You used to be able to take any open seat in your cabin once the doors closed. You might move closer to the front, grab an aisle seat, or head for an empty row in the back so you could stretch out.
As a kid I remember making a bee-line for an empty middle row on an American Airlines flight from Honolulu to Sydney, so I could lay down and sleep.
- Self-upgrading was never allowed. You couldn’t just move from economy to business class.
- Now, though, airlines charge for ‘premium’ seats in coach so they don’t usually let you go from regular coach to extra legroom seats for free, even if the seats are empty once the doors close.
- People might not pay if they knew they could take an extra legroom seat for free that was empty once everyone had boarded!
The norms have changed but passengers don’t always know this in advance, which makes for a stark clash of expectations. One American Airlines passenger was shocked to learn that nobody would be permitted to spread out into wide open exit rows on a recent flight.
Although he wound up in a bulkhead seat (he calls it an exit) and it’s not clear how. He proceeds to sully the privilege with his feet propped up on the wall.
View on Threads
Years ago open seats were pretty much fair game. Now different airlines take different approaches. Southwest still has open seating, for a little while longer! And once you’re on the plane it’s Lord of the Flies complete with seat-saving and crumpled up tissues to keep people away from the middle seat they hope to save.
Sitting in an open seat that can never be sold (because the plane is already in the air) is not the same thing as taking something away from the airline or anyone else. The airline loses nothing. It’s even the same passenger weight carried, so no increased fuel burn.
Seven years ago American started offering free alcohol to passengers in their extra legroom coach seats.
Back then the ability to change seats took on added significance (and cost to the airline). Still, the policy allowing customers to move remained in place at the time.
That changed in 2022, with the airline telling flight attendants that they should police passengers moving from regular coach up to extra legroom seats (“Main Cabin Extra”). Not all flight attendants will enforce this, but some do.
It’s not unusual for Main Cabin (MC) customers to ask to change seats after they’ve boarded the aircraft – to sit next to a family member or get out of a middle seat, for instance. However, customers may not be familiar with our seat change policy; particularly when it comes to Main Cabin Extra (MCE) seats.
While you may allow a customer to move to an available Main Cabin seat after boarding is complete, they’re not permitted to move into an MCE seat unless they are booked in that class. So, if a customer asks to move to a seat in a different seat classification (i.e., MC ot MCE, MCE to First, etc.) politely decline their request unless there is a customer service or regulatory conflict present.
If a customer asks to change seats before the boarding door closes, work with the gate agent to accommodate the request. As always, please remain on the aircraft to avoid a minimum crew violation while assisting the customer.
The argument that works here is: we do not allow passengers to move to better seats without paying extra (except under our own terms, for our operational convenience or elite perks) because that would encourage passengers to take a chance of getting the better seat free instead of paying in advance on future trips. And it’s their plane, their rules, and they can change the rules even after many decades of forming passenger expectations.
Changing to an open seat nobody else is using can’t be stealing because the airline hasn’t given up anything, and claiming it harms other passengers isn’t right either because other passengers still got exactly what they paid for. It is against the airline rules, not theft, but it is still not allowed if a flight attendant decides not to allow it.
I have been told not to move to a different seat or to move to a different seat, usually on regional jets, for weight and balance reasons.
Good, because PAX complain if the FAs let them go into those seats since they had to pay extra!
The problem is, you will start having people fight over the one open MCE….all kinds of issues.
I’ve received far too many complaints from passengers who were made to pay to sit there. They claim it’s unfair. I stopped allowing free upgrades to those sections because of it. Passengers have no one to blame but themselves.
I disagree, if every seat and seat selection option has been monetized , then changing a seat after doors closed devalues the purchase those that chose to do have made.
It’s not about the airline costs, it’s about the perceived value of the paying customer versus the entitlement culture of squatters.
The only time it would make sense for the FA to move pax, is under the direction of the Captain for a weight and balance issue or if they are able to capture the payment at the POS.
Not sure why this is news. AA and every domestic airline has decided to charge for upgraded seats. You pay for the service you receive or you don’t get it. What’s so hard other than understand that you get what you pay for and you are NOT ENTITLED to a seat juts because it’s empty. There are no squatters’ rights on an airplane.
FWIW, every time I see someone with their dirty shoes on the walls (phrases like “disrespectful, entitled, disgusting pig” come to mind) I am reminded just how uncivilized people behave on airplanes. I wonder how many people sit at home in a chair with their shoes on and their feet planted against the wall. No respect for people around them and no consideration for other people’s property.
if the passenger really really want the Empty Exit Row Seat, he/she would pay up, wouldn’t they?
what’s the problem?
