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Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

economist.com

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Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#101

Post by waqf »

thedarkproject wrote: post #38
valladanger wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By ecologically problematic, do you mean that if many passengers opt to fly with adjacent seats empty it would transitively mean that more flights would be needed to meet the demand? (if that is the case it absolutely makes sense !)

That's what I meant yes. Of course if it's applied onlx on routes where utilization is low a priori, my argument doesn't apply.

Doesn't the same argument apply to the existence of business class? Since to a very large extent, what you're paying for in business class is the extra square feet of cabin space.

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#102

Post by ryanmarsh »

iak8god wrote: post #100
ryanmarsh wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope, they were Americans. If I would have refused the flight attendants probably wouldn't have pushed the issue. Usually they won't.

How in the world can you refuse to have the plane's staff seat people in whatever empty seat they see fit? They are in the right to do so and you are in the wrong to act as if it's up to you to have any part in the decision. You are basically just taking advantage of the airline workers' aversion to having someone make a fuss.

The staff didn't. They took it upon themselves to move. They asked the staff if it was ok and the staff said yes but didn't help reseat them.

I love how downvoted I'm getting in this thread. LOL

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#103

Post by ryanmarsh »

in_hindsight wrote: post #51
Sholmesy wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you pay for a whole row? If not, I can understand why people were upset...

Yes i would have just sat there and the guy would have moved his legs wether he is asleep or not. Unless he paid for the row of course or was dirty / smelly

I would have too. Guess they lacked the stomach.

The airline system is full of opportunity for gaming. I you fly a lot you learn the system.

The guy across the isle from me did the exact same thing.

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#104

Post by iak8god »

ryanmarsh wrote: post #102
iak8god wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How in the world can you refuse to have the plane's staff seat people in whatever empty seat they see fit? They are in the right to do so and you are in the wrong to act as if it's up to you to have any part in the decision. You are basically just taking advantage of the airline workers' aversion to having someone make a fuss.

The staff didn't. They took it upon themselves to move. They asked the staff if it was ok and the staff said yes but didn't help reseat them. I love how downvoted I'm getting in this thread. LOL

"If I would have refused the flight attendants probably wouldn't have pushed the issue. Usually they won't."

As I didn't vote on your comment I can't say for sure, but probably people are downvoting you because your own statements make it sound like you're bullying busy airline staff into getting what you want even though it's not owed to you.

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#105

Post by lathiat »

ryanmarsh wrote: post #12
tuna-piano wrote: post #9

My two tips for how to keep the adjacent seat empty on normal flights: 1. If you book when there are still many empty seats, choose a window/aisle seat near the back of the plane. Those middle seats are usually the last to be filled. 2. If you're traveling in a group of 2 and there are 3 seats per section, choose the window and aisle of an empty section (preferably near the back of the plane). Chances are good that i…

International flights are usually undersold. I pick the middle seat. People will just opt for another row with a window or isle open and the middle seat open so they can have some space. I often end up with a row to myself.

Very much not "usual", possibly more likely for some sectors and times.

But flying ex-PER (and sometimes MEL, SYD) on Qantas (QF), Emirates (EK) and Cathay Pacific (CX) I rarely get flights with any more than a few empty middle seats.. and many times completely full including the flights on from their respective hubs to all sorts of US, European and Asian locations. Including mid week flights.

I did once get a super empty flight DXB-PER for some reason, it was mid week but I've never had that since, no idea why that one was so empty unless it was because it was right as they started their dual A380 service [I don't remember if that was true]? That was glorious had 4 seats to myself to stretch out and slept most of it. great for a 10h flight [I made about 10 20+ hours trips last year]

And SYD-DFW A380 on QF is weight limited so you get more empty middle seats there.

Possibly true for some sectors and times of week or something but airlines are hotly contested and they're just not going to be profitable flying planes with loadings not approaching capacity.

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#106

Post by lathiat »

ryanmarsh wrote: post #73
johansch wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? What kind of international flights (src/dst/airline) have you seen being undersold the last five years or so? (I have seen so many flights that have been kinda the opposite. It was markedly different back in like 2008-2013.)

LHR IAD IAH LHR IAH DXB DXB PER

I flew DXB-PER return about 5 times in the last 12 months and only once did I get it undersold. And I have no idea why that happened. Wish I remember which trip it was now, have to see if I can find a photo of me laying down across 4 seats!

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#107

Post by kaonashi »

spuz wrote: post #69
kaonashi wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's how the financial arrangements work out, but those are quite malleable. Planes are perfectly capable of flying without first class sections.

I think you give markets way less credit than they deserve. Check out http://wonderfulloaf.org and see if you are persuaded.

Don't think there's anything wrong with markets per se, but implementation details are important.

Markets where some players have considerably more coercive power than others don't tend to produce good outcomes.

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#108

Post by kalleboo »

ssambros wrote: post #65
r0m4n0 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can’t help but share my slightly riskier plane seating hack as well... On any flight with assigned seating, wait until everyone has boarded. Wait until they call your name (or until you are the obvious last to board). Proceed to sit in any open seat within economy, with the most empty seats adjacent. Usually staff at the terminal desk will also tell you where the open seats are...

Don't forget to check in your carry-on while you are at it, since all overhead bins are already filled by the time 70% of the passengers are boarded.

Well if you do find an adjacent empty seat you can just pop your bag under the seat in front of it.

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#109

Post by patio11 »

oostevo wrote: post #68
tptacek wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What agent are you talking to that has access to the names of all passengers and is willing to abuse it for you?

Generally, agents in legacy airline lounges (e.g. a United Club, Admirals Clubs, etc.) are willing to do things like this. Anecdotally, I've noticed that they tend to be more senior (so know what's possible / what they can get away with), less busy (so they're less frustrated and frazzled), and tend to deal with much more experienced travelers than a normal gate agent (so, again, they're less frustrated).

See also: the phone reps for high-tier members, for the same reason. (Not that I'd ask for this particular accommodation, but having access to the premium member line is one of the most useful perks of concentrating your travel.)

Re: Etihad allows flyers to bid to keep adjacent seats empty

#110

Post by cynix »

tuna-piano wrote: post #9

My two tips for how to keep the adjacent seat empty on normal flights: 1. If you book when there are still many empty seats, choose a window/aisle seat near the back of the plane. Those middle seats are usually the last to be filled. 2. If you're traveling in a group of 2 and there are 3 seats per section, choose the window and aisle of an empty section (preferably near the back of the plane). Chances are good that i…

I usually only fly on planes with 2-seat side rows when travelling in a group of 2.
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