Involuntary seat change

[Aus ATC]

Yeah, he could've. But he didn't say anything at all about swapping. He and the wife and mother just took their seats. I initiated the swap when I realised there was a child. So entirely my choice.

Hopefully after the ladies got comfortable, they gave him the child to nurse for the trip

 

[CaviAck]

Just to add some thought into the mix.
What happens when the family booked flights a couple of months out and the entire flight was almost full at the time, bar some single and double seats (mostly across the aisle from each other).

Had this happen to me booking ANC-DFW travelling a couple of weeks ago. Booked the flight just shy of 2 months out I think and the entire seat map was full except for singles and the rare doubles. Called up and asked if three seats could be allocated together, was told no, asked at the airport, was told no (pretty sure my OWS was known to them if that adds anything to the mix). I'm no longer a kid and can easily handle (sometimes prefer) sitting away from the parents so it wasn't a problem and chose main cabin extra seats in rows 8 and 9 so that I was in the row in front of my parents and my parents were across the aisle from each other. (Fortunately we befriended the couple sitting to the left of my mother so it was all good in the end and quite fun).

The point is sometimes on high demand routes a family can book a reasonable period in advance and still not be able to allocate seats together. Just food for thought. Would you still be annoyed if you were reallocated knowing then?

Second thing I've experienced was Feb last year flying SYD-CNS on DJ. Cannot remember if we could allocate seats at time of booking then or not but distinctly remember allocating seats similar to what was mentioned before but with mum and dad together on the one side a row or two behind me. When we checked in the seats were still like that on our boarding passes. And as we walked through, scanning our boarding passes at the gate, mine beeped and my parents were asked to keep going to not block the gate and I was pulled aside. Fearing the worst, started to panic but was then told that I was reallocated. Questioned why and it was because they wanted to seat a family together. I told them that I was travelling with my parents and wanted to sit near them, they said because I was travelling on a separate PNR they couldn't do anything, and then said besides the plane is full and there are no more seats. Next thing I knew a new boarding pass was printed and I was directed to go down the aerobridge. Ok so there actually was a family together (dad and his two little kids I assumed with the mother across the aisle). Can't remember if I was reallocated an aisle seat or a middle seat (pretty sure it was a middle seat but can't say for certain might be my distaste for DJ/VA after that incident slightly bending my memory so take my allocated seat with a grain of salt) but the seat allocation wasn't the issue, the fact that the plane was too heavy and people were required to be offloaded turned what should've been 3-3.5 hours on a plane into 4-4.5... Couldn't consult with my parents on what to do as they were handing out refunds and discounts for those volunteering to be rerouted through BNE. Tried to get up and go back to my parents but was told to sit down by the FA standing near by...

It's not the end of the world if you get booted, I didn't mind getting moved a year and a half ago. But I can see where people are coming from. TBH if I was to be moved involuntarily now I'd be very annoyed if it was anything more than 5 rows at the gate or if it's getting bumped out of my exit row seat! But if they ask nicely and be transparent and honest about why I'd be happy to either oblige or try and find a suitable compromise. If it happened on the plane, and unless it's for people immediately around me switching for a comparable seat (once offered to move from 13A to 14F so people who were working together could sit together), they can get stuffed. I'd have to agree with JohnK here, if anyone wants to sit together they can either be organised and do it before hand like we have done and pre-allocate seats or inconvenience those down the back and give them a relative upgrade. We've earn't our status the hard way by flying, we deserve some sort of recognition for our dedication and loyalty to manage and maintain status with an airline (loyalty goes both ways) and better seats are a nice way of saying thanks (loyalty goes both ways).

If for any reason you get moved and it inconveniences you (even if you don't have status), raise a fuss with an FA and/or the CSM and demand an explanation until you're satisfied and push for compensation, I'm sure a couple of glasses of sparkling or free booze for the flight would be adequate compo for domestic flights or if it's an intl flight make it known that it's degraded the flying experience of flying with QF and I'm sure some sort of voucher would be coming your way.

Take all that as you wish as it's coming from a comparatively lowly SG with minimal flying experience compared to some others with input here.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I don't know. I was a public servant below executive level in my last job. I now get paid double and I'm still not in an executive level role. Then again I'm not doing admin.....