Volaris allows customers to upgrade to the exit row seats while in flight. The crew just pulls out the credit card terminal and you can pay for the upgrade on the spot. One time I saw a big guy try to grab a premium seat for himself but the flight attendant told him to pay up or go back to his original seat. The fact that he did that annoyed me because he was trying to take something that he didn’t pay for.
The people who try to do this are the same ones who scrolled past the $20 more fare to buy they ticket they did- while lamenting that “tHe GoVErNmENt sHouLd MaKe tHe AiRLiNes mAkE biGGer SeATs”
Nothing wrong with voting with your wallet. The market speaks loud and clear when you see so many of those coach-plus seats unsold but the someone with pewter quartz peasant medallion status in a minimum kneeroom middle seat is holding out hope for an upgrade. I got no problem with all that. It’s just funny to see the indignity when someone gets denied a self-upgrade, when they could have just paid $20 more for that seat.
It does seem like an easy fix to charge on the spot for an upgrade. You can already buy food and drink with a credit card after the door closes.
Kinda surprised we’ve yet to the the (incorrect) argument: “it cost the airline nothing once the doors close.”
The unhappy princess in the rust Lululemon joggers and OnCloud sneakers is Zako Ryan, a comedian who regularly performs in Chicago. Website is zakoryan dot com. Hilarious reading on that website, wherein she declares herself to be a rising national star and comedic virtuoso.
that would be a move to a higher (main cabin extra) class seat, no you are not allowed to upgrade yourself. quit being so entitled! just because you paid the lowest fare you can find, doesn’t mean you own the plane.
That’s only an ‘issue’ when the plane isn’t full. However, in most cases, there’s simply no open seats. In those cases, you’re more likely to see Standby, or even ‘Basic’ Economy (unassigned seat), getting ‘cleared’ to DL’s Comfort+, UA’s Economy Plus, or AA’s Main Cabin Extra–it’s kinda ironic, isn’t it?
The guy with his feet on the bulkhead is sitting in seat 1B in first class. You can tell by the seat and the lack of a third pouch where the safety card would be for the middle seat. Not sure why that passenger would post it.
The passengers know its more for an upgrade. The gate agents announce it and so do the flight attendants. Basic economy is what you pay for and thats what you get. Passengers try to get away with. It and not fair other people who pay for extra leg room and the dummies try and get it fir free.
hmmmmm it’s sad to read that so many of those commenting have acguiesed to the fact that you must pay to have a seat…..hmmmmmm that is what the “fare” should include
@FlyerEsq. — Counselor, you are partially-correct: That’s First Class, not an Exit Row.
However, whether that uncouth fellow with the feet up is in ‘1B’ or ‘1C’ is open for discussion–Yes, this is nitpicking, aviation-geek-edition. True, on some of AA’s Boeing 737s, the first row of First, 2-2 seat configuration, is indeed A&B (aisle) D&F. But, on most of AA’s Airbus aircraft and some 737s, first row of First, 2-2, is A&C (aisle) D&F. So, it depends.
His photo is grainy, and nothing specific identifies it, except maybe the shape of the window (which is more square, suggesting it’s a 737, not an Airbus). So, yes, it could be 1B, but it also could be 1C. Hmm. What a mystery! What a needless distraction! Yippie!
@Mark Gilio — No one is debating whether you get “a” seat–the question is “which particular” seat, and is that seat better or worse, subjectively or objectively, and does it cost more or less, which is all up for debate, and apparently, some seats come at a premium, even within the same class of service. If they’re all the same to you, then please take the last row, middle, no recline, next to the lav.
The airlines can do what they want. This is a capitalist country. The douchebag who puts his feet up the wall in retaliation doesn’t deserve a better seat. Everyone needs to be civil when flying. Everyone knew when they bought their seats exactly where it’s located. You should never expect to be upgraded or be allowed to move. Ever. Obviously the king of bulkhead thought otherwise.I hope his legs buckled when he finally stood up. People are so rude and entitled.
Unless this person was an elite they would not get that seat free so no they should not have been allowed to take it for free. Of course the FA would probably not know that passenger’s status, beyond EXP and CK. Those levels are visible to the FAs.
My understanding is that exit rows need to have qualified passengers in them and from time to time you will hear the GA offering them for free if they need to be filled. Presumably as long as one passenger is in the row that’s satisfactory.
