"Will anyone please swap so this family can sit together?"

[Shamrock55]

So I'm flying MEL-PER a few weeks back and managed to get upgraded using points to 1A in the lovely new config A330.

I'm settling into the seat and enjoying the preflight drink when I hear the cabin manager meekly asking the passenger behind would she mind swapping with a lady who is unhappy with her seat. She said no, and then the manager came to me. Before he even finished I said "yep, sure, where am I going?". Once we got to cruise height I was swapped with a somewhat bewildered older lady in 7E. Turns out she had swapped with someone so a family could sit together, then been horrified at the "mini J cabin" and wanted a window seat.

I ended up having a fantastic flight because:

A: I couldn't give a dam whether I have window or aisle when I'm in J on short haul.
B: They came and took my food order FIRST and showered me with refills and snacks.
C: I received a lovely bottle of wine for my troubles from the cabin manager.
D: I was raised to help people out when I can.

What I was amazed by though was the fact nearly every single other person in J wouldnt move for this older lady and the family. Why are people so mean and why do they get so obsessed over their seats when they're already in J and its only a <4 hour flight anyway?

But wow I really got superb service from the crew, so I think I was the lucky one on that flight!

Would you have moved? Do you hate the mini J cabin on the new A330s?

 

[Denali]

So you said yes to swapping a seat before being told what/where the seat was? That's brave.

If its like for like, I would consider it but just because someone doesn't like their seat means Im not open to moving, especially as I usually spend a bit of time selecting the best seat for me.

 

[medhead]

This thread probably covers most of it. http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/someones-in-my-seat-74399.html

Many around here agonise about their seat selections for days or even months. Having invested in getting a particular seat, and having managed to get their preferred seat they generally don't want to move. There is also the common occurrence that people are asked to move to a worse seat. Moving to 7E from 1A is a big call. I wonder where the family were located. In front of row 7 it would seem.

Also, personally I wouldn't call MEL-PER short haul.

 

[Pushka]

But the person you swapped for wasnt happy with her seat. Doesnt that mean she was a little obsessed as well?

 

[NZflygirl]

I quite like the mini cabin actually, I think it's my "go to". Definitely a window person myself but yeah ended up giving up my economy window seat (well actually it was poached) to a family. Had a miserable flight and rest of day. Yes FA was checking in etc. Vowed never to do it again for poachers. Gave my upgraded F seat to family to sit in Y. Only 2.5 hrs TT. I would have cried had it been long haul but giving up J for Y long haul for family later in yr. Booo! I'll take some pills!! I think it's good getting a reality check at times.

I think if someone had been planning that trip for months or first time able to fly J or something I might forgive them for being a seat hog but a FF then no. But you can't really tell just by looking at them.

Anyway, thumbs up!

 

[hopefulQFF]

I recently swapped my seat on a BA J flight so a couple could sit 'together' (well, facing each other) for a LHR - JFK flight. I offered before knowing which seat because it's still in J and they're all stupidly comfortable (I still remember Y...). Turns out I got a 'better' seat with an exit row so I could get in and out easily and the flight attendants gave me extra toiletries, drinks and snacks! When I was leaving the plane they gave me a bottle of wine and about 6 mini-bottles of Gin! Marvellous, generosity does pay sometimes!

I think J is good in any seat - especially for a <4 hour flight. I would hope that if I wished to sit near a family member, someone would switch for me - so I treat others as I would like to be treated. Simple.

 

[mviy]

The flight could have been unpleasant for the lady if the seat swap didn't take place (and she'd helped them avoid an unpleasant experience for a family already), and whilst there's no bad seat in J a number would consider front row superior to 7E.

When you agreed to swap they were keen to keep you as happy as possible in the changed seat, wanting to get your business again. After all flying J is a special experience that may be looked forward to for a long time, a special experience that some may experience very rarely or even once in a lifetime and a disappointment is the kind of thing that can turn customers off an airline for good, whilst a good experience may lead customers to come back for more flying J.

Sounds like all around good service by the cabin crew and in this instance they made everyone happy (which would have made the flight a more pleasant experience for the crew as well).

 

[Buzzard]

A general comment, not specifically about the lady mentioned by the OP, if you are not happy with your seat, what makes you think I would be happy with it?

Some time back, sitting in row 1 on a 737 I was asked to swap with a celebrity sitting in row 2. Why should I?
This was not on board, my name was called in the lounge. I mentioned that I specifically chose that seat as being short sighted I prefer to sit closer to the IFE screen.

Once on board having found out who the celebrity was, +1 would have been more than happy to sit next to the celebrity assuming she too was not moved.

 

[AnnaB]

I have swapped before and would do it again. But this has all been in Y... all seats are kind of the same as long as you dont get a middle or lavatory seat. Only time I was not happy about it was on a long haul flight CPH-SIN (14 hrs) and I had pre booked an emergency row seat for room and I got moved (not asked to move, I got told to move, with no consideration or compensation) to an isle seat down the back due to a family.
I do understand that the family might need the seat, but I was really not happy. One of the worst flights ever, flight was filled to the brim, I had bad BO next to me and a big box taking up half my foot space.

