).
20 minutes prior to boarding, the GA started to call out passengers name, then finally my name was called. Excited thinking I was upgraded I marched to the podium. There were about 10 people waiting in line and a man with a 50lb lab (no, this was not a guide dog). The GA looked straight at me and asked "Sir, would you kindly swap seats with this gentlemen? I can give you 14B in exchange." I looked at her and asked, isn't that middle seat in the non E+ section? She then said, "I can give you 9B in the E+ section." I stated, that is again a middle seat, can't you bump me to first? She replied "No, there are other passengers in front you in the list", she then turned to the man with the dog and replied "I tried.. I can only try."
I felt really bad for the man with the dog and embarassed about the entire exchange... the 10 people in the line must have thought I was some snobby guy who refused to yield seat to a needy passenger.
What would you have done?
20 minutes prior to boarding, the GA started to call out passengers name, then finally my name was called. Excited thinking I was upgraded I marched to the podium. There were about 10 people waiting in line and a man with a 50lb lab (no, this was not a guide dog). The GA looked straight at me and asked "Sir, would you kindly swap seats with this gentlemen? I can give you 14B in exchange." I looked at her and asked, isn't that middle seat in the non E+ section? She then said, "I can give you 9B in the E+ section." I stated, that is again a middle seat, can't you bump me to first? She replied "No, there are other passengers in front you in the list", she then turned to the man with the dog and replied "I tried.. I can only try."
I felt really bad for the man with the dog and embarassed about the entire exchange... the 10 people in the line must have thought I was some snobby guy who refused to yield seat to a needy passenger.
What would you have done?
Last edited by flydrha; Aug 10, 2006 at 12:53 am
Aug 10, 2006, 12:52 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 4,039
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/hspr-H102; Blazer/4.0) 16;320x320)
Now the real question is why was 50 lb dog at the gate. I would have done the same as you did unless the dog was for some reason (full moon tonight?
) going to end up next to me on the plane. I'm still perplexed though... a 50 lb dog?! Uhh...
Now the real question is why was 50 lb dog at the gate. I would have done the same as you did unless the dog was for some reason (full moon tonight?
) going to end up next to me on the plane. I'm still perplexed though... a 50 lb dog?! Uhh...
Aug 10, 2006, 12:58 am
#3
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Originally Posted by flydrha
I felt really bad for the man with the dog and embarassed about the entire exchange... the 10 people in the line must have thought I was some snobby guy who refused to yield seat to a needy passenger.
What would you have done?
What would you have done?
I mean I like dogs and miss my own when I travel but come on.
All the weirdos come out in the summer.
Aug 10, 2006, 1:13 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,123
Originally Posted by rar indeed
Now the real question is why was 50 lb dog at the gate. I would have done the same as you did unless the dog was for some reason (full moon tonight?
) going to end up next to me on the plane. I'm still perplexed though... a 50 lb dog?! Uhh...And no, I wouldn't have switched either.
Aug 10, 2006, 1:29 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: BUR
Programs: in C/C++, Python, SQL
Posts: 342
Yep, big no way on that.
I'm kinda surprised that she offered you an E- seat first. She knew you had an E+ aisle--you'd think she would have given you the best possible trade (even though it was still completely worthless).
I'm kinda surprised that she offered you an E- seat first. She knew you had an E+ aisle--you'd think she would have given you the best possible trade (even though it was still completely worthless).
Aug 10, 2006, 1:47 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Bay Area
Programs: UA 1P, SPG Gold
Posts: 295
I would not have given up my seat either. What I also don't understand (besides why there was a 50 lb dog at the gate) is why the GA selected you, offered you a middle seat in E-, and when you rightfully rejected it, she didn't try any other pax? I guess she really didn't want to deal with it, looked at the pax list and decided you were the least likely to accept, so she called you up just to show the dog owner that she tried something.
Was the dog owner seated next to you?
Was the dog owner seated next to you?
