Long haul with family: sharing business & economy seats between parents ????

[Hvr]

K.I.S.S principle. Wife flies J .... Husband flies Y, full stop.

However in all understanding relationships where equality is important, one parent flies J one way, the other flies the return J leg home.

Great idea when self paying, however the employer is paying for one party (in this instance the husband) to fly J. They have every right to expect he will fly in the class for which they have paid.

Another point to consider is the actual people involved. If one party is 2m tall and the other 1.5m tall then it could be argued that the taller partner has more need and will gain more benefit, from the J seat.

Naturally enough it is easy to argue the point without being involved. Reason number 1074 why being single makes it easier to travel.

 

[HKGNZL]

I think it is possible to swap seats in flight as long as you inform the crew in advance of your intentions. I have seen it happen a number of times. I have even sat in first class for ~1 hour when I was supposed to be down the back in economy.

But the option of all sitting together in economy has merit.

We have done it both ways - each with merits. I am surprised the comments are so one-sided. If you tell the FA that you may be swapping a couple of times during flight, they won't mind. My wife and I sometimes have a roster, say 2 hours on and 2 hrs off. You can then have a bit of quiet and a nap (or watch a movie) in J to look forward to.


The other consideration is lounge access (which can be a life saver if there is flight delay etc in a foreign airport). If one of you has platinum, and the other is on business, we have talked the bouncer at lounge to let the entire family through. Even with just one J ticket, you can take the entire family to the Business check in counter; another plus if there is a long queue and you have crying jet-lagged babies.

Don't leave one spouse with all the kids with the entire journey. We have done it with my wife in J (with baby) and me in Y. She hated it as there was no relief and the help she gets from FAs varied a lot among airlines. (CX and SG great always, QF variable).

The only way you can avoid trouble though is to discuss the pros and cons with your wife and do EXACTLY what she decides.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We have done it both ways - each with merits. I am surprised the comments are so one-sided. If you tell the FA that you may be swapping a couple of times during flight, they won't mind. My wife and I sometimes have a roster, say 2 hours on and 2 hrs off. You can then have a bit of quiet and a nap (or watch a movie) in J to look forward to.

That is surprising to hear that crew don't mind passengers swapping a 'few times' during flight. Is that on Qantas?

As a passenger i would find that disruptive, not least from a security standpoint. If I go to sleep I don't want multiple pax who are not ticketed in that cabin to be freely moving between them. Steal something and how do you know who has been in there? Any airline that permitted multiple swapping would be off my paid list for flying.

Seriously, if you can't afford to be in the cabin, why would you want to be there?

 

[Quickstatus]

So you got to go to NRT for work. Workboss is paying for it. You want to take HomeBoss + toddler and semitoddler along for the ride to see cherryblossoms...

Someone is going to be lumped with the kids. You think swopping during the flight will help.

Lets say you are in J and HomeBoss is with kids in Y. And unexpectedly HomeBoss wants you to come back to assist with the kid. But your seat is in J. Swopping seats is not assisting with kids. So you are standing in Y trying to assist. Where are you going to sit down especially when seatbelt sign comes on.

Lets say you make it to NRT and hotel. You got to go to work and leave HomeBoss in hotel with kids. What if work unexpectedly delays your return to hotel.

KISS: Work is work. Go with your family for holiday. Or chat with Homeboss, and say "yes dear". If you do go then all seat together. And homeboss should be aware you probably be late back to hotel and homeboss should have contingency plans....

 

[legroom]

That is surprising to hear that crew don't mind passengers swapping a 'few times' during flight..... Seriously, if you can't afford to be in the cabin, why would you want to be there?

I agree with the first comment but would disagree with the second one.

J ticket is an entitlement whether paid by you or OPM.

You should have the reasonable choice of gifting that to whomever you wish but only before the flight departure, not during - even once, let alone multiple times.

Too much disruption and distraction, not to mention interfering with crew works (you need to walk past the galley on EK).

 

[Justinf]

Easy decision. You in J and the wife and kids in Y.
I may or may not be joking.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I agree with the first comment but would disagree with the second one.

J ticket is an entitlement whether paid by you or OPM.

You should have the reasonable choice of gifting that to whomever you wish but only before the flight departure, not during - even once, let alone multiple times.

Too much disruption and distraction, not to mention interfering with crew works (you need to walk past the galley on EK).

I agree entirely - a swap before the flight departs and as HKGNZL says... 'who cares'?

I have heard some people swap mid-way during the flight. But that is different from swapping multiple times. (Maybe a single a single swap mid-flight would be understandable if you were holding a confirmed seat in the higher class but were involuntarily downgraded for some reason.)

You have paid for one person to get the benefits, not two. Otherwise it means every premium passenger can buy one premium seat, fly with a few of their mates, and 'all have a go' at sitting up front, boozing and eating. Somehow that doesn't seem right.

 

[legroom]

You have paid for one person to get the benefits, not two. Otherwise it means every premium passenger can buy one premium seat, fly with a few of their mates, and 'all have a go' at sitting up front, boozing and eating. Somehow that doesn't seem right.

Say a football team on a transpacific flight.

Each one has about one hour sitting in J.

I suspect the CSM would have a fit.

 

[Baysider]

Will the company allow you to apply the cost of the J seat towards seats from everyone in premium economy?

