Couples & Voluntary Cabin Separation

[AnnaB]

I cant see us ever going in different cabins. I would urge him to take it if he was offered but knowing him, he would say no.
Travelling together is part of the journey. I would rather stay in Y with hubby and enjoy the trip and his company then us being split up in different cabins.

 

[OzEire]

I wouldn't be too impressed as the employer.

Why? I'm still getting to the destination and will do my work there. What is "lost" by the employer in this scenario?

Ps. If they offered to fly me there in Y, I wouldn't have accepted and another person would have cost them a J seat anyway - and not done as good a job

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Personally, I prefer sharing the love. I've booked J award flights to/fro North America for my wife, sons, parents and in-laws.
Self funded, I always travel Y, except a few RTW's in J, if I fly w other employees we may or may not sit together in Y, if travelling w family, we have a good time at the lounge then split up or if my family member is travelling alone, they can use the lounge and have a good flying experience. I also enjoy booking SPG free nights w my Starpoints for family and their far flung travels. Lots of IFE to keep me happy in Y, but my one pet peeve is an aisle for international and an exit row for domestic.

Needless to say, family has never said no to my non monetary generosity (I do make them pay the taxes on award flights).

Cheers
BF

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Why? I'm still getting to the destination and will do my work there. What is "lost" by the employer in this scenario?

Ps. If they offered to fly me there in Y, I wouldn't have accepted and another person would have cost them a J seat anyway - and not done as good a job

Possibly from the employer's perspective you may not be as rested flying Y than if you were able to sleep in J so may be less productive for work at your destination.

 

[kpc]

Work pays for J....I use my points for +1 to be in the same cabin unless J is not available in which case I put her in F....I would not put +1 in Y long haul full stop.

 

[Katy]

I've split my husband off of bookings so that I can upgrade him alone to J before; he's a foot taller than me and flying in Y is an utterly miserable experience for him. I am the actual frequent flyer in the family so fly J often enough that I don't feel I'm missing out.

Having said that, if he was the one initiating putting me in Y while he swanned off to J I'm fairly certain Words would be Spoken!

 

[NZflygirl]

I would be interested to hear if anyone had experienced this. Say work booked a J international seat, and we privately added a Y seat for +1 on the same metal... Ie. different PNRs but same surname, etc. Assuming we are unable to points upgrade so we can both travel in J (option 1) I would like to offer my +1 the J seat which is booked in my name.

Seems easy enough to swap ourselves after boarding but I don't want the FAs to get confused/put off. Also, A380 and potentially seated on different levels so even boarding or swapping after TO could be fairly obvious even if we did try to "hide" it.

Any advice? Explain the situation to check-in and / or onboard staff and ask if they would prefer we do it on boarding or after TO? Would they "refuse" to allow it ? Advice appreciated.

My seat swaps on EK and NZ have been easy and I'll be doing the same on QR later. For EK I wrote on the BP I was swapping to Y and seat # then we went off to different aero bridges. We swapped after scanning BPs. NZ same door so asked nicely there. I've seen a guy swap with his wife after boarding on NZ but I think it's best done on entry or aerobridge. I did ask the EK lounge agents but they said it was up to FAs and in the NZ lounge overheard someone asking and got the same answer it's up to the FAs and to be honest I don't think they really care. They're still getting the same number of people in the same seats.

I think its a smoother process to change at boarding rather than after boarding.

 

[boomy]

I can't offer it and my +1 would never accept anyway
Even if she would I'd probably feel so guilty flying F while she is stuck in Y that I wouldn't be able to enjoy the experience.

Having said that, I do agree that in some cases it's very practical to fly in different cabins. For example, my business partner often flys the SYD-HKG red eye in J because he needs to sleep well as he starts working as soon as arriving. Occasionally his wife will join but they can't afford to purchase two J tickets, however she can afford to arrive tired and go to sleep in the hotel soon after so in this case it makes perfect sense to sit separately in different cabins.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

FWIW - I have seen couples swap / share seats on SQ multiple times - ie one would sit in F/R or J and swap with other half from lower cabin half way through flt - cabin crew have always enthusiastically accommodated this - I have never seen pax from lower cabin 'invited' to join other pax in higher cabin by crew - UNLESS - close to landing and pax have tight connections - this is common occurrence on SQ.

 

[blackcat20]

FWIW - I have seen couples swap / share seats on SQ multiple times - ie one would sit in F/R or J and swap with other half from lower cabin half way through flt - cabin crew have always enthusiastically accommodated this - I have never seen pax from lower cabin 'invited' to join other pax in higher cabin by crew - UNLESS - close to landing and pax have tight connections - this is common occurrence on SQ.

I think it was on JL that we saw a J pax join an F pax for pre-dinner drinks, however the F pax was served Salon while the J pax was served the J champagne, and returned to his own cabin to eat.

 

[Buzzard]

+1 and I always travel in the same cabin and usually sit together.
On an EK flight in J we did sit apart, I had a window seat and +1 had a middle seat but opposite me.
We don't need to be joined at the hip, it's not as though we are children that are going to scream for mummy if separated.

If an op-up was offered to one of us I would give it to +1. There is no way that I would take it and shove her down the back.

I respect that every relationship is different and each person/couple is entitled to their own choice.

 

[straitman]

+1 and I always travel in the same cabin and usually sit together.
On an EK flight in J we did sit apart, I had a window seat and +1 had a middle seat but opposite me.
We don't need to be joined at the hip, it's not as though we are children that are going to scream for mummy if separated.