 

[njba]

A cautionary tale for us all: do a nice thing and nice things may happen as a result.

 

[kermatu]

I'd move for family or medical need - but not for preference, particularly if I'd already settled in my space.

I've never been moved onboard. Have been asked in the lounge a few times if I'd move to accommodate other pax travelling together. Always said yes. Trouble is the crew onboard have no clue so no extra special treatment for me!

Most recent time was in J flying Melbourne to Sydney. Moved across the aisle so no big drama. The two pax were CLs, I saw. While I was happy to say yes, as soon as I did I was handed my new already-printed BP (so a fait accompli really - wonder what would have happened if I said no?).

 

[Pushka]

A cautionary tale for us all: do a nice thing and nice things may happen as a result.

Thats true but that will come down to preferences. Some might prefer their pre-selected seat to a bottle of wine.

 

[dajop]

This thread probably covers most of it. http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/someones-in-my-seat-74399.html

Many around here agonise about their seat selections for days or even months. Having invested in getting a particular seat, and having managed to get their preferred seat they generally don't want to move. There is also the common occurrence that people are asked to move to a worse seat. Moving to 7E from 1A is a big call. I wonder where the family were located. In front of row 7 it would seem.

Also, personally I wouldn't call MEL-PER short haul.

As the instigator of that thread, if it is short haul (and I would call MEL-PER short haul, all a matter of perspective!) would have no problem moving if there is a genuine need.

Even long haul I am OK if there is no functional difference between the two seats (which means this can be a problem for bulkheads on some airlines where there is a noticeable difference), and would be even be OK moving to an inferior seat if there is a genuine need (such as parents with young children, or a baby that has missed out on bassinet seat) -even where there is a difference.

However where it is simply a couple or two people wanting to sit together, I am less charitable and only will swap if an equivalent seat can be found, in this situation the solution (as far as I'm concerned) is simple, swap the person sitting next to me back to inferior seat, not the other way around (especially if the person that wants to come to my seat already has an empty seat beside them!!).

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Last time I was asked by a pax to change seats with him in biz class I agreed and the manager upgraded me to first class. I then proceeded back to economy to ask if someone wanted to change seats with me and nobody was interested.
You win some and lose some.

 

[Deleted member]

I am tempted to say that I would swap, BUT with one caveat, the new (A330) mini J cabins have an interesting configuration, what i call "open" and "closed" , the Closed (nice wee wall on the aisle side) works for me, Mrs GPH swapped once (recently) and spent the rest of the flight being bumped by FA's and pax wandering around.
so i would need to know my seat was an improvement (on my terms)

 

[medhead]

As the instigator of that thread, if it is short haul (and I would call MEL-PER short haul, all a matter of perspective!) would have no problem moving if there is a genuine need.

MEL-SYD/ADL/BNE/CBR is short. Greater than 4 hours, where they serve 2 meals and offer a lay flat bed to sleep is not short. It's not long either. What's that one in the middle called? Medium haul?

But to get back to OP's question, I didn't really answer it at all. It is pretty clear that the answer is "depends". The thread you started certainly covered the whole range of factors that are considered as part of "depends".

 

[Mr_Orange]

Last time I was asked by a pax to change seats with him in biz class I agreed and the manager upgraded me to first class. I then proceeded back to economy to ask if someone wanted to change seats with me and nobody was interested.
You win some and lose some.

Huh??? You were offering an F seat to randoms in Y? For the love of god, why?

 

[Mr_Orange]

Part of the issue here is families thinking they are entitled to be together. There are circumstances where it is obviously sensible such as babies and bassinet seats, but just a couple who weren't organised enough to choose 2 seats next to each other.... I'm sorry I don't think that qualifies.

The only time I have raised seating is when there was an equipment change and I was moved upstairs on a 744 and Mrs_O was downstairs with Master_O. QF sorted it all out before boarding and no doubt we weren't the only people to be bumped around since it was doubtless done by computer.

 

[DC3]

... Before he even finished I said "yep, sure, where am I going?" ..

Lucky for you that the swap wasn't to a Y seat.

I would like to think that I would have done the same in that situation. However, I'm always wary of that sense of entitlement where some other pax wants my better seat.

 

[mviy]

but just a couple who weren't organised enough to choose 2 seats next to each other.... I'm sorry I don't think that qualifies.

Some people have NB status and think that checking in 24 hours before a flight is enough to get seated together. They may not fly enough to realise that they should be selecting seats before then.

Some irregular fliers still think they should be able to get seats together when checking in at the airport. It may seem crazy to us, but there are people out there who don't know how the system works.

Also, some elderly people may not even use computers or barely know how to use them and so wouldn't be able to checkin online without getting help from a younger family member.

Of course some are genuinely disorganised.