Discrimination against solo travellers?

[ferntree]

You're right. I think the only logical thing here is to go complete opposite and ban anyone who isn't travelling solo .

No, nobody is suggesting or implying that ... rather that everyone should be treated equally.

Post automatically merged: Nov 6, 2021

You're right. I think the only logical thing here is to go complete opposite and ban anyone who isn't travelling solo .

No, nobody is suggesting or implying that ... only that all passengers should be treated equally.

 

[Saab34]

I've had many cases on Jetstar where I've been asked to move to make way for a family or couple (sometimes from the passengers and others from the staff), I'm sorry but all times I've said no because that would have given me a less desirable seat (one time I got offered a switch from row 5 aisle to 25 middle) or in a few cases they seemed happy to separate me from people who I was travelling with. This annoys me as well because on JQ you pay for seat selection and in these cases it's evident that these people haven't paid so I don't understand why they think (either passengers or staff) that it's acceptable to move people.

This seems to always happen to me travelling out of places like OOL or CNS. Out of those places I generally wear my Sunglasses and Air Pods, you wouldn’t know if I’m awake or asleep. Most people normally get the message, ie don’t speak to me, seems to work most of the times. I make it look like a nuisance that they have tried to ‘talk and interrupt me’ and usually give them a blunt No with an associated dirty look.

I can see why the filthy rich fly corporate regardless of distance/cost.

Poor behaviour I’ve seen namely on Jetstar, I only use them now if I sit in Row 1 or Exit.

 

[henrus]

No, nobody is suggesting or implying that ... rather that everyone should be treated equally.

Haha I was joking. I don't even think it's discrimination, more just rude behaviour of self entitled people who think that everyone should make way for them. I've found it's often people on last minute upgrades (generally bid upgrades), perhaps they need to remind those of the upgrade terms and conditions:

Virgin Australia does not guarantee specific seat assignments to Guests who receive an Upgrade. Virgin Australia is unable to guarantee that all Guests who receive an Upgrade will be seated together or in any preferred seating configuration.

 

[Saab34]

One positive throughout the pandemic, they have been very firm on, what seat is on the boarding pass, is the seat your cough stays in. I did see someone trying to move and they were very quickly moved back. Hopefully that continues on while we make our through the pandemic exit door.

 

[Anna]

One time I noticed that QF had bumped me from my preferred seat 2C to 3C. It was the day before the flight so I rang up and got it changed back. Then I got on board and found out I was sitting in the middle of Angelina Jolie's entourage, right behind her in 1C

Another time I was asked by QF if I would move from row 4 to row 7 and declined. I said I was happy to move to any of rows 1, 2 or 3. QF apparently didn't think the family wanting my seat was important enough to move me forward for, because I stayed in row 4 with the husband while his wife was in row 7 with 2 children.

I've only done a handful of EK flights, all in J, but twice on EK other J pax have expected me to move to suit them and have been very surprised that I would not gather up all my belongings and move to a worse seat just because they told me to.

 

[Guvner]

I was on the end of a trilogy of requests on an NZ flight once.
I was sat in a window seat when the old dear in the aisle asked me to help her get her luggage in the overhead. After the usual unbuckle shuffle across I helped out and shuffled back and rebuckled. I was then asked by an FA if I wouldn't mind moving as a mum and daughter were separated. I was offered an aisle seat a few rows forward which I prefer anyway so again got up and swapped.
About 5 minutes later an exasperated group of latecomers from a transfer boarded and there was a "mixup" with boarding passes which were issued at another airport. I was again asked to move which I begrudgingly did. When I was finally seated and the doors were closing the FA come over and was about to say something when I said "if you want me to fly this thing I'm going to have to decline".

 

[Hvr]

I stayed in row 4 with the husband while his wife was in row 7 with 2 children.

Funny that, the people who want others to move always want the better seats. If they asked for the whole row of 7 rather than row 4 they could be accommodated a lot easier. As in the example provided, if they don't get the better seats the imperative to be seated together isn't as important.

Like others here I choose my seats according to my preference and and your failure to choose doesn't mean I should lose my preference for your coughpy seat.

 

[jakeseven7]

Funny that, the people who want others to move always want the better seats. If they asked for the whole row of 7 rather than row 4 they could be accommodated a lot easier. As in the example provided, if they don't get the better seats the imperative to be seated together isn't as important.

Like others here I choose my seats according to my preference and and your failure to choose doesn't mean I should lose my preference for your coughpy seat.

I found just being firm, polite and joking with Virgin staff when I was asked to move was enough to make them go away and presumably try to move someone else

However if it then becomes a ‘direction’ rather than a ‘question’ on the actual plane by a dragon attendant I believe you have to comply right? Legally?

 

[ole nimeton]

Just pre-pandemic, I boarded my VA flight to find some self entitled old woman in sitting in my business window seat. Crew were totally disinterested in moving her and she wasn't budging so I sat in her aisle seat. The entitlement from the woman and lack of any apology or acknowledgement from the crew really pissed me off that day.

