Duplicate Seat Allocation: Common?
Paxing All Over The World
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Duplicate Seat Allocation: Common?
Sorry if this has been asked too many times...
I was surprised today to find myself with the same seat allocation as another pax. He (an Ozzie) thought it common and quoted several examples, including one when he and TWO others all had the same seat allocation!
It was a UK domestic: BA 4332 LTN~IOM and I was verbally given the allocation at check-in and did not look at the card. When I got to departure, I noticed that my half of the card did not give the seat. The staff could not locate their half of the stub in their pile of tear-offs. Happily, there were enough seats to go around and everyone settled in OK and we left on time.
As I have been PAXing for 38 years and this has never happened to me before - have I just been lucky? Is this common? Is it that the seat allocation is wrong but the overall headcount is correct? Must make for some happy PAXers at the start of a sector!!
Thanks for the service today. It was only a 45/50 min sector and very bouncy into the gusty wind. All service completed on time and in good order.
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
I was surprised today to find myself with the same seat allocation as another pax. He (an Ozzie) thought it common and quoted several examples, including one when he and TWO others all had the same seat allocation!
It was a UK domestic: BA 4332 LTN~IOM and I was verbally given the allocation at check-in and did not look at the card. When I got to departure, I noticed that my half of the card did not give the seat. The staff could not locate their half of the stub in their pile of tear-offs. Happily, there were enough seats to go around and everyone settled in OK and we left on time.
As I have been PAXing for 38 years and this has never happened to me before - have I just been lucky? Is this common? Is it that the seat allocation is wrong but the overall headcount is correct? Must make for some happy PAXers at the start of a sector!!
Thanks for the service today. It was only a 45/50 min sector and very bouncy into the gusty wind. All service completed on time and in good order.
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Duplicate seating can be quite common. It can be caused by two or more people being checked into the same seat at the exact same time, or if someone is already checked in and they are resseat-assigned into a seat that someone is already checked into.
It us not always picked up by the staff at the boarding gate as you are boarded by your sequence number. The sequence number is the order in which you have been checked into for your flight.
The paperwork/headcount will always match the number of pax onboard a flight.
Under normal operating circumstances - you cant check in too many pax for a flight - unless all pax were checked in and there was a cycle swap to a smaller size aircraft.
I hope this helps.
It us not always picked up by the staff at the boarding gate as you are boarded by your sequence number. The sequence number is the order in which you have been checked into for your flight.
The paperwork/headcount will always match the number of pax onboard a flight.
Under normal operating circumstances - you cant check in too many pax for a flight - unless all pax were checked in and there was a cycle swap to a smaller size aircraft.
I hope this helps.
Join Date: Nov 2003
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It can be a pain in the proverbial and in my experience, has happened quite a few times but as crew you just get on with it and sort it out. I have always, time permitting, gone up to the gate myself and check with the ground staff and they've always been happy to help and the pax have always been appreciative that you've gone out of your way to find them a seat!!!
Whilst we're on the subject of seating, has anyone ever had to deal with moving unsuitable people from o/wing exits?? I once had to ask 2 obese pax to move from the o/wing exits on the same flight - not a nice job
tact and diplomacy came into force THAT day.
Happy flying folks.
Whilst we're on the subject of seating, has anyone ever had to deal with moving unsuitable people from o/wing exits?? I once had to ask 2 obese pax to move from the o/wing exits on the same flight - not a nice job
tact and diplomacy came into force THAT day.Happy flying folks.
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In an aircraft ops module, as part of my degree, i was told that over booking was common practise and its extent relied on the stats of how many of ur pax are going to turn up.
empty seats = very expensive, and it would appear economically worth an airline's while to deal with a few p*ssed off punters to make sure they're not flying empty seats.
empty seats = very expensive, and it would appear economically worth an airline's while to deal with a few p*ssed off punters to make sure they're not flying empty seats.
Paxing All Over The World
Thread Starter
Interesting responses. I am aware, of course about overbooking but this is simply about the boarding card having either the wrong or, in my case, no seat number on it. I have obviously been lucky to escape this until now. Since the check in agent verbally told me the seat number, I did not read the card. Silly boy. 
As for unsuitable pax in o/wing (and other emergency) exits, there is a thread running in Airlines/Airports/Routes forum and it would be helpful if some CC could comment.
Thanks for all your replies. Now, who is going to serve me a fabbo cup of BA tea on Thursday morning??? The best thing about flying up here to see my mother is that I can drink alcohol to offset the effects of her driving when she picks me up at Ronaldsway (IOM).
But, going home - I have to drive. Not fair.
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
As for unsuitable pax in o/wing (and other emergency) exits, there is a thread running in Airlines/Airports/Routes forum and it would be helpful if some CC could comment.
Thanks for all your replies. Now, who is going to serve me a fabbo cup of BA tea on Thursday morning??? The best thing about flying up here to see my mother is that I can drink alcohol to offset the effects of her driving when she picks me up at Ronaldsway (IOM).
But, going home - I have to drive. Not fair.--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
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Seat Dupes (duplications) as they are known are an occasional problem, unrelated to overbooking. They are caused by computer silliness and are resolved by the Cabin Crew on the day. That's all.
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The only time it's ever happened to me has been when I've been in my seat and someone else has come up with a BP for the same seat. The first time this happened I got a bit stressed, but then I realised that what it seems to mean (on CX and AA at least) is that closely following will be a ground crew member with a new boarding pass for me in the next class up. That's happened to me three times now
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Re overwing exits, it is easier to just say "Mr/Mrs ** I need to move you due to operational reasons..."
Then no embarrassment. No matter what the reason (size, age, disability, langauge etc) no-one really needs to be told "you can't sit here because...".
Then no embarrassment. No matter what the reason (size, age, disability, langauge etc) no-one really needs to be told "you can't sit here because...".
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i've tried the 'operational reasons' thing but then they wanted to know why etc etc (i think they knew when they requested the exit row that they would prob be too fat and were hoping they wouldnt get noticed)
now i simply say.. "i'm sorry but we cant fit extension seatbelts in the exit rows, its a company policy. i do however, have a great seat here for you up the front. can i help you with your bags?"
And give them no choice to argue.
now i simply say.. "i'm sorry but we cant fit extension seatbelts in the exit rows, its a company policy. i do however, have a great seat here for you up the front. can i help you with your bags?"
And give them no choice to argue.
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I was on standby for a flight a few years back to LAX and was ran down to the gate, boarded, went to my seat and some pax had moved around to sit next to eachother. I was on my own so let them stay put, but ended up still standing on pushback!
Eventually i took a crew seat behind business class and was told after take off that there were no spare seats at all!! I spent the entire 11 hour flight on a crew seat (with a 3 hour break in the f-deck)! Was ok until I put my meal on the seat beside me then stood up to use the loo. Oops!!
Turns out someone was double booked into a seat and moved to my seat.
Oh the perks of staff travel, I couldnt complain and ended up having a laugh with the crew anyway!!!
If the crew have a passenger manifest, it should give all names in the correct location. Does anyone know how it appears if a seat is double booked??
Eventually i took a crew seat behind business class and was told after take off that there were no spare seats at all!! I spent the entire 11 hour flight on a crew seat (with a 3 hour break in the f-deck)! Was ok until I put my meal on the seat beside me then stood up to use the loo. Oops!!
Turns out someone was double booked into a seat and moved to my seat.
Oh the perks of staff travel, I couldnt complain and ended up having a laugh with the crew anyway!!!
If the crew have a passenger manifest, it should give all names in the correct location. Does anyone know how it appears if a seat is double booked??
