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

[zenyattamondatta]

Of course, there is this:

View attachment 132335

That's Hans, exacting his dastardly revenge.

"So Wendy Window and Ike Aisle think they can actually sit together, but traumatize me for weeks before a flight by making me think I was sitting in a middle seat? I'll show them by, um, um, sitting in a middle seat. Or something."

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's not up to others to defray that cost.

There’s no defraying of cost here. Seat selection fees are an invented ancillary cost airlines started to charge to make more profit. Not to cover the actual cost of the fare.

Let’s say Hans books his flight and opens up the seat map to see mostly middles free, but only one or two aisles. So he decides to pay up for the aisle seat to guarantee it.

If the seat gamers were forced to book contiguous seating, there’d be more aisles or windows open, saving Hans $$.

Fine if Hans is earning good money. But for our teachers, carers, social workers... those are costs they can’t really afford.

 

[zenyattamondatta]

Hans is still coming to terms with the 7B Trans-Tasman Trauma of 1996.

“How come the guy in Row Sux gets to swap with gamers, and I get stuck between a husband and wife who were perfectly content to sit apart? At least I think they were husband and wife, not sure because they were perfectly well mannered and didn’t talk over me or anything? WHY ME?”

(Throws a few of his pitifully cheap personal items all over the best poolside chair and then heads off for a five-hour tour)

 

[zenyattamondatta]

Let’s say Hans books his flight and opens up the seat map to see mostly middles free, but only one or two aisles. So he decides to pay up for the aisle seat to guarantee it.

If the seat gamers were forced to book contiguous seating, there’d be more aisles or windows open

But didn’t at least one of those gamers have to pay for the aisle seat?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But didn’t at least one of those gamers have to pay for the aisle seat?

That’s the thing... you can select seats in advance with as little as silver status on qantas (nothing wrong with silver! I have it, but pretty easy to get).

I wonder how many gamers would actually pay the $180 for window plus aisle knowing they were going to give up one of those seats if someone sat in the middle?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

But for our teachers, carers, social workers... those are costs they can’t really afford.

But isn't that the thing? They don't have to be able to afford it. They simply have to accept their conditions of travel and accept the middle seat if that's all that's left in their price range. You can't blame people who have the right to select a seat for selecting a seat of their choosing (for whatever reason), even though others can't!

 

[Pushka]

There’s no defraying of cost here. Seat selection fees are an invented ancillary cost airlines started to charge to make more profit. Not to cover the actual cost of the fare.

Let’s say Hans books his flight and opens up the seat map to see mostly middles free, but only one or two aisles. So he decides to pay up for the aisle seat to guarantee it.

If the seat gamers were forced to book contiguous seating, there’d be more aisles or windows open, saving Hans $$.

Fine if Hans is earning good money. But for our teachers, carers, social workers... those are costs they can’t really afford.

So how does one discriminate between preferences and gamers prior to the flight.

I figure if Qantas thinks it ok to split us when we do select contiguous seats (and they've done that to me twice) then really its game on for me to do whatever I want to do.

 

[juddles]

See here for more of his 'literary' techniques:

juddles' reflections

hey there sjk,

this is a complex one......

I am not sure how to "take"' your post.

In the ambient that your post arose (ie perhaps bolstering someone clearly against my specific spur-of-the-moment ideas in this particular thread), it is dificult not to feel that the reference to the "reflections" thread is anything but negative.
Is this what you intended?

Everything I post in that other "reflections" thread is sheerly about Life, without taking sides. It is a thread for contemplation. Nothing else.

Your post (maybe incorrectly) makes me no longer want to share there.
Again, is this what you intended?
l

 

[stm1sydney]

But I did check the availability to see plenty of "9s" on all flights. If the flights had been showing "0s",

What does this mean?

 

[Aus ATC]

What does this mean?

9's mean there are at least 9 seats available in the different fare classes that are sold for a flight. 0's mean no seats available in the fare classes. You can search for this data via applications like Expert Flyer (paid subscriptions), or Flight Availability - BCD Travel (free).

