B737-112 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 880 posts, RR: 8 Posted (11 years 7 months 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1305 times:
I just booked a flight on UAL for next Sunday and they say all seat assignments will only be given out the day of the flight. I only want to travel in one particular seat on the 72Q. Is that common, is there a way around it?
Jwenting From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 10213 posts, RR: 21 Reply 2, posted (11 years 7 months 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1196 times:
Most airlines don't give seat reservations in advance, or do so only in first and/or business class.
Just turn up early at the checkin counter and ask.
Some airlines are starting to not assign seats at all. Seats are handed out on boarding on a first-com, first-serve basis with passengers that check in early being allowed to board before passengers that check in late. This is helping against people with pre-booked seats turning up at the last minute, causing delays.
AA-SAN From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 139 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (11 years 7 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1075 times:
Usually means that the flight is overbooked. All seat assignments are already given out and you will be assigned to the first seat that frees up. This is assuming that you just bought the ticket which your post seems to say. Just bought SAN-AUS tickets and was able to choose seats... but good luck getting things worked out. It wouldn't be a waste of time for you to give them a call and see if anything has changed.
Delta-flyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 2676 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (11 years 7 months 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1038 times:
I have always received seat assignments on Delta right on their web site -- I choose them from a graphic seat plan.
However, I flew a couple of United segments last week (RNO-SFO-SAN) and did not receive seat assignments in advance. I would hate to be a steady UA customer if that is the rule rather than the exception.
Zrs70 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2872 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (11 years 7 months 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1021 times:
Certainly UA has advanced seat assignments. But they always save a handful for date of travel/ gate check. Usually this signifies a full or oversold flight, but not always.
I have rarely not had an advanced seat.
Best case scenario ... flight is oversold and you volunteer your reservation in exchange for $$$.
Ryu2 From Taiwan, joined Aug 2002, 460 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (11 years 7 months 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 997 times:
Supposedly, some airlines are doing this to prevent someone from hiding a weapon, etc. in a predetermined seat number, to be later used by a hijacker with that assigned seat.
PSU_DTW_SCE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (11 years 7 months 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 979 times:
In all cases I've been giving a seat assignment except once and the flight was in an oversold situation. It didn't matter because I switched to an earlier flight anyways. It has nothing to do with the security matters, thats a flat out rumor/lie.
Maybe its oversold because there are so many people who want to get one last ride on a UA 727 before they're retired next week?!?!?!?
Trickijedi From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3266 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (11 years 7 months 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 961 times:
Man, I know what you mean! I booked a flight from ORD-MCO in November and I chose my own seats on-line when I booked it. But this morning I got a message from United stating that I lost those seats and they conveniently chose new seats for me. I know that part of the reason is because of the aircraft change (from B727 to A319) but I chose THOSE seats for a reason. Oh well!
Its better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than be in the air wishing you were on the ground. Fly safe!
Goingboeing From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 4875 posts, RR: 19 Reply 10, posted (11 years 7 months 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 944 times:
I wouldn't raise too much of a stink about "I chose THOSE seats for a reason" or "I Must have this particular seat". I kind of think statements like that might draw the attention of security.
SegmentKing From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (11 years 7 months 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 938 times:
United blocks the last few rows of coach for airport check in, as well as the normal emergency exit row.
with the introduction of Economy Plus, "non-Elite" frequent flyers will now see it becomes harder to get advanced seat assignments on a large number of flights.
Also, Reno - San Francisco is Shuttle.. no advanced seat assignments allowed unless you are Premier/Premier Exec/1K/First
KaiTakFan From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 1586 posts, RR: 7 Reply 13, posted (11 years 7 months 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 914 times:
When I went to Sydney Last week from Los Angeles (flying non rev) I was the 3rd standby called up for half booked flight in Biz class. I requested the upper deck as i usually do and they said due to short amount of F/A's they are trying not to allow anyone in the upper deck! What a shame... they had 13 open seats up there! Oh well maybe in a few weeks when i go back they will allow me up there! So I guess they are even doing the same with full paying customers as well.
L1011 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1583 posts, RR: 10 Reply 15, posted (11 years 7 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 861 times:
In December I am flying RIC-ORD-HKG-SIN-NRT-ORD-RIC. I made my reservations in February. These were all on United, but my HKG-SIN leg has been changed to Cathay Pacific. My problem was with my ORD-HKG flight. It is flight UA 895, a Boeing 747-400, and I was confirmed in seat 53A, a window seat behind the wing. Last week, I received an updated itinerary, and I noticed my seat was changed to 47B! Boy, was I furious! A middle seat on a 16 hour flight? No way! It was still the same flight number, the same aircraft type, and the same departure and arrival times. I immediately called United and told them I've had my seat assignment for 8 months. I booked it that far ahead to make sure I got a window seat. Was somebody else more important than me and you gave them my seat? The agent apologized and said she didn't know what had happened, but there were no window seats available, only middle seats. I said that I would not fly if I had to sit in a middle seat. I would understand if I had made my reservation at the last minute, but I made it eight months ago. This just wasn't right. She said she would speak to a supervisor about it. After about five minutes on hold, she came back and said she was authorized to give me seat 41A, a window seat in Economy Plus. So I thanked her and said that would be great. Four or five extra inches of legroom on a 16 hour flight will make quite a difference. But I still don't understand why they dumped me out of my original seat.
AA-SAN From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 139 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (11 years 7 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 849 times:
So... a little off topic, but I just spent almost an hour on the phone with united trying to figure out how I'm going to be getting between SAN and AUS the weekend before Thanksgiving. Seems that two of my four legs have been canceled, and it is going to be a huge pain in my ass to get there when i need to be there. Anyways, they wanted to leave me in DEN for four hours, but I refused. Finally, after talking to a supervisor, the "found" room for me on an earlier flight DEN-AUS. Amazing how that works isn't it??? It's too bad UA had such a good fare, cause I'm guessing that this isn't going to be the last of my problems on this trip. I'll let you all know how it turns out.
SegmentKing From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (11 years 7 months 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 823 times:
a "normal" United agent has to rebook you in the same class of service, otherwise s/he will have to get a waiver from a supervisor to put you on a different flight.
Also, in regards to the ORD-HKG flight, any minor change in the flight pretty much resets the seat map.... even if it's a minute.
I'm doing 30 segments this month on United and over half have had aircraft equipment downgrades and I've lost about 3 confirmed upgrades due to lack of inventory and the damn Premier Exec 1K's ahead of me with confirmed upgrades.. but it's something we have to live with...
Zrb2 From United States of America, joined May 2000, 894 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (11 years 7 months 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 804 times:
I booked a UA Express flight for Thanksgiving morning between IAD-BUF and back on the following Sunday. I bought the tickets for my wife and I over 3 months ago and chose those flights because they were on 55 pax Regional Jets. I had seat assignments 5A&B for both segments. Yesterday I called to confirm and asked that they fax me an itinerary so I know the flight #'s and exact times. Much to my surprise they downsized the aircraft on both flights to 35 pax J41 prop planes. Not only that, they took away our seat assignments and said we'd have to check-in at the gate before getting them. Upon further inquiry, it sounds like both flights are totally full and they can't give us seat assignments because they are all taken! That ticks me off because my wife and I will end up getting single seats apart from each other on a prop plane where she is scared to fly. Who decided on the downgrade that we would be axed from the seat assignment list? I feel like we are getting the shaft.
Goingboeing From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 4875 posts, RR: 19 Reply 19, posted (11 years 7 months 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 795 times:
That's why I really like Southwest. I can make my reservations 6 months in advance or the day before, and I've got a darn good shot at getting the seat I want.
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