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Seat Assignment Change
Question:
The airlines tend to hold a block of seats for check in families and others traveling together. On UA, this block is usually the last 10 or so rows on a large jet. These seats are released for gate checkin. I always thought much more than 20% was held back. I usually arrive early at checkin, when all these seats are released, and get decent seats. >The only other option is that the > plane is 80% full already, in which case 20% of seat assignments are kept > for day-of seating, and you’d be out of luck until the day you travel. ></snip>
Why do you need to be in the front of the plane? Everybody gets to the same place at about the same time. Also, chances are, steerage starts at a higher number on a 767 than a 757, so you may actually be closer to the front latrine on the 767 than the 757. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Learned yesterday the plane was changed to a 767. > Called AA and found out our seats are now 27 E&G (why do they skip letters > D > & F?) We are deeper in the plane and in the middle aisle.
Response:
In my experience, 5 or so major US Airlines all do this. I can relate specific experiences on UA, AA, DL, US, and HP where this happened to me. It is quite possible other airlines do not do this, but since these airlines all use computerized reservations systems which not only set prices but also set them at the same level, it is quite possible this rule is more prevalent than just these 5 airlines.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> <snip> >The only other option is that the > plane is 80% full already, in which case 20% of seat assignments are kept > for day-of seating, and you’d be out of luck until the day you travel. > </snip> > -Adam > Is this 80% you refer to a universal rule (i.e. all airlines, comuter, > long haul etc)??? I’ve never heard of that but I don’t travel much. > John > > Looks like I don’t have any recourse but the situation is so aggravating > > (happened once before) and I’m anxious to see if you seasoned fliers know > > how airlines determine seating. > > This concerns a trip to Aruba, flying from Boston non-stop. > > Made reservations January 7 for an October trip. > > Assigned seats B&C 18 on a 757. > > Learned yesterday the plane was changed to a 767. > > Called AA and found out our seats are now 27 E&G (why do they skip letters > D > > & F?) We are deeper in the plane and in the middle aisle. > > I’m claustrophobic and was really happy with the B&C 18 seats but being > > farther in the plane concerns me. > > I called AA again but they can’t do anything about the situation. They > will > > monitor our reservations but you know what that means. > > Why don’t they reassign seats as close to the original seat assignment. > > I know, I know….it’s too much trouble. > > So I have to live with this. You may have guessed that we don’t travel > too > > much…maybe once a year…but it’s a hassle every time. We’re old and we > > could take less of a hassle. > > Thanks for reading my venting. > > Betty….. who may be going on her last trip if the stock market > > (IRA)doesn’t improve.
Response:
<snip> >The only other option is that the > plane is 80% full already, in which case 20% of seat assignments are kept > for day-of seating, and you’d be out of luck until the day you travel. </snip> > -Adam
Is this 80% you refer to a universal rule (i.e. all airlines, comuter, long haul etc)??? I’ve never heard of that but I don’t travel much. John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Looks like I don’t have any recourse but the situation is so aggravating > (happened once before) and I’m anxious to see if you seasoned fliers know > how airlines determine seating. > This concerns a trip to Aruba, flying from Boston non-stop. > Made reservations January 7 for an October trip. > Assigned seats B&C 18 on a 757. > Learned yesterday the plane was changed to a 767. > Called AA and found out our seats are now 27 E&G (why do they skip letters > D > & F?) We are deeper in the plane and in the middle aisle. > I’m claustrophobic and was really happy with the B&C 18 seats but being > farther in the plane concerns me. > I called AA again but they can’t do anything about the situation. They > will > monitor our reservations but you know what that means. > Why don’t they reassign seats as close to the original seat assignment. > I know, I know….it’s too much trouble. > So I have to live with this. You may have guessed that we don’t travel > too > much…maybe once a year…but it’s a hassle every time. We’re old and we > could take less of a hassle. > Thanks for reading my venting. > Betty….. who may be going on her last trip if the stock market > (IRA)doesn’t improve.
Response:
You can also check the seat availability on aa.com for your particular flight. Just go to the following link: http://www.aa.com/apps/reservations/CheckAvailableSeats.jhtml?anchorE… Just enter the required information and you will be shown a graphical representation of how the seats are allocated on your specific flight. If you see that the seats are too far back to your liking, you can call AA reservations back and suggest which ones you would like. Much easier than relying on someone at the reservation desk to choose the seats for you. Hope that helps!
