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 United passenger was shocked to learn that nobody would be permitted to spread out into wide open seats on a recent flight … unless they had their “payment method handy.”
@united insisting people either pay for upgrades or stay packed in like sardines on flights with plenty of open seats is poor customer service. pic.twitter.com/MoRW9PD5US
— Ben Houg (@benhoug) November 25, 2024
They made an announcement saying “if you wanted to move seats, have your payment method handy.”
— Ben Houg (@benhoug) November 25, 2024
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.
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. 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 pay for economy plus. I am also a fat person so I buy two seats even though we pay for my boyfriend to be in the seat next to me. I do it just incase the airline has to move one of us in not inconveniencing another passenger with my size. That being said on multiple occasions I have been downgraded due to the flight being oversold and no refund. I have not had access to the third seat we pay for with no refund. This should go both ways. I could care less if someone who didn’t pay for economy plus gets to sit in an unsold seat. It doesn’t hurt me and I’d rather people be comfortable. Airlines need to stop making these seats smaller and smaller to pack us all in like sardines anyway. It’s ridiculous. This whole thing is silly.
If I pay for a larger soda or fries at a fast food restaurant, I made that choice to pay more for more.
If I saw that the person behind me paid less for a meal that was still given the sizes that I paid for – I’d be pissed.
The soda and fries for all of us were there when we both made our options. But we made different choices. And now we get to live with them.
You dont just get something you didn’t pay for because there’s plenty of it. If so, tell me where bc I’d love an empty VIP box when I’m crowded on the floor.
A more apt analogy would be, ” If you *rented* a Toyota, you wouldn’t expect to drive off in a Lexus.”
You’re right, I don’t expect it it but I am pleasantly surprised when car rental upgrades me for free.
Out of curiosity I put “has anyone ever been arrested for sitting in the wrong seat on an airplane” in Google to see if anyone had been arrested for stealing another seat in an airplane. Google AI could not find an example. If the flight attendant doesn’t want you in a specific seat they can ask you to move and they can ask you to return to the seat on your ticket. Without an infraction, a misdemeanor or a felony for changing seats without specific permission, I doubt any stealing is going on. At least not in the criminal sense. Maybe in the vernacular sense like stealing a base in baseball or stealing a glance at someone who is attractive. Failure to follow the request of a flight attendant is different and could lead to an arrest but even that is fairly rare. Some airlines seem to be monetizing any changing of seats while in the air. Where the money is going? Follow the money. Maybe some of that money is left to employees like for the fake oversized baggage charges that sometimes are levied at ULCC gates.
United is particularly strict with its economy plus seating. Delta will let you upgrade to economy plus at a discount during check-in, if it’s not sold out, which is usually a good value. They also offer more perks included with it, like priority boarding. United does not. The price for economy plus remains the same and can be higher than the base economy fare. On my last flight, they let everyone in Economy Plus spread out so that all middle seats were empty. Regular economy passengers who attempted to switch were sent back to their seats. You wouldn’t expect to be able to take an empty seat in First Class, and economy plus is a different class of service as well.
Airline companies simply are greedy effen pigs. But cannot blame the for maximizing profits as good old capitalism with thte FAA as their enabler.
I say it is stealing. It’s theft of services, not theft of property. On one level of service, the airline transports you to your destination. On a higher level of service, they transport you to your destination in comfort.
You’re stealing the differential.
Just bc the flight is in the air, doesn’t mean the seat can’t be sold. Passengers on purpose will not buy a premium seat hoping to get it for free and that’s wrong. It’s called stealing and it’s not fair for the passengers who did pay. That’s my 2 cents and I fly for United. Period.
Sit in the seat you paid for you scammy dead beats.
We got seated on the back row on United recently. The airline should charge much less for those seats is they charge now for legroom. Between the shell of the bathroom and they people on front of us reclining their seats it was worse than Greyhound.
Gary, do you ever have the urge to just shut up and stop stirring the pot? Just curious. If people want better seats, they can pay for them. It is unfair to the people who paid when others try to sneak in for free. Just stop with your BS posts. There are WAY more important subjects to write about.