 

[gphamor]

A few years ago travelling to South America I purchased a First and an Economy ticket using points, for my wife and I; there weren't 2 Business Class tickets available to redeem and I didn't have enough points for 2 F tickets. I shared the First cabin with my wife on the leg to Auckland, having told the crew that I didn't wish to partake of any of the First class facilities such as food or movies, I merely wanted to spend the time with my partner. The crew not only allowed me to stay but put me in an empty seat, fed me, etc.
When the crew changed for the second leg, the senior FA told me in no uncertain terms that I needed to go back to my original Economy seat and no amount of pleading would change his mind.
On the return leg back to OZ, I got the First seat and my wife was happy with her cattle class seat. No problem with the swap.

 

[JohnK]

Seriously, if you can't afford to be in the cabin, why would you want to be there?

Are you just winding people up? I cant afford to be in the business or first cabin but do you think I am going to knock back an op-up?

And if I was sitting in business I would not really care who was sitting next to me. I have witnessed people swapping seats a number of times and it does not bother me. And I am guessing it would not bother most people.

 

[legroom]

... I didn't wish to partake of any of the First class facilities such as food or movies, I merely wanted to spend the time with my partner...

It is rather nice to have such a "simple" wish.

F cabins exist for a reason and.... with a price to match.

Their legroom & pitch alone are worth $$$.

"Merely" wishing to hold hands, but preferably .... in an F seat ?

It is a rather specious line of thought.

...The crew not only allowed me to stay but put me in an empty [F] seat, fed me, etc...

I'd suggest that experience is the exception, rather than the rule.

Nobody should "expect" this to happen as a matter of routine.

The senior FA on the return trip was correct and proper in enforcing the rules.

 

[drron]

Travelling with surrogate family with mrsdrron and myself in F(US domestic) or J I have been allowed to swap so the 2 women could sit up front and talk whatever women talk about.The swap has occurred usually after meal service and back again before final descent is called.
On one occasion on AA the FA in Y ordered me back to the F cabin-but she only noticed the switch after an hour.The F FA then took wine back to the couple in Y so obviously had no problems with the swap.
On BA I was going to a conference in SIN.I had a paid J ticket and upgraded to F.Mrsdrron was on a J award-no upgrade and both of us were told in no uncertain terms that neither of us could swap cabins.

PS we were allowed to meet at the dividing curtain for a short time.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are you just winding people up? I cant afford to be in the business or first cabin but do you think I am going to knock back an op-up?

And if I was sitting in business I would not really care who was sitting next to me. I have witnessed people swapping seats a number of times and it does not bother me. And I am guessing it would not bother most people.

we're not talking about an op-up... we're talking about passengers deliberately buying only one seat in a higher class, and expecting to have all the benefits for two people. they can't afford two seats in their desired cabin.

it's a little bit like premium ticketed pax 'going down the back to have a look'... totally weird.

i have never seen pax swapping seats between cabins in flight. I would find it mildly annoying. it is not respecting the privacy of pax in that cabin.

 

[HKGNZL]

It happens all the time. Have friends who did swaps on BA/QF to LHR. Seen young parents at J With baby and nanny in Y swapping esp at feeding times (on BA); last few times on PER-HKG often seen family separated in differnt cabins swapping during flight (CX). As long as you let FA knows and do it discreetly no one minds.

 

[amaroo]

Shouldn't be allowed and shouldn't be requested in the first place.

Buy the ticket - get the seat.

 

[JohnK]

i have never seen pax swapping seats between cabins in flight. I would find it mildly annoying. it is not respecting the privacy of pax in that cabin.

If your legitimate seat mate in business got up 29 times wouldnt that also be annoying and not respecting your privacy?

I know we are not going to agree but I don't see the problem.

 

[Kieran2274]

If your legitimate seat mate in business got up 29 times wouldnt that also be annoying and not respecting your privacy? I know we are not going to agree but I don't see the problem.

Have to agree with you JohnK, I don't see a problem if people want to rotate a seat they paid for/got on points/were op-upgraded to (although if they have a window seat, next to a seat occupied by a stranger, it might be polite to ask if they mind, and not to rotate too frequently). I'd be more concerned if people asked their friend, others, to come into the cabin to take up an additional seat which they hadn't paid for/got on points/were op-upgraded to (especially without the CSM giving the ok), rather than rotating a seat.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If your legitimate seat mate in business got up 29 times wouldnt that also be annoying and not respecting your privacy?

I know we are not going to agree but I don't see the problem.

well - 29 times I've never seen thankfully

but the second issue is that of consumption by a brand new person in the cabin. Pax 1 has their fill of drinks and food and then pax 2 comes in and wants to eat and drink again.

Pax 2 might want to drink my preferred beverage. They might want to have a dessert to go with a coffee. What if I want that dessert later with my pre-landing snack? If i miss out to another ticketed passenger in my cabin that's fine. But if I miss out because a second person is coming and eating another meal I might be asking questions.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Have to agree with you JohnK, I don't see a problem if people want to rotate a seat they paid for/got on points/were op-upgraded to .

But it is not just a seat that one buys in J or F.

You are buying the ambiance, and hopefully greater peace and quiet with less disruption.

Also some catering items can be limited, and may be affected.


One swap would be not that great an issue, but regularly swapping would annoy me.