Pax of dubious E+ qualification monopolizes whole exit row
Sep 16, 2007, 5:08 am
#46
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UK/Australia
Programs: BAEC Silver, UA2MM, QF Platinum, VA Platinum., Volare Executive Club
Posts: 2,512
P.O.S. cost the airlines $275M in bottom line profits last year, due to higher fuel costs. My recommendation is to have a weight limit, after which point a passenger must purchase multiple seats.
I feel very bad for most of these passengers as well ... the seats simply are not made to accomodate them.
I feel very bad for most of these passengers as well ... the seats simply are not made to accomodate them.
POS don't fit...
(and why are they weighing my carry on?).
Sep 16, 2007, 7:44 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Nashua, NH USA
Programs: Seashore Trolley Museum "flight attendant"
Posts: 1,991
I don't understand your responses to the OP.
It is one thing if the "POS" is sitting in his/her assigned seat next to the OP in his/her assigned seat, but quite another if the "POS" is in other than his/her assigned seat. In the former case, the OP may elect to a move to a comparable seat, if there is one; in the latter case, the OP ought not be obliged to move anywhere, it is the "POS" who should be required to sit in his/her assigned seat.
And why should it be of any concern to the OP where the "POS" will sit if forced to move from the one they have attempted to glom on to? You think the OP is somehow obliged to "make sure he doesn't land on top of a seatmate there."?! Isn't that what FAs are supposed to straighten out?
It is one thing if the "POS" is sitting in his/her assigned seat next to the OP in his/her assigned seat, but quite another if the "POS" is in other than his/her assigned seat. In the former case, the OP may elect to a move to a comparable seat, if there is one; in the latter case, the OP ought not be obliged to move anywhere, it is the "POS" who should be required to sit in his/her assigned seat.
And why should it be of any concern to the OP where the "POS" will sit if forced to move from the one they have attempted to glom on to? You think the OP is somehow obliged to "make sure he doesn't land on top of a seatmate there."?! Isn't that what FAs are supposed to straighten out?
In the situation discussed by the OP, the "other TED regular" beat the FA to it (resolution of the problem) by electing (I did not say he was obliged or forced) to move. Now, if the other Ted regular really wanted an aisle seat, he could have summoned the FA to pin down the POS for rudeness and taking up someone else's assigned seat (with his elbow) as opposed to just E+ seat poaching.
Originally Posted by Roger Lococco
POS cost the airlines $275 million
Transporting POS' is a cost of doing business. Also included in the cost of doing business is also treating other passengers fairly, decently, and properly.
Last edited by AllanJ; Sep 16, 2007 at 8:08 am
Sep 16, 2007, 8:51 am
#48
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
Think about it - a passenger who is refusing to sit in her assigned seat, instead demanding to be closer to the cockpit door. Now have that same passenger refusing to comply with "uniformed crewmember instructions".
She's very lucky that this stunt only cost her $29.
Sep 16, 2007, 10:58 am
#49
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: united airlines
Posts: 4,967
I took the middle seat, because the flight attendants told me I could take it. I assume the CSR just put me in the aisle in the back, because she assumed I would prefer that to the exit middle. I prefer when the CSR asks which one I would prefer. I moved once the FAs said boarding was complete, but it turned out they ended up boarding two more people. However, if I had really wanted to keep the exit middle, I probably could have told the other guy to take my aisle in the back. I always prefer a E+ middle to a seat in the back, so it does annoy me when people up in E+ assume I'm a poacher, because I am in their middle. United allows any elite to unblock the blocked middle in E+ for a reason. I didn't say I don't care where I sit, but rather that I don't care who else ends up sitting next to me.
The long and short of this is that I see no reason why the other passengers should be viewed as "uptight" and you as "cool" because they didn't want anyone planted between them unless there were no empty E+ aisles or windows for that person to go into and that person was entitled to E+.
(And if you are entitled to E+ and would prefer even a middle seat in E+ to an aisle in E-, then by all means make that known through the kiosk seating option or by telling the CSR or GA before boarding.)
