Asked to give up your Meticulously Selected Seat when on board.

[BadgerBoi]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

...I was told "Family needs to sit together". ...

"needs" to sit together? Do they explode or something if they don't?

 

[Grooba]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

Actually now I think of it I have given up my seat once for another pax.
SYD-ZQN a few months ago I was in 4F with 4E free and a young guy in 4D. Had a bit of a chat prior to take off and found that he was on a RTW for his honeymoon, and he vented a bit as the ticket was purchased in J and he was sitting in Y. After listening to his story it turned out that his wife was up in J and he got bumped beck to Y as J was over sold. He went on to tell me that he had such a wonderful time in Australia and couldn't wait to return.
After take off he went up to see how she was doing (he had mentioned that she was a nervous flyer) and after a few seconds he returned and offered me her J seat as she was petrified without her husband by her side.
Needless to say I had a few stares from the other pax up front as I took my new seat and enjoyed more than a couple of glasses of vino.

 

[dfcatch]

Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board.

I think there's a moral in there somewhere for all you folks who are advocating that you hold your ground, even when there is not much detriment in being cooperative.

Cocitus23

I think this is the key point .... "when there is not much detriment in being cooperative".

But whether there is detriment in moving slightly on a MEL-SYD vs giving up a prized 80A/K/71D or similar on a long-haul, may be very different.

The reason for the request, and the manner/politeness of the request are also very relevant at the particular time.

But I would agree with the main thrust that my comfort (for which I have paid, and made deliberate seat/flight choices for), is a valid side of the equation.

 

[Cocitus23]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

I think this is the key point .... "when there is not much detriment in being cooperative".

But whether there is detriment in moving slightly on a MEL-SYD vs giving up a prized 80A/K/71D or similar on a long-haul, may be very different.

The reason for the request, and the manner/politeness of the request are also very relevant at the particular time.

But I would agree with the main thrust that my comfort (for which I have paid, and made deliberate seat/flight choices for), is a valid side of the equation.

I have no argument with you at all, dfcatch. You have made your point well. But I sensed that some contributors were being a bit too, too precious about holding their ground.

 

[Reggie]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

I was kicked out of my J seat on a flight MEL-PER at the gate. I was using the prioroty boarding line, (you know the one, behind all the Y pax) I go tto the front and my card was beeped out, and was told to go back to the desk, I thought great I'm being upgraded to the very front seats.

Anyway I was wrong, I had been shifted backwards because a mothr and daughter wanted to sit together. I asked why after sitting in the QP for 3 hours, no-one bothered to page me there for a seat change, but left it for me to find out at the gate after lining up? Needless to say there was no response.:shock:

 

[tuapekastar]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

I agree with most of the sentiments expressed in this thread. I'm in the, generally speaking, 'do not move' camp. Of course, there are exception situations and the common ones have been covered already.

Apart from a couple of genuine 'mistaken seat' scenarios (including one by me ) I can only recall two seat swap situations.

First, a flight AKL-MEL, had a forward aisle seat in Y. Two teenage girls were standing in the seat row when I got there and asked if I could swap so they could sit together. One was seated with a group near the back of the bus, and the other was in B next to me, a late decision to fly by her caused their separate seating.

The offered seat was 23B or some other middle seat. I politely declined and explained why (they were pleasant so I did not mind) - I like the aisle room, I'm not twiggy, and I loathe middle seats. They accepted it with good grace, so good in fact that after we were airborne I said to seat B that if she could rearrange the group down the back so I had an aisle, I'd swap, but this time she politely declined.

The second occasion was last year. I have copied and pasted below a post I made in a similar thread on Flyertalk a little while ago regarding "Rude Seat-Swapping Experiences 2010"

From FT
I'm actually not sure if my 2010 seat-swap experience was rude or not!

Flying LAX-JFK on an AA 762 in J - in 8something (one of the centre seats a row behind the bulkhead row). A family (Dad, Mum, Son, Daughter ~10 years old) boarded quite late (I had thought I had an empty seat next to me ).

The daughter was seated next to me and the son in a row 7 (bulkhead) centre seat (not a 'middle', just centre block), so just in front - not sure where Mum and Dad were seated.

