No, That TikTok Boarding Hack Will not Assure You a Higher Seat — This is What Flight Attendants Needed to Say

A flight boarding tip that is made its manner round social media is being debunked by flight attendants.

Touted as a hack on TikTok, vacationers have been displaying what they contemplate to be a significant in-air perk by ready til the final minute to board their flights.

“You may sit in any open row you see obtainable with out going to your seat first,” one TikTok person wrote, whereas one other touring couple agreed, “that manner if that they had you sitting subsequent to somebody earlier than … now you possibly can select any open seat if the flights [sic] not full.”

Nonetheless, commenters have been fast to reply explaining that boarding final most definitely leaves you with no overhead bin house and that, usually, flights are too packed to even have the choice of a unique seat.

And in case you ask the specialists, they’re on the aspect of the commenters.

“I strongly suggest asking your cabin crew for permission earlier than taking an empty seat,” Crystal Romo, a flight attendant who has been working for a mainline provider for 5 years, instructed Journey + Leisure. “We dislike it very a lot when passengers transfer to open exit row seats with out chatting with the crew.”

Romo additionally famous that sure choices, just like the exit row seats require a security briefing and are thought-about an improve.

Jasmine Khadija, a flight attendant with two years of expertise, agreed with Romo and famous that you would be able to ask a gate agent earlier than boarding in case you can transfer seats (particularly, a window or aisle or one with much less folks).

As soon as on the aircraft, she defined that flight attendants don’t have possession over seats however can provide the go forward for a transfer to an unoccupied seat — however it typically needs to be the identical cabin class.

And in case you paid the identical fare? 

“As soon as on the aircraft, you possibly can ask the crew if any rows can be found so that you can sit alone — it is normally advantageous,” she instructed T+L.

Each flight attendants word, nevertheless, that ready till the final second to board may also trigger pointless stress for the workers.

“Airline workers observe a strict schedule for boarding, so it is necessary to be on time no matter your seat,” Khadija mentioned.

“The boarding door closes quarter-hour earlier than departure, and after that time, boarding is not allowed,” emphasised Romo. “Brokers might be on the jet bridge finishing the ultimate boarding procedures, so they will not be on the gate. If this occurs, it’s possible you’ll lose your reservation solely and can must be rebooked on the subsequent obtainable flight, although availability is not assured resulting from full bookings.”

In different phrases? Higher skip this tip and simply ask the gate agent if you wish to transfer your seat and see if there’s one other obtainable. Upon getting your assigned seat, keep on with it.