WP shadow given to another PAX after take off

[serfty]

Cool, I didn't know that. I wonder if anyone ever bought a comfort seat... Better just upgrade to J IMO.

Plenty - see here:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....yer-program/sc-ff-points-earn-when-29006.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tional-seats-comfort-international-31307.html

 

[harvyk]

Correct me if I am wrong, but that only applies for the ex-BA 767's. The OG 767's you get the full safety brief as there aren't any staff at the over wing exit.

You still get the safety briefing, but the rules are slightly different for the B767's as I learnt on my last 767 flight (when we got an FA really worried as the other exit rows where empty). Basically pax sitting in the exit rows need to be briefed, but there is no min pax requirement as there are FA's in the center jump seats.

 

[samh004]

Also there is an etiquette (somewhat akin to urinal etiquette) about moving seats. Roughly there are two main rules - the nearest pax has first dibs and you should not move to a seat without a buffer zone (e.g. spare seat) between you and adjacent passengers. Not without asking, anyway.

Sorry to be off topic, but it reminds me of this!

Apologies if too vulgar.

 

[mrpooky]

Wow! A lot of replies. Thank you everbody.

I shan't make a complaint. As people have said in this thread and elsewhere, the shadow is an unpublished benefit, and I'm also not normally one to formally complain about minor issues. But thank you all very much for your comments.

I guess I was particularly disappointed mainly for these two reasons:
1. It was the first time I've noticed EF show a seat next to me as blocked and to have it stay that way up until take off, and I think it was the first time in any seat that I've had a WP shadow. I don't believe the PAX who moved could have selected it beforehand, or he would have done so. I wouldn't have been anywhere near as disappointed if the seat had been taken at boarding.

2. It seemed pushy of the other PAX to move. I would never do that myself; I've only ever moved seat when a FA has offered me the opportunity. This happened once on a QFi flight when there was a completely free exit row, but I would never have moved there if the offer hadn't been made first.

I guess trippin_the_rift summarises this well:

Why bother having status if you can just grab any seat on the plane after takeoff?

But, no big deal. I'll look forward to having a shadow again sometime.

Not even worth talking to the FA about that kind of thing in flight, wont get you anywhere & will only make you look like a total DYKWIA. But yes harden up in my eyes.

Fair enough.

I pile personal belongings on the seat next to me, and as soon as the seat belt sign goes off I usually pull down the tray table on it and put my laptop on there - has a 100% success rate in keeping marauding seat hunters begging

I had done this to some degree, but just had to move it.

Next time try to pre-select a good seat in the first row and as WP you will have much better chance to keep your shadow.

I've done this occasionally, but never managed a shadow then either. But I agree that it was weird to have a shadow in the exit row in particular. Although I have seen it happen to others, where I've been unable to select one of the exit row seats, EF shows it as blocked, and come boarding and take off, it's not taken.

Anyway, the lady proceeded to be sick for the whole 15 hour flight. She even stored all of her sick bags under her seat. It was bloody disgusting and the FAs refused to do anything about it. The FA also refused to let my partner and I change seats!

Oh, that is horrible! Okay, I take back what I said above: I would definitely ask for another seat in that situation!

mrpooky.

 

[Pushka]

Believe it or not, a lot of people don't pre select seats. And I've never thought that status is about the shadow - it is more about selecting better seats, club access etc, not an extra seat not paid for.

 

[mannej]

You still get the safety briefing, but the rules are slightly different for the B767's as I learnt on my last 767 flight (when we got an FA really worried as the other exit rows where empty). Basically pax sitting in the exit rows need to be briefed, but there is no min pax requirement as there are FA's in the center jump seats.

Not on the ZX's you don't.

 

[JohnK]

How can you be ripped off by not receiving something that isn't a published benefit?

And it will never be a published benefit. Unless of course the airlines start selling flights with the intent that every status passenger is going to have a spare seat next to them.

This Platinum "shadow" terminoloy on AFF is driving me nuts. It is not an entitlement. It is a spare seat, it is a vacant seat that may or not remain that way.

 

[medhead]

You should never have mentioned anything about shadows and such. But I would have had a quiet word to the CSM about the way the other passenger was crowding you. Why did they move? Was the seat next to them taken or empty?

 

[medhead]

Sorry to be off topic, but it reminds me of this!

Apologies if too vulgar.

View attachment 19791

That's not checkmate. The correct answer is to take the end one as it is the end.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

I agree you got ripped. But then again maybe the other passwbger had a shadow next to them and it got snaked by some bronze nobody right before boarding.

Status means very little once you're onboard unless the crew know you.

Also keep in mind that the FA was likely not making a descion in whether the guy could sit next to you but rather avoiding any type of conflict.

Shadow stealing is the worst. I'd complain.

I doubt you would get very far. T & C's state seat allocation is not guaranteed etc.

At the end of the day the crew run the plane, it was a vacant seat and they obviously made someone else happy etc
Move on in my book, maybe next time it might be an attractive blonde ? not wishing to appear to discriminate against brunettes or redheads of course.

 

[AdMEL]

It's hard to keep a shadow on exit row.
If someone is cramped in a bad seat on your flight, their first option will be to move to an exit row.
Next time try to pre-select a good seat in the first row and as WP you will have much better chance to keep your shadow.

At 6'9"/205cm, I have on occasion asked to move seats on board, when I have been unable to secure an exit row seat.

The most recent time that I can recall was about 2 years ago flying AA (on a QF ticket) SFO-JFK on a red eye on a 757. Couldn't choose an exit row seat before check-in and at check-in there werent any available due to allocation to high status pax. Was told that status pax get upgraded which should open up an exit row seat and to see gate counter staff. Did that and gate counter staff member told me that I would like the seat - turned out to be a bulk head seat in front of the exit row. Bulk head seats are worse than a normal seat most of the time, including that time. Window exit seat behind me was free, so I asked flight attendant if I could move to it after seat belt sign went off - was told yes. Aisle seat passenger was asleep by this stage, so I had to wake him up to get to the seat!

I would do this again too.

I haven't flown on a QF 767 in years, so not familiar with layout - did the person move from one exit row seat to another? If so, why?

 

[eastwest101]

I haven't flown on a QF 767 in years, so not familiar with layout - did the person move from one exit row seat to another? If so, why?

I am just guessing but have a look at Seatguru Qantas B767-338 V3 seatmap and you may see why - the OP said that a passenger moved from 35D to 35A - the OP was in 35B. I suspect that 35D has a bulkhead right in front of it and that 35D is a narrower than usual Y seat.....