Preselecting Seating leaving Open Seat between you. Is it gaming?

[burmans]

Personally I think the people who cant be bothered to pre-select (or pay for that) but then think they have some right to complain are the ones trying to game the system, asking for a benefit they don't deserve and haven't paid for.

 

[mrsterryn]

I know I already posted but it was when it was contained within a different thread
Don't know if there is any middle economy seats that are three across but I would want to aisle and so would husband.
Don't mind if rows apart but being old, kinda , I like easy access to the aisle and loathe detest abhor climbing over someone.
If husband and I have the two aisle seats in the same row yahh
Mind you being of the large variety I have purchased the extra seat so I am more comfortable and don't have to consider a person sitting next to me . That does help.
It has been a while since I have travelled econmy

 

[BAM1748]

I disagree... they should only refund the portion of the flight that remained unused. Its hardly fare to expect a full refund when id used approximately 80% of it. Alternatively, they should refund the cost of replacing the flight on which they denied me carriage, which is what ultimately happened.

And as for your last comment, I have definitely moved on. Im not sure if its that other airlines are actually better, but the key for me seems to be that they they meet the expectations they set. Qantas promise you the earth, fail to deliver and then wonder why you get upset. Tiger charge you next to nothing and they promise you nothing. I seem to get treated the way id expect to be treated and therefore there is no issue.

While I admire you're concern over treating airlines fairly......

The world isn't fair, it's not about that but about making sure a large corporation thinks about its actions before implementing them. If there is a serious safety concern then no airline manager will question the decision. If it's anything else then the staff member who made the decision needs to justify it properly.

 

[RichardMEL]

I realy think this whole seat assignment thing should be in a different thread

I think it boils down to this that if a customer selects certain seats that should be respected unless there's an operational reason to disrupt it (eg: seat issue, perhaps an air marshal or something) but otherwise it's not for anyone else to question the reasons people might select seats either together or apart is it? Even more so if someone pays a seat selection fee and makes those choices...

but if someone wants to be nosy or make an assumption at least bloody well page the pax and ASK THEM?!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Personally I think the people who cant be bothered to pre-select (or pay for that) but then think they have some right to complain are the ones trying to game the system, asking for a benefit they don't deserve and haven't paid for.

Even when these types are told they can select seats once the booking has been made they still come up with excuses why they shouldn't have to.

a) "I can't, my company books it for me"
b) "I've already got an aisle request in my (NB) profile"
c) "I've never had a problem before"
d) "My travel agent has requested an aisle seat"

My all time favourite response when someone gets a middle seat is "I'll just change onboard" - oblivious to the irony of the whole scenario being that the only way they can get an aisle or window seat is for someone who has planned ahead & pre-allocated an aisle or window willingly give it up and move into a middle one.

 

[Mattg]

Interesting about seat changes. I fly JQ alot due to no QF flights to fit schedule. I purchase the bundle with seat allocated and have the same allocated seat given every time and then the option to change if I want to. I have never had a seat changed by JQ EVER after my own selection. Makes me wonder about QF????

I have, multiple times... and JQ fought for weeks to avoid refunding my seat selection fees!

 

[SpudOz]

On a QF flight to HNL, all the 2's of the 2-4-2 configuration in Y were taken. I selected 2 aisles seats for other half and myself (both SG). Checked in at PER for initial flight SYD and then a further flight to HNL. Got our preselected seats, no problem. At the gate in SYD, we were given seats together which meant one of us (me) had a middle seat. I didnt want to sit next to the husband, I wanted an aisle. I wasnt happy but you get that.

 

[blackcat20]

We choose the A+C combo because we want th empty middle seat. If someone chooses to sit in B they can stay there., that’s not my problem. I don’t want a middle seat. But according to this thread I’m only gaming the system is the seat stays empty?

 

[Pushka]

We choose the A+C combo because we want th empty middle seat. If someone chooses to sit in B they can stay there., that’s not my problem. I don’t want a middle seat. But according to this thread I’m only gaming the system is the seat stays empty?

I think it’s now been agreed to that as long as you stay in your original seat then it’s not gaming. And of course you must completely ignore your ‘other half’ and don’t talk over the middle ‘man’. I guess if you did the latter then it’s somewhat gaming.

 

[blackcat20]

I think it’s now been agreed to that as long as you stay in your original seat then it’s not gaming. And of course you must completely ignore your ‘other half’ and don’t talk over the middle ‘man’. I guess if you did the latter then it’s somewhat gaming.

See I disagree. I think its gaming either way (and I dont deny that we do it), as you're banking on having the middle space. Moving to the middle doesnt suddenly mean youve gamed the system; you game it and you either win or lose.

Who's to say the person picking a middle seat isnt gaming the system themselves, hoping to get the aisle or window for free?

