This is a bit late in the ‘ask it ASAP’ category however I thought it would open up a new discussion since I can’t really find anything similar on the Board.
I flew Abu Dhabi to Sydney with Etihad in December 2011 on Airbus A340-600 (346). Although I did not get my preferred requested seating – both on line and lodged with my FF membership – I did get my requested vegetarian meal. Perfectly acceptable as pasta noodles with vegetarian pasta goes however it was a bit dry. Having surrendered my half full pre-purchased bottle of water at Boarding Security at Abu Dhabi I had nothing to drink. So I buzzed for a cabin attendant to request a drink. By this point all meals had been served and I was told that ‘drinks can’t be served with dinner because we don’t have the storage capacity on the trolley’. I politely replied that I understand the storage capacity issue however could I please have a drink of water now. ‘No I am sorry we can’t serve drinks until after dinner’ was the response. Before I could respond she dashed down the aisle towards business class and that was the last I saw of her. Since I was sitting in the last row before the rear galley I managed to stand up and place my unfished meal on my tray table and went into the galley. There was another female cabin attendant securing bottles in the food container. I asked her IF I could have a drink of water as my pasta dinner was a touch dry. ‘Not a problem’ was the response and I was given a bottle of unopened water. It certainly helped digest the now room temperate vegetarian pasta meal.
After trays were cleared I went to the lavatory to prepare myself for the remainder of the long flight home to Sydney. I was looking forward to being able to stretch out in the two empty seats next to me – 45 D and G.
When I returned from the lavatory the two vacant seats next to me were now occupied by the two passengers from Seat 41 A and C. I know where they were originally seated because I recognised them as they were the only two French language speakers in a group of Danish language speakers. Their TWO seats had now been occupied by a single male who was also part of this ‘group’. I have no idea WHY they had to more and WHY they surrendered their two seats to this one male. They were well ensconced in the two seats by the time I returned and actually the female of the two was angled in her seating pose and encroaching on our supposedly shared arm rest. Her male partner was also angled in his seating pose and was ‘leaning’ against her. As I was in the aisle seat there was very limited space for me to lounge.
I wondered what is your contractual obligation to remain in the seat you have been allocated? Yes I know that if the aircraft is not full, it is wonderful to locate an empty row so you can stretch out and be comfortable. However on a previous flight TO the ME with another airline, a cabin attendant found me in Economy and shared a written message from a passenger seated in Business Class and attending the same even. If I had moved to a vacant row she would not have found me. I also eat vegetarian meals when flying and know that any cabin attendant would have problems finding me if I chose to relocate myself before meals were served. Any comment?
I flew Abu Dhabi to Sydney with Etihad in December 2011 on Airbus A340-600 (346). Although I did not get my preferred requested seating – both on line and lodged with my FF membership – I did get my requested vegetarian meal. Perfectly acceptable as pasta noodles with vegetarian pasta goes however it was a bit dry. Having surrendered my half full pre-purchased bottle of water at Boarding Security at Abu Dhabi I had nothing to drink. So I buzzed for a cabin attendant to request a drink. By this point all meals had been served and I was told that ‘drinks can’t be served with dinner because we don’t have the storage capacity on the trolley’. I politely replied that I understand the storage capacity issue however could I please have a drink of water now. ‘No I am sorry we can’t serve drinks until after dinner’ was the response. Before I could respond she dashed down the aisle towards business class and that was the last I saw of her. Since I was sitting in the last row before the rear galley I managed to stand up and place my unfished meal on my tray table and went into the galley. There was another female cabin attendant securing bottles in the food container. I asked her IF I could have a drink of water as my pasta dinner was a touch dry. ‘Not a problem’ was the response and I was given a bottle of unopened water. It certainly helped digest the now room temperate vegetarian pasta meal.
After trays were cleared I went to the lavatory to prepare myself for the remainder of the long flight home to Sydney. I was looking forward to being able to stretch out in the two empty seats next to me – 45 D and G.
When I returned from the lavatory the two vacant seats next to me were now occupied by the two passengers from Seat 41 A and C. I know where they were originally seated because I recognised them as they were the only two French language speakers in a group of Danish language speakers. Their TWO seats had now been occupied by a single male who was also part of this ‘group’. I have no idea WHY they had to more and WHY they surrendered their two seats to this one male. They were well ensconced in the two seats by the time I returned and actually the female of the two was angled in her seating pose and encroaching on our supposedly shared arm rest. Her male partner was also angled in his seating pose and was ‘leaning’ against her. As I was in the aisle seat there was very limited space for me to lounge.
I wondered what is your contractual obligation to remain in the seat you have been allocated? Yes I know that if the aircraft is not full, it is wonderful to locate an empty row so you can stretch out and be comfortable. However on a previous flight TO the ME with another airline, a cabin attendant found me in Economy and shared a written message from a passenger seated in Business Class and attending the same even. If I had moved to a vacant row she would not have found me. I also eat vegetarian meals when flying and know that any cabin attendant would have problems finding me if I chose to relocate myself before meals were served. Any comment?
