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

[JohnK]

aka a shadow? Heck these are generally not available for WPs.

It happens more often than you think further back from row 4. I gave up rushing to get row 4 when I can have shadows in row 6.

 

[Forg]

In the event that Hans is such a sensitive soul that he ends up traumatized by the prospect of a middle seat, the scenario out of 2A and 2B under which he ends up happiest after that period of trauma is the one where he was lucky enough to sit next to 'gamers'.

Other than offer to swap seats, what else should these 'gamers' be responsible for? Driving him home from the airport? Buying him a pedicure and spa treatment? Upgrading him to first class?

They at least owe him some decent bratwurst.

 

[sinophile888]

You can search for this data via applications like Expert Flyer (paid subscriptions), or Flight Availability - BCD Travel (free).

.....

Thank you Aus ATC. That is a very useful resource.

 

[Aus ATC]

My pleasure - but in the interests of full disclosure, I found that link here:
Flight Availability/Loadings & Upgrade Probability Help Desk

 

[Deleted member 29185]

They at least owe him some decent bratwurst.

The one thing that perplexes me about this thread is I thought his name was Han Solo, not Hans Solo!

 

[MickC32]

I travel with my other half frequently, and unless flying above economy will always choose A and C - if I can choose my seat there is no way I will select a middle - I have as much right as the next person not to be stuck in the middle - and the airlines have no right to move me because I am travelling with my partner - who says I want to sit next them anyway

This about sums it up for me!

 

[Moody]

This about sums it up for me!

Yep - agree 100%. But the TWD are persistent because they can't stand seeing couples or families (who used an advertised feature) NOT having to give it up for lazy/incompetent/entitled singles who didn't.

 

[stm1sydney]

Time and time again my partner and I have flown on domestic flights in the window and middle seats, and found ourselves with a person placed (more) comfortably on the isle seat next to us. Look up and all the rows in front of us have spare middle seats.

That's exactly it! Of course someone is going to select "your" aisle seat because it is the only one available.

You do the "right thing" and you get penalised. So the right thing is to use the features made available by the airlines to benefit yourself (why not, you're paying for it). It's not "gaming" the system.

 

[blackcat20]

That's exactly it! Of course someone is going to select "your" aisle seat because it is the only one available.

You do the "right thing" and you get penalised. So the right thing is to use the features made available by the airlines to benefit yourself (why not, you're paying for it). It's not "gaming" the system.

Last time we selected a window and middle seat we ended up with some in the aisle seat, all the way back in row 20 something and despite aisle seats being available for 10+ rows ahead of us.

 

[nutwood]

My pet hate is being punished by kindness. Happens on small regional flights where I've gone to some trouble to pay extra to ensure I have a good seat, which generally means an empty seat next to me. Often, it occurs that someone I've been working with is also departing on the same flight and we are talking. Immediately this is observed, the "kind" check-in people, rearrange things so that my travelling companion is next to me.
Doesn't matter that all I want to do is not talk to them, or that they didn't pay for an upfront seat, or that I did! Or that they are twice my size! Arrgh!

 

[QF WP]

If the couple are the first to book and have status, thus allowing them to select seats in the booking process (or soon thereafter), then I have less issue with the subsequent pax feeling "gamed" out of the seating allocation process (andn only having B seat allocations). Given the lack of middle seats in the myriad of aircraft types and carriers, my basic understanding is that there is at times, 70% of seats allocated before a B seat MUST be chosen.

My thoughts are if the airlines were going to frown on the A+C seating allocation by a couple in the same booking, they would only allow in the seat allocation map, pairs of adjacent seats when seating is being chosen. As they open up the entire seat map, then it is less of an argument.

A way around this "pairs" allocation is for each pax to have their own booking, so thus defeating the issue outlined in the previous paragraph and allowing them to separately choose an A+C seating arrangement.

 

[justinbrett]

I flew DRW-BNE yesterday on Qantas, and a family group of 5 had selected seats in an ‘n’ shape- two kids and their Mum on a row of three, and the grandparents on the aisle and window on the row behind. Some poor 30-something guy not part of the group was seated in the middle (and he was gold, he was in the lounge and I saw his boarding pass as I was behind him in the priority queue).

So for four hours he had the entire extended family talking over him, with the kids turning around every 5 minutes to talk to the grandparents.

I felt sorry for him...

 

[Pushka]

I flew DRW-BNE yesterday on Qantas, and a family group of 5 had selected seats in an ‘n’ shape- two kids and their Mum on a row of three, and the grandparents on the aisle and window on the row behind. Some poor 30-something guy not part of the group was seated in the middle (and he was gold, he was in the lounge and I saw his boarding pass as I was behind him in the priority queue).