Gary, a more reasonable reason is safety. If people on the plane knew that they could move at will to a better open seat, there would be fights between passengers trying to get into the seats. (Imagine Musical Chairs when we were kids.) Another option would be to auction/raffle the seats once the plane doors were closed.
Thank you Kevin for speaking common sense. I was thinking the same as I read thru the article. Gary, with your history in travel it’s clear that you’re trying to incite a reaction. Try moving into an empty box seat at a stadium when you paid for bleachers. EVERYONE knows this and only the self entitled or a thief expects a free perk!
lol. I haven’t been on a plane with empty seats I over 20 years.
These comparisons are insane. This isn’t demanding to move from the stalls to the box, this is sitting crammed together in the stalls and spreading out across the empty row.
And if you can only enjoy your flight I’d someone else is not enjoying yours, you are the problem!
What a pity that we have become so petty as a society.
Funny, I’ve been on 2 United flights in the last couple of weeks where passengers in economy were given free reign to move seats once boarding was complete, including to the economy seats with extra legroom
People have turned into such selfish, rotten pigs. Another person moving to an empty seat does not harm you. If it makes you happier that someone is uncomfortable because they didn’t pay as much as you, you are a selfish person. Companies get away with treating people like dirt because Americans love treating people like dirt. It makes them feel superior.
How about paying for the window seat, only to have a 400 pound guy get the middle seat for no extra fee, and literally take a full third of my seat space, even with the armrest down. I was smashed against the wall for five hours. The desk attendant failed to mention that we were going to wait nearly an hour for 9 passengers on a delayed flight, or I would’ve waited in the terminal and cut my suffering by a full hour. I suspect the obese passenger always takes advantage of the cheaper middle seat, only to “steal ” a third of both neighboring seats. Should the ticket price be tied to weight, price per pound. Since that is what the airline is hauling .
Do you ever sneak into a luxury hotel suite when you booked the cheapest room when the luxury suite is not booked? Do you jump into a Escalade when you booked a Toyota Yaris because the Escalade is not booked? Do you sit at the VIP section of the club with bottle service when you are just broke and barely can afford the cover charge? If your rule applies, then there will be no difference in services because very few would ever pay for them, and only the remaining few paying customers does not allow the economics to work out. You need to stop with this socialist BS.
Airlines are not charities . Stay in your lane. These planes cost many millions and overhead is tremendous.
United is a scum of airline industry in America. Why it’s always united when there is a controversy over any related issues about air travel. Greedy, most hated airline in the USA.
United is a scum of airline industry in America. Why it’s always united when there is a controversy over any related issues about air travel. Greedy, most hated airline in the USA.
To keep it simple, I pay for a seat and expect to sit in the seat I payed for. At 6’5″ I know better than to take whatever is available so depending on how far I go will dictate how much more I’m willing to pay. Once on the aircraft, if flight personnel decide to let people switch, that’s their prerogative, therefore not my problem nor an issue for me to worry over. I really have better things to think about or to do and not really concerned how flight manages it’s aircraft.
Admittedly, I rarely fly full flights by choice, but will be happy to take an upgrade, paid or comped when full flights increases the chances of uncomfortable or undesirable elements, like obnoxious folks of whichever gender or age, or ill-mannered children with ineffective parents.
Needless to say smaller aircraft require a different approach compared to wide body.
Apart from the fact that a half empty plane where all passengers rush to sit at the front creates a dangerous shift of the centre of gravity of the plane forward, potentially affecting the aircraft’s stability, it is clearly a case of obtaining a service that you did not pay for, hence stealing. If the airline allows it, so be it, and we know it is those who are over assertive enough to ‘push’ others out of the way to grab that desired seat who will win the seat of their choice, a kind of law of the jungle (think low cost carriers). The unbundling of airline ticket privileges has created a situation where we are all very aware of what seat privileges cost, so to take what you haven’t paid for is not only unethical, but can create friction in an enclosed space where there is no escape. We know airlines have had years of struggle and are now ‘making hay’ while the appetite for travel is high but if airlines are to protect their unbundled ticket revenue streams, there need to be some restrictions in place or their unbundled services become worthless.