Dad walks up to me and I think his exact words were "You will swap with my son", however his first language clearly was not English so I gave him the benefit of the doubt as to whether he was asking me or telling me, so I swapped. No big deal, though I'm not usually keen on bulkhead rows.

Now, if I had have been sure he was telling me to swap rather than asking, an interesting encounter may have ensued. :shock:

 

[gumpy]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

"needs" to sit together? Do they explode or something if they don't?

Lol

I tend to change seats on request as I get into the good books but mind you it's for sub 3 hr flights...

If I had a good seat for 5+ hrs... I wouldn't be too happy though i'd probably end up moving.

 

[FlyboyAl]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

I'm in 80a tomorrow to LAX, and the only way they will get me out of it is to move me to Y+, J or F!!!!

The only other time I've moved seats was on our honeymoon trip to Singapore (15 years ago) when the FA asked us to move for a family, and said he would make it worth our while.
He came down later with the duty free catalogue and told us to both spend $200 from it! Plus we got a BOTTLE of champagne (in Y) to celebrate our wedding 6 hours before.

Now that was a great flight

 

[JohnK]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

Sorry if this has been covered before.

Why do people who have been allocated seats apart and want to sit together always want to move forward in the cabin? What is wrong with going backwards? Trying to have the cake and eat it too is very greedy and will get you off-side with a lot of people.

So I am sitting in 23J on a 767 and someone is sitting in 23K but his wife is in 57E. It is not logical to ask me to swap my 23J for a 57E. It is very logical though to ask the person in 57K if they would like to swap to 23K. Why do people always look for the most complex solution to a very simple problem? Perhaps because they will be inconvenienced and stuff what happens to anyone else?

I remember the time I was sitting in 23J on a 763 and a bloke was in 23K with his baby daughter. I got talking to him and he told me he was seated apart from his wife who was down the back somewhere and in no way asked me to move.

I had a look around and saw a spare aisle seat 4-5 rows back and I mentioned to the crew to bring his wife to my seat and I will move back. Anyway after take-off I was given an on-board upgrade to business class and his wife moved into my vacated seat.

 

[Sequel]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

Have a SYD-SIN JASA for Me, Mrs, Jnr Child & Jnr Infant booked in September, 2 weeks before Sequel Inf turns 2yo.

Upon checking the booking, QF have pre-allocated us row 11 (bulkhead row upstairs w/ bassinet) on the 744. I must mention, not the row I would select myself.

I remember reading the max weight last time I was on a flight with a bassinet and thinking there was no way my Inf would be able to fit in it anywhere near 2yo. So I checked QF.com and it says:

Bassinets may be requested for infants up to 18 months of age, but the recommended age limit for bassinet use on international flights is eight months. The weight limit is 11kg (25lbs).Information for Children and Infants when travelling on Qantas

Mrs Sequel wants those seats for some reason. I am trying to convince her 23 B,D & F would be a better bet (as Jr wont be in the bassinet anyway). If it is full in J, then I am sure 23E would be happy to swap their middle for an aisle, and if it is not full we get the extra seat.

So all you non-swappers - would you be tempted to swap your middle J for an aisle J, both bulkhead?

 

[djfuzz]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

I would have just had to put up with it of course - under their T&Cs they can do pretty much anything they choose whenever they choose. Sorry, I honestly can't see what point you are trying to make. Are you saying I'm a bad person for not giving up my seat for people with an infant? :shock:

I was actually more interested in what you considered to be 'reasonable' enough for you to consider moving. Considering JQ doesn't block out preallocation of bulkhead rows for passengers travelling with infants, despite bassinette seating being one of the reasons they charge for infant tickets, this situation seems like it has the capacity to crop up quite often - which is unfortunate for all involved, especially whoever gets the short end of the stick. It's less likely to occur on QF or carriers who explicitly preclude preallocation of bassinette positions.

Yes I believe that is the implication. As I was to overhear one day on a flight a father loudly protesting that all parents should be upgraded to a premium cabin...:shock: As apparently the ability to spit out a Jr affords you now the right place yourself above everyone else.

Thanks for that. So I take it that your implication is that all parents are self-entitled cheapskates? Do you wish to extend that to those who are actually in the premium cabin too?

