Preselecting Seating leaving Open Seat between you. Is it gaming?

[mrsterryn]

If we are travelling in a 1 2 1 configuration...usually will take the window seat.
On 2 2 2 we take the middle usually cause of convience for getting out.
In way is a couple taking the middle 2 2 2 gaming it? I know of singles,myself included when travelling alone , prefer one of those seats in the middle as no one to climb over to get out
Don't think I would yell about the loss of that seat if moved from middle to window if travelling with husband but I know I would be peeved if moved for example on Syd to LAX .

 

[JohnK]

I don't know what the airlines think other than the one data point I gave above where the check-in agent stated it was unfair to take the A+C seat and moved my sister and her traveling companion to sit together, freeing up the window. Granted, they weren't selecting A+C other than to try and secure more space.

I'm surprised they accepted where the check-in agent thought they should sit and not where they chose to sit.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm surprised they accepted where the check-in agent thought they should sit and not where they chose to sit.

because they were gaming the system! If they had actually wanted the window and aisle for specific reasons - as some have indicated on this thread (hubby likes window, I like aisle and we don't care if a stranger sits between us for 24 hours, we're not going to talk to each other for the whole flight) - that would have been a different matter. But as they had no intention of being separated from each other for the flight (they would have offered the B seater the window), the check-in agent's words were 100% fair enough.

They got sat next to each other. The poor person who would have been relegated to the middle - until they got on the plane - walks away from the check-in counter happy with a window or aisle.

 

[Pushka]

Going a step further with this gaming thing. What about in J where its a 1-2-1 layout. Are couples meant to book the two middle seats and unfair if they book two window seats, one in front of the other?

This was our situation last month. We wanted the window seat, we don’t need to be together on a long flight, and feel that the window seats are just quieter. MrP slips into whatever mode he wants (work or reading) and I slip into mine, movies and later sleep. Travelling as a couple does not destroy any rights a person has to select their own preferences. And on the trip to SFO next year I grabbed for 5 a and K from memory, opposite side single seats.

How on earth is this gaming? We have earned the right to select our seats.

Why does being a single person sitting in the middle seat become a poor person yet you expect one of a couple to do exactly the same and think that’s ok?

 

[Pleb Status]

The individual about to book but only sees middle seats may decide to fly another airline.

On a number of occasions I have previously selected one airline over another solely based on the available seat selection at the time of booking. I would never book on any airline where I would have to select a middle seat...

 

[JohnK]

because they were gaming the system!

I'm still not sure how this is gaming the system and why the check-in person needs to be involved. If I chose seats and decided to swap onboard that is up to me not for the check-in person to make assumptions on what is best. Sure the check-in person can make recommendations on siting together but these can be easily rejected.

The poor person stuck in middle seat has as much opportunity as anyone else on selecting the best seat (even if that means paying) until all aisles and windows are gone or the 80% seat allocation has been reached and no further online seat updates possible. One of the reasons I hate booking late on airlines such as SQ.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm still not sure how this is gaming the system and why the check-in person needs to be involved. If I chose seats and decided to swap onboard that is up to me not for the check-in person to make assumptions on what is best. Sure the check-in person can make recommendations on siting together but these can be easily rejected.

The poor person stuck in middle seat has as much opportunity as anyone else on selecting the best seat (even if that means paying) until all aisles and windows are gone or the 80% seat allocation has been reached and no further online seat updates possible. One of the reasons I hate booking late on airlines such as SQ.

The check-in agent did ask if they were travelling together.

yeah, everyone has the opportunity to pay for their seats. But it's very easy for silvers and above to take advantage of free seat assignments to try and do the gaming thing. There's no loss to them.

 

[downgraded]

I'm still not sure how this is gaming the system and why the check-in person needs to be involved. If I chose seats and decided to swap onboard that is up to me not for the check-in person to make assumptions on what is best. Sure the check-in person can make recommendations on siting together but these can be easily rejected.

The poor person stuck in middle seat has as much opportunity as anyone else on selecting the best seat (even if that means paying) until all aisles and windows are gone or the 80% seat allocation has been reached and no further online seat updates possible. One of the reasons I hate booking late on airlines such as SQ.

And who says some fetish doesn't make the middle seat the preferred option anyway? There's an underlining presumption here that someone doesn't want to be sitting in the middle of a cozy threesome.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And who says some fetish doesn't make the middle seat the preferred option anyway? There's an underlining presumption here that someone doesn't want to be sitting in the middle of a cozy threesome.

I think this article sums up the sentiments towards middle seats quite nicely ‘I got stuck in a middle seat for 23 hours. And won’

 

[RichardMEL]

I reckon agents shouldn't be assuming things and try to be "helpful" or "proactive' without asking. As noted above there's assumptions involved with such things which may or may not be accurate.