There are others in this forum much wiser on this topic than I am.....

 

[burmans]

That’s the thing... you can select seats in advance with as little as silver status on qantas (nothing wrong with silver! I have it, but pretty easy to get).

However utilising a benefit that the airlines extend to you should not be regarded as gaming, this whole line about them only being silver is a bit of a furphy. Qantas has offered them a benefit, they should be enitled to use it.

 

[Quickstatus]

I can agree with both sides.

There is nothing wrong with using the benefits (published or unpublished) for greatest personal benefit

But choosing the aisle and window can be seen as gaming the system if the intention is a hope that the middle seat remains unoccupied after takeoff.

I don’t see an easy way to satisfy everyone about this because in the end the airline is not really affected by this.

 

[mrsterryn]

On the grounds of can't guarantee, just had an example

Our flight to Tokyo next week has had a plane change.
So moved from my lovely end of the cabin seats(premium econmy)to the middle.
Husband and I weren't on the same ticket and appears we have been separated
Now being of the plus side variety it is far more comfortable to travel with my husband as the other seat occupier.
All the others are occupied.
Really hoping that we get an upgrade
(Plane appears to have old 1st class )

 

[Pushka]

hey there sjk,

this is a complex one......

I am not sure how to "take"' your post.

In the ambient that your post arose (ie perhaps bolstering someone clearly against my specific spur-of-the-moment ideas in this particular thread), it is dificult not to feel that the reference to the "reflections" thread is anything but negative.
Is this what you intended?

Everything I post in that other "reflections" thread is sheerly about Life, without taking sides. It is a thread for contemplation. Nothing else.

Your post (maybe incorrectly) makes me no longer want to share there.
Again, is this what you intended?
l

Please continue posting there. And please others just don’t click on it if you aren’t interested. Bit insulting much?

 

[JohnK]

My sister and her travelling partner did that and the checkin agent said this was unfair and moved them to sit next to each other. It was unfair to the person potentially left thinking they had to s’enduire a middle seat for the next 24 hours.

You keep mentioning unfair about having to endure a middle seat for 24 hours but you're on the wrong side.

Unfair is having to endure 2 middle seats for 24 hours when I could easily choose 3 aisles or 2 aisles and a window. Expecting my wife and daughter to sit in middle seats is unfair. I've earnt that status the hard way and should be able to benefit fully.

As for the person who leaves seating until they get to airport and expect the best possible seats they deserve what they get.

 

[Quickstatus]

One way around this is to make middle seats cheaper or attach some perk . window and aisle more expensive or attach something negative to it

 

[JohnK]

But choosing the aisle and window can be seen as gaming the system if the intention is a hope that the middle seat remains unoccupied after takeoff.

I don’t see an easy way to satisfy everyone about this because in the end the airline is not really affected by this.

There's nothing wrong with statused flyers or those who have paid for seat selection getting the benefit of vacant middle seat.

Would it be fairer if 2 total strangers who don't fly very often end up with a vacant seat between them or even better a whole row to themselves?

I've been offered a whole row to myself by CSM further back in the cabin but have not accepted. That's how it should be when it is known before hand.

 

[Quickstatus]

There are so many permutations that It’s no wonder the airline will never stick their neck out about this.

What’s fair will never be fair to some.

Need the wisdom of solomon

 

[Hvr]

There's nothing wrong with statused flyers or those who have paid for seat selection getting the benefit of vacant middle seat.

aka a shadow? Heck these are generally not available for WPs.

 

[tracman]

I travel with my other half frequently, and unless flying above economy will always choose A and C - if I can choose my seat there is no way I will select a middle - I have as much right as the next person not to be stuck in the middle - and the airlines have no right to move me because I am travelling with my partner - who says I want to sit next them anyway

Where I have been caught out - i.e on the Etihad sardine express (otherwise known as the Dreamliner Economy Class) to AbuDhabi last year - I did move to the centre after happily negotiating with the young bloke who scored the centre seat.