Can depend on the department - departments can set their own ranges for grades, so a high profile dept (e.g. PM&C) would pay a lot more for the same grade than say DEEWR. Also in Canberra there has been a lot of redefining of roles to get people extra money. A friend of mine was really excited to get a promotion to a 6 at another department as she was hoping to start getting involved in policy issues. She found that at that level her duties consisted of taking minutes, filing and printing some reports....pretty much what used to be 4 duties, but now called a 6 and paid accordingly.....

 

[CaviAck]

I've been moved from pre-allocated (6 months out) 1A to 6D on an A330. I was pretty pissed off as I have a window seat preference and didn't even get that at the back row of J as a WP.

The gate agent in LAX (IMO who are utterly atrocious AA staff from what I can tell) told me I had been 'upgraded'. Then I pointed out her error, she then told me that a I was moved for a family. Well wasn't I surprised to see two middle aged men sitting in 1A&B. No kids to be seen anywhere, and a 'family' of mother and child sitting in my seat as they had been allocated halfway across the cabin from each other.

IME, the USA QF seating allocation is always being screwed with by incompetent outsourced care-factor-zero US ground staff.

Just curious, when was there a QF A330 flying into the USA? AKL-LAX-JFK?

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Just curious, when was there a QF A330 flying into the USA? AKL-LAX-JFK?

Yep, I was on the bird that changed its stripes to do the LAX-JFK sector of QF107/108 before the 744 returned.

 

[CaviAck]

Can depend on the department - departments can set their own ranges for grades, so a high profile dept (e.g. PM&C) would pay a lot more for the same grade than say DEEWR. Also in Canberra there has been a lot of redefining of roles to get people extra money. A friend of mine was really excited to get a promotion to a 6 at another department as she was hoping to start getting involved in policy issues. She found that at that level her duties consisted of taking minutes, filing and printing some reports....pretty much what used to be 4 duties, but now called a 6 and paid accordingly.....

I recall that happening when they were making redundancies at the ATO, Customs and DoD... forgot what the entry level ranks are called but since they were making staffing cuts to maintain higher ranked people at their existing pay grades and giving them a demotion in terms of job tasks they eliminated level 1 and gave their jobs to level 2 staff while promoting some level 1 and making the rest redundant.

 

[JohnK]

When I realised that the guy in 4F this week was travelling with the 2 ladies and infant in 5D/E yesterday, I offered for me and my shadow to swap 4D/E so they could be together. Asked crew first about doing it. But was not offered to move to either of the the empty 3A/C seats. I thought your travelling life was always rubbish.

Most of my travelling life is rubbish.

The occasional diamond turns up out of the rough. The op-up was only a seat op-up and had economy service.

By the way I was quite happy to sit in 26J on this occasion but only because I chose not because someone tried to force me.

 

[JohnK]

The point is sometimes on high demand routes a family can book a reasonable period in advance and still not be able to allocate seats together. Just food for thought. Would you still be annoyed if you were reallocated knowing then?

I would be extremely annoyed if I lost my pre-allocated forward bulkhead on the 747 to a middle seat down the back.

I know we keep saying on AFF that it is easier to move single people and I totally agree lets move a single person to have a family together. But do not start looking for single people seated at the front of the cabin. Start at the back. There are plenty of single people down there who would love to move more forward in the cabin.

Win win for all.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I would be extremely annoyed if I lost my pre-allocated forward bulkhead on the 747 to a middle seat down the back.

I know on AFF keep saying that it is easier to move single people and I totally agree move a single person to move a family together. Do not start looking for single people seated at the front of the cabin. Start at the back. There are plenty of single people down there who would love to move more forward in the cabin.

Win win for all.

I completely concur!

 

[CaviAck]

I would be extremely annoyed if I lost my pre-allocated forward bulkhead on the 747 to a middle seat down the back.

I know we keep saying on AFF that it is easier to move single people and I totally agree lets move a single person to have a family together. But do not start looking for single people seated at the front of the cabin. Start at the back. There are plenty of single people down there who would love to move more forward in the cabin.