I can't speak from experience as I've only recently become a parent, but it's hardly changed my view on what I would do in such circumstances, on a plane or not. If a row is designed for any sort of special need, be that an infant bassinette or for a person with a disability, then you shouldn't preallocate it without the expectation that you may have to move for someone who actually needs it. The few times I've ever ended up in such a seat and come across someone who's actually needed it, I've happily volunteered my position before being asked. If I'm concerned about guaranteeing my own comfort, I simply won't allocate a seat I've got fair notice is likely to be given to someone else for such a purpose.

Of course this has nothing to do with exit rows or extra leg-room seats like your 80A/Ks etc, or groups / families who have the misfortune of being unable to be seated together - as JohnK pointed out, if it's a choice between a plum seat/row, and sitting together, the reasonable request would be for the person in the better seat to offer their seat up to someone else first, as I imagine it would be more important to be sitting together than to have a good seat. However, it's entirely possible (for whatever reason) that the seatmate in the back row may have also declined - in which case, you can't blame them for trying, nor could you be blamed for declining politely. Though I imagine just a little bit of compassion doesn't hurt where appropriate.

 

[Intra]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

I've only been asked to move once from memory: Was on the early BNE to ADL DJ flight. Still half-asleep, lining up as one of the last to board, was asked if I wanted to be moved to a seat near the front abit more...I just went with it (Assuming is was to accommodate the couple standing at the front desk just to the right of me) Nice surprise to get the extra leg room in Premium Economy on a Blue Saver fare

But I agree with most here: Why should you backwards for any inconvenience at all... coward's, as in my case and in others, yes...

 

[taswegian77]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

I'm in 80a tomorrow to LAX, and the only way they will get me out of it is to move me to Y+, J or F!!!!

The only other time I've moved seats was on our honeymoon trip to Singapore (15 years ago) when the FA asked us to move for a family, and said he would make it worth our while.
He came down later with the duty free catalogue and told us to both spend $200 from it! Plus we got a BOTTLE of champagne (in Y) to celebrate our wedding 6 hours before.

Now that was a great flight

Don't want to get you mad but I thought the A380 was not flying to LAX presently, so I think you will find you are not in 80A when you get there.

 

[serfty]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

Don't want to get you mad but I thought the A380 was not flying to LAX presently, so I think you will find you are not in 80A when you get there.

Qantas resumed flying QF11/QF12 to/from LAX on 388 7 days per week & once per week for QF93/QF94 from 16th January.


http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/au/publicaffairs/details?ArticleID=2011/jan11/5057

 

[tuapekastar]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

I've noticed a lot of 'forward versus backward' coming into play in the thread when referring to preferred seating, and seat-swapping. While I certainly prefer 'forward', I'm wondering whether some of the people who request seat swaps due to not being seated with spouses/family actually differentiate between front-of-cabin and back-of-cabin as desirable seats, or place any importance on same.

I know forward is certainly preferred by most FFs, and 'scamming' does occur, but perhaps some of those people asking us to swap back to 82B, instead of having their friend move forward to 7A, really don't consider the forwardness of the row an issue.

 

[BadgerBoi]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

I was actually more interested in what you considered to be 'reasonable' enough for you to consider moving.

I don't consider it reasonable to be expected to move for a pair of young, fit people who could have selected their seats at the time of booking, as I did. They could have selected another class in the aircraft if bassinet seats were available, or another flight if such seats weren't available. They could complain to JQ that those seats aren't blocked out for their perceived special needs.

Other people have mentioned in this thread what they would consider to be reasonable enough for them to consider moving, and I would consider it for most of the same reasons. I don't consider the lack of foresight of those parents to be reasonable. I hope that the people who gave up their seats for them gave them up willingly

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

About 2 decades back my wife, baby (several months) and I were returing from Fiji with Qantas.

We took great care to book a bassinet seat each way, when we booked, and also reconfirmed before we left Australia.

On check-in is Fiji I noted that our seats were not the bassinet row. I requested my booked seats, but was told that their were more babies than bassinets and so someone had to miss-out. I pointed that it should not be us as we had booked the bassinet row well in advance and were confirmed.

This all fell on deaf ears and so reluctly we boarded.

