Changing seats with another passenger from different class.

[MEL_Traveller]

The problem in attempting this is that ( on most airlines) your are instructed to take your assigned seat. Now, on a jet I guess this is mostly Pro forma, but should the swap be detected somehow, an issue may arise. If they tell the crew they are doing it, they will be told to take their assigned seats and may generate ill-will for not getting 'permission'.

That's not my experience of swaps. But maybe it depends on the airline. Qantas for example you just tell the FA at the boarding door. They may refer you to the FA in charge of the J or F cabin and it's all sorted before departure.

Maybe other airlines are different, but AKAIK 'assigned seat' simply means a passenger is sitting in each seat that has been allocated (dun really matter who that passenger is). This is potentially a weight and balance exercise. (Lots of people swap seats at the time of boarding. And even prior to takeoff on some airlines as long as seats are free.)

 

[RooFlyer]

That's not my experience of swaps. But maybe it depends on the airline. Qantas for example you just tell the FA at the boarding door. They may refer you to the FA in charge of the J or F cabin and it's all sorted before departure.

Maybe other airlines are different, but AKAIK 'assigned seat' simply means a passenger is sitting in each seat that has been allocated (dun really matter who that passenger is). This is potentially a weight and balance exercise. (Lots of people swap seats at the time of boarding. And even prior to takeoff on some airlines as long as seats are free.)

Isn't it odd - that's exactly the reverse of my experience with Qantas - but as we know, they are inconstantly inconsistent.

The directive is to take 'your assigned seat'; - not 'an assigned seat' and I have even heard them (QF) say ...'take your assigned seat - the one on your boarding pass'. I agree on a jet it shouldn't make much difference (but it may, for light loads), but obviously on a smaller plane it will be for weight & balance and I can't see either the airline or the regulators having different policies at the air crew's discretion. And I guess there is also the darker issue that if there is an 'incident', they want to know who was in what seat in retrospect.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

... they want to know who was in what seat in retrospect.

But the thing is that couples, or familes of three or four undoubtedly swap seats withouth anyone knowing or caring. Children allocated the middle seat will swap with mum or dad who has the window. Mum or dad will swap aisle and middle seats, etc. So the 'your' assigned seat doesn't really seem to be for ID purposes. Maybe just a lazy crew

 

[RooFlyer]

But the thing is that couples, or familes of three or four undoubtedly swap seats withouth anyone knowing or caring. Children allocated the middle seat will swap with mum or dad who has the window. Mum or dad will swap aisle and middle seats, etc. So the 'your' assigned seat doesn't really seem to be for ID purposes. Maybe just a lazy crew

I'm not disputing that it happens; just (and 'dispute' is too strong a word), that the instructions are for it not to happen until after take-off, after seat belt etc.

 

[tdimdad]

I'm not disputing that it happens; just (and 'dispute' is too strong a word), that the instructions are for it not to happen until after take-off, after seat belt etc.

And at least at QF the guidance before arrival is "return back to your allocated seat". An implied admission that people swap seats but during the higher-risk parts of the flights they'd like to have everyone in their known locations. I'd imagine this being useful if any help is needed to direct it to a named seat and not need to wonder where on earth is that particular passenger again (e.g. mobility limitations, kids, etc).

 

[Moody]

Yeah - they say to take your assigned seat, but on a HKG/SYD red-eye I found myself in the glorious position of being the only person in the middle four of a QF A330. Looking with avarice at the empty EFG to my right, I unfortunately made eye contact with the woman in J across the far aisle. She was looking with interest at the empty space to her left, and I immediately downgraded my expectations of getting 4 seats to myself to 3. Then she gave me a cheeky grin and being a pathetic male I caved, and recalculated the potential division of space based on chivalry (or maybe something less noble).

I needn't had bothered. As soon as the doors closed the pax in G the row behind moved himself forward to F in my row and his companion moved into his G seat, thus getting an offset pair each. I gave him a withering look and asked him if that was his assigned seat (which of course it wasn't), and this coincided with the "make sure you are in your assigned seat" part of the safety announcement. I smugly raised an eyebrow, but then he played the trump card. He caught the attention of one of the crew and explained that he had swapped seats. "You aren't supposed to do that, sir, but it's OK this time", was not the answer I was expecting.

I don't want to open a sub-topic of vacant seat etiquette, but as far as I'm concerned you should sit in J upon boarding and explain why only if asked.

 

[NZflygirl]

I've never had a problem seat swapping.

Forget asking in the lounge. I've heard a couple of others asking and invariably they don't receive a firm answer.

I've always asked upon boarding at the aircraft door. Admit I try and board later so they have the time to pay attention. Once one guy didn't really listen to my request and told us to go down the back to talk to the FA but lucky the other FA on the door heard and sorted us. Actually things turned out better than we could have expected.

I've also seen people get seated and then ask the FA if they can swap with their wife in the back and that's been fine as well but I do think it's better to do it at the door and just go your separate ways.

I've done this with Emirates, NZ, & Qantas. Never been an issue. You'll be fine!

 

[Melburnian1]

I've never had a problem seat swapping....I've done this with Emirates, NZ, & Qantas. Never been an issue. You'll be fine!

And why should anyone have a problem?

The traveller(s) have paid for (say) one Y and one J ticket...so they're the boss.

In the unlikely event of an on board emergency that leads to the worst possible outcome, passsengers won't all stay in their assigned seats because some won't have seat belts on...dental records will be the key.

Seriously though, I could only foresee an attempt at refusal by known aggressive crews (I'm looking at you, QF). I couldn't imagine any Asian airline having a problem with seat swapping, and nor should they.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There are problems with children swapping with adults. And adults paying for their infants in the economic cabin but then wanting to bring them up to premium.

 

[Hvr]

And why should anyone have a problem?

The traveller(s) have paid for (say) one Y and one J ticket...so they're the boss.

And one meal and one series of refreshments in each cabin. I can imagine that person A starts on J, has a nice meal and then swaps with person B in Y. Who then asks for another meal. Both of them guzzling champagne etc.

Oh and each swap is done in J with a loud conversation and standing over seats etc. And the pax next to the swapping pax in Y have to put up with being disturbed several extra times as well.

It may be nice for those involved but for others it's damned annoying.

One quiet discreet swap per trip but nothing else and no extras can be ordered. And best behaviour at all times. The child stays in the cabin it was booked.

 

[maidmarion]

And one meal and one series of refreshments in each cabin. I can imagine that person A starts on J, has a nice meal and then swaps with person B in Y. Who then asks for another meal. Both of them guzzling champagne etc.

Oh and each swap is done in J with a loud conversation and standing over seats etc. And the pax next to the swapping pax in Y have to put up with being disturbed several extra times as well.

It may be nice for those involved but for others it's damned annoying.

One quiet discreet swap per trip but nothing else and no extras can be ordered. And best behaviour at all times. The child stays in the cabin it was booked.

Lol, if I am able to make the swap, I'll be staying in my business seat, for sure.

 

[PineappleSkip]

The problem in attempting this is that ( on most airlines) your are instructed to take your assigned seat. Now, on a jet I guess this is mostly Pro forma, but should the swap be detected somehow, an issue may arise. If they tell the crew they are doing it, they will be told to take their assigned seats and may generate ill-will for not getting 'permission'.

Done this a few times with Pineapple booked in J and Mrs Pineapple booked in Y (QF, MH) and it’s never been a problem. We just board and ask nicely on boarding. Downgrading in favour of spouse made me a cabin crew hero on MH.

Cheers skip