Win win for all.

Should've mentioned that was to be in general. But then I just realised that point would be mute anyway as that example could've just been taken like any other full flight... whoops.

More food for thought just occured. What would you think if 2/3 or 2/4 or the majority of the group is already allocated towards the front? Or a bassinet is required and hence the bulkhead. With situations like that moving more people else where would start to become an issue.

Otherwise, I'd agree that it's a lot better to start moving from the rear of the cabin if it's only inconveniencing one or two people.

If you got moved from pre-allocated front to middle rear seat, I'd be tempted to say that's impossible because I have terrible flying sickness that's exasperated from the move violent movement the plane experiences in the rear and hence would require to keep my forward located seat that's near the wings where there's less movement ;P

 

[legroom]

I am willing to place a bet that this thread of reallocation angst will make the FF news soon, now that most regulars are here already except TonyHancock.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

If you got moved from pre-allocated front to middle rear seat, I'd be tempted to say that's impossible because I have terrible flying sickness that's exasperated from the move violent movement the plane experiences in the rear and hence would require to keep my forward located seat that's near the wings where there's less movement ;P

There are 'forward' seats near the wings?? :shock:

 

[CaviAck]

I am willing to place a bet that this thread of reallocation angst will make the FF news soon, now that most regulars are here already except TonyHancock.

I can see the taglines already.

Roll up, roll up, roll up. Come one, come all and see our magnificent members squabble over their highly sought after thrones in the sky. The question is can the Queen herself make her Princesses move? Or will they stubbornly throw a tantrum upsetting Chairman worthy loyalty?

 

[JohnK]

More food for thought just occured. What would you think if 2/3 or 2/4 or the majority of the group is already allocated towards the front? Or a bassinet is required and hence the bulkhead. With situations like that moving more people else where would start to become an issue.

That is a difficult one.

It has been mentioned on AFF a few times that check-in, gate staff try to minimise the disruption as much as possible and I am sure they are doing a great job.

If I was in the situation you mention above and I was moved down the back to accommodate a family that would just about ruin my flight. And I mean it will ruin my flight. Stuck behind serial recliners, movement, turbulence is a lot more noticeable to me down the back and I would not be comfortable.

In those sorts of situations wouldn't it be best to op-up the person that is being inconvenienced to accommodate a family seated together? Assuming there is space up front of course otherwise just take it on the chin as another rubbish flight to go with the rest.

 

[CaviAck]

There are 'forward' seats near the wings?? :shock:

Pretty sure on most planes the Y cabin start just where the wings start or just before (a couple of rows before where the wings start). I think that's true on all planes except the 763s, the 4 class 744 and the 73Hs and QFLink planes.

 

[legroom]

That is a difficult one.

..... otherwise just take it on the chin as another rubbish flight to go with the rest.

People keeps misunderstanding you - most of the times.

+1 to that view

 

[cgoh]

Stuck behind serial recliners,

Not having a go at you but why are people so against the recliners? So short haul 1-2 hours flights I can do without the recline, but long haul surely it must be allowed!

 

[JohnK]

Not having a go at you but why are people so against the recliners? So short haul 1-2 hours flights I can do without the recline, but long haul surely it must be allowed!

I have difficulty reclining or staying reclined for any length of time as it gets very uncomfortable on my lower back.

So if a person in front reclines and I need to remain upright I cannot use the IFE regardless of how much I move the screen on the seat back. Also makes it hard for me to get in and out of seat with seat in front reclined.

That is the main reason I choose bulkhead. I do not need the legroom and the person behind me has a great flight.

 

[serfty]

Just curious, when was there a QF A330 flying into the USA? AKL-LAX-JFK?

In the last shuffle before they abandoned AKL-LAX altogether an A330 used to fly SYD(/BNE?)AKL then AKL-LAX as QF25, then LAX-JFK-LAX as QF107/QF108 ...

 

[CaviAck]

In the last shuffle before they abandoned AKL-LAX altogether an A330 used to fly SYD(/BNE?)AKL then AKL-LAX as QF25, then LAX-JFK-LAX as QF107/QF108 ...

Ah ok, thanks serfty.