Response:
>Assigned seats B&C 18 on a 757.
about 10 rows back from the front of economy >Called AA and found out our seats are now 27 E&G (why do they skip letters D >& F?) We are deeper in the plane and in the middle aisle.
about 9 rows back from the front of economy. — Lansbury www.uk-air.net
Response:
You can check at the gate to see what is available, but no you don’t have any recourse, the ticket is from point A to point B, not in a specific seat.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Looks like I don’t have any recourse but the situation is so aggravating > (happened once before) and I’m anxious to see if you seasoned fliers know > how airlines determine seating. > This concerns a trip to Aruba, flying from Boston non-stop. > Made reservations January 7 for an October trip. > Assigned seats B&C 18 on a 757. > Learned yesterday the plane was changed to a 767. > Called AA and found out our seats are now 27 E&G (why do they skip letters D > & F?) We are deeper in the plane and in the middle aisle. > I’m claustrophobic and was really happy with the B&C 18 seats but being > farther in the plane concerns me. > I called AA again but they can’t do anything about the situation. They will > monitor our reservations but you know what that means. > Why don’t they reassign seats as close to the original seat assignment. > I know, I know….it’s too much trouble. > So I have to live with this. You may have guessed that we don’t travel too > much…maybe once a year…but it’s a hassle every time. We’re old and we > could take less of a hassle. > Thanks for reading my venting. > Betty….. who may be going on her last trip if the stock market > (IRA)doesn’t improve.
Response:
> Betty….. who may be going on her last trip if the stock market > (IRA)doesn’t improve.
I don’t know how old you are, but per your post it sounds like you are close to retirement or in retirement. If that is the case, it sounds like you need to fire whomever is giving you investment advice as you really shouldn’t have the majority of your money in the market if you are older and drawing from your IRA. The older you get the more you should take out of the market and move into cash, CD’s, bonds, and other fixed income products which are of less risk. Don’t feel bad though, a lot of people are in the same boat with recent losses in the stock market. I always stress diversification and I also stress when people get older to when they’ll be needing their IRA’s, that they take their funds out of the stock market and put the funds into cash, CDs, bonds, and other fixed income products. When you are young and saving, that is the time to be in the market taking risk and earning money (but at the same time, be diversified).. When you are older, nearing retirement, or in retirement, that is when you need your money in Bonds, CDs, Money Markets, and other "safe" fixed income products. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you get to take many, many more trips! I do highly suggest you talk to a professional about your IRA if you are older and most (or all) of your money is in the stock market. Best Regards, Steve P.S. About your seating – a 767 is a much larger aircraft (it’s a widebody with twin aisles) and if you are claustrophobic, it should be less of an issue. I believe the seats you were re-assigned are about the same distance if not closer to the front of the coach section on a 767, as aisle numbering is done differently.
Response:
Looks like I don’t have any recourse but the situation is so aggravating (happened once before) and I’m anxious to see if you seasoned fliers know how airlines determine seating. This concerns a trip to Aruba, flying from Boston non-stop. Made reservations January 7 for an October trip. Assigned seats B&C 18 on a 757. Learned yesterday the plane was changed to a 767. Called AA and found out our seats are now 27 E&G (why do they skip letters D & F?) We are deeper in the plane and in the middle aisle. I’m claustrophobic and was really happy with the B&C 18 seats but being farther in the plane concerns me. I called AA again but they can’t do anything about the situation. They will monitor our reservations but you know what that means. Why don’t they reassign seats as close to the original seat assignment. I know, I know….it’s too much trouble. So I have to live with this. You may have guessed that we don’t travel too much…maybe once a year…but it’s a hassle every time. We’re old and we could take less of a hassle. Thanks for reading my venting. Betty….. who may be going on her last trip if the stock market (IRA)doesn’t improve.
Response:
Call again. And again. The one rule to airline reservations is that if you speak with enough people, at least one person will try to accommodate your situation. The 767 is a big plane. You may not be as far back as you think. There are more first/business class seats on 767s and thus the plane is simply numbered differently. As for the middle aisle, that should be a very easy thing to fix. Considering your flight plans are 5 months out, the plane is likely to be nearly empty. Switching seats should be simple; just keep calling until an agent will help you. The only other option is that the plane is 80% full already, in which case 20% of seat assignments are kept for day-of seating, and you’d be out of luck until the day you travel. However, this is likely NOT the case, so just keep calling. -Adam
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Looks like I don’t have any recourse but the situation is so aggravating > (happened once before) and I’m anxious to see if you seasoned fliers know > how airlines determine seating. > This concerns a trip to Aruba, flying from Boston non-stop. > Made reservations January 7 for an October trip. > Assigned seats B&C 18 on a 757. > Learned yesterday the plane was changed to a 767. > Called AA and found out our seats are now 27 E&G (why do they skip letters D > & F?) We are deeper in the plane and in the middle aisle. > I’m claustrophobic and was really happy with the B&C 18 seats but being > farther in the plane concerns me. > I called AA again but they can’t do anything about the situation. They will > monitor our reservations but you know what that means. > Why don’t they reassign seats as close to the original seat assignment. > I know, I know….it’s too much trouble. > So I have to live with this. You may have guessed that we don’t travel too > much…maybe once a year…but it’s a hassle every time. We’re old and we > could take less of a hassle. > Thanks for reading my venting. > Betty….. who may be going on her last trip if the stock market > (IRA)doesn’t improve.