[handbag]

I am Crew, but if I am flying as a Pax, it is simple if someone is in my seat.
“Excuse me, but it looks like we have been double booked. Would you mind checking your Boarding Carding for me before I bother the Crew.” Unless I immediately get the correct answer, which is “Sorry, I will move”, I speak to the Crew.

If I am Crew, I use the same sentence “It looks like we have a double booking, can I please see your your boarding card”. I then say ” Unfortunately this is someone else seat , yours is …, can you please move to your correct seat”.

Happens all the time and as Crew dealing with it on longhaul, I can honestly say I cannot remember the last time anyone ever gave me grief. They just move. Please just get the Crew to sort, it is generally easier.

[1nfrequent]

Never had this on a plane but it does happen almost every time I take the train. Work policy is to prebook a table seat for employees so we can work as we travel and because of that, some people feel that they have to try it on. Found myself in a face off with a young woman and her father a few weeks ago who suggested I go to one of the normal seats. I took great pleasure in declining and suggesting that they do so instead.

1F

[EU_Flyer]

Reminds me of the time I told the gent in First/seat 1A that, due to weight distribution requirements, in order to ensure the safety of the aircraft, we would need to swap and he’d need to take my economy seat in 99F.

Safety comes first.

The flight attendant politely asked me to exit the aircraft, even arranging a nice police escort in case i got lost.

But in all seriousness, Charles-P, what a horrible experience to go through, particularly at the end.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[Charles-P]

Alex_Fly, thanks for the concern and for the others who made similar statements but surprisingly enough her behavior in the airport did not bother me in the slightest and only confirmed my opinion of her that I had after our dispute on the aircraft.

What has surprised me is how common the situation is, not the obvious case of a person making a mistake and moving seats when spoken with but individuals actively ‘trying their luck’ and attempting to intimidate passengers by refusing to move. I spoke this morning to cabin crew from Brussels Airlines when I was flying and they said it’s now a very common event with for some reason those around the early 20s being the most common offenders.

[Ricardo]

Slight variation on the theme… I was on overnight Virgin Upper Class from EWR to LHR. Group of 5 or 6 twenty-something’s in lounge prior to departure making ‘full’ use of lounge facilities (i.e. bar!). Their enthusiasm made me think they had won some sales incentive award or something – they didn’t seem like seasoned travellers. After departure, as soon as seatbelt sign off they all headed for onboard bar. I, meanwhile, got into sleep suit and tried to get as much sleep as possible. An hour or so later needed to take advantage of lack of queue for toilet. Upon my return, in now dimmed cabin, there appeared to be a body in my bed! Double checked my seat number and indeed there was someone else in my bed – one of the ‘group’. I gently tapped her shoulder and asked her to move. She offered to let me use her bed instead, I thanked her for her offer and declined as I had my belongings there. She reluctantly moved to her seat next to mine. She obviously got the most use out of the free drinks! Never heard from her again. Alas she was then awoken by FA prior to landing. Not happy and she appeared to have the hangover from hell (I know – over indulgence on aircraft lead to the worse hangovers ever. I’ve done it once – never again!).

[Charles-P]

I must remember that excuse for my wife,

“But darling the woman just got into bed with me, what could I do ? “

🙂

[MartynSinclair]

Does this one count….. “but I was sat here first?”…

This one had a happy ending….

http://news.sky.com/video/1506472/pilot-shocked-at-moggy-on-board

[PeterCoultas]

Charles-P “it wasn’t’ what you could do but WHAT U DID!’….nevertheless I might try it on!

[CityRiskBoy]

If I got to my pre-paid seat business class or not and found someone sitting in it refusing to move or giving me lip…..I’m giving them a countdown to get their a**e up before my fist gets raised!

I think everyone has flown enough to know what the deal is, some people don’t understand common courtesy or polite dialogue and need some other type of persuasion!

[MrMichael]

@CityRiskBoy, all that will likely get you is a seat in the cells and thus facing the seat reserved for the magistrate to pass down sentence. You would also likely be barred by the airline from booking a seat again.

I think the advice on here has been good, politely ask them to move, if that fails leave it to the cabin crew to sort out.

[TiredOldHack]

Tim2SMS – Doctor TOH (my other half) told me that when she was young, and her father worked for Blue Funnel Line in Singapore, they always had problems with passengers purloining things like cutlery, ashtrays (remember them?), cruet sets, and the like.

They’d never, ever challenge the passengers directly, even though they knew the culprits, but at the end of the voyage they’d tip off the Customs people at the port of arrival. The Customs staff would go through the culprits’ baggage very thoroughly, taking their time, and would (of course) come across the stolen items.

That always resulted in maximum embarrassment for the culprits. “Do these belong to you, Sir (or Madam)?”

“Er, well, you see…”

“Do you have a receipt for them…?”

“Erm….”

The ship got its equipment back, and the thieves had a very uncomfortable and lengthy experience in Customs.

I’m sure you’re right – variations on this theme must still go on.

[TiredOldHack]

Just like to add – yes, I’ve had this experience as well, and witnessed it on someone else (the interlopers both being female Americans), and this is the most enjoyable thread I’ve read in ages. Bravo!

[chewkc65]

Seat mix up may be common. Companions sometimes switch seats to be together might also common. But buying an economy class ticket and insist on seating in Business class is something new here. LOL.

[AllOverTheGaff]

wastedlife – 18/06/2015 16:18 BST
wishing I wasn’t wearing shorts (it was the middle of Brazilian summer) and a t-shirt that said “Love Missile” on it.

HA! My kind of traveller.

Rgds
AOTG.

[donkeyasia]

July 1994, My birthday, but on business with some senior colleagues. Moscow to St Pietersburg, First class Aeroflot (although what the difference was I am not sure). My seat was occupied and when the steward asked the Russian Passenger to move, a gun was produced.. My colleagues and I got off the plane and we went by train the following day.
On a brighter note, I was travelling Sydney to London on QF. I got upgrade to business class, but on boarding I was mistaken for a very well known Welsh Golfer, and placed in 4K. When the real Mr.W got on, the Flight Service Director was so embarrassed he moved me to the aisle seat, and after an extremely comfortable 20 hour flight, I was invited to a Pro-Am in Wales the following month, all included. I had to fly from Hong Kong to London and get to Cardiff by train, but a small price to pay for the experience. I think someone was looking down on me as compensation for the Moscow experience ten years earlier

[Author]

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