Is it important to sit in your assigned seat or OK to trade to accommodate other passengers?
I just got back from a trip. Going out, I was assigned a window seat, but boarded in zone 4. When I got to my row, the middle and aisle seats were occupied already. The middle (who wanted to sit by the window) asked if I would take the aisle seat rather than making them have to get up so that I could squeeze in. I prefer the aisle so I agreed and they moved over. Turns out this girl was mouthy and loud and caused a little disturbance. The flight attendant threatened to return her to the gate and kick her off the plane. She settled down and we flew on. About half way through the flight, I realized that, if they checked the seating chart, my name would be listed. I went to the flight attendant and explained that she was in my seat. The FA said, “She took your seat!!!” and I told her we agreed to change, but I didn’t want my name associated with the “disrupter.” I wasn’t sure she understood what I was trying to say.
At the airport on the way home, I went to the kiosk to print my boarding pass and it spit out a form telling me to see the ticket agent. I thought for sure that I had been blackballed. Turns out the kiosks were malfunctioning or something and I was not the only one, but it gave me a chance to explain what happened to the ticket agent. She assured me there were no comments by my name and I was not labeled as a problem person.
On the return flight, I traded seats with the girl across the aisle from me so she could sit next to her friend. They were well behaved, so no problem there, but it made me start to wonder if trading seats is the thing to do.
I have traded seats from time to time on the plane, uneventfully. Once it was at the request of flight crew because they wanted me and my medical equipment by the window, not the aisle where my sssigned seat was.
Fortunately, no one was ever “mouthy” on my planes so I didn’t have your concerns. If I was concerned about a comment being attached to my name due to behavior on a plane, I’d do as you did to double check.
I’ve never personally seen it cause a problem, or been called out on it myself (in the past I’ve jumped from a full row to an empty row). A colleague just did it recently on an AA flight, moving from a regular row to an empty exit row for more legroom.
However there was that story about the honeymoon couple moving to a premium row where the flight attendants called them out, I believe on United. We only got their side of what seemed to be an odd story though, so I’m not convinced that was the sole reason they got called out.
In general I would wait until the gate is closed or the flight has taken off before switching seats. You don’t want to be switching seats while people are still boarding; that’ll annoy everybody including the flight attendants.
I actually believe the story from the honeymoon couple as I was on a flight and witnessed that exact thing happen. Since they now charge extra for those seats they were told to pay up or move back to original seat. This was after doors closed so those seats were going to fly empty either way so it made no sense at all.
I was recently on a smaller plane, window seat and the person in the aisle seat was very large and did not move well. We were both very uncomfortable (at least I assume he was too). I knew I was going to have to get up to go to the restroom. Once the doors closed I checked with the flight attendant and she had no problem that I moved to an empty row three rows behind us. Of course I did check first so not sure what the protocol is for exchanging.
Indeed. And the frequent flyers know to wait until the they hear the clunk of the front door closing, at which time every unoccupied seat is fair game to switch. never had a crew member say anything as long as: 1) move quickly and get that seat belt buckled; 2) same ticket price zone.
Yes, our D is happy to move from wherever she’s seated to get a full-row in economy, if one is vacant. She has never had any problems with it. As was stated, if you switch from economy to a more expensive area, you would have to pay the difference or stay in “your class.”
I have switched seats with people often, usually to accommodate them sitting next to their travel partner, and occasionally I have asked others. Never a problem. I think you were really unlucky with a trouble maker switching with you, and it was good to check. I have never just moved into an empty seat, unless it happened to be in the row I was sitting in (and after everyone has boarded). I have asked flight attendants if I could move and they have found me another seat. Once I was sitting next to this guy who was absolutely huge, and had worked all night and was exhausted. They put me in an aisle seat next to an empty middle seat. The woman in the window seat objected, saying, “They told me I was going to have this row to myself!” That was so completely rude and selfish that I really didn’t know what to say, but managed a, “Well, you’re not THAT big, I’m sure we’ll fit just fine.”
As far as the supposed honeymoon couple on United, of course there is more to the story. Apparently they tried to sneak back to the premium seats after they were told to go back to their own seats, and no, you can’t just hand the flight attendants $20 and request an upgrade. Even if the seats are empty, you can’t help yourself to premium economy or first class seats, otherwise nobody would pay for them. And it does cost the airline to allow people to sit there, the drinks are free.
My situation was that a man from first class offered to switch seats with me, so he could sit next to his friend, and the flight attendant said it was fine. Then AFTER I was settled in, another attendant huffily told me I had no right to sit there and I had to move back to coach. I found THAT annoying. At least they let me keep the wine I’d already started to drink.
@MaineLonghorn, that is not just annoying, that is awful. Someone paid for that ticket, and swapped seats with you. I think I’d want to talk to the flight attendant who said it was fine, and send a complaint after the fact, getting the flight attendants name who told you that you had no right to sit there. That’s just rude.
^ I agree. I’ve never had problems switching classes as long as it was for the whole flight. What the airlines do want to avoid is essentially class sharing, i.e., having one person enjoy the free take-off champagne in first, then switching with a friend or family member in coach who then asks for another glass of bubbly.