However, anytime someone picks seats with an objective that can rely on "luck" or "circumstances" then it's absolutely gaming the system - if only in a small way. eg: If I and my partner want to pick A+C in the hope that B stays free so we get more space overall? That's gaming. If I pick a F suite in the hope that I can get 2 free to make the double bed that's gaming.

Anytime one's seat selection does not rely on anyone else then... it's not gaming

imho anyway

 

[Austman]

I suppose many of the tips on AFF about travel could be considered as "gaming": meaning by doing something a certain way, you'll (hopefully) improve your travel experience.

But isn't that one of the main purposes of AFF?

 

[drron]

I reckon agents shouldn't be assuming things and try to be "helpful" or "proactive' without asking. As noted above there's assumptions involved with such things which may or may not be accurate.

However, anytime someone picks seats with an objective that can rely on "luck" or "circumstances" then it's absolutely gaming the system - if only in a small way. eg: If I and my partner want to pick A+C in the hope that B stays free so we get more space overall? That's gaming. If I pick a F suite in the hope that I can get 2 free to make the double bed that's gaming.

Anytime one's seat selection does not rely on anyone else then... it's not gaming

imho anyway

But when we did fly QF longhaul I always did seat selection but relying on QF staff not to change it so being lucky.So I was always gaming the system?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I suppose many of the tips on AFF about travel could be considered as "gaming": meaning by doing something a certain way, you'll (hopefully) improve your travel experience.

But isn't that one of the main purposes of AFF?

Sure. But if we're going down this 'zen' travel path, how many of those things directly impact the comfort and well-being of someone else? I figure if I wouldn't want someone else to do it to me, I probably shouldn't get upset if the airline changes my seats so I have contiguous seating with my travel party and allowing a solo traveller the peace of mind they aren't going to be stuck in the middle.

 

[burmans]

I think this article sums up the sentiments towards middle seats quite nicely ‘I got stuck in a middle seat for 23 hours. And won’

We all get how cough middle seats are, but couples think they are cough too.

 

[Austman]

But if we're going down this 'zen' travel path

We are ???

Are there other options?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

When travelling in J in the now common 1-2-1 layout, I'd get pretty upset if me+1 had to always take the contiguous middle seats for someone else's "peace of mind". Or does this only apply to classes less than J?

The difference with business class is that the cabin usually comes with free seat selection (there are exceptions like BA). Economy class with paid seat selection can add a significant deterrence to some passengers doing it in advance - and makes it wasy for silvers and above to select their A+C seats and chance the system. Premium economy you probably aren't looking for a spare seat in the middle.

 

[Austman]

I probably shouldn't get upset if the airline changes my seats so I have contiguous seating with my travel party and allowing a solo traveller the peace of mind they aren't going to be stuck in the middle.

When travelling in J in the now common 1-2-1 layout, I'd get pretty upset if I+1 had to always take the contiguous middle seats for someone else's "peace of mind". Or does this only apply to classes less than J?

(out of order alert: I accidentally deleted my post - but put it back too late!)

 

[Austman]

Economy class with paid seat selection can add a significant deterrence to some passengers doing it in advance - and makes it wasy for silvers and above to select their A+C seats and chance the system.

So it's just in cabins where seat selection must be paid for (by non-status pax)? Otherwise "gaming" is OK?

It's just that, eg in a 1-2-1 J layout, couples might still prefer the 1 seats. That seems to disadvantage a single traveller who gets stuck beside someone they might not want to be stuck beside when there could/should have been single seats still available.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's just that, eg in a 1-2-1 J layout, couples might still prefer the 1 seats. That seems to disadvantage a single traveller who gets stuck beside someone they might not want to be stuck beside when there could/should have been single seats still available.

I think there's a bit of a difference between economy and business? Economy is a standard product across all airlines. For business class - if you've got that sort of disposable income you can choose to fly a carrier with a seating configuration that suits you. If you don't want to get stuck in one of the honeymoon seats with a stranger, take a different carrier that doesn't have that.

 

[Pushka]

So it's just in cabins where seat selection must be paid for (by non-status pax)? Otherwise "gaming" is OK?

It's just that, eg in a 1-2-1 J layout, couples might still prefer the 1 seats. That seems to disadvantage a single traveller who gets stuck beside someone they might not want to be stuck beside when there could/should have been single seats still available.

Well the converse is to disadvantage a person who is part of a couple then isn’t it. Why is that any fairer? Bottom line is that when booking a fare and you are specific about where you want to sit then select the seat or pay to select if needed. First in best dressed. If I book early enough to grab the single seats for our booking then that is my good planning. Perfectly fair as everyone has the same chance to do so.