Airline will bump someone from their window seat up on my request for medical issue how do you handle confrontation?

[Anonymous]

The best way to mess up your back is to try to lean against the window on a plane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the seat number is on your ticket, there is nothing any passenger can say about it. Just show the ticket. End of story.

Also, in that configuration, a middle seat person doesn't have to move for anyone except themselves.

Also, wherever you are, you'd better hold it in if you don't want to move and go to the bathroom.

You don't sound mentally with it, OP.

Just not smart. The whole question and starting of this thread is pointless, so I'm guessing they don't fly much or have any experience flying first class since moving seats in this scenario was completely senseless.

We fly business or first all the time this is a new configuration for us and with the recent back injury from skiing we asked the agent chat what to do.

Okay I think I get it now. The doctor didn't realize they had an option for lie flat seats, so assumed the best option for a seat with little recline was a window seat where the person with back issues could lean against the fuselage. Lie flats are pretty uncommon for domestic planes. And the agent didn't understand the nuances of different seat configurations either- this type of detail is something agents often get wrong.

OP, call United and explain, and say you are fine with moving back to your original seats. The recline and lie flat option will meet the requirement to "off load pressure from the lower back" as per the doctors note.

Since OP flies business or first all the time you'd think she would have noticed they are lay flat seats. She's just dim.

This is why OP is a troll. Claiming to have experience flying in first/business but refusing to answer any questions about the ability to lie flat or inability to lean against the window.

So I think you are missing the point of my question, it wasn't to focus on the seat arrangement, it was to suggest how to respond to other people asking for my seat or switching back, is this something I have to do on my own, or is this the responsibility of the airlines? I have concluded that I don't have to give any background to anyone about switching seats, as they won't know I asked for the medical accommodation and refer to the ticket assignment. I've just seen a lot of angry and out of control people on tiktok lose their cool flying and freaking out but i guess if that happens I'll have the flight attendant deal with it.

Also, I’ve never needed to do this before. I always pick my seat. I was chatting with the agent about my spouse’s medical issue and asked what we could do, their suggestion was to submit a request through their website. If you look at this page, you will find dozens of ways they can accommodate needs: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/accessibility-and-assistance.html. Honestly, I had no idea. Unfortunately, airlines don’t inform customers up front that their seats may be changed to accommodate passengers with medical issues or disabilities. Now that I know, I don’t expect my future seat assignments to be locked in, but if I hadn’t known, I would’ve been upset. From the responses on here, it seems that no one is aware of this?

OP, you are completely missing the point. However the topic of seat change came up, why would you even submit any request knowing that 1. you husband cannot lean against a window, 2. the seat can be made into a bed and 3. he would not have to move for anyone to get by him? You claim to be a frequent passenger in first/business. Can you finally explain?

If you look at the seats by the window you can lean on the window, the seats made into a bed would mean my spouse should lie down the entire time? Should my spouse eat lying down? I have frequently flied first class and this was a new seating arrangement for me and i haven't flown with a medical injury in the past .

Can you not see, even from your own pictures, that there is a big space between the seat and the window? Some of us have "flied" this often and have told you.

We can put some pillows against the side of the plane, if my spouse took the middle seat there isn't a place to lean against.

How about the leaning against the seat?

This is so stupid. I call into question any physician who would recommend leaning sideways against an airframe bulkhead.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t read all responses but the fact that the OP’s post has gotten so many people agitated is kind of weird.
I’m thinking this is displacement- when you’re actually upset about someone or something else but it’s not acceptable to voice or admit that so you find another target.

[Anonymous]

OP here: I did some more research into why the airline had so many pages of forms and insisted on a formal request with a doctor’s note, and even followed up with the agent about privacy. It turns out it’s federal law:

Air Carrier Access Act (49 U.S.C. § 41705)
"The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits discrimination by U.S. and foreign air carriers on the basis of physical or mental disability."

Implementing Regulation (14 CFR § 382.85(a)(1)(ii))
"However, you must assign to the passenger any seat, not already assigned to another passenger that accommodates the passenger's needs, even if that seat is not available for assignment to the general passenger population at the time of the request."

Because of these requirements, airlines provide a formal online accommodation form, to document the condition, attach the doctor’s note, and trigger their Accessibility Desk so they can legally reassign a seat that meets your needs (and bump another passenger "to the extent practicable").

I also went on chat again and asked the agent about confidentiality, and they confirmed that flight attendants are trained to handle these accommodations discreetly. So if another passenger questions our seats, I’ll refer them to the crew. Lesson learned: Since no one needs to share personal health details, everyone should stay in their own assigned seats and let the airline manage any reassignments internally.

I can't imagine how nasty everyone is here and will definitely be less open about what's going on I guess these rules and laws are here to help folks out who have medical issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read all responses but the fact that the OP’s post has gotten so many people agitated is kind of weird.
I’m thinking this is displacement- when you’re actually upset about someone or something else but it’s not acceptable to voice or admit that so you find another target.