Only once have we had separate seating. It was LAX-MEL when I had a J ticket and Sue got a J upgrade. We both had upstairs window seats in the same row and no-one would change. Not really a problem in our case.

If an op-up was offered to one of us I would give it to +1. There is no way that I would take it and shove her down the back.

Mine was a J ticket paid by work and we were paying for the other ticket. We sit together if possible however accept different cabins if it's the best way forward and it goes to whom ever appropriate at the time.

I respect that every relationship is different and each person/couple is entitled to their own choice.

Agree absolutely.

 

[wandering_fred]

FWIW - I have seen couples swap / share seats on SQ multiple times - ie one would sit in F/R or J and swap with other half from lower cabin half way through flt - cabin crew have always enthusiastically accommodated this - I have never seen pax from lower cabin 'invited' to join other pax in higher cabin by crew - UNLESS - close to landing and pax have tight connections - this is common occurrence on SQ.

Similar experiences with CX though typically the swap is noted with the cabin managers on aircraft entry and is the whole flight.

With the changes to through check-in, tight connections will now be a different issue in many situations. I prefer two to three hours in any case allowing for a walk and lounge time. Though the one time we had a major problem, we saw the two hour connection in SIN disappear completely.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[NM]

We do travel in different cabins, the usual reason would be when I or my partner are on work travel in J and the other one of us is in economy on personal travel.

For me it would more likely be the other way around - me in economy on a work trip, and Mrs NM in business on an FF award ticket accompanying me on the trip. Sometimes may not be on the same flight. One example, I was working in HK for two weeks, travel to/from in economy per work travel policy. Mrs NM came for a long weekend in the middle and she travelled CX J on an AAdvantage award. If she travels on an award it will always be in the highest class that I can find award availability. When I travel for work, it is nearly always economy. One exception was a recent work trip to USA where companied paid for business class for both of us, but that is most certainly an exception to the norm.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

FWIW - I have seen couples swap / share seats on SQ multiple times - ie one would sit in F/R or J and swap with other half from lower cabin half way through flt - cabin crew have always enthusiastically accommodated this - I have never seen pax from lower cabin 'invited' to join other pax in higher cabin by crew - UNLESS - close to landing and pax have tight connections - this is common occurrence on SQ.

your experience is very different to mine CE. while I have seen pax from other cabins come to the front for landing, I have never seen a swap mid flight, or multiple swaps. I have never seen a visit either, even 'just for a drink'.

I would be against swapping during flight as it disrupts the amenity of the cabin, potentially doubles demand on the food and beverage menu, and a very small increased risk of a security issue. I want my bags in the overhead lockers to be as secure as possible... not having random passengers coming in and out of the cabin.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

your experience is very different to mine CE. while I have seen pax from other cabins come to the front for landing, I have never seen a swap mid flight, or multiple swaps. I have never seen a visit either, even 'just for a drink'.

I would be against swapping during flight as it disrupts the amenity of the cabin, potentially doubles demand on the food and beverage menu, and a very small increased risk of a security issue. I want my bags in the overhead lockers to be as secure as possible... not having random passengers coming in and out of the cabin.

I think you make a mountain out of a mole hill MEL - I never said pax visit for a drink - I never said they bring HL either - they simply swap seats for half the journey - makes little or no difference - you will still get fed and watered - one pax standing up and walking to back of cabin as other half walks in would not disturb a sleeping mouse so I am at a loss to know how that would disrupt the amenity of the cabin - most I have seen swap back before landing - so that is 2 x 2 pax 5 second movements - you sleep all the way you said so if they tippy toe they should not disturb you.

I would love to know how it could cause a security risk? Can you Pauline that for me pls?

 

[Jet2727]

This happens often with my husband and I. I am WP and he was until recently silver and is now gold. We often travel together but on seperate bookings. It is always me in J and he is in Y. Sometimes this is due to booking different classes due to work v pleasure and sometimes because I get an upgrade and he doesn't. I have explained to him the risks involved with us both seeking upgrades on seperate bookings and he is happy for me to take the upgrade if I can get it. Longest trip in seperate cabins was London -Mel, me in J and him in Y. We were both in the same booking when we flew to Dallas last year and I did secure us upgrades to F both ways!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

MEL I am in SQ F July 20 MEL-SIN-PVG - I will get official and unofficial policy from CSM and post it.

 

[Deleted member]

+1 and I always travel in the same cabin and usually sit together.
On an EK flight in J we did sit apart, I had a window seat and +1 had a middle seat but opposite me.
We don't need to be joined at the hip, it's not as though we are children that are going to scream for mummy if separated.

If an op-up was offered to one of us I would give it to +1. There is no way that I would take it and shove her down the back.



I respect that every relationship is different and each person/couple is entitled to their own choice.

You are one of nature's beautiful people buzz

 

[Deleted member]

It (different cabins, same flight) has happened only once for me.
I was booked BNE-AKL in J. at the last minute Mrs GPH decided she would join me on the flight.
I decided to stay put for two reasons. 1. I did offer her the opportunity to come earlier ion the peace, she declined, then changed her mind. 2. I ended up seated beside a good client of mine I had been wanting to catch up with, so it made sense to stay put.
However I am very uncomfortable with the concept of one in J/F and the other in Y.