Reserved seats at the cinema. Who else hates it?

[Anonymous]

Well, you kick a chair and someone may pull a gun on you:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/07/25/man-pulls-gun-in-kentucky-movie-theater-after-teen-kicks-seat-police-say/?utm_term=.978b3fb523e3

Also, Georgetown is getting reclining seats, and in turn, will be like Courthouse and have reserved seating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't stand it either OP. I see nearly every movie that comes out and I hate when the guy asks me what seat I want. Waste of time. I get why theaters make seat assignments for plays...you pay based on the seat's "desirability".

But, if movies charge the same for everyone...it should be "first come first served".

Invariably, I'll go to my "assigned seat" and some jerk will be sitting in it. Then, I have to go to an usher to get them out of my seat. I don't want some moron pulling a gun on me because I want my seat.

Ugh! Totally agree OP!

It is first come first served. First to buy tickets gets first choice of seats.

+1
This is the epitome of first come first served! Why is this so hard for some to understand?

[Anonymous]

LOVE IT! Just did it for 3 seats for the Tysons Star Wars 3D movies. Best thing ever. Rewards those that plan ahead. We got great seats and had a terrific time. No more last minute worries or stress about being separated. I will ALWAYS patronage those theaters that offer this (and do anything to keep chatter and Iphones off).

[Anonymous]

That's how they do it overseas. Much more civilized

[Anonymous]

There is a theater near us that has reserved seating, and all the seats are recliners! So great.

[Anonymous]

I went to a theater in Japan. I was assigned a seat, H5. I get into a theater with approximately 200 seats and maximum 30 patrons. Why was I seated between 2 people? There was row after row of empty chairs and I was literally elbow to elbow with two total strangers. Thankfully both gentleman were quiet and weren't bothersome. I thought maybe there would be a mass influx of people who had reserved all of those vacant seats. I was literally the last person to enter the theater before the movie started. I could have had a seat dead center of the movie screen had it not been for this HATED reserved seating. I doubt I will ever go back to a theater with reserved seating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a theater in Japan. I was assigned a seat, H5. I get into a theater with approximately 200 seats and maximum 30 patrons. Why was I seated between 2 people? There was row after row of empty chairs and I was literally elbow to elbow with two total strangers. Thankfully both gentleman were quiet and weren't bothersome. I thought maybe there would be a mass influx of people who had reserved all of those vacant seats. I was literally the last person to enter the theater before the movie started. I could have had a seat dead center of the movie screen had it not been for this HATED reserved seating. I doubt I will ever go back to a theater with reserved seating.

Your issue wasn't reserved seating, your issue was ASSIGNED seating. With reserved seating you choose your own seat from those available. This is not rocket science people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hate the idea! Why must yet another activity be regimented and structured! I can't stand having to follow someone else's rules for where I choose to sit at a movie. Go to the theater if you want reserved seats!

.

Do you not understand that you do get to choose? You get to choose better seats because you do it in advance rather than having to stand there in the theater as it fills up and you try to find seats while others are trying to grab seats at the same time.

Reserving seats does not mean that the theater assigns them to you and you must take whatever the theater dictates. You choose them from a seating plan that shows which seats are already full and which are available. YOU choose. Would you rather be in the scrum as everyone is coming into the theatre? Or would you rather arrive vastly early? Those are the options without reserved seating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's how they do it overseas. Much more civilized

+1

Just came here to post this.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree with the op. Hate reserved seating. Hate being stuck in a cluster of people instead of being able to scan and drift to least crowded (read: noisy, texty, smelly) seats. Always made a point of getting to theatre early to get the seat I wanted ... No point now, and the new system means people wander in late and disruptively.

Worst, where I live in ca, the theatres are using this as a way to jack up ticket prices. If you reserve seats in advance, you pay a ridiculous "service" markup fee. But if you try to go see a movie spontaneously, the theatre won't let you select a decent seat, even if they're still available when you get to the theatre. Instead, they make you choose your seat from crappy second-rate seats ... and you don't even realize the better seats weren't actually already reserved until the movie starts with half the theatre still empty.