It’s because she is rich and clueless and also stupid. DCUM gets ruthless on those types.

[Anonymous]

Next time book earlier get window seat call and have them put note in not to move you from window. Asshat.
Good luck with hydration lololol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is 2 4 2 configuration First Class? Doesn't sound like OP paid for FC.

This is United "dorm class". I have no idea why anyone would pay extra for these seats. They are not any better than economy plus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is 2 4 2 configuration First Class? Doesn't sound like OP paid for FC.

This is United "dorm class". I have no idea why anyone would pay extra for these seats. They are not any better than economy plus.

Yup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: I did some more research into why the airline had so many pages of forms and insisted on a formal request with a doctor’s note, and even followed up with the agent about privacy. It turns out it’s federal law:

Air Carrier Access Act (49 U.S.C. § 41705)
"The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits discrimination by U.S. and foreign air carriers on the basis of physical or mental disability."

Implementing Regulation (14 CFR § 382.85(a)(1)(ii))
"However, you must assign to the passenger any seat, not already assigned to another passenger that accommodates the passenger's needs, even if that seat is not available for assignment to the general passenger population at the time of the request."

Because of these requirements, airlines provide a formal online accommodation form, to document the condition, attach the doctor’s note, and trigger their Accessibility Desk so they can legally reassign a seat that meets your needs (and bump another passenger "to the extent practicable").

I also went on chat again and asked the agent about confidentiality, and they confirmed that flight attendants are trained to handle these accommodations discreetly. So if another passenger questions our seats, I’ll refer them to the crew. Lesson learned: Since no one needs to share personal health details, everyone should stay in their own assigned seats and let the airline manage any reassignments internally.

I can't imagine how nasty everyone is here and will definitely be less open about what's going on I guess these rules and laws are here to help folks out who have medical issues.

DCUM doesn’t tolerate idiots, OP. Now you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should have book another flight or sprung for an upgraded seat.

+10000

"...needs a window seat to minimize movement. We originally booked middle seats because no window seats were available,...."


The answer is that you should have selected another flight that met your needs. Unless this was a new and recent injury, it was on you to book ahead in the correct seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BS excuse to get a window.

He could have sat in either of the very middle two seats and then he wouldn't have to get up for anyone.

-- -xx- --

YES! A middle seat in the middle row sounds perfect for someone with a back issue. They'd never ever have to get up. The aisle people would just use their own aisles.

Yes but the doctor said we need to keep pressure off the lower back and to lean and get a window seat. That's what the doctor said until full recovery. We just are following the doctor note for air travel.

JUST STAY HOME THEN until the full recovery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should have book another flight or sprung for an upgraded seat.

+10000

"...needs a window seat to minimize movement. We originally booked middle seats because no window seats were available,...."


The answer is that you should have selected another flight that met your needs. Unless this was a new and recent injury, it was on you to book ahead in the correct seats.

If so why do they have this medical request form that is backed by the law?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: I did some more research into why the airline had so many pages of forms and insisted on a formal request with a doctor’s note, and even followed up with the agent about privacy. It turns out it’s federal law:

Air Carrier Access Act (49 U.S.C. § 41705)
"The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits discrimination by U.S. and foreign air carriers on the basis of physical or mental disability."

Implementing Regulation (14 CFR § 382.85(a)(1)(ii))
"However, you must assign to the passenger any seat, not already assigned to another passenger that accommodates the passenger's needs, even if that seat is not available for assignment to the general passenger population at the time of the request."

Because of these requirements, airlines provide a formal online accommodation form, to document the condition, attach the doctor’s note, and trigger their Accessibility Desk so they can legally reassign a seat that meets your needs (and bump another passenger "to the extent practicable").

I also went on chat again and asked the agent about confidentiality, and they confirmed that flight attendants are trained to handle these accommodations discreetly. So if another passenger questions our seats, I’ll refer them to the crew. Lesson learned: Since no one needs to share personal health details, everyone should stay in their own assigned seats and let the airline manage any reassignments internally.

I can't imagine how nasty everyone is here and will definitely be less open about what's going on I guess these rules and laws are here to help folks out who have medical issues.

DCUM doesn’t tolerate idiots, OP. Now you know.

Am i the total idiot? No one else pointed out this law? I thought DCUM was full of lawyers, and as everyone is calling me dumb, smart people? Or at least smarter than me?

[Anonymous]

Totally fake. Let’s see, this topic has airline seat re-assignment, a disability, a poster who doesn’t seem to know where the window seat actually is located. Waiting for seat reclining to make an appearance too.

If the airline re-assigned a seat, then the passenger would know when he checks in and get his boarding pass a day ahead. Why would OP need to say anything at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is 2 4 2 configuration First Class? Doesn't sound like OP paid for FC.

This is United "dorm class". I have no idea why anyone would pay extra for these seats. They are not any better than economy plus.

+1

I sat in those once never again. DH made the arrangements also never again LOL