Swapping Economy and Business Seats

[MTAB]

I am currently WP and am about still about 2472 points from Lifetime Gold [LG] (not sure of the abbreviation), but have slowed down considerably in SC accumulation since retirement. To get closer to the LG, I am planning a DONE for me and my wife but I really (truly) do not see the value in business class for the incremental cost involved (fine when work paid; however I actually prefer economy meals and can comfortably sit/sleep/function in an economy seat [as long as it is an aisle one] for the longest of flights. I guess that makes me a noFOC and twice on business flights, when they haven’t allocated me an aisle seat, I have moved into the economy cabin to take up an available aisle seat.

I am thus thinking that I may try and book DONE for me and LONE for my wife and switch seats when we board the various planes (maybe accompanied with a little story about how she doesn’t feel very well). This would minimise costs, maximise my SCs and provide us both with flying we like. Do you think this will work? Any comments, suggestions or recounts of experiences would be appreciated.

 

[gumpy]

I am currently WP and am about still about 2472 points from Lifetime Gold [LG] (not sure of the abbreviation), but have slowed down considerably in SC accumulation since retirement. To get closer to the LG, I am planning a DONE for me and my wife but I really (truly) do not see the value in business class for the incremental cost involved (fine when work paid; however I actually prefer economy meals and can comfortably sit/sleep/function in an economy seat [as long as it is an aisle one] for the longest of flights. I guess that makes me a noFOC and twice on business flights, when they haven’t allocated me an aisle seat, I have moved into the economy cabin to take up an available aisle seat.

I am thus thinking that I may try and book DONE for me and LONE for my wife and switch seats when we board the various planes (maybe accompanied with a little story about how she doesn’t feel very well). This would minimise costs, maximise my SCs and provide us both with flying we like. Do you think this will work? Any comments, suggestions or recounts of experiences would be appreciated.

I just fell out of my chair when I read that you changed from a J seat to a Y seat when you didn't get the aisle... It must have been for a short haul flight right? You didn't go from a skybed to a Y seat did you?

As for your plan, I think it's a good idea and should work... I collegue that I travel with once swapped with his wife who was tagging along on a Y ticket.

 

[samh004]

I think it should work, though you may get the occasional crew member that wont let you for whatever reason, however if it’s a straight swap with you not getting any benefits in Y, there’s really no issue.

 

[MTAB]

I just fell out of my chair when I read that you changed from a J seat to a Y seat when you didn't get the aisle... It must have been for a short haul flight right? You didn't go from a skybed to a Y seat did you?

As for your plan, I think it's a good idea and should work... I collegue that I travel with once swapped with his wife who was tagging along on a Y ticket.

Gumpy I hope you didn’t hurt yourself.

They were both medium hauls. One of the occasions was when I had a tizzy fit. My agent had booked and requested and aisle seat, my profile has aisle seat, I requested an aisle seat on check-in and I tried to get an aisle seat in the lounge. I didn’t get an aisle seat so I went back found an aisle seat, fumed and slept through the HK to Cairns journey. I still strongly suspect there were many nonWPs with aisle seats who had checked in long after me (I had an 11 hour wait in HK). The other occasion (Doha to LHR) I was in one of these horrible BA ‘facing’ seats. I've flown many times in them and been happy-ish with the aisle seat but this time they boxed me in. At least they gave me a premium economy seat (I forget what BA calls them).

Thanks for the encouraging tale and the quick response.

 

[markis10]

I think it should work, though you may get the occasional crew member that wont let you for whatever reason, however if it’s a straight swap with you not getting any benefits in Y, there’s really no issue.

No thinking required for flights in and ex LOTFAP, it wont be allowed AFAIK, secure flight requires passengers to be in allocated seats for the duration of the flight (in theory). As always it will be up to the cabin crew and or PIC to allow changes in flight, assume no and then ask is the safest policy IMHO.

 

[docjames]

I hope i'm on one of your flights sometime - please come and swap - i'll take any J seat over a Y one. :shock::shock::shock:

 

[sr81]

You may be fine in a Y seat but what about the Wife? Why don't you just swap with her once on the plane. She can sit in the big seat and you can get the aisle in Y. Everyones a winner and, on the plus side, you get to be a bit of an old fashion gentleman!

 

[NM]

If you are doing this just for the additional status credits, why not buy two LONE4s and use the money saved to purchase some YUPP type fares when in the USA - and go somewhere you want to go during the trip.

 

[munitalP]

If you are doing this just for the additional status credits, why not buy two LONE4s and use the money saved to purchase some YUPP type fares when in the USA - and go somewhere you want to go during the trip.

NM, how do you book LONE fares, the times I have tried through the OW website, it defaults me to the cheapest fare bucket, 9 times from 10 non upgradeable on top.

munitalP

 

[NM]

NM, how do you book LONE fares, the times I have tried through the OW website, it defaults me to the cheapest fare bucket, 9 times from 10 non upgradeable on top.

munitalP

I would book through an agent such as AA's ATW desk, specifically requesting a LONEx fare.

 

[MTAB]

Thanks to all for your input. I think markis10 summed it up succinctly. We will be taking a known chance, with the possibility (and in the case of LOTFAP, the probability) that we will not be able to do swaps. At worst I’ll have a disgruntled wife in Economy and I’ll be unhappy in Business, but at least I’ll be getting the SCs and I can try and work out ways to gruntle her. We discussed the potentialities and will wear whatever ensues.

The planned trip is: CNS-SYD-NRT-HKG-LHR-DME-MAD-ARN-LHR-YYZ-DFW-YVR-DFW-LAX-SYD-BNE-CNS. The bold locations are stopovers of three to fourteen days for holiday or family purposes. We will take it in April/May or August/September (the actual date depends on another commitment). Unfortunately, there are four AA LOTFAP sectors so we will get our dose of patting. I will report back in July or October how many swaps we were able to make and any hassles.

 

[serfty]

NM, how do you book LONE fares, the times I have tried through the OW website, it defaults me to the cheapest fare bucket, 9 times from 10 non upgradeable on top.

munitalP

LONEx fares book into L class - all L calls bookings on Qantas Metal with a QF flight number are eligible to be upgraded using QFF points.

The oneworld booking tool will only book LONE's into L class (or the higher PE/WT+ class if desired/available for a segment), certainly not into a lower class.