Success asking a passenger to change seats?

[Denise L]

I just checked our November UA flights online, and noticed that there have been equipment changes on both flights. On the return, four of us are now sitting in row 22: aisle, stranger, middle, middle, middle, stranger. What are the odds that a stranger on either aisle will switch with me?

The other options I have are to switch us to row 48 right now, or to wait until UA makes yet another change prior to November.

They also switched our seats on the outbound, but we are still together.

[Fern Modena]

I'd say your odds are about none and next to. If *I* had an aisle seat, I sure wouldn't want to trade. But I don't understand your configuration. I only see three of you, unless one of you is on that first aisle. If that is so, then perhaps the first stranger would trade if that would put THEM on the aisle.

Fern

[Denise L]

Sorry, I should have made it more clear.

We are in 22B (aisle), DEF (middles). 22C and 22G are both aisle seats assigned to others. Wondering if 22C or 22G would switch for 22B, also an aisle.

[Fern Modena]

AH, now I see. They may have hoped for an empty next to them, and that is why they booked a center aisle. But since it ain't gonna happen, I think they might well agree to switch aisle for aisle. I'd do this...

Fern

[charford]

I would say the odds are very good that the person in the center aisle seat will change with the other aisle seat. However, it depends on the passenger in the window seat not being unappealing (eg mom with lap baby, or very overweight passenger).

I usually have good success in getting other passengers to change like for like, but not always. A few months ago, my 8 y.o. dd didn't like the aisle seat that I'd booked for her. She was seated next to strangers and it was freaking her out. I had the aisle seat across the way. Even though I asked the gentleman in the middle seat next to me to change, he wouldn't.

When my children were much younger, I could always get changes to happen simply by placing the 3 or 4 year old in the seat that was several rows away.

[debraxh]

Chances are good (if that person isn't with someone else) that they will swap their aisle seat for another on the aisle. You can also try to change your seats when checking in.

If it is imperative for you to all sit together I would go ahead and switch now to the seats further back. If it's not that important, wait and see what happens.

[pjrose]

When we ask people if they'd mind changing seats so we can sit together, they always have, and it's happened quite a bit.

[PStreet1]

We must just be unlucky. When we've asked (even offering an aisle seat in exchange for a window or middle) we've been turned down. You just never know about people. I wouldn't count on it; I'd hope for it.

[camachinist]

Good rule of thumb is to always offer a "better" seat than you wish to receive. I can't speak to other airlines pax, but, on UA, most FF'ers look dimly upon seat poachers and seat negotiators.

In this instance, I would opine the OP, on 772 metal in E+, would be offering a marginally "better" seat, absent extenuating circumstance, due to fewer people climbing over one to get to the loo/whatever. The fact that the E+ center middles are occupied this early tells me the flight must be pretty full. One thing to watch for, if the OP's companions don't otherwise have E+ access on their own (as an elite, EPA or singular companion of elite) is that they might get swept out of E+ by UA's computers.

When my wife and I fly 772's, especially the XP/XC/XI variants, in the center, we usually book C/G. Never know who got upgraded and left their companion back in E+. Aisle seats are great negotiating tools

Enjoy the flight!

Pat

[bruwery]

Prior to asking for a switch, the person in 22A could engage in a lengthy, loud, and tiresome conversation with the person in 22C. You know the "he said, she said" kind of gossip. Throw in an annoying question or two such as "Does this look like a wart on my nose..."

The stranger in 22B will be begging you for a switch...

[azsunluvr]

I'd change aisle for aisle, as long as I hadn't booked seats so that my companion was sitting across the aisle from me. I book window seats for each family member if we're taking a red-eye a long way so we can sleep against the window. I had a teen girl ask me to trade my window seat for a center one next to my husband one row behind so she could sit next to her boyfriend in my row. No way. I'd booked window seats long ago so we could sleep.

[Pat H]

Why don't you just call UA and tell them that you had seats together and are now separated? See what they will do for you. Just because the seats show unavailable doesn't mean that they are. Do you or your hubby have status on UA or Star Alliance?

[Denise L]

Originally Posted by Pat H

Why don't you just call UA and tell them that you had seats together and are now separated? See what they will do for you. Just because the seats show unavailable doesn't mean that they are. Do you or your hubby have status on UA or Star Alliance?