The other obnoxious thing I've experienced is the reservation map not matching the actual theatre layout when you get there for the movie ... so you've paid the markup and STILL aren't sitting where you actually wanted to ... and your only choice is sit down and suck it up or have your drive, time, and has wasted.

There doesn't seem to be much point in arguing between people who love reserved seating and people who hate it. It's religion ... what works for you isn't necessarily the right choice for someone else. That doesn't make either of you right or wrong.

I'd like theatres to offer reserved *and* traditional seating showings. Then I could go to the movie the way I like to and so could the people who prefer reserved seating. As it is, I'm definitely seeing fewer movies because I hate the new experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree with the op. Hate reserved seating. Hate being stuck in a cluster of people instead of being able to scan and drift to least crowded (read: noisy, texty, smelly) seats. Always made a point of getting to theatre early to get the seat I wanted ... No point now, and the new system means people wander in late and disruptively.

Worst, where I live in CA, the theaters are using this as a way to jack up ticket prices. If you reserve seats in advance, you pay a ridiculous "service" markup fee. But if you try to go see a movie spontaneously, the theater won't let you select a decent seat, even if they're still available when you get to the theater. Instead, they make you choose your seat from crappy second-rate seats ... and you don't even realize the better seats weren't actually already reserved until the movie starts with half the theater still empty.

The other obnoxious thing I've experienced is the reservation map not matching the actual theater layout when you get there for the movie ... so you've paid the markup and STILL aren't sitting where you actually wanted to ... and your only choice is sit down and suck it up or have your drive, time, and has wasted.

There doesn't seem to be much point in arguing between people who love reserved seating and people who hate it. It's religion ... what works for you isn't necessarily the right choice for someone else. That doesn't make either of you right or wrong.

I'd like theaters to offer reserved *and* traditional seating showings. Then I could go to the movie the way I like to and so could the people who prefer reserved seating. As it is, I'm definitely seeing fewer movies because I hate the new experience.

What theater chain is this? AMC and Regal do not mark up seats because of the reserved seating system when purchased in advance. The theater maps of both theater chains are pretty good. In addition, what is stopping you from going to the theater a day or two in advance and buying advance tickets that way, and save on the fee?

Not every theater in DC has reserved seating.

[Anonymous]

I think this PP has posted the same complaint again and again. Big cry baby should stay home if he doesn't like the reserved seating.

[Anonymous]

I loved reserved seating. Glad to see that haters on here which means they will stick to battling it out with masses at other theatres.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree with the op. Hate reserved seating. Hate being stuck in a cluster of people instead of being able to scan and drift to least crowded (read: noisy, texty, smelly) seats. Always made a point of getting to theatre early to get the seat I wanted ... No point now, and the new system means people wander in late and disruptively.

Worst, where I live in ca, the theatres are using this as a way to jack up ticket prices. If you reserve seats in advance, you pay a ridiculous "service" markup fee. But if you try to go see a movie spontaneously, the theatre won't let you select a decent seat, even if they're still available when you get to the theatre. Instead, they make you choose your seat from crappy second-rate seats ... and you don't even realize the better seats weren't actually already reserved until the movie starts with half the theatre still empty.

The other obnoxious thing I've experienced is the reservation map not matching the actual theatre layout when you get there for the movie ... so you've paid the markup and STILL aren't sitting where you actually wanted to ... and your only choice is sit down and suck it up or have your drive, time, and has wasted.

There doesn't seem to be much point in arguing between people who love reserved seating and people who hate it. It's religion ... what works for you isn't necessarily the right choice for someone else. That doesn't make either of you right or wrong.

I'd like theatres to offer reserved *and* traditional seating showings. Then I could go to the movie the way I like to and so could the people who prefer reserved seating. As it is, I'm definitely seeing fewer movies because I hate the new experience.

Sounds like they're using the airlines' model. Obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Here in Frederick, only the IMAX showings have reserved seating, which I love.