Giving Up Your Seat-What Would You Do?
Nov 30th, 2007, 08:25 AM
#62
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"You need to stop flying those, "That will be five dollars," airlines like Continental."
I think rkkwan is trying to avoid the "that will be 25% mileage credit, with no chance of elite status" airlines like BA.
I think rkkwan is trying to avoid the "that will be 25% mileage credit, with no chance of elite status" airlines like BA.
Nov 30th, 2007, 08:42 AM
#64
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I encountered a variation on this theme last month, flying from Amsterdam to San Francisco.
As always, when I purchased my ticket (way in advance), I checked out seating on the flight on www.seatguru.com. The first seat I was offered was a "window" in the only row with no window. I declined that seat, and chose the one directly behind it.
So ... it's noon when the flight takes off, and I board the plane, and the whack-job guy in front of me starts going balistic because there is no window next to his seat.
It was a very bright and sunny day; the seats are right over the wing, and when the window shade is up, the intense glare from the reflection off the wing is blinding. So I do what any normal person would do, and close the shade.
("Normal" is the operative word here, folks.)
Well, that REALLY sets the guy off - he reaches back and slams my shade open, telling me in an angry voice that he will "lose it" if he doesn't have a window to look out of. This happened three times.
The entire eleven hour flight, he was craning his neck around the corner of his seat to look out at the wing, and was about a second from cracking up every time I tried to inch the shade down so I could try to doze off - as we all know heading west there is no darkness - finally I just wedged my skimpy almost translucent airline pillow at an angle between the back of his seat and back edge the window, not a great solution, but at least probably averted an emergency landing if that nutcase had wigged out as it appeared he might have at any moment.
Hard to figure out why, if someone is that clautrophobic, he wouldn't have checked out his seat assignment in advance ... JUST LIKE I DID.
Someday I will be rich and famous and have my own private jet ...
As always, when I purchased my ticket (way in advance), I checked out seating on the flight on www.seatguru.com. The first seat I was offered was a "window" in the only row with no window. I declined that seat, and chose the one directly behind it.
So ... it's noon when the flight takes off, and I board the plane, and the whack-job guy in front of me starts going balistic because there is no window next to his seat.
It was a very bright and sunny day; the seats are right over the wing, and when the window shade is up, the intense glare from the reflection off the wing is blinding. So I do what any normal person would do, and close the shade.
("Normal" is the operative word here, folks.)
Well, that REALLY sets the guy off - he reaches back and slams my shade open, telling me in an angry voice that he will "lose it" if he doesn't have a window to look out of. This happened three times.
The entire eleven hour flight, he was craning his neck around the corner of his seat to look out at the wing, and was about a second from cracking up every time I tried to inch the shade down so I could try to doze off - as we all know heading west there is no darkness - finally I just wedged my skimpy almost translucent airline pillow at an angle between the back of his seat and back edge the window, not a great solution, but at least probably averted an emergency landing if that nutcase had wigged out as it appeared he might have at any moment.
Hard to figure out why, if someone is that clautrophobic, he wouldn't have checked out his seat assignment in advance ... JUST LIKE I DID.
Someday I will be rich and famous and have my own private jet ...
Nov 30th, 2007, 08:44 AM
#65
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Well, call me crazy...
In addition to wanting to sit next to my kids in a plane in case of emergency... I have them buckle their seatbelt in the car, even though the possibility of accident is pretty low (well, it's the law too). I have them wear a helmet while riding their bike, even though one is past the age it is legally required, in case they crash. I give them some quarters when they go on a school trip, in case they get separated from the group. When they were little and we were in a foreign city, I'd write the name of our hotel on a slip of paper and have them put it in their pocket. When we had a babysitter, I'd write down our neighbor's name and phone number, in case there was an emergency.
Do I think the chances are good of their being in a plane crash, bike accident, getting lost on a school field trip, getting separated from their family, our house burning down? Definitely not (well, we were separated once, but each kid was with a parent and we found each other after an hour of looking). Do I worry about such things? No, but they do cross my mind. An ounce of prevention, as my grandma used to say.
Sue_xx_yy - I'm sorry you feel emotionally manipulated by so many, so often.
In addition to wanting to sit next to my kids in a plane in case of emergency... I have them buckle their seatbelt in the car, even though the possibility of accident is pretty low (well, it's the law too). I have them wear a helmet while riding their bike, even though one is past the age it is legally required, in case they crash. I give them some quarters when they go on a school trip, in case they get separated from the group. When they were little and we were in a foreign city, I'd write the name of our hotel on a slip of paper and have them put it in their pocket. When we had a babysitter, I'd write down our neighbor's name and phone number, in case there was an emergency.