Aug 10, 2006, 1:50 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,123
Originally Posted by laser
I would not have given up my seat either. What I also don't understand (besides why there was a 50 lb dog at the gate) is why the GA selected you, offered you a middle seat in E-, and when you rightfully rejected it, she didn't try any other pax? I guess she really didn't want to deal with it, looked at the pax list and decided you were the least likely to accept, so she called you up just to show the dog owner that she tried something.
Was the dog owner seated next to you?
Was the dog owner seated next to you?
Aug 10, 2006, 2:16 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: DEN / OGG
Programs: Former UA GS, demoted to lowly 1K MM
Posts: 734
At least you were given a choice. A few weeks ago I got booted out of my Bulkhead seat for a guitar!
Aug 10, 2006, 2:24 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SFO/HKG
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 152
I consider this to be an insult from the GA. If the person who bought the dog along expects to sit in a bulkhead seat, he should have secured the seat before booking the ticket, or just take another flight with the bulkhead seat available. I would do the same as the OP and ENJOY the ride all the way. I hate IAD, the worst GAs (IAD to SFO) in all of UA terminals. I will try everyway to avoid it.
Aug 10, 2006, 2:33 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: DEN, or so it says...
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Posts: 2,885
I side with the OP. I would not switch my seat for that reason. I generally, like most ppl on FT, pick my seats for a very specific reason so, I am not inclined to switch. Besides, what is a dog that size doing on board anyways...
Aug 10, 2006, 2:40 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA, AA
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Carry-on
Fully weaned dogs or cats at least eight weeks old and domesticated household birds (canaries, finches, parakeets) can travel with you in the cabin if they are small enough to fit and stay comfortably in a kennel under the seat. Tropical birds such as parrots are not allowed. No pets in cabin allowed to Hawaii. (Exception: certified guide dogs)
Checked luggage
Your dog or cat can ride in the pressurized and heated cargo compartment of the aircraft you are ticketed on. Pets traveling as checked baggage will be accepted at the airport check-in counter and delivered to the baggage claim area at your final destination.
Fully weaned dogs or cats at least eight weeks old and domesticated household birds (canaries, finches, parakeets) can travel with you in the cabin if they are small enough to fit and stay comfortably in a kennel under the seat. Tropical birds such as parrots are not allowed. No pets in cabin allowed to Hawaii. (Exception: certified guide dogs)
Checked luggage
Your dog or cat can ride in the pressurized and heated cargo compartment of the aircraft you are ticketed on. Pets traveling as checked baggage will be accepted at the airport check-in counter and delivered to the baggage claim area at your final destination.
Do you know what happened with this dog? (...and how did it get through security, did it go through the x-ray machines or...
)
Aug 10, 2006, 2:43 am
#13
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
Originally Posted by Hotspring
I consider this to be an insult from the GA.
And of course the OP did the right thing. Shouldn't feel bad one iota.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Aug 10, 2006 at 2:54 am
Aug 10, 2006, 2:43 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Originally Posted by flydrha
I felt really bad for the man with the dog and embarassed about the entire exchange... the 10 people in the line must have thought I was some snobby guy who refused to yield seat to a needy passenger.
What would you have done?
What would you have done?
As for those 10 people in line, who cares what they think? If they were FFs, then they would understand. If they were the unwashed... well, smile as they pass by your seat to theirs.
I would've kept my seat as well.
Aug 10, 2006, 3:00 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,123
Originally Posted by Hotspring
If the person who bought the dog along expects to sit in a bulkhead seat, he should have secured the seat before booking the ticket, or just take another flight with the bulkhead seat available. I would do the same as the OP and ENJOY the ride all the way.
The 5 seconds of shame you might have felt in front of the 10 pax in line is nothing compared to the 5 hrs of suffering you would have had to endure in E-. Middle seat, no less. The OP made the effort to get the bulkhead and got it. Enjoy the fruits of that labor.
I also agree that the GA should have never put you in that position unless she could offer you a comparable seat or upgrade.