Sep 16, 2007, 12:14 pm
#50
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: United MP (lowly 1P), Alaska MP (MVP), Marriott Silver
Posts: 20
Sep 16, 2007, 12:50 pm
#51
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,724
The FAs are supposed to follow the rules, not make the rules. Are you a UA elite, someone who has bought E+ for a year, or did you buy E+ for that particular flight? If the answer to any of those is "yes," then you were entitled to that middle seat in E+; if the answer to all of them is "no," then those sitting in the aisle and window seats had reason to be upset that you would be put there for no reason other than an FA's "largesse." (Valid reasons might for moving an E- passenger to E+ would include doing so in order the a family with small children could sit together in the back; the E- passenger's seat was not in working order; there was a problem in the seat(s) next to the E- passenger's originally assigned seat, etc. An empty middle exit row seat is not a "valid reason" for promotion of an E- to E+.)
The long and short of this is that I see no reason why the other passengers should be viewed as "uptight" and you as "cool" because they didn't want anyone planted between them unless there were no empty E+ aisles or windows for that person to go into and that person was entitled to E+.
(And if you are entitled to E+ and would prefer even a middle seat in E+ to an aisle in E-, then by all means make that known through the kiosk seating option or by telling the CSR or GA before boarding.)
The long and short of this is that I see no reason why the other passengers should be viewed as "uptight" and you as "cool" because they didn't want anyone planted between them unless there were no empty E+ aisles or windows for that person to go into and that person was entitled to E+.
(And if you are entitled to E+ and would prefer even a middle seat in E+ to an aisle in E-, then by all means make that known through the kiosk seating option or by telling the CSR or GA before boarding.)
This is one of the reasons I like LH's "boarding completed" announcement.
Sep 16, 2007, 5:14 pm
#52
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: united airlines
Posts: 4,967
The middle seat was the only empty seat in E+, and I'm a Premier Executive. There were two empty seats. One in the exit row and one middle in the back. The passenger who ended up sitting in the exit middle was also of dubious E+ qualification. In the end it didn't really matter as the flight canceled.
This is one of the reasons I like LH's "boarding completed" announcement.
This is one of the reasons I like LH's "boarding completed" announcement.
Sep 16, 2007, 7:14 pm
#55
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Sydney AUS
Programs: VA Gold, United Premier Gold, Qantas Platinum
Posts: 349
*slightly* OT - is it my imagination or does the E+ cabin fill from the front left, through the middle, then front right? So the most likely placement for overage from E- is the front left of E+? and subsequently the most likely seats ever available on a fullish E cabin is the back right of the E+ cabin? That seems to be my experience - so on a 747 I take row 40/41 on the right in hopes of some empties..
thoughts?
thoughts?
Sep 16, 2007, 8:02 pm
#56
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pasadena,Ca.,US.
Programs: AA, Delta, United, SPG plat, Hyatt dia
Posts: 7,140
P.O.S. cost the airlines $275M in bottom line profits last year, due to higher fuel costs. My recommendation is to have a weight limit, after which point a passenger must purchase multiple seats.
I feel very bad for most of these passengers as well ... the seats simply are not made to accomodate them.
I feel very bad for most of these passengers as well ... the seats simply are not made to accomodate them.
Please post where you obtained your stats.
Sep 16, 2007, 8:12 pm
#57
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Global
Programs: United 1K, Qatar Gold, Etihad Gold, Hilton Diamond, InterCon RA, PC Plat, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,454
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/hea...ese.travel.cnn
Apology? Or, let me guess, you'll now 'challenge' the CNN story.
Sep 16, 2007, 8:15 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Global
Programs: United 1K, Qatar Gold, Etihad Gold, Hilton Diamond, InterCon RA, PC Plat, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,454
Sep 16, 2007, 8:21 pm
#59
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,038
Time Out.
Thanks,
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United Mileage Plus Forum
Thanks,
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United Mileage Plus Forum