About 3 years ago I was on a QF flight from TSV-MEL in economy. After check in, I was in the lounge and was called to the service desk where I was told that I had been allocated a new seat due to someone else with a "medical condition" requiring my window seat. No choice in the matter, no apology and I was allocated an aisle seat a few rows behind. The reason they gave seemed fair enough but some kind of empathy or consultation with me would have been nice. Got on the plane to find my original window seat empty. Not impressed.

Other than those two coughpy experiences, I've generally been ok as a solo traveller.

 

[antycbr]

My most memorable experience was on EY in Business. EY had failed to seat us together on three sectors and we were finally together on the A380 for the sector AUH-SYD. Someone wanted us to move apart, and then enlisted the cabin crew. I said the only way we will be moved apart is if we are reaccommodated in F.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Not wanting to change the subject - but as a female passenger I have experienced all sorts of discrimination over the years - less so in recent times. Details are all a bit boring - but, here are 2 examples, when travelling with male colleagues on business I was often given the less desirable seating option - once when travelling with 4 male colleagues - in spite of being the senior executive and the highest QF status of the group, I was the only one not upgraded to business on a domestic flight - short flight so I did not complaint and/or want to seem petty by colleagues.

 

[jb747]

... - in spite of being the senior executive and the highest QF status of the group, I was the only one not upgraded to business on a domestic flight - short flight so I did not complaint and/or want to seem petty by colleagues.

Whilst the senior exec part is not relevant to QF, I'd be interested to know how that all came about though. Upgrades should (!) be computer controlled, with the gate staff having no input.

 

[ferntree]

I can give an update on my story! I phoned the Virgin Guest Centre to explain what had happened and asked if they could put on file that in future I was only to be moved from row 1 in exceptional circumstances. Evidently this is not possible ... I have to phone them with this specific request before check-in opens on every flight, each time.

The agent I spoke to also said that sometimes it was necessary to move passengers (although clearly this was not the case with my recent flight) but did not give me any specific examples of when this might be so.

 

[Ade]

Once had bumped from 1A to 2C on QF J (AKL-MEL) early morning departure. Reason for choosing 1A was so that I can lean on the window and sleep.

But on scanning the BP, the scanner beeped. I was thinking "whooo am I getting upgraded to F, just kidding, it was a 737 (rofl)" ... the agent told that there is a seat change. I didn't know why my seat was changed, but I didn't ask why. On boarding saw that a mother & a very young child was seating on 1A and 1C, so I figured that's why ...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I can give an update on my story! I phoned the Virgin Guest Centre to explain what had happened and asked if they could put on file that in future I was only to be moved from row 1 in exceptional circumstances. Evidently this is not possible ... I have to phone them with this specific request before check-in opens on every flight, each time.

The agent I spoke to also said that sometimes it was necessary to move passengers (although clearly this was not the case with my recent flight) but did not give me any specific examples of when this might be so.

They can use for "safety and security reasons" you can be moved.
Seat preferences sldo don't mean a thing too.
As I mentioned several times, even if you have window in preferences in your profile, it counts as nowt, with both QFF and VFF.

 

[Jousams]

Just pre-pandemic, I boarded my VA flight to find some self entitled old woman in sitting in my business window seat. Crew were totally disinterested in moving her and she wasn't budging so I sat in her aisle seat. The entitlement from the woman and lack of any apology or acknowledgement from the crew really pissed me off that day.

Other than those two coughpy experiences, I've generally been ok as a solo traveller.

Haha you sound very polite - if said lady would not move for me, i would make her forthcoming flight unpleasant.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Haha you sound very polite - if said lady would not move for me, i would make her forthcoming flight unpleasant.

Had a row of 4 to myself flying HKG-MEL a few years back. Some woman thought that meant she could claim 2 seats for herself.

To date, I am yet to see a bigger scowl from anyone directed at me after the crew moved her on at my request

I really put the W in WP that night but slept well

 

[Guvner]

Think there might be a market selling seat stickers for those wanting extra space?

Economy


Business



First

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

***(((https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnec...upgrades/seat-selection-conditions.html)))***
Though this one is from the opposition airline to this post/thread/branch, look at #16 down the bottom.
Just copy and paste, no wordings changed, this from the QF website.
***(((16. Seat requests cannot be guaranteed as they may need to be changed for operational, safety or security reasons, even after boarding the aircraft.)))***
Am pretty sure VA/VFF have something similar somewhere.

 

[henrus]

***(((16. Seat requests cannot be guaranteed as they may need to be changed for operational, safety or security reasons, even after boarding the aircraft.)))***
Am pretty sure VA/VFF have something similar somewhere.

Look every airline has the same policy but how they apply it is what matters. I'm sure everyone on here would agree that just because a couple wants to sit together it doesn't meet "operational, safety or security" reasons.