I couldn’t care less about trying to steal a seat. I do care when I paid for seat and can’t put my bagin the overhead because it is full from people several rows up stealing overhead space. It’s messed up that Attendants allow that and don’t think of stealing but heaven forbid if rows are empty…….
I bought 2 Indie tickets for $600 each. The race lasted all weekend – 3 days. On the first 2 days, anyone was allowed into this premium area that I saved up for. I didn’t think this was fair. If people wanted to sit in this area, they could have spent the same amount but they were cheap and decided to sneak their way in. I was very disappointed. I never bought such expensive seats again. What is the point when cheap, entitled people push themselves forward to get for free what I paid for?
I think anyone who is complaining that moving to a better seat in the SAME class, is stealing, is just jealous that they didn’t think of it, or didn’t have the cojones to do it themselves.
Moving seats isn’t stealing. That’s just nonsense. Those who think so are the good little stooges that airlines count on to accept their arbitrary rules, and their continuing decline in passenger space, comfort, and dignity.
EVERY seat in main cabin should have more legroom. It’s criminal how they pack you in. EVERY seat should be wider. It’s sad we accept this from them.
II think airlines like United used to be good but not providing a meal, when they were convenient, since you did not have to pay for overpriced food in the terminal restaurants. The paying extra for seating is not fair when there are empty seats. I would not take a first class seat but I would take a window seat. Airlunes should treat customers better.
It’s amusing to me the issues people who fly cattle economy and “premium” economy (lol) get riled up over.
I read this with humor flying is not the way it was years ago and people are worse than they’ve ever been and as rude as they can be, they really don’t care that there’s 200 people on that plane and they can do whatever they want. talk as loud as they want. Turn the music up as loud as they want so I quit flying. I’m done with it. And I agree United Airlines sucks and I’ll tell you something else. Southwest allows passengers to save seats. They were told by corporate not to say anything. God forbid they might lose a dollar.
I just here a lot of entitlement. You buy a seat, sit in your seat, that simple.
This blog has just devolved into a complaint about how you can’t have things for free. Please grow up.
Australian here. Flights we make to Europe or the US are a MINIMUM of 21 hours of flight time along with stops in the Middle East for Europe. These total flights usually are about at minimum 24 and often 30 hours. This always involves a complete diurnal cycle disruption because there is always an overnight involved. So I’m little amused when complaints arise about short 8 or 10 hour flights with no diurnal component lol. However, the airlines, if they cared for customers, would completely change their long-hauls so that the hapless passenger doesn’t have to sit upright for 24 hours. It can be done.
Best to use upgrading seating with the airlines marketing to reward more frequent fliers to rewards. Then, there is a benefit to all. It should be up to the staff on who to move up. If an upgrade is important to you, buy it in advance. I am two big to fit in a single seat with armrests down. I always buy an extra seat if that’s all that’s available (SW let’s me buy two seats in advance and refunds me for the extra seat which is a great program as I won’t be uncomfortable or make anyone else uncomfortable.) If SW offered a larger seat business or first class that was less than 10x the coach cost, I’d buy it. BTW, I’ve been on plenty of SW flights half empty and staff encouraged people to spread out. Only rule is if you can’t help people or yourself out the emergency exit, you can’t sit there.
I pay for an economy plus membership so I’m able to upgrade after buying a regular seat. If the middle seat next to me is open, I get to be more comfortable because I have big shoulders. Normally, I’m leaning into the aisle so I’m not smothering the person next to me.
It’s more likely that there will be an economy plus middle seat open since they cost more, which is part of the reason I pay for it. Why should I have to lean in the aisle to accommodate a person that didn’t pay what I did to sit in that row? I paid extra for that extra leg room and chance for more shoulder room. Why is it fair for that benefit to be taken from me because someone else that paid less wants to be more comfortable?
For Taylor comment: Driving a Toyota and a Lexus is the same thing. No difference.
