WP shadow given to another PAX after take off

[JohnK]

Fine if you're in a row of 2. But if you're in a row of 3 and (say) A and C are occupied with B vacant, then taking over all of B for yourself is DYKWIA behaviour. How do you know it's "your" shadow and not equally the other person's shadow? Share it at least.

I usually use the tray table in a spare middle seat but do not hog it all for myself. The other person is most welcome to use half the tray table.

 

[Anna]

I usually use the tray table in a spare middle seat but do not hog it all for myself. The other person is most welcome to use half the tray table.

+1__________

 

[pauly7]

Fine if you're in a row of 2. But if you're in a row of 3 and (say) A and C are occupied with B vacant, then taking over all of B for yourself is DYKWIA behaviour. How do you know it's "your" shadow and not equally the other person's shadow? Share it at least.

I actually find that in the case of 3 seats you describe there is little/no need to 'defend' as no one ever wants to move to a middle seat, even in the spacious 'Platinum' row 4 on a 738 for example.

9/10 I find my row buddy also puts their stuff on the middle seat which is more than ok with me

 

[SeatBackForward]

Errgh I hate sharing my flights with other passengers.

 

[RB]

Hi,


At least the lovely angel at the BNE QF lounge welcomed me with a smile, and I was able to have a Bulmers and relax for a bit after my terrible ordeal. ;-)


mrpooky.

Can you provide further detail of what the terrible ordeal was?

 

[Pushka]

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

And we know people's status how?

 

[boomy]

Hi,

I'm a QFF WP. I was on QF598 from PER -> BNE (a 767), and I was in an exit row seat (35B) that I'd pre-selected a week or so before.

Up until boarding EF showed my seat as taken, and the neighbouring exit row seat as blocked. I assumed this was because of the rumoured WP shadow. I boarded and was very happy to see that no one took that seat. One of the FAs even commented how lucky I was. This was the first time I believe I've ever seen evidence of the WP shadow, and I was pretty chuffed.

However, straight after takeoff, 35D pax (non-status?) grabbed a passing FA and asked for a better seat. FA was gone for a few minutes, then came back and gave him my shadow: 35A.

I quietly mentioned to the FA that I thought the seat had been blocked to non-status passengers. She said, "Exit row seats can't be blocked."

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.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Really? What is that going to achieve? Very little if anything. Why bother?

do you know the average times someone tries something before giving up? 0

Where to begin?!
- It helps QF understand that shadows are vital to premium passengers.
- Highlights to QF that non-status passengers are potentially getting equally as good seats as platinums; thus ruining that WP's day.
- Why bother having status if you can just grab any seat on the plane after takeoff?

Not doing something about it is saying the current process is acceptable.

 

[mannej]

do you know the average times someone tries something before giving up? 0

Where to begin?!
- It helps QF understand that shadows are vital to premium passengers.
- Highlights to QF that non-status passengers are potentially getting equally as good seats as platinums; thus ruining that WP's day.
- Why bother having status if you can just grab any seat on the plane after takeoff?

Not doing something about it is saying the current process is acceptable.

Like I have stated before, I am surprised there was a shadow in the first place considering the OP was in an exit row in the OG-767's.
You don't want to end up with a note on your account as a vexatious complainer or dykwia type do you?
I tend to agree on others that it isn't worth a complaint on this.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Like I have stated before, I am surprised there was a shadow in the first place considering the OP was in an exit row in the OG-767's.
You don't want to end up with a note on your account as a vexatious complainer or dykwia type do you?
I tend to agree on others that it isn't worth a complaint on this.

Maybe you misunderstand.
The OP was annoyed or the thread wouldn't have been started - so it is a real issue and not some BS DYKWIA thing.
The complaint should be about how crew handled a blocked seat for a premium passenger. Aircraft type is irrelevant.
It is very standard procedure for other airlines to hard block seats next to high status pax. Crew not respecting the hard work done behind the scenes to look after status pax is a failure in training.

Personally I'd love a note on my QFF profile about how I would prefer a blocked seat next to me

 

[mannej]

I haven't misunderstood - I believe it's a frivolous complaint.
The OP asked for our opinion on whether they should complain or not and I feel the answer is a no.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Agree, its a frivolous complaint.
The other seat was not purchased, time to get over it and move on.

I fly alot and have flown millions of KMs over the last 25 yrs, never once did I ever feel I was entitled to more than one seat when I have only purchased one seat for use. If people have that attitude in my business, they wouldn't last five minutes.

 

[BAM1748]

Wow, thread still going.

Pretty hard to complain about not having an empty seat next to you, it's a free bonus not an entitlement.

Matt

 

[samh004]

Before anyone asks the question about buying an extra seat in this situation, and having that given away... it wouldn't be and you can't sit in an exit row if you've purchased an extra seat anyway as you're listed as "needing assistance"

 

[boomy]

Before anyone asks the question about buying an extra seat in this situation, and having that given away... it wouldn't be and you can't sit in an exit row if you've purchased an extra seat anyway as you're listed as "needing assistance"

I don't think it's allowed to purchase 2 seats under the same name, it can cause security issues.

 

[Hvr]

I don't think it's allowed to purchase 2 seats under the same name, it can cause security issues.

Actually you can purchase a 'comfort seat' on Qantas. You even earn FF points on it.

 

[samh004]

I don't think it's allowed to purchase 2 seats under the same name, it can cause security issues.

You are correct, they can't be in the same name. But they can be purchased.

 

[QLD'r]

I had something similar happen to my partner and I on a return flight from Dallas to Brisbane. I am WP and had a shadow assigned. We had the first three seats in economy to ourselves. As soon as the seat belt sign went off, the FA let a lady jump into the spare seat, even though she was one row behind with an empty seat next to her. 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!

 

[boomy]

Actually you can purchase a 'comfort seat' on Qantas. You even earn FF points on it.

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

 

[Moody]

Question - is any free seat up for grabs once the seatbelt sign goes off?
Answer - no.
Why - because the FA will stop you (unless complicit) from upgrading yourself to Y+, J or F.
Supplementary - how about within the same class?
Answer - possibly, but the FA should check with any impacted passengers first and should only overrule them for operational reasons. The seat on your boarding pass is the only one you have any ownership over, and even that is subject to lawful directions of staff.

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.

Also it is very bad juju to swap seats and then recline into the passenger behind. The term "Justifiable homicide" springs to mind.