My opinion is that this did not even take place,because he is sitting in first class in the bulkhead seat,he just wants attention,and unfortunately this article his giving it to him
This shouldn’t be about money, it’s a safety issue. Someone needs to be assigned to that exit door in the event of an emergency. No exit row should go empty. You need someone that has been briefed, willing and able to assist in the event of an evacuation. This should become a FAA CFR FAR.
Whatever happened to just being nice, and kind to one another?
This whole american “F#&k you, I got mine.” attitude is destroying this country, well that and trumps “winning.”
The only thing sitting in an empty seat hurts, is some wealthy persons sense of entitlement. How can we know he’s better than everyone else if they allow any riff raff just to sit in that seat?
It’s not just in air travel either,
I just watched a Walmart employee destroy thousands of dollars worth of food, food that was still petfectly good to eat, instead of giving it to people that actually really need it, or to a food bank.
I’m starting to hope that asteroid that was in the news a few weeks ago actually hits.
Give the next apex species a try, humanity has failed.
If airlines can take your money for a check-in while giving away free check ins at the gate, then they can give away free seats.
Stop defending greed. Y’all are literally the reason airlines have taken advantage of consumers post 9/11.
My wife and I buy the main cabin extra space seats for every flight. We pay extra to sit there. I’d be pissed if someone else got to sit next to me who didn’t have to pay extra. Last time flying AA there were open seats across the isle and the FA stopped someone from moving who did not pay extra. She did let me move across though. Sit in the section you pay for.
I know a lot of your readers will not agree with me but I think American or any other airline that charges a fee for a better seat or offers these seats as an upgrade for their elite frequent fliers has every right to deny the seat to someone who is trying to get this seat for free. In the event of an emergency, the flight attendants will assign able bodied individuals to these seats. That’s common sense. Let’s remember, accidents in aviation are still extremely rare events. People trying to stir the pot need to remember this.
If you walk into a 7-11 and want a bottle of water, you don’t just take it from the cooler and walk out. You gotta pay for it. If you were having a medical emergency or needed to take a pill, the clerk would offer water. This is a rare event, but it can happen. If and when it does, then common sense kicks in. Someone will help you. No different with the exit seats. Flight attendants will manage IF needed. If we are in danger, you’ll have people lined up volunteering to get out as quickly as possible.
With that said, if the customer had their feelings hurt because the flight attendant called them out on their shenanigans, they should spend time thinking more about seat selection when booking their next flight. Lesson learned.
I have flown American over 7,000,000 miles in my life.
Since Dec, 2024, I ha had 5 Prblems passing thru CLT to get to RDU.mostly Delays, one over 6 hrs. AA always stepped up to Ease the Pain. Until this past Tuesday. I was coming home thru Clt on a 1st Class Ticket. I arrive early into TPA, – CLT., called AA to see if I could catch an earlier Flt home, was Told Yes. PAID AN Up charge to move…to this earlier Flt. Which would get me Home 2 Hours early. BUT. When I arrived at CLT,ran to my next Gate, showed My Ticket, to board. GATE Agent said I was Not On this Earlier Flt to RDU. I produced and Gave him My Receipt, Clearly Showing the Change. He refused to let me board, and sent me to a Suoervisor who said Again, You are nit on this Flt. I Showed her the Receipt for the Change, and as I did, Saw My 1st Class Seats had been assigned to some else for an Upgrade. I pointed that out to the Agent. She did not care. Then I noticed the stand by list fill out. I asked if She would get me Any seat. She said….the Flt is now Dold Out. She refused to allow to get on the Flt, in the Seat I Paid fore. I walked from A8 – B8, my next, original Flt. I found a Supervisor there, showed here my receipt,who told Me “In the Computer System it Clearly Showed I was in 1C, on that previous Flt.. she noted these disturbing facts. I wrote Aa, all about the above and for the 1st time in my life asked for a Refund for the Whole Fiasco. They denied and Gave me a $100.00 Credit tiward another Flt. AMERICA IS SINKING…..I am Very Nice about this type of Stuff. The Agent in CLT had a Very Bad,SAD Attitude. I think, since the Seat I Paid for had been Upgraded to someone else and that person’s Prior Seat was given to a Standby. It was Easier to deny me ,because I was kind and Polite about than have to go tell Bith of those Seated people they had to move. American is Loosing Customers….very Sad.
Not news , comedian promotion , bs story
Is he the same jerk with his feet on the bulkhead? This is old news , so he should have known. When I pay for a premium seat, I dont appreciate a freeloader squeezing in next to men after takeoff
Self-upgrading definitely used to be allowed. Not usually, but often the attendants would invite people up to empty FC seats.
