Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
This happens to me all the time. Today's airlines often charge more for aisle and window seats and people who book late or don't pay then try to rearrange their seating. I have actually had people ask me what circumstances will prompt me to change seats (like aisle seat for window seat) and then go arrange those circumstances and ask me to move- I find that behavior quite rude.
Unlike most flyers, I am well prepared every time. This is because it's getting increasingly uncomfortable to fly. The airlines are doing everything in their power to scam hundreds out of you for simple choice. The only way to beat them is to do the least logical thing (in their mind).
I book at least 3 weeks in advance if I can. If it's work travel I don't always have that luxury, mind.
I ALWAYS select an aisle seat. Period. Middle is unacceptable, window is unacceptable. This is because I am fast to get up when the plane lands, and most people just take their sweet time. I don't have time for that.
I ALWAYS select a seat that's ahead of the wing. I don't care beyond that. This is because, again, I am purposely trying to get off the plane as fast as possible.
If I can get first class, I'll usually take it, especially if it's not that much or if a mileage upgrade is available. This is because, when there's two seats, it's easier to manage than three. More elbow room, more space, more peace. (except that one time some guy, his wife and screaming child decided to eat up three of the four seats on the aisle in front of mine rather than take three seats in economy.)
If the airline I want to take doesn't have a good return seat, I'll book a one way on one airline and a one way return on another airline that does have the seat I want.
If an airport is a hub for an airline I'll favor that airline despite it not being my primary. (Lesson learned: Flying out of Boston requires JetBlue for sanity sake.)
I mean I spend HOURS getting the right setup. HOURS. Every time. The only exception would be if it's a short hop flight, like if I'm flying from Washington to Oregon or something. I still do the above but I don't get picky about first class or anything.
I had a prime seat, 7th row aisle, on one trip. I believe I was on my way back from Cleveland to Washington State. Got an overhead call to come up to counter.
Guy says, "I have a family who wants to sit next to each other. Would you mind trading?"
I said, "First class?"
Guy said, "no."
I said, "then no."
End of discussion. Family was distraught, but too bad. They should have planned better, AND the airline should be the one doing whatever it took to accommodate them. Bump me up to first class and eat it so you can make that poorly planned family happy. I won't throw away my hours without getting something substantial in return.
Guy says, "I have a family who wants to sit next to each other. Would you mind trading?"
I said, "First class?"
Guy said, "no."
I said, "then no."
End of discussion. Family was distraught, but too bad. They should have planned better, AND the airline should be the one doing whatever it took to accommodate them. Bump me up to first class and eat it so you can make that poorly planned family happy. I won't throw away my hours without getting something substantial in return.
Sometimes the responsibility falls on YOU to be nice to someone. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you want to be separated from your kids on a flight?
Sometimes the responsibility falls on YOU to be nice to someone. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you want to be separated from your kids on a flight?
Get real. He doesnt have to put himself in anybodys shoes. Just pay for his own ticket and sit in the seat he paid for, and be a law abiding citizen. Reminds me of girls who have no business getting pregnant, and then they are on the subway with these huge strollers expecting Joe Public to help them up & and down.
NOPE. You deal with the bed you made
Only if I would not end up in a worse seat. On long distance flights, I must sit in an aisle seat, so would not accept a middle or window seat. On short distance flights, I prefer to sit by the window, so would not accept a middle seat and would be reluctant to accept an aisle seat. Their lack of planning shouldn't ruin my flight.
Get real. He doesnt have to put himself in anybodys shoes. Just pay for his own ticket and sit in the seat he paid for, and be a law abiding citizen. Reminds me of girls who have no business getting pregnant, and then they are on the subway with these huge strollers expecting Joe Public to help them up & and down.
NOPE. You deal with the bed you made
Should a CHILD have to suffer from not being able to sit with their family just because an ADULT won't move? It's really sad when a 6 year old has to be separated from their family during a flight just because a 40 year old wants to be comfortable. Stick the 40 year old next to the lavatory for all I care, they can deal with it so a 6 year old can be with their family. This is just a hypothetical situation, and you can replace 40 with any number 21 or higher (in reasonable health) and 6 with any number 12 or lower, or senior citizen/adult with major health issue. Now if it's a 16 year old who is separated from their family on a flight, that's different. You should still be kind and let them sit together, but it's not as big of a deal. I'm sure there's a 45 year old out there who still negatively remembers someone for not moving from an airplane seat and keeping them separated from their family 40 years ago.
You should be kind from the goodness of your heart, and not worry about "What's the BARE MINIMUM kindness I need to get by?"
Get real. He doesnt have to put himself in anybodys shoes. Just pay for his own ticket and sit in the seat he paid for, and be a law abiding citizen. Reminds me of girls who have no business getting pregnant, and then they are on the subway with these huge strollers expecting Joe Public to help them up & and down.
NOPE. You deal with the bed you made
And plus, as an earlier poster said, what if there was an emergency and there was no time to plan?
I had to fly with my son.
I bought my tickets together and confirmed a week before and the day before the flight.
When it was a Southwest flight (you know, you seat yourself), I bought our seats...then I paid extra to make sure we were in the first 15 of group A so that we'd be the first ones on and get our seats together. He's 3. There's no other option.
I mean, this is what you do to make sure you sit together.
That being said, I would move if it wouldn't make any difference in comfort, especially on a long flight.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
