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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

#61

Post by roymurdock »

kzrdude wrote: post #43
thedarkproject wrote: post #5

From an ecological point of view, this is very problematic. As far as it's value as a business idea goes, I'd say this an interesting idea.

Sure. At the bottom of it, it's subsidized by the relative inexpense of oil, and how much we can do with that energy. Which reminds me: Is there a name for and can I read more about the problem of economy, market and pricing of resources for sustainability?

This book Prosperity Without Growth [1] is a decent start from the perspective of an economist/environmentalist. It's somewhat hampered by the author's failure to rigorously define terms (a serious no-no for any economic/philosophical argument) but contains some good ideas.

Another great read from a more relate able angle is The Omnivore's Dilemma which doesn't address the issue very directly, but shows in painstaking detail how the US food chain has moved from a renewable solar base to one derived entirely from corn, which in turn relies on cheap petrochemical sources to grow at the speed, intensity, and volume that we grow it in the US.

Check out the reviews for both books as well - many of them cite other important works in the genre.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Prosperity-without-Growth-Economics-F...

[2] https://www.amazon.com/Omnivores-Dilemma-Natural-History-Mea...

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

#62

Post by nxc18 »

edw519 wrote: post #22

Another technology solution to a non-technical problem. 1. Fly Southwest. 2. Board earlier than most others. 3. When someone eyeballs the adjacent seat, yell into your phone, "The ointment works much better than the lotion when the boils open!"

You're getting downvoted but this is a good point - southwest does it right.

For whatever reason, people dislike the back of the plane but if you can tolerate that, you typically have your choice of isle or window, even with crappy line placement.

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

#64

Post by nolok »

foota wrote: post #59
nolok wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not parent, but Oman Air Paris to Muscat leg has been ~50% full at the most the last 3 times I took it. They're a top notch airline, flying Boeing 787, and their Muscat to final destination leg has always been full (same as the Muscat to Paris return flight), so I can't figure out why other than "I've been lucky" when the likes of Emirates/Etihad/Qatar Airways/... are full as can be. Picture from my mid-May flight af…

I just did Bangkok to Muscat on Oman and the fight was amazingly empty. We were on a 787 and I'd guess we had about a third to half the seats booked.

Combined with their decently low price, recent fleet and good services, they're really becoming one of my favorite airlines for EU->Asia. Now if only muscat airport could be a bit better ...

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

#65

Post by ssambros »

r0m4n0 wrote: post #56
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 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.

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

#66

Post by acchow »

tptacek wrote: post #54
chris_va wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course, the last time I did that I ended up between two people who did not want to move, yet still wanted to talk to each other the entire flight with me in the middle.

You did this, and the agent agreed? What airline?

Why do airlines expose the last names?

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

#67

Post by Symbiote »

edw519 wrote: post #22

Another technology solution to a non-technical problem. 1. Fly Southwest. 2. Board earlier than most others. 3. When someone eyeballs the adjacent seat, yell into your phone, "The ointment works much better than the lotion when the boils open!"

This has worked on flights to/from particularly religious countries. I got the whole exit row on one flight from Poland, the guys already seated actually asked to move.

  1. Wear a black metal band t-shirt
This has only worked once:

  1. Teach the toddler in the middle seat on the first flight to speak a little English
  2. Her father will be so happy and relaxed, he will let her eat the overly sweet BA dessert
  3. She will be sick all over both adults
  4. No-one wants to sit next to the sick-smelling guy on the next flight.

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

#68

Post by oostevo »

tptacek wrote: post #45
clarkm wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Likewise, whenever I book a last-minute flight with only middle seats available, I make sure to ask the agent to place me between two passengers with the same last name.

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).

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

#69

Post by spuz »

kaonashi wrote: post #46
spuz wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So are you against business and first class? Without those customers paying 10x the economy fare, average folk like you and me would never be able to afford to fly around the world. You should be very careful when deciding what kind of markets are good and which are "bad".

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.

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

#70

Post by dawnerd »

robjan wrote: post #53
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?

Every agent who has access to the flight booking system has access to the names of the passengers on the flight.

I'm surprised people are surprised by this... They even yell out names to people that need to check in...
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