So for four hours he had the entire extended family talking over him, with the kids turning around every 5 minutes to talk to the grandparents.

I felt sorry for him...

Yes that isnt good when they speak over him but as SG why didn’t he pre select if a family of 5 could do it.

 

[justinbrett]

Yes that isnt good when they speak over him but as SG why didn’t he pre select if a family of 5 could do it.

It was a really full flight - it was selling for $1400ish one way for at least two weeks before - assume he changed to this flight late. His row was an exit row.

 

[Pushka]

It was a really full flight - it was selling for $1400ish one way for at least two weeks before - assume he changed to this flight late. His row was an exit row.

Ok. I guess late changes to different flights you get what you get assuming that’s what happened. Maybe the family didn’t select their seats and were just allocated together-ish.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm not sure I see a problem with that. The flight was full. Someone had to sit in the middle row. It may be that the family paid for those exit row seats for the grandparents for mobility issues. The fact they chose an aisle and window is their choice that came with the extra tix price for seat selection ... or they too were status. Plenty of people want an aisle as they want easy access for the toilet. Plenty of people want a window for the view. I can't see why people are saying that, just because they were a couple, there is some unwritten law that states they must sit next to each other. IMHO, the odd bit of conversation over someone is not bad and comes hand in hand with being holed up in an airborne sardine tin. Continual conversation is simply rude, but if it were conversation mainly to the seat in front, then that's just life. Grandparents usually like conversing with their grandkids. What's that old hashtag ... first world problem?

 

[justinbrett]

I'm not sure I see a problem with that. The flight was full. Someone had to sit in the middle row. It may be that the family paid for those exit row seats for the grandparents for mobility issues. The fact they chose an aisle and window is their choice that came with the extra tix price for seat selection ... or they too were status. Plenty of people want an aisle as they want easy access for the toilet. Plenty of people want a window for the view. I can't see why people are saying that, just because they were a couple, there is some unwritten law that states they must sit next to each other. IMHO, the odd bit of conversation over someone is not bad and comes hand in hand with being holed up in an airborne sardine tin. Continual conversation is simply rude, but if it were conversation mainly to the seat in front, then that's just life. Grandparents usually like conversing with their grandkids. What's that old hashtag ... first world problem?

For the record, I have no problem with couples selecting non-adjacent seats and I have done so (usually prefer two aisles but have done window and aisle).

Conversation was going every which way, and at least they acknowledged the issue as they apologied to him after we landed (I was sitting in the exit row behind).

I hate people talking over me at the best of times - it’s just rude.

 

[zenyattamondatta]

It may be that the family paid for those exit row seats for the grandparents for mobility issues.

People with mobility issues really shouldn't be in the exit row.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

For the record, I have no problem with couples selecting non-adjacent seats and I have done so (usually prefer two aisles but have done window and aisle).

Conversation was going every which way, and at least they acknowledged the issue as they apologied to him after we landed (I was sitting in the exit row behind).

I hate people talking over me at the best of times - it’s just rude.

Yep, I think everyone agrees it is rude, but rude people fly too. Just read the thread about feet on tray tables/armrests etc. I think the two scenarios are separate issues. I also believe there is a difference between rude and ignorant as well. People who talk over others without even thinking there is a problem are just plain ignorant. The couple you mentioned knew they were being rude, but continued to do it. That's worse than ignorant IMHO.

People with mobility issues really shouldn't be in the exit row.

Very true. I have however, seen some exit row occupants that look like they'd stowed their coffin in the cargo hold, but I guess that's a separate topic!

 

[justinbrett]

Yep, I think everyone agrees it is rude, but rude people fly too. Just read the thread about feet on tray tables/armrests etc. I think the two scenarios are separate issues. I also believe there is a difference between rude and ignorant as well. People who talk over others without even thinking there is a problem are just plain ignorant. The couple you mentioned knew they were being rude, but continued to do it. That's worse than ignorant IMHO.



Very true. I have however, seen some exit row occupants that look like they'd stowed their coffin in the cargo hold, but I guess that's a separate topic!

They were old, but not cripple. They were well aware they were gaming the system (I overhead them discussing that the middle seat was free but disappeared a few hours before the flight). Again, no issues with any of that.

In fact the grandmother said she used to be a flight attendant for Ansett 50 years ago - so I imagine they are frequent flyers (and hence know this trick).

I had two other solo travellers in my row and we didn't say a word to each other for the entire 4 hours. In fact neither me (window) or middle seat lady got up to go to the toilet mid flight. And middle seat lady must have weighed no more than 40Kg. So all in all, perfect seatmates!