I was part of the airline world for twenty-one years. The airlines and general flying public are as far apart as east is from west. What is the big deal once the door closes to move to an open seat with a bit more advantage? It’s no skin off the wings! An open seat is fair game. The only problem would be if you crashed to determine where you were booked to sit.
What the airlines do is squeeze us on like farm animals. There is little dignity left to the whole experience which pretty much ended with 911. Now when we’re talking grabbing a free seat being unethical please charge twice for a double wide human!
Pay for the seat you want to sit in. If FAs decide to let people move, fabulous, but it should never be expected, especially into any seat that is at an additional cost. The sense of entitlement is what’s insane.
Not only Avoidable, but easy to remedy! EVERY Long Flight I take, (from the advice from a Seasoned Traveler years ago) All the Flight attendants get a $15.00/$20.00 Starbucks card!! Automatically, You’de be surprised the Favors/Upgrades you get!!
You sit in the seat class you paid for. I’ve been a frequent flyer for 20 years. Why should I pay a premium only to see someone else get it for free?
it’s the airlines’ decision on what to do with empty seats. A lot of commenters here display an entitlement to the upgrade or better empty seats free of charge. If you don’t like the airline’s strict approach, then you can exercise your vote by flying with someone else. That is your power as a consumer. If you choose to remain that airline’s customer despite their strict policies, then you’ve denied your right to take our business elsewhere.
To be honest and fair. If I paid for business class or economy plus seat. It’s because I chose to pay the extra to feel more comfortable. I don’t think I find it fair if anyone sits next to me or a better or more comfortable seat is open and you just wanna seat there because it’s open without paying for it cause is more comfortable. I don’t find it fair!!! Nothing in life it’s free. You want to feel more comfortable then just pay the extra and stop the whining or complaining. Sorry but just been Honest!!!
This article is ridiculous. You didn’t pay for the extra legroom so you don’t get it. I recently was in extra legroom and some guy 6 rows back asked the flight attendant to move into the empty seat next to me. Keep in mind I bought the extra legroom seat partially BECAUSE the pricey middle seats are often empty. So is it fair to me to let some deadbeat crowd me out in the row I paid almost as much as the airfare, then his wife gets an empty seat back in the row he vacated??? YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
Another example of why people (Americans at least) feel entitled to everything. If you want it you pay for it. Simple. At a concert or ball game you may get away with it but you certainly arent ‘owed it’ just because the seat is empty
Nothing is more theft of services than wheelchair passengers who get to board first have first Crack at overhead bins and usually get aisle seat then when plane lands these same wheelchair passengers have a miracle recovery and sprint out of the terminal
100% agree… If I pay for an extra legroom seat then anybody else who wants extra legroom can do the same!!!!
Actually. as a Star Alliance frequent flyer, I’ve never had any issues with changing to more comfortable seats after the aircraft takes off as long as it’s within the same class. Like Economy to Economy or Economy Plus to Economy Plus. Let’s say your assigned seat has an issue, the cabin crew should allow re-seating within the class if available. However, on a fully booked flight, chances of getting another seat is low. Depending on the issue, cabin crew can do ‘free’ upgrades on a case-by-case basis while on-board but that requires you to be diplomatic, not demanding and condensending. As far as United goes, if they are able to reseat you, you don’t get to claim for being inconvenienced of flying with a sub-standard seat. If it’s just for convenience, the chances is very low.
I agree with Gary. If the seat is empty, it didn’t sell. It’s no one’s seat at that point. You want to go lie down, go ahead. I’m with you. Did same thing at a US men’s national soccer game a couple weeks ago- it rained, and lots of people left, so we moved down into those better seats.
I have only one complaint regarding airlines, well one that would be easy to fix. Handicapped and family pre boarding. I am handicapped, I need assistance. I appreciate loading first as it reduces the likelihood of me getting bumped into and knocked down. What I don’t understand is why the airlines allow the early boarders to sit up front. I think having all early boarders sit in the rear of the plane will eliminate the countless handicapped people who aren’t handicapped and are simply abusing the current system.