I did call UA when I first noticed the changes yesterday (a schedule change as well as equipment). As usual, the agent could do nothing & could barely understand my simple request. I called twice and spoke to two separate agents with heavy accents. I can change our seats online to row 48, but I don't know if I really want to do that. UA may change equipment again before November and revert back to the smaller aircraft. Then we may lose our seats altogether.

I would guess that C would change with me in B, it's aisle for aisle, 2 feet apart, same row. Otherwise, the kids will be talking around them to me.

[Denise L]

Originally Posted by camachinist

The fact that the E+ center middles are occupied this early tells me the flight must be pretty full. One thing to watch for, if the OP's companions don't otherwise have E+ access on their own (as an elite, EPA or singular companion of elite) is that they might get swept out of E+ by UA's computers.

Uh oh, this worries me .

I did go onto seatguru to have a look. Looks like these 777-200 seats are in E+. There are just a few seats left on the plane. Will they kick us out of E+ without status? E starts at 25, but the only seats left are in 48. Seat guru describes row 48 as poor with reduced width.

[camachinist]

A computer sweep might. You can PM me your date and flight and I'll check the GDS to see what seats are actually currently assigned. The plane may not be as full as you (and I) think. As a 1K, and having subscription GDS access, I can look at the plane a bit differently than a regular passenger can.

Interestingly, schedule/equipment changes are one of the surest ways to get swept out of E+. Interesting that it didn't happen to you or your companions. Is there more to the story? How did you get E+ seats to begin with? Are you saying the flight was upguaged (say from a 763 or 752 to 772 metal) and you were assigned seats in E+? If yes, normally, that might indicate to me that the flight is pretty full, but I'd know more looking at the loads.

There might be one more schedule change between now and November. One just happened a few days ago.

Let me know if I can be of further help...

Pat

[sage]

Denise,
If you have kids travelling with you, just casually ask the person on the aisle seat you want if they will need the vomit bag. Mention that one of your kids sometimes gets airsick. We've done this once or twice when our seats have been separated - only our child did actually suffer from airsickness.
Works every time.
They will seek out a flight attendant before you have the chance to ask them to swap.

[bigrick]

I've never been able to convince the person in the aisle to take the center seat. (Generally I cannot fit in a window seat. The plane edge limits shoulder and head room too much.) I ask every time though.

Once time I knew the aisle guy would be much more comfortable in the center. He was probably 5'5 as was the window gal. But he did not want to budge. When I lowered my 6'7 body into the center seat I knew I swamped him. My shoulders filled all the available space in the row. My knees intruded into his space instead of down the aisle. The gal was friendly during the flight. The guy was quiet. Life in the land of the giants!

[GA17]

I suggest you speak to the flight attendant as soon as you get on the plane to inquire about swtiching seats. I've never asked to change seats but have been approached several times by flight attendants (I was flying alone) to move to accommodate a family or adult flying with a child. The flight attendant has always given me a like seat (aisle to aisle or window to window). In every case, when it came time for beverages or movie, I as given a complimentary bottle of wine or a complimentary headset.

[lvhmbh]

I don't get why someone would expect a person with an aisle seat to move to the middle seat. If you are that large I would think you would book so you have the seat you want. Actually, big people overflow into the middle seat much more than if you have an aisle. At least you can lean away. Now I know why I have FF miles and always upgrade. Haven't been in the back of the plane since an emergency flight. As to the "tricks" to get a person to move. Yuck!!! If I was travelling alone and was asked to move to a like or better seat I would do it. If DH and I fly on a plane that only has premium economy we sit across the aisle from each other so no, I wouldn't move. Linda

[Steamboat Bill]

You can always use the old "geeze I have TB...but it is the non-contageous type" excuse

[Denise L]

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

We are going to just hang onto our current seats. Odds are, there will be another change before the actual departure date, so we are better off staying where we are & keeping our fingers crossed that we don't get rearranged again all over the plane. In the event that no one will change with me, we'll occupy the kids with DVDs and games. I'm the only one who needs an aisle anyhow, the others don't get up much.