Discussions

Employees have been yelled at and sworn at over this and it's not fair to them. Most of them being kids still in high school. It is unfair how they are being treated over a session that wasn't there's. People need to grow up and embrace change. It's 2017. Cineplex has been doing assigned seating for ages now. People were mad about the coke freestyle machines and now they love them.  
 
Assigned seating is good because this means nobody can sneak in, which is the majority of those who are mad because they are the ones who like to do so. Be on time for your movie or order tickets online and maybe you wouldn't have a problem with your seating. It's not like the system picks for you. You get a choice.  
 
My point overall: people are still going to watch movies no matter what and stop taking your frustration out on the employees.

Cheezies said "Yes, the theatre is now assigned seating. The decision comes from head office and not the local staff. I'm in awe at how many people don't understand that. These employees were yelled at and sworn at, it's not their fault this was put in place. I get people were mad at the change, but it's not the employees fault. When you purchase tickets you can choose your seat.   And this is in effect for all movies now, not just due to a popular movie. And yes they were and are actively checking tickets and moving guests to proper seats. Maybe send a msg to head office to express your disapproval of this new system, they are the rule makers. Some staff aren't fans of this system too, but they have to do their job. Just something to keep in mind. "

couldn't have said it better myself

daisychain said "what if 6 kids want to go to a movie together, some parents dont have that kind of money to dole out to buy the seats together. As a adults, this isn't such a big issue if you are going with your spouse, but what if the lady with the huge hair, or the guy thats 6ft 6in, sits in front, are you able to move to get an unobstructed view? "

I don't understand what the difference is here: there's no cost for the seat selection. Isn't it better for the parents to be able to go online, pick 6 seats together and guarantee their kids can sit in a group, rather than buying tickets at the door and hoping it's not so busy that they get split up?

pudds said "    daisychain said "what if 6 kids want to go to a movie together, some parents dont have that kind of money to dole out to buy the seats together. As a adults, this isn't such a big issue if you are going with your spouse, but what if the lady with the huge hair, or the guy thats 6ft 6in, sits in front, are you able to move to get an unobstructed view? " I don't understand what the difference is here: there's no cost for the seat selection. Isn't it better for the parents to be able to go online, pick 6 seats together and guarantee their kids can sit in a group, rather than buying tickets at the door and hoping it's not so busy that they get split up? "

I think where this issue daisychain was talking about was if it was 6 different kids from different families. In this case, to ensure same seats together (in advance), they one parent would have to pay it all up front. Now, unless I am mistaken, they could just all meet at the theater, and buy the tickets together, each paying there share. Same as they would have before, so it should not make much of a difference. I have not been yet under the new rules. but there are advantages and disadvantages. One major upside is one time I went to a movie, and only seats left were in the front row (which I hate). If I knew in advance, I probably would not have gone.

Who is to say in the near future you will not have to pay different rates for better seats? As others have expressed you do it at the MTS center and Westman Place why not here?

Netwalker said "Who is to say in the near future you will not have to pay different rates for better seats? As others have expressed you do it at the MTS center and Westman Place why not here? "

Define better. For me, it's around the middle. For some, it's the back row. For some, it's the front. Some like the centre, others prefer being on the aisle (say those with little kids - with little bladders).  
 
Why worry about something the MAY happen. A meteor may knock the moon out of orbit, causing a crash into the earth. I am not going to worry about it.

very often so when I do I want to be nice relaxing, a bit of an event, dinner and a movie with my sweety.  
 
so I can see all kinds of ways this will suck.  
 
many posters mentioned great they can show just before the movie, pick seats and in they go. there in lies the problem when everyone starts coming "just before" the movie. now you got a line up to get in all at once.  
 
the first time I get told I can't change seats when some 6 ft 6 guy is in front and if I can't see the movie, I am changing seats or if refused I will be getting a refund.  
 
the guy that won't stay off his phone, and I can't change seats, i am changing seats or getting a refund.  
 
screaming kids. ( i love kids) but not when I pay good money and can't hear, I am changing seats.  
 
the guy thats got the manspread going on and can't stay in his own seat. i am changing seats.  
 
any number of reasons why a person might want to change seats as it is easier than putting up with the bad behavoir of another patron. Just change seats, problem solved. If I can't change seats, guess there is going to be a problem.  
 
even in the winter when you have someone next to you or in front with a bulky winter coat that is laying half in your seat.  
 
having the ability to change seats is important, I am not shelling out good money and putting up with BS for 2 hours.  
 
Most seats in a theater are pretty good, and it is a smaller venue. it is not like a sporting or concert event where there are 1000s in attendance.

