BNE-LAX Changing Seat at Gate

[flying_duck]

Hey All,

Hope this is a quick Q. Flying BNE-LAX and can't decide if I want Y+ or not. Can I check in with my existing seat (31A) and pay to upgrade to Y+ at the gate? Or is this not allowed? If it isn't allowed, can I do it over the phone and be reissued a boarding pass?

I know you can't do points upgrades at the check in counter but they do take paid upgrades.

Thanks.

 

[docjames]

So physical seat availability will obviously be a factor.

I’d say it would be relatively unusual to upgrade at the gate and at checkin pre-immigration/security would be a more reliable (?easier) place to perform a paid upgrade. I;m sure if they are motivated enough it can be processed almost anywhere.

Now i’m fascinated as to why you’d leave it so late - I can understand “see how i feel on day of travel” - but then, checkin/pre-clearance would facilitate that.


Were you considering “guessing” the loadings in Y at the gate and working out if the upgrade was “worth it”? Or assessing the “quality” (!) of the other pax?

Would a comfort seat achieve something similar? But would need to be booked in advance?

 

[flying_duck]

Interesting

So physical seat availability will obviously be a factor.

I’d say it would be relatively unusual to upgrade at the gate and at checkin pre-immigration/security would be a more reliable (?easier) place to perform a paid upgrade. I;m sure if they are motivated enough it can be processed almost anywhere.

Now i’m fascinated as to why you’d leave it so late - I can understand “see how i feel on day of travel” - but then, checkin/pre-clearance would facilitate that.


Were you considering “guessing” the loadings in Y at the gate and working out if the upgrade was “worth it”? Or assessing the “quality” (!) of the other pax?

Would a comfort seat achieve something similar? But would need to be booked in advance?

interesting analysis. I’d like to leave it so late for two reasons... firstly I currently have 3 seats in Y to myself. I check in early to get work done in the lounge. I want to ask them if those seats get taken after check in closes and if they do, what my y+ options are.

It’s pretty useless asking at check in, 3 hours before, when most people haven’t checked in yet.

I’ve also got a full day waiting for me, so the extra space will mean the difference between a successful day or a stressful one, so it’s unusually important on this trip.

 

[Bagpuss]

I currently have 3 seats in Y to myself.

This has danger all over it. Right up until boarding, all those common last calls for passengers to approach the counter just before boarding is because they have shuffled passengers around.
I understand that this is probably why you want to wait so late but, still a dangerous tactic.
Also if there spare seats next to you, an onboard FA may allow passengers to relocate and some passengers will relocate themselves.

Appreciate you have a work to do, if you have an economy seat you must accept that you can only expect that ... 1 economy seat and the relevant service which comes with that class of booking.

 

[hossein_au]

Interesting

interesting analysis. I’d like to leave it so late for two reasons... firstly I currently have 3 seats in Y to myself. I check in early to get work done in the lounge. I want to ask them if those seats get taken after check in closes and if they do, what my y+ options are.

It’s pretty useless asking at check in, 3 hours before, when most people haven’t checked in yet.

I’ve also got a full day waiting for me, so the extra space will mean the difference between a successful day or a stressful one, so it’s unusually important on this trip.

Not a change of cabin class, but once I was in Hamburg in EK lounge and as the check-in closed I noticed there was one set of 3 seats available (on EF). Just before leaving the lounge I asked if they could move me to one of those 3 seats.

All was good and I got on board, having 3 seats to myself... till just before departure when a hostess moved a disabled person to one of the 3 seats.

I thought oh well, at least the middle seat is empty... but this guy was the most obnoxious person I have had a (dis)pleasure of being next to, ever. I understand he could use a bit more space because he was disabled, but he immediately proceeded to claim both his seat and the middle seat, and left the big reading lights (for both his seat and the middle seat) all through the night and went to sleep. It was an overnight flight and these were the only two lights in the entire cabin that were left on. I tried to sleep, but every hour or so he violently shook me to get up because he wanted to get out of his seat; not once saying anything remotely resembling any sort of appreciation, let alone saying anything like excuse me or please. His first language was indeed English, so it wasn't like there was any language barriers. He was just plain rude and obnoxious; he acted as if everyone was beneath him or people "owed" him something...

 

[flying_duck]

Not a change of cabin class, but once I was in Hamburg in EK lounge and as the check-in closed I noticed there was one set of 3 seats available (on EF). Just before leaving the lounge I asked if they could move me to one of those 3 seats.

All was good and I got on board, having 3 seats to myself... till just before departure when a hostess moved a disabled person to one of the 3 seats.

I thought oh well, at least the middle seat is empty... but this guy was the most obnoxious person I have had a (dis)pleasure of being next to, ever. I understand he could use a bit more space because he was disabled, but he immediately proceeded to claim both his seat and the middle seat, and left the big reading lights (for both his seat and the middle seat) all through the night and went to sleep. It was an overnight flight and these were the only two lights in the entire cabin that were left on. I tried to sleep, but every hour or so he violently shook me to get up because he wanted to get out of his seat; not once saying anything remotely resembling any sort of appreciation, let alone saying anything like excuse me or please. His first language was indeed English, so it wasn't like there was any language barriers. He was just plain rude and obnoxious; he acted as if everyone was beneath him or people "owed" him something...

Unfortunately unpleasant passengers can’t be avoided, they happen on occasion. I think we have all had one or two flights similar to this. That’s not what I’m trying to avoid.

 

[flying_duck]

This has danger all over it. Right up until boarding, all those common last calls for passengers to approach the counter just before boarding is because they have shuffled passengers around.
I understand that this is probably why you want to wait so late but, still a dangerous tactic.
Also if there spare seats next to you, an onboard FA may allow passengers to relocate and some passengers will relocate themselves.

Appreciate you have a work to do, if you have an economy seat you must accept that you can only expect that ... 1 economy seat and the relevant service which comes with that class of booking.

That is all I expect.

I’d like the option to purchase y+ if there’s someone else already placed in the aisle after I have checked in.

Not sure what you think is going to happen if I don’t get “free” seats, a hissy fit or something? It is what it is just trying to avoid $150 if I don’t need to spend it.

 

[flying_duck]

Whilst I'm still curious about the possibility of paying for economy X gate upgrade, it's a moot point for this flight, those seats are taken so ill buy my upgrade now.

 

[hossein_au]

Unfortunately unpleasant passengers can’t be avoided, they happen on occasion. I think we have all had one or two flights similar to this. That’s not what I’m trying to avoid.

I appreciate that; it's just that the discussion reminded me of that flight... it was just a digress from your question...

 

[flying_duck]

I appreciate that; it's just that the discussion reminded me of that flight... it was just a digress from your question...

Of course, all good. Was just being clear, it was mentioned above I was trying to avoid a certain "class" of people. That's not the case. I rarely have an issue with other passengers, usually it is lack of service that causes the frustration when I fly.

 

[serfty]

If you have any status it is possible to ask at check in for them to but a block on those spare seats.

 

[flying_duck]

If you have any status it is possible to ask at check in for them to but a block on those spare seats.

Thanks serfty, that's good to know. I'm VA Gold.