Do I think the chances are good of their being in a plane crash, bike accident, getting lost on a school field trip, getting separated from their family, our house burning down? Definitely not (well, we were separated once, but each kid was with a parent and we found each other after an hour of looking). Do I worry about such things? No, but they do cross my mind. An ounce of prevention, as my grandma used to say.
Sue_xx_yy - I'm sorry you feel emotionally manipulated by so many, so often.
Nov 30th, 2007, 08:50 AM
#66
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Well my husband almost gave up his seat once without realizing what was going on.
We were on a flight to the US from Rome. We had booked our flight and seats almost a year ahead of time. We had 6 people in our party and were seated 2-2-2. I sat with our dd9, my parents sat behind us and my husband sat with our ds3 behind them.
After everybody had gotten aboard and things were beginning to settle down so we could begin the preflight instructions, I noticed a lady with a 7 or 8 year old child walking up and down the aisles. Finally I saw an attendant helping them. Apparently they wanted to sit together and they were looking for someone to switch seats with. After about 15 or 20 minutes everything seemed to be taken care of and they started to make the preflight announcements.
At this point I looked back to see if my husband was having any trouble with our son (who hated flying). I saw that my husband was in the window seat with our son on his lap and the woman was in the aisle seat with her child in the opposite aisle seat. I got up and asked my husband what was going on. He said that the attendant asked him how old our son was and then asked him to hold him. I could see in his face that he was just figuring out what had happened, when I questioned why he would be willing to hold him for 12 hours when we paid $1600 for his ticket so he could have his own seat.
I had to find an attendant to explain what had happened and that we were not giving up that seat. The attendant did not seem to understand why this was a problem and it took almost 30 minutes and proving that I paid for my child to have a seat, so no we were not going to hold him for 12 hours; before they finally told the lady she would have to sit apart from her child.
I hated that they could not sit by each other and I hated that the attendants were less than friendly to me during the flight but that's life.
We were on a flight to the US from Rome. We had booked our flight and seats almost a year ahead of time. We had 6 people in our party and were seated 2-2-2. I sat with our dd9, my parents sat behind us and my husband sat with our ds3 behind them.
After everybody had gotten aboard and things were beginning to settle down so we could begin the preflight instructions, I noticed a lady with a 7 or 8 year old child walking up and down the aisles. Finally I saw an attendant helping them. Apparently they wanted to sit together and they were looking for someone to switch seats with. After about 15 or 20 minutes everything seemed to be taken care of and they started to make the preflight announcements.
At this point I looked back to see if my husband was having any trouble with our son (who hated flying). I saw that my husband was in the window seat with our son on his lap and the woman was in the aisle seat with her child in the opposite aisle seat. I got up and asked my husband what was going on. He said that the attendant asked him how old our son was and then asked him to hold him. I could see in his face that he was just figuring out what had happened, when I questioned why he would be willing to hold him for 12 hours when we paid $1600 for his ticket so he could have his own seat.
I had to find an attendant to explain what had happened and that we were not giving up that seat. The attendant did not seem to understand why this was a problem and it took almost 30 minutes and proving that I paid for my child to have a seat, so no we were not going to hold him for 12 hours; before they finally told the lady she would have to sit apart from her child.
I hated that they could not sit by each other and I hated that the attendants were less than friendly to me during the flight but that's life.
Nov 30th, 2007, 09:05 AM
#67
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This happened to me on an international last summer. When I got on the plane a woman was sitting in my aisle seat with her husband (both 60ish)in the window seat next to her. I had checked the flight for available seats two weeks earlier when I left home and the window seat next to me was still available and there were several two seats together available in the the three row middle aisle, but no twos available in the two seat rows.
I was one of the first to board when my zone was called and wondered how they'd managed to be the first passengers at the back section. Apparently they'd boarded before our zone was called. When I showed the woman my boarding pass she continued to sit and pointed to an aisle seat a few rows ahead and said "That's my seat, you can sit there." I looked over and saw a very large man sitting in the middle seat so declined and wanted the seat I'd selected months ago. She kept arguing with me and it took several minutes before she would give in and move.
I would have been more accommodating if she'd been in her assigned seat or in the window seat and asked politely if I'd change instead of acting like a squatter.
I became further annoyed when I opened the overhead bin to put my carryon in and saw that they'd filled it because they'd put their bags in crosswise instead of lengthwise, which I then did and added mine.
A long story but the gist is that I stood my ground, but did feel guilty about it and resentful that she'd put me in that position.
I was one of the first to board when my zone was called and wondered how they'd managed to be the first passengers at the back section. Apparently they'd boarded before our zone was called. When I showed the woman my boarding pass she continued to sit and pointed to an aisle seat a few rows ahead and said "That's my seat, you can sit there." I looked over and saw a very large man sitting in the middle seat so declined and wanted the seat I'd selected months ago. She kept arguing with me and it took several minutes before she would give in and move.