Setting aside the feet on the wall (drives me crazy) if he wanted to go from a first class seat to an exit row he should have been allowed to do so. It’s at the minimum a 1:1 switch. It’s not like he was shoved into 29B. The aisle bulk head seats IME are the worst in the domestic first class cabin but I’d still take 1E or 1D over an exit row seat.
Flight attendant on a power trip here.
I’m a retired Delta Flight Attendant. We allowed people yo move into the exit row after door closed but not more into Delta Confort . My crews were always laid back and were more Tham happy to accommodate passengers
The blog author, the guy with his nasty shoes on the bulkhead, and the person who wanted something for free, are all entitled d-bags that need a reality check.
If you want to sit in the exit row, pay to sit in the exit row. If self-upgrades were allowed, nobody would buy them & count on the self-upgrade option.
My first thought when I read the article and confirmed while reading comments is CONSISTENCY. If the policies, safety (w/b, exit row pre-screened, etc.) as well as maintaining a professional and organized flight so the Flight Attendants can efficiently serve all the passengers… are not being enforced. This creates confusion, thus can easily lead to anger and outbursts. The example I noted immediately was, what if 5 passengers wanted that seat. Per policy no one would be favored. I side with the Airlines, but policies are there for a reason. Not to be picked and chosen when wanted.
My 2¢s
God I hate your articles….
You have never been legally allowed to move after the door closes, despite what anyone says. Weight and balance is calculated for everyone being in their assigned seats. This analogy is no different than not allowing someone to sit in an open business seat that they DIDN’T PAY FOR.
If you want an upgrade or a better seat.. pay for it!
Don’t just expect to be allowed to move, because the better seat is empty!
That wouldn’t be fair to passengers like me, that we in advance pay extra for first class seats or even for the better seats towards the front of the cabin.
Those people can take their entitlement elsewhere…
I agree with the attendant and American Airlines. They should pay for.the.privelege.
if the seat is empty in the exit row, how is it fair for one.person to decide who gets it for free ?
I’m sure many more people in the cabin would like it.also.
Seeing this no-class, self entitled, woke prick with fuzzy pants putting his feet up on the bulkhead makes me believe the day has come that people like this should be beaten bloody with a bat by other passengers and then banned from flying on any airline for life… I COULDN’T TAKE AN EMPTY SEAT I DIDN’T PAY FOR…WAHHHHHH!!!!!
That’s a ridiculous rule.
Although people’s giant egos will fight over them, once the plane is in the air, everybody should just be cool about this kind of thing.
Pay up or scram
People who pay for the extra room in the exit rows, do so for the comfort and extra space. If anyone could just move into the exit row it would not be right for the paying passenger! There are reasons for this rule and it also saves the flight attendants from arguments about who should sit in the seats. Common sense if you understand how passengers are sometimes, it eliminates the drama and frustration . just sayin!
Next time I book a hotel I want a free upgrade to the presidential suite for free if it’s empty. Not one but difference
“Kinda surprised we’ve yet to the the (incorrect) argument: “it cost the airline nothing once the doors close.”
Explain how there is a cost to the airline if someone changes seats “once the doors close”.
If passengers didn’t like their seat selection they should have flown SWA. Plenty of opportunities to change seats on Dallas to Oakland “see an airport and land” fligh t (DAL-MAF-ELP-PHX-LAX- OAK) . . . but no more. Passengers wanted assigned seats, supposedly.
@John Smith – you wrote,
“God I hate your articles….
You have never been legally allowed to move after the door closes, despite what anyone says. ”
I literally posted internal American Airlines guidance which used to allow passengers to move sets after doors-close.
Airlines are going to be hit hard this year and since they have no loyalty or concern for their ticket holders they have no loyalty to fall back on. They definitely need to be regulated in regard to what they can sell so they can’t keep slicing bits off one price and selling it separately.
Simple, if you want a seat that is considered an upgrade pay for it. Stop acting like a child as if the airline is not losing something. Its their plane, their policy and their decision! I was a General Manager for an airline and this became the most entitled act of all.
If the flight attendant allows you to move no problem if they say no than its no.
” No is a complete sentence that requires no further explanation “. Don’t assume they will say yes, because when they don’t you get mad….Just be mad then.
Late stage American capitalism at work. The only thing that matters is the quarterly profit statement. Not customer loyalty, not good will, not long term revenue. Today’s companies can’t see past the ends of their noses.
Guy sounds like a white dude for cumala.