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!
On a recent American Airlines flight a flight attendant “tore the cushions off” empty extra legroom Main Cabin Extra seats so that passengers couldn’t sit there.
A passenger went to sit in these empty seats. No one was using the six empty seats. The flight attendant said he needed to move because they were $150. Someone else went to sit there and told the same thing. An announcement was made not to sit in the seats. Two more times ppl went to sit there because it was six seats open, and he literally tore the cushions off.
Post by @summerzcrystalView on Threads
The flight attendant said these are $150 seats, but didn’t offer to sell them. Crewmembers at American don’t have the ability to upsell these, like they do at some other airlines, which is a lost revenue opportunity but the airline is very careful about making IT investments.
Years ago open seats were pretty much fair game. Now different airlines take different approaches. Southwest still has open seating! 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.
Delta calls their extra legroom seats at the front of the plane “Comfort+” and it’s a different fare type. Effectively, it’s a different cabin just like coach is different than business class (yet doesn’t pay the higher tax for this demanded by the U.K.).
When American Airlines introduced free drinks to Main Cabin Extra extra legroom seats they allowed passengers to move into these seats if empty.
Then they made it officially against the rules but left it up to flight attendants whether or not to stop passengers from moving into those seats. However, two years ago began asking flight attendants to crack down on passengers moving to get extra space for free.
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.
In the past, United has argued that passengers moving up to open seats with extra legroom is immoral; that it’s unfair to other passengers and it’s stealing from the airline.
The customers who choose to pay for Economy Plus are then afforded that extra space. If you were to purchase a Toyota, you would not be able to drive off with a Lexus, because it was empty. ^BA
— United Airlines (@united) September 7, 2019
But according to this logic United shouldn’t be able to sell cheap fares or offer MileagePlus awards because it is unfair to people that pay full fare? Of course passengers who buy Economy Plus get Economy Plus and are in no way harmed when other passengers get it free – via elite status, via luck of the draw or otherwise.
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 a physical car off of a lot where it is waiting to be sold. In the former case United loses nothing, in the latter case the loss is real.
It seems strange to compare United slimline economy seats to a Lexus, although I once had a flight attendant compare Economy Plus to a Mercedes.
The better argument 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 rather than paying on future trips. The actual reason: It’s not allowed because we don’t allow it, not because of some broader moral imperative.
Comparing 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.
(HT: Johnny Jet)
This is a problem of the industry’s own making. Creating a sub-category of economy with minimally better legroom and then charging an outrageous amount to upgrade to those seats if you don’t have status, has created all manner of ill-will and frequent misunderstandings by infrequent flyers. I have no sympathy for either those who think they’re entitled to upgrade themselves for free, nor any sympathy for the airlines who created this situation in the first place.
Just buy your ticket. Sit where you booked, and STFU. It’s a seat you’re renting for a few hours. You’re not taking it home with you.
If a passenger asks me if they can move into an empty exit row seat, I usually allow them. It doesn’t hurt me at all. Nothing wrong with making someone’s day.
The overwhelming majority of “premium” seats on our flights are sold so this isn’t something that routinely happens. Besides… According to AA, a window or aisle seat is also a “premium” seat that they also sell for more.
If you paid for an exit row seat… Your seat there is confirmed whereas when I upgrade someone… It’s obviously not guaranteed if it’s sold.
That’s the way I see this issue and I will continue to allow people to sit there if they’re lucky enough to ask me.
I typically disagree with most of the commentary on this blog which is why I try to avoid it. It seems to be popular with Karens who complain that nobody’s service standards can ever possibly meet their needs [fcuk off], but the author makes an excellent point with the line “But according to this logic United shouldn’t be able to sell cheap fares or offer MileagePlus awards because it is unfair to people that pay full fare?”
It is not that serious. Once the door closes, I am in control and I will continue to allow people to sit there… particularly if they’re polite.
Yes .. I used to be a flight attendant. We are harmed by the devaluing our product . How can the airline offer raises and health care without making money ? If I walk out into a department store and take a sweater that no one is wearing ? Just because no one is wearing it ?The airline sells space and service. If you are sitting in front do you not get more space and more options on food? If I am sitting next to you why do you get to sit next to me and take up the middle seat that was empty ? I paid more for the privilege of possibly having an open middle seat . You are only thinking of yourself. You are a their . This is a capitalist society.. If you were paying more would you expect a better experience? Wake up . I now can afford to pay for a more expensive experience. I earned it . I did it I earned it everyone else can too. don’t want anyone to be discriminated against however I want what I paid for .. and I expect the airline to in force their policy..I do not want to sit next to someone that is stealing! Yes they are stealing. It is not a harmless offense. It is theft :..theft of service. The employer has to pay the employees. Where do they get the money ? By selling the travel experience. If you think this is harmless I suggest you go to your employer and ask that he / she gives your livelihood away to someone that that wants an interest free loan or a free hotel or free anything. If you are in finance then give me your guidance for free because what’s the harm? Doctor please give me free advice because why not ? You have the knowledge. Just give it to me .. this is not how it is .. you get what you pay for .. nicer cars.. nicer clothes.. better advice .. better travel experience.. ugh!
@James N “While the debate over whether someone should be able to ‘self-upgrade’ will continue ad nauseam; the fact remains that those who purchased the same seats before the flight, lose nothing if an unoccupied seat is taken.” I never get this argument. If I’m in 8C and “Ted” self-upgrades to 8B (or “Ted” and “Pat” take 8A&B), I have lost something. How can you argue otherwise as I lose the extra armrest and have to let them out to use the lav?
I respectfully disagree with the concept of complimentary self-upgrades on flights. It seems inequitable that some passengers may receive a significant enhancement without any additional cost, while others must pay a premium for the same privilege. This practice could be perceived as unfair and may undermine the sense of equality among passengers. While I understand the allure of potential upgrades, I believe it is essential to maintain a consistent and transparent pricing structure to ensure fairness and customer satisfaction.
If the airlines pushed passengers forward like Delta does, there.wouldnt be any empty good seats and they’d be creating goodwill when people got decent upgrades.
Alternatively, add it to the fine print. “On flights, with open seats, if you move to an upgraded seat, you agree to pay the difference. Where possible, this will happen automatically to the same credit card the original ticket was purchased with.”