Tipsy passengers and overflowing bins might be some of the most
grating annoyances flight attendants deal with. But what can be even
worse are the four S’s: stealing, sneaking, swiping and switching seats.
While it’s not always a problem, it can definitely cause headaches for cabin crew.
“Most
flight attendants don’t mind if passengers change seats,” says Michael,
a flight attendant for a major USA airline. Change seats in their own
class, that is. Even then, there are some seats that are still
off-limits.
This, of course, all depends on the airline —
companies like Southwest Airlines and easyJet allow passengers to pick
their seat once they start boarding. But in all other situations,
passengers looking to sit somewhere else than they’ve been assigned can
quickly cause chaos.
“It becomes a problem when a passenger wants
to move to the exit row on the plane,” Michael says, describing those
seats that have extra legroom. “Most airlines make people pay upwards of
50 extra bucks to sit in those seats and charge them when they book the
ticket. It’s not fair for flight attendants to move or let people move
to these seats when one or more paid extra to sit there. I personally
don’t let people sit there unless no one is sitting in the exit row.”
Extra
legroom aside: Desiring to sit next to friends, family or coworkers is
understandable. But swapping seats isn’t always that easy.
“Sometimes
people will take it upon themselves to just have a seat where they
want,” Michael says. “It’s easier for us flight attendants to have them
sit in their assigned seats until the person that was supposed to be in
the seat they want shows up. When they come and see someone in their
seat, it causes a more hectic boarding process, and the passengers are
now trying to work things out and it causes a mess.”
But it’s not
always about wanting to sit next to your loved one. What about wanting
to upgrade from coach to something more luxurious? If there is an empty
seat and the upgrade list is empty, does that mean passengers from
another section can relocate? Not so fast.
It’s not fair for flight attendants to move or let people move to these seats when one or more paid extra to sit there.
Sandwiched
between economy class and either business class or first class is
another price range tier often called premium economy class. Sometimes
when flying aboard large aircraft on major airlines, there are
noticeably different perks of wide, plush seats that transform into
comfortable lie-flat beds. Beyond comfort, other bonuses may include
early check-in, wider seats, upgraded meals or snacks, and sometimes
even gratis cocktails or comfort amenities like a sleep mask or
toothbrush. In smaller aircraft that aren’t flying long distances, the
most common benefit — and for some travellers, the most obvious — is the
added two to five inches of legroom. As always, the magic number
depends upon the airline.
As for the dream of getting an upgrade? Most flight attendants will attest that first-class is usually full.
If
there are any open seats, gate agents usually upgrade frequent flyers
before boarding. Who gets the sought-after upgrades? Frequent flyers are
the obvious first choice, followed by passengers who may have traded
their seat for a voucher and upgrade on a later flight.
In
addition to upgrades, there’s a science behind the weight distribution.
This important factor is called weight and balance, and depending upon
the plane size (especially smaller regional carriers) passengers may be
asked to relocate, at least for takeoff. We asked a pilot to explain:
As for the dream of getting an upgrade? Most flight attendants will attest that first-class is usually full.
“All
aeroplanes operate in an envelope of stability. To continuously stay in
this envelope, from takeoff to touchdown, all weight and its location
have to be accounted for,” says Darren Patterson, a pilot for a major US
carrier. “If you were to attach a string to the top of the plane and
dangle it, the center-of-gravity (CG) is the point where it is equally
balanced. Just like two kids balancing on a see-saw,” he explains.
Passengers who think their own weight doesn’t make an impact on the flight may be surprised to learn otherwise.
“This
CG continuously, yet slowly, moves throughout a flight as weight is
shifted,” says Patterson. “Even the movement of a single person walking
in the aisle can be felt in the flight controls and very minor
adjustments are made to keep the aircraft balanced. The largest loss of
weight during any flight will be the fuel that is burned. So there are
both a balanced starting point for takeoff and an ending point for
landing. If both of these points are within that envelope you will
always have a stable aeroplane.”
Have you ever noticed the flight
attendants counting passengers before departure? Other times, some
aircraft have software that intuitively reads distributed weight and
compute the numbers electronically for takeoff, while other flight crews
have to do it manually.
The very best time to switch seats is online before getting to the airport.
If
you’ve ever been on a puddle jumper and had the pilots relocate
passengers to another seat, that means weight needs to be distributed
for safety’s sake. “The smaller the aeroplane, the more dramatic effect
any shift in weight can have,” Patterson explains. “On a large, wide
body aeroplane, a single person can move 10 rows of seats and the effect
on the balance is negligible. Have that same person move just a few
rows on a regional plane or turboprop and the effects are far more
dramatic; possibly even exceeding the limits of the envelope.”
Thanks
to the convenience of technology, some airlines allow passengers to
upgrade on the spot with a swipe of a credit card once onboard. Yes, the
same little handheld device flight attendants use to charge you for
your double gin and tonic has the ability to upgrade passengers right
there.
The very best time to switch seats is online before getting
to the airport, followed by meeting the ticketing or gate agents prior
to boarding. When there are empty seats, it’s tempting to move, but
there may be passengers still on their way to the aircraft. Once on the
plane, the flight attendant is your final advocate — and we recommend
you stick to the old adage, you catch more flies with honey than
vinegar. In other words, request nicely, and you might just score the
seat of your dreams. At least in coach.