On boarding though I noted the couple in our seats were not only sans-bay, but were sans any children.

I queried the guy in my seat and he said he had asked for them at check-in. I advised him that they were actually my seats and that I had booked them some time prior. naturally he had no intention of moving. The response was basically first in best dressed! I reminded him that he was actually second in, but he declined my request to move.

So I fronted the cabin staff, politely explained the situation and firmly insisted that they re-instate me to my reserved seats.

After several minutes discussion, and only after I made it clear that I was not backing down, they removed sans-baby couple from my seats.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

I'm wondering whether some of the people who request seat swaps due to not being seated with spouses/family actually differentiate between front-of-cabin and back-of-cabin as desirable seats, or place any importance on same.

But surely the cabin crew are aware and should never ask someone to move backwards unless they have asked the person at the back to move forwards first and they have refused.

I know forward is certainly preferred by most FFs, and 'scamming' does occur, but perhaps some of those people asking us to swap back to 82B, instead of having their friend move forward to 7A, really don't consider the forwardness of the row an issue.

One of the first things I learned very quickly when I first started flying 21 years ago the more forward the better. Perhaps it was the smoking down the back or that the aircraft motion was a lot more noticeable.

I remember one flight SYD-MEL in 1994 and I was in the last row on a 737 (?) and it was one of my worst flights ever. It was on this flight that I became conscious of the claustrophobia one can suffer in an aircraft cabin. I thought never again.

I have gotten over that flight and have sat in the last row a few times in recent years on DJ flights.

But again we can have the same argument over and over. I am organised (I make sure I am organised as I do not like the alternatives) months in advance to ensure I have pre-allocated the best seat possible whether that be bulkhead or exit-row and not necessarily that far forward if you consider row 71 and row 80 on an A380. I do this so that no one can sit in front of me and recline in my space for the duration of the flight.

There has to be an extremely good reason why I would give up one of these seats and a family wanting to sit together is not one of them. If for some reason I had to give up that privilege then a middle seat anywhere in economy is totally unacceptable. Also it would not hurt for the cabin crew to be pro-active in these situations and offer the person asked to be moved a seat in business class if a suitable alternative is not found in economy.

Oh, and why do some people call those who are organised and take the time and effort to pre-allcoate their seats 'precious'? It is extremely insulting and I would like to respond in kind but best it is left alone as it is not worth the trouble.

 

[Rebekkap]

Re: Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board

I don't consider it reasonable to be expected to move for a pair of young, fit people who could have selected their seats at the time of booking, as I did. They could have selected another class in the aircraft if bassinet seats were available, or another flight if such seats weren't available. They could complain to JQ that those seats aren't blocked out for their perceived special needs.

Other people have mentioned in this thread what they would consider to be reasonable enough for them to consider moving, and I would consider it for most of the same reasons. I don't consider the lack of foresight of those parents to be reasonable. I hope that the people who gave up their seats for them gave them up willingly

Of course you actually have no idea why those parents hadn't selected the bassinet seats, and whether it was just a "lack of foresight" or not. Nor do you know whetheer they needed to be on that particular flight. All sorts of circumstances happen in people's lives - family emergencies, a sick parent, etc etc etc that might mean people need to fly at the last minute. It should go without saying that not everyone can afford to book another class, or even another possibly more expensive flight with the seats they wanted free. Nor can you tell if someone is "fit" or not just by looking at them - there are plenty of disabilities you can't see just by looking at someone.

What you're doing is making a whole lot of assumptions - and you may be right about some or all of them, but you may well be wrong about some or all of them.

I can totally understand not wanting to give up a seat you've selected in advance just so someone can sit with someone else - too bad for them, you were organised, they weren't. But if you select a bassinet position, I think you can reasonably be expected to move if someone is travelling with a child who has not got a seat booked. That's what those seats are for.

I don't have kids, and I'd be sad to lose the leg room if I'd snagged a bulkhead, but I'd move in that situation.

 

[dfcatch]

Requested to give up your Meticulously Researched and selected Seat when on board.

I think that's a fair point.

But it doesn't hurt for the crew to be proactive as was said above and to bump you forward or similar if you are good enough to move and there are no reasonable alternatives in economy. (eg. Stuck down the back in a middle seat)