When I lived overseas in the 90s the movie theatres were all assigned seating. I liked being able to buy 4 seats together at lunch and then be able to have dinner before the show without worrying about getting in.  
If the theater was full you sat in your assigned seats and took your chances with the crowd around you. If you went at an off peak time or after the show had been around for awhile you could move around... Nobody was that concerned. Plus the seats aren't named like an airline ticket so if you have a tall person in front of your short kid just swap with them or ask the tall person to swap.  
I welcome the advantages and I feel the concerns are unwarranted.  
 
Edited by JRL, 2017-09-13 17:08:34

one idea for a solution to one of the problems (but it also creates more problems) is like people said with assigned/chosen seats at westman place. Once the movie (or maybe even previews???) start, no one is allowed to walk up the aisles to get to their seat until and intermission. It would prevent the people showing up late and walking all over peoples toes and popcorn, etc to get to a middle seat.  
 
CONS:  
need more employees to man the theatre to prevent the ingress of people (price hike).  
need intermissions in movies.  
and probably more that i have not yet thought of.  
 
When it comes to not liking the people around you for whatever reason (big coat, tall, manspread, kids etc)maybe they will have to pound out some more rules that need to be enforced.  
 
My concern is with the accessible seating area for people with disabilities and their friends/ escorts/ people they are out with. i have gone to the movies... my wife has mobility issues... and all of the front accessible seating was taken up by people that just want to stretch out their legs.... should the front row only be available by showing a handicap plaque like a handicap parking spot?

I'm not sure how one can compare going to a movie versus going to a hockey game at the Keystone etc. putting aside the price difference and what one is getting for 'entertainment' etc.  
 
It would make too much for people to just show up with ample amount time with your 5 or 6 friends with you at the same time(and not dangle in late or even during the previews then cry about not finding a seat) then find a decent seat and just relax and that. The last movie I went to, there were people just texting on their cell phones the whole stinking time.  
 
I only go to a movie a couple of times a year if that. It may give a person a reason to go to small town theatre (like the one in Glenboro) instead and maybe even save a bit of money other then driving there and back.

Trevor B said "10:05 showing currently shows no one has purchased tickets for it yet. It's a wide open theatre. Could pick a random seat for the ticket, then choose any seat otherwise when you get in. Doubt they will be checking your ticket to make sure your in the right one.     The one thing that makes me wonder about that multi-theatre, once you go past the main ticket check booth. There's nothing to stop you from going to a totally different movie or jump between movies. "

I remember listening to a podcast and the guys were talking about opening weekends. I want to say it was TARZAN (disney version) or some movie like that opened the same weekend as the southpark movie and the studio was trying to figure out why the theatres were packed but their revenue was so low. Then they looked at the disney movie and it was breaking records...they put two and two together and realized everyone was buying disney tickets and sneaking into Southpark.

We went to the movie last weekend and I already noticed a big downside to this seating. I found a lot more people were coming in during the start of the movie than usual. Could be a coincidence but if there is no reason to be early I think this will get to be more common if people are guaranteed a good seat.

that is exactly what I said in my post, people will start coming in late as they have the confidence that their seat will be there.  
 
so its happening already.  
 
at the start of the show time, the doors should be shut. sorry your late.  
 
is it the hockey games here now that you cant return to your seat during play, you need to wait for a stoppage.  
 
most of those seat row are so close together it is a pain in the royal behind when people are coming and going through a movie.  
 
it is one thing at a concert or sports game to be up and about cause everyones noisy anyway, but at a opera, movie theater, musical etc where your attention is required. sit your butt down on time, shut up, turn your cell phone off and sit there till its over.  
 
i got no tolerance for those that don't,thats likley why i dont go to many movies.

isn't there assigned seating pretty much everywhere else these days? Like hockey and such ? Or concerts?

Gave it a try last weekend. When we got into the theatre there were people in our seats. No big deal, we sat somewhere else. We ended up being in someone else's spot, but they didn't care and sat next to us. A few does down a lady came into the theatre with a couple others as the movie was starting and got mad that someone was in her spot. They must have said something because she shut up and sat down. There were several good spots all over the theatre. Should we have kicked out the people in our spots? Probably, but it wasn't a packed theatre and at the end of the day, what does it matter? The assigned seating is bull unless it's opening night or a special showing.

Can you not buy your tickets at the theatre any more because of the assigned seating or do you have to buy them online on the Atom App or online on the Landmark website?

It will interesting to see if they keep this policy in place now that they've been sold. I don't know how to post the link but I seen an article saying landmark cinemas was bought by a Belgium company for 123 million

Yes I would have kicked the people out of your seats. I am very particular about my seat selection so if I get there and someone is in my seat you betcha they will be asked to move regardless of how many seats are still empty. That's why we are the kind of people to arrive an hour before the movie starts and were often the first ones to get in. I will likely still be there early but maybe not that early. It was nice to know my seat I pick is there for me when I get there. Now if only others would not show up late and interrupt the whole theatre. Those people always seem to either be in my row or right in front of or behind me. Lol