I would have been more accommodating if she'd been in her assigned seat or in the window seat and asked politely if I'd change instead of acting like a squatter.
I became further annoyed when I opened the overhead bin to put my carryon in and saw that they'd filled it because they'd put their bags in crosswise instead of lengthwise, which I then did and added mine.
A long story but the gist is that I stood my ground, but did feel guilty about it and resentful that she'd put me in that position.
Nov 30th, 2007, 09:29 AM
#68
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I had a similar circumstance flying Air India. Plane stopped enroute in London and I got off to buy a sandwich.
My seat was an aisle, the middle seat was vacant, and a young woman in the window seat.
When I returned, a man was in my seat, his wife was in the window, and the young woman was in the middle.
The man told me I could take his seat(middle seat in multi-seat row), that he wanted my seat, and that his wife wanted to look out the window. I said no. He said no. I called FA, who asked him to move, then asked me to take his seat, we both refused, FA shrugged and walked off.
I told the man he had two choices, get up or I would knock him out of my seat (I'm 5'2", 120 lbs . . . but I am mean).
He then told his wife to get up and return to her original seat . . . he then moved into her window seat. I told the young woman to insist he vacate her seat but she didn't want to cause a fuss.
Wife returned, "told" young woman to change seats so she could sit by her husband. All three were Indian and the young woman felt she had to acquiesce. Needless to say, it was a long, tense, flight into Delhi . . . and they did not become my "new" best friends.
Sandy (in Denton)
My seat was an aisle, the middle seat was vacant, and a young woman in the window seat.
When I returned, a man was in my seat, his wife was in the window, and the young woman was in the middle.
The man told me I could take his seat(middle seat in multi-seat row), that he wanted my seat, and that his wife wanted to look out the window. I said no. He said no. I called FA, who asked him to move, then asked me to take his seat, we both refused, FA shrugged and walked off.
I told the man he had two choices, get up or I would knock him out of my seat (I'm 5'2", 120 lbs . . . but I am mean).
He then told his wife to get up and return to her original seat . . . he then moved into her window seat. I told the young woman to insist he vacate her seat but she didn't want to cause a fuss.
Wife returned, "told" young woman to change seats so she could sit by her husband. All three were Indian and the young woman felt she had to acquiesce. Needless to say, it was a long, tense, flight into Delhi . . . and they did not become my "new" best friends.
Sandy (in Denton)
Nov 30th, 2007, 09:36 AM
#69
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It's hard to say what I'd do - depends on how nice the people are or how much they really need to be together. I was once asked to switch my aisle seat for a middle one so a family could sit together, and I refused. But when a flight attendant asked for volunteers to switch rows (they needed an english-speaking person in the emergency row), I gave up my aisle seat for a window seat. On that occasion, however, the flight attendant asked for additional volunteers (she took someone from a middle seat, so the emergency row was an improvement for them, and ended up putting me in first class as a reward for volunteering. So you never know.
Nov 30th, 2007, 10:19 AM
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I once asked a man to switch his aisle with my SO who also had an aisle seat. It was an equal trade. He did and I felt quite guilty when his seatmate showed up. He was qite large and had a cold and coughed a LOT. In this case the saying "no good deed goes unpunished" was certainly true!
A FA once asked me to move for a family. I did and the family ended up not sitting there but a man who ended up with the THREE seats I would have had. At least she poured champagne for me the whole trip.
A FA once asked me to move for a family. I did and the family ended up not sitting there but a man who ended up with the THREE seats I would have had. At least she poured champagne for me the whole trip.
Nov 30th, 2007, 11:34 AM
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Thankfully I've never encountered this situation on a plane, but it did happen to me on the Eurostar. Back in 1998 on my ill fated trip to Europe, I was taking the Eurostar from Paris to London (2nd class - was on a budget, mind you). When I got to my seat (a window seat), I found this somewhat disheveled looking man sitting there just gazing out the window. Now, I know the seat numbers are pretty easy to figure out, so this couldn't have been an "Oops, sorry" situation. I looked at my ticket and said, "Umm, I think you're in my seat." At first he wouldn't budge, so I showed him my ticket. Of course, that was the clincher and he finally moved over to the aisle seat...but!...instead of getting up and into the aisle to let me get to my window seat, he just sat in his seat and said, "You're a big boy, you can get past me." Yep, this trip kept getting worse by the minute.
Nov 30th, 2007, 12:42 PM
#72
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My seat on a plane was once taken by a young woman who wanted to sit with her friend. She never asked me whether it was ok, I never told her she should give up my sit. I simply took her seat and ended up feeling resentful for the entire 8 hours. I decided that next time I should make it very clear that I DO mind switching if I really do. It's ok if people politely ask you but you have all the right to refuse without feeling guilty.
Nov 30th, 2007, 01:20 PM
#74
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When we fly, we are a family of 5... we book 3 across and then the aisle and window in the row behind.
