Airfares

[OnMyWay]

17 minutes ago, Old55 said:

Sorry you had to endure this experience Geoff and good for you standing your ground in a respectful manner like that. 

I would not have been that respectful.

[hk blues]

1 hour ago, russellmania said:

"They choose tall single male" but thats not always true. I asked the check in clerk for an exit door seat. Im 6ft6 and she said,,sorry sir, no vacancy. I get on the flight and as I walked by the exit door seats..I see a female next to the exit door!!! Of course I was annoyed but I held my tongue.

Most Flight Attendants are female and one of their responsibilities is to be able to open the exit doors.  I've been lucky enough to get the exit seat a few times and I'm by no means tall.  I would be very surprised to hear there is any such policy favouring tall single males given the focus on equality nowadays.

[Old55]

Sorry I brought it up guys. 

[OnMyWay]

22 hours ago, hk blues said:

I would be very surprised to hear there is any such policy favouring tall single males given the focus on equality nowadays.

In the old days there was probably unwritten rule favoring taller men, and those were the ones requesting exit rows anyway.  I used to do it all the time back in the 90's and would even show up early to get an exit row.

Then the bean counters got involved.  I think every airline charges for exit row now.  So anyone can book it online.  Maybe a warning pops up.  Then when you are seated, they interview you and you must answer Yes to the list of responsibilities of sitting in an exit row.

Kids can't sit in exit rows so I never ask for it anymore.  I think you have to be 18.

Some exit rows have a downside.  On the large aircraft with the big main doors. there is often a large area in front of the exit row where people mill around, stretching and/or waiting for a CR.  Some may not like that.

[Onemore52]

On 2/9/2022 at 2:14 PM, GeoffH said:

That is the case (or at least used to be), I had a... spirited debate lets call it on one trip with PAL.

I had paid extra on my booking for a selected isle seat and my ticket showed my seat number on the trip out of Australia to Manila.  A loud and very self important Filipino man starts harrassing the cabin crew ( he was tall for a filipino and dressed in long black pants and a white shirt ) saying they should give him an aisle seat.

Next minute a diminutive hostess appears next to me and says sir "you have to move"... I look surprised, then after thinking about it for a couple of seconds look up and down the aisle and of course I was the only foreigner sitting in an aisle seat.

The loud pinoy is staring daggers at me and standing a couple of meters away clearly waiting for me to move.

I politely and without raising my voice showed my ticket and the copy of my paper booking showing where I had paid extra for a seat selection including the aisle surchange and said "I am happy to move, what aisle seat do I move to?".

The girl dropped her head and said "sorry Sir, no aisle seats available"... so I said "I will need a receipt to give to the airline counter (callled her by name this time off her badge) to claim back the aisle seat payment at Manila" and she said "Sorry sir, I can't give that...".

Then the guy in the aisle butts in loudly and says "This is the Philipines we get priority not foreigners" and I (still without raising my voice) said "are you offering to pay for the seat cost difference direct to me?".  He looks disgusted and orders the girl to move me.

The girl says "Sorry Sir, you have to move" and I (who was trying not to get annoyed but never the less was starting to) said "Are you ordering me, as a crew member, that you (name) are requiring me to exit this seat that I paid extra for?" and she said "No Sir".  

Then a male crew member appears and asks what is the problem, I showed him my reservation and ticket and gave a brief repeat of the conversation so far.  I said fine (name) but I will be seeking a refund at Manila Airport, he looks annoyed and says "You have to move now Sir!" so I said "Ok!  My walking stick is in the cabin locker above me, that's why I paid for an aisle seat you know.. because I can't get out of a window seat without assistance"



But... after that the guy looks shocked and says "Are you a PWD?" and whilst I don't think of myself that way I do use a stick for longer walks due to a leg injury and I said "Yes, can you hand me my stick".

He looks at the guy in the aisle (whom the entire area is now staring at) and says "Sorry Sir, you don't have to move".

I thanked him and said sorry for the disruption and the loud guy in the aisle slunk off somewhere down the plane.



That was actually the last time I flew with PAL.


NB I wouldn't generally suggest standing 'on your rights' in the Philippines but being a flight in international airspace where no one would be armed I felt on somewhat firmer ground.  Never the less I've used other carriers since then and not encountered  any more 'super entitled' Filipinos.

Geoff, very well done in keeping your composure. I wonder if other members have been subjected to similar acts of racism, or ageism? I know I have, quite a few and it always starts off with “you are a visitor to my country”.

[hk blues]

2 minutes ago, Onemore52 said:

Geoff, very well done in keeping your composure. I wonder if other members have been subjected to similar acts of racism, or ageism? I know I have, quite a few and it always starts off with “you are a visitor to my country”.

Not directly, but have witnessed it many times back home in the UK!  

[jimeve]

Last two times I flown with Cebu Pacific they have put me in the front exit seat (A1) going back a few years.

I never ask them for that exit seat.

[Snowy79]

4 hours ago, Onemore52 said:

Geoff, very well done in keeping your composure. I wonder if other members have been subjected to similar acts of racism, or ageism? I know I have, quite a few and it always starts off with “you are a visitor to my country”.

I had it not with an airline but at the taxi rank at the domestic terminal in Manila. My partner and I had just disembarked and went straight to the regular taxi rank. They write your name and location on a slip of paper with the taxi number on it before you get in the taxi. 

At the rank there was just myself and partner, the security had just written my name and location on the paper when a Filipino came over and told him to stop as he's a senior and wanted the taxi. There was three taxis in the line and just us there. The security guy looked embarrassed and said sorry Sir. My partner commented that I was also a senior but I said " it's OK, he doesn't look like he'll live much longer anyway let him take it. " The security guy smiled and the Filipino senior looked well pissed off..

[Clermont]

11 hours ago, Snowy79 said:

it's OK, he doesn't look like he'll live much longer anyway let him take it. "

Wit is a tool ignorant people don't know how to handle. 

[OnMyWay]

I found some good fares on Emirates today.  They have a sale going on.  Clark / Paris RT in May June was only 3100 USD for my family of 3 adults 2 kids.  I think the adult fare was 674.

Clark / DFW was about 5100 for the family, a lot cheaper than via LAX or SFO, and you are on a widebody the whole way.