The whole thing is ridiculous, people sit where they want to sit. If they cant be bothered choosing a seat and end up in the middle then that's their own fault.

 

[Pushka]

See I disagree. I think its gaming either way (and I dont deny that we do it), as you're banking on having the middle space. Moving to the middle doesnt suddenly mean youve gamed the system; you game it and you either win or lose.

Who's to say the person picking a middle seat isnt gaming the system themselves, hoping to get the aisle or window for free?

The whole thing is ridiculous, people sit where they want to sit. If they cant be bothered choosing a seat and end up in the middle then that's their own fault.

Yeah, so that isn’t gaming then. I pick window seat. Always. I don’t care if someone is next to me because I’m already seated and lost in my iPad world. MrP only selects aisle seats. We usually don’t talk much on domestic flights, he is pretty much always working. I don’t need work conversations If there is a person in the middle then that problem is solved!

 

[serfty]

Of course, there is this:

 

[Kimley]

Qantas gave us aisle and window seat on our flight Darwin to Cairns last Friday. Might help that I am a Platinum member. A stranger then sat between us. I usually book aisle and window unless there is a 2 seat row. We then decide who gets the window and stay in our chosen seats. We have no problem having someone between us and it’s a bonus if it stays vacant.

 

[ChazBNE]

My wife & I regularly book opposite aisle seats when flying on 737 aircraft, and have never had a problem with any airline ever moving one of us to a middle seat.

When flying on a 747 we take two seats together in the middle section of four seats, so we have no one climbing over us during the flight.

On aircraft with 3 X 3 X 3 seating configurations, we take aisle seats in the middle section, and hope there's no one in the middle seats (we're doing this on a CX 777 out of JFK in November).

 

[Beano]

When travelling with my wife, I have taken the middle seat as she likes the window. However after reading this I may try the A&C with the option of offering the ailse seat if B is occupied. However some factors apply. Being a QF P I often get an empty seat beside me, but on a 3 seat arrangement that doesn't work if a couple are allocated the other two or the flight is full. On a QANTAS A380 the back of the top deck is economy and the arragement is 2/4/2 so you can get two seats together. It doesn't work on Emirates. Some singe deck flights are 2/4/2 and I have rarely had an empty seat especially accros the contient. All in all you takes your choice and live with it. It's not as bad as you think, even middle seat.

 

[Aus ATC]

We will invariably book A + C seats when travelling Y. Am I gaming the system - probably, because I am hoping for a spare middle seat. Would I offer to swap if the middle seat ends up occupied - maybe.

We did this recently on Emirates and were "successful" with a free B seat on all 4 legs BNE-CDG return. But I did check the availability to see plenty of "9s" on all flights. If the flights had been showing "0s", I would probably have gone for aisle and middle in the centre block of seats.

When travelling alone I will also preselect a seat that results in vacant middle seat (rather than picking the first vacant seat in a row, and leaving 2 seats vacant for a couple to book into). Is this gaming too?

If the aircraft is not full, someone is going to get a free seat next to them. I have learnt enough here to try and maximise the opportunity for it to be me.

 

[juddles]

What is it about airlines that so many people expect things that they do not pay for, and even if so, is not guaranteed?

I feel there is a totally different set of expectations when it comes to airlines, especially Qantas.

The rules are clear.

1.- The airlines tell you very clearly seat selections are not guaranteed.

2.- The airlines tell you very clearly seat selections are not guaranteed.

3.- The airlines tell you very clearly seat selections are not guaranteed.

Why can't people accept this? If you want a fantastic experience, then pay first class. Or hire your own jet. 99% of the complaints about such issues come from people booking (and paying) for economy. This is buying the cheapest thing out there, which the internet age has driven to ultra-competiveness. The equivalent in olden times on ships would be a class so low it would be "steerage" or whatever it was called. At least back then the only real expectation the pax had was to hopefully arrive at the destination, alive.

Airlines do not sell guaranteed seats. Ever. Even where there can be a charge for a choice seat, they yet again warn you that this is not guaranteed.

Someone way up-thread made a comment that it is unfair for someone to be bumped because a "higher status" flyer wanted the seat. I disagree with this. That other flyer has spent more money, is more valuable a customer, so why on earth shouldn't they get the seat?

It would be different if airlines sold seat selection as a guaranteed thing. But they don't!

4.- The airlines tell you very clearly seat selections are not guaranteed.

 

[Beano]

I completely understand your sentiments and have adopted the same strategy when flying solo.

 

[juddles]

Of course, there is this:

View attachment 132335

That is ultimate gaming - I love it!

 

[Beano]

It is gaming but then you win some, lose some, but no other PAX is at a disadvantage.