I sit in the aisle with child in the window. If someone comes to claim the middle seat, I offer to switch - they are usually thrilled to get an aisle and I'm stuck in the middle...
win, win... to switch is a bonus for them, if no one shows, then we have 3 seats.
I sit in the aisle with child in the window. If someone comes to claim the middle seat, I offer to switch - they are usually thrilled to get an aisle and I'm stuck in the middle...
win, win... to switch is a bonus for them, if no one shows, then we have 3 seats.
Nov 30th, 2007, 02:44 PM
#76
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About 25 years ago, I was travelling with a Eurail pass and on the segment of my trip which went along the Rhine, I had reserved a window seat so I could enjoy the view. When I got onto the train, I found my compartment and there was a reserved sign on the little sign on the window. I entered and found a man sitting in my seat. I showed him my ticket and seat assignment. He shrugged and told me (in German) that he was a wounded war hero and could sit where he wanted. The conductor came by at that point and I explained in German that I wanted my assigned seat to enjoy the view. The conductor said he wouldn't oust a war hero of the reich for some miserable tourist. He said take another seat or get off the train. I bit my tongue and once we were underway was subjected to a harangue about how America had damaged Germany and then the fellow lifted up his pant leg to show me his artificial limb. Finally I couldn't stand it any more and sinking to his level,
said, "You began it."
I still remember that excahnge--partly with shame that I got involved in an incident which furthered international misunderstanding and stereotypes rather than just shutting up graciously.
A few years ago I was traveling alone and found a family in my seat when I boarded the plane. The FA came along and explained that they needed to sit together with a toddler and infant. She said she would try to find me Pretty soon she came back and brought me to a much better seat. During the flight the father came back and thanked me for moving and the FA gave me a special thanks on the way out when we landed. I felt guilty for being thanked for trading to a better seat.
So I guess it all evens out in the long run.
said, "You began it."
I still remember that excahnge--partly with shame that I got involved in an incident which furthered international misunderstanding and stereotypes rather than just shutting up graciously.
A few years ago I was traveling alone and found a family in my seat when I boarded the plane. The FA came along and explained that they needed to sit together with a toddler and infant. She said she would try to find me Pretty soon she came back and brought me to a much better seat. During the flight the father came back and thanked me for moving and the FA gave me a special thanks on the way out when we landed. I felt guilty for being thanked for trading to a better seat.
So I guess it all evens out in the long run.
Nov 30th, 2007, 02:53 PM
#77
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You may reconsider and give us that seat once our three year old starts crying because he misses mommy/daddy.
Believe me, you'll be far better off giving the seat away than listening to a child cry for 10 hours straight (ours has been known to do that).
Your window or aisle seat position may seem less attractive after 10 hours of whining into your ear.
Believe me, you'll be far better off giving the seat away than listening to a child cry for 10 hours straight (ours has been known to do that).
Your window or aisle seat position may seem less attractive after 10 hours of whining into your ear.
Nov 30th, 2007, 03:15 PM
#79
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From this endless string, I infer:
Everyone who travels has a story of being asked to move
Some are indifferent, others are determined to hold onto what has been assigned to them
Some make distinctions -- "I would to let families sit together" -- others are categorical
No-one is inclined to propose general rules of conduct for others -- but everyone discloses his personal practice
So: We have a lot of amusing and instructive and even horrifying anecdotes and no resolution to the question "What should one do?"
PS: Like most, I:
1. move if it is cost-free to me (It would be churlish not to!) and
2. would accept a worse seat only in extraordinary circumstances and
3. any uppity behaviour by the requestor is an absolute red flag to this bull....
Everyone who travels has a story of being asked to move
Some are indifferent, others are determined to hold onto what has been assigned to them
Some make distinctions -- "I would to let families sit together" -- others are categorical
No-one is inclined to propose general rules of conduct for others -- but everyone discloses his personal practice
So: We have a lot of amusing and instructive and even horrifying anecdotes and no resolution to the question "What should one do?"
PS: Like most, I:
1. move if it is cost-free to me (It would be churlish not to!) and
2. would accept a worse seat only in extraordinary circumstances and
3. any uppity behaviour by the requestor is an absolute red flag to this bull....
Nov 30th, 2007, 04:07 PM
#80
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I once offered my aisle seat to a family of 5 but the father refused to trade and sat blissfully a few rows ahead while the mom sat with her 2 year old twins and 4 year old in 2 seats. the twins did not have seats but each one was supposed to be travelling with one of the adults. I honestly thought that the FA would make the dad take one of the kids - but no. The FA actually chastised me mid flight because I wouldn't help feed the kids! I had a SF to Philly trip with 3 cranky kids and an exhausted mom in the 2 seats next to me. Not one of my better flying experiences but one I well remember.
