Charge for seat assignments for economy domestic rewards?
Mar 29, 2015, 4:06 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,791
Charge for seat assignments for economy domestic rewards?
Trying to change seat assignments for domestic Aeroplan rewards in economy.
There are seats assigned automatically. However they want $20+tax to change them.
Is that what it is nowadays?
There are seats assigned automatically. However they want $20+tax to change them.
Is that what it is nowadays?
Mar 29, 2015, 4:14 pm
#2
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Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Since when??????
I assume there is a fee if you want a Preferred Seat, but since when is there a fee just to change a system-assigned seat. Oh I see, maybe a cash grab. They didn't get the $30 plus tax for a phone booking, so if you do it on their site, they take your money after the fact when you want to change a seat.
<sarcasm>
Also, I was told by Aeroplan that if you book a Classic Reward, you need to call Air Canada for the seat assignment.
Anyone know the real answer?
Mar 29, 2015, 4:15 pm
#3
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
Huh? HUCA and let us know what happens. That's just plain old weird, and if it is true, where was the announcement?
Mar 29, 2015, 4:38 pm
#4
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Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,791
Since when??????
I assume there is a fee if you want a Preferred Seat, but since when is there a fee just to change a system-assigned seat. Oh I see, maybe a cash grab. They didn't get the $30 plus tax for a phone booking, so if you do it on their site, they take your money after the fact when you want to change a seat.
<sarcasm>
Also, I was told by Aeroplan that if you book a Classic Reward, you need to call Air Canada for the seat assignment.
Anyone know the real answer?
I assume there is a fee if you want a Preferred Seat, but since when is there a fee just to change a system-assigned seat. Oh I see, maybe a cash grab. They didn't get the $30 plus tax for a phone booking, so if you do it on their site, they take your money after the fact when you want to change a seat.
<sarcasm>
Also, I was told by Aeroplan that if you book a Classic Reward, you need to call Air Canada for the seat assignment.
Anyone know the real answer?
Maybe I'll call them then.
Mar 29, 2015, 4:49 pm
#6
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,742
I've had a bunch of Aeroplan rewards booked recently and having the same problem. In J, I can change seats with no charge just fine through aircanada.com, but anything in Y wants to charge for any seat assignment.
It's a problem with the website though. Just phone in and they'll change them for free no problem (unless you want a preferred seat, in which case the usual fee applies).
Of course, the people on the phone have no idea why the website doesn't work properly.
It's a problem with the website though. Just phone in and they'll change them for free no problem (unless you want a preferred seat, in which case the usual fee applies).
Of course, the people on the phone have no idea why the website doesn't work properly.
Mar 29, 2015, 6:46 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, Bonvoy Gold, HHonors Diamond, VIA Premier, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 816
I've had a bunch of Aeroplan rewards booked recently and having the same problem. In J, I can change seats with no charge just fine through aircanada.com, but anything in Y wants to charge for any seat assignment.
It's a problem with the website though. Just phone in and they'll change them for free no problem (unless you want a preferred seat, in which case the usual fee applies).
Of course, the people on the phone have no idea why the website doesn't work properly.
It's a problem with the website though. Just phone in and they'll change them for free no problem (unless you want a preferred seat, in which case the usual fee applies).
Of course, the people on the phone have no idea why the website doesn't work properly.
Last edited by DNAwizard; Mar 29, 2015 at 6:47 pm Reason: Typo
Mar 29, 2015, 6:49 pm
#8
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Mar 29, 2015, 8:01 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, Bonvoy Gold, HHonors Diamond, VIA Premier, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 816
Mar 29, 2015, 8:04 pm
#10
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Mar 30, 2015, 11:51 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: Enough
Posts: 961
I Tweeted Air Canada because this was happening to me as well. Their response: "Since March 12th, Aeroplan Classic Rewards in X booking code are the equivalent to Tango for fare attributes and fees (bags, seats, etc). ad". I have emailed Ben Lipsy for validation. If this is true, that's an annoying deval
Mar 30, 2015, 11:55 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YEG
Programs: AC: Ac*A, , Nexus: Expired
Posts: 1,489
There is an issue in that your AC Status does not follow into your AE bookings. As an SE, I just booked reward tickets for my wife and I to Vegas and I had to call in to select preferred seats at NC because the system wanted to charge me. Typical Capabilities of IT.
Mar 30, 2015, 12:11 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SEMM
Posts: 1,379
I just went to the page where you can make seat assignment changes for flights booked by a third party (e.g. travel agent)
https://services.aircanada.com/Servi...method=english
and was able to change my wife and me (both on the same PNR for an Aeroplan award ticket that had booked into Tango) to a preferred seat at no charge. So it clearly recognised my SE status OK. Perhaps this is the trick one needs to apply!!
This ticket had been booked on March 19th, after the aforementioned March 12th date
As an aside, what was also interesting was that it showed the complete fare breakdown that Aeroplan must have paid AC for that ticket as well.
https://services.aircanada.com/Servi...method=english
and was able to change my wife and me (both on the same PNR for an Aeroplan award ticket that had booked into Tango) to a preferred seat at no charge. So it clearly recognised my SE status OK. Perhaps this is the trick one needs to apply!!
This ticket had been booked on March 19th, after the aforementioned March 12th date
As an aside, what was also interesting was that it showed the complete fare breakdown that Aeroplan must have paid AC for that ticket as well.
Last edited by Geoflying; Mar 30, 2015 at 12:18 pm
Mar 30, 2015, 12:55 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: Enough
Posts: 961
I just went to the page where you can make seat assignment changes for flights booked by a third party (e.g. travel agent)
https://services.aircanada.com/Servi...method=english
and was able to change my wife and me (both on the same PNR for an Aeroplan award ticket that had booked into Tango) to a preferred seat at no charge. So it clearly recognised my SE status OK. Perhaps this is the trick one needs to apply!!
This ticket had been booked on March 19th, after the aforementioned March 12th date
As an aside, what was also interesting was that it showed the complete fare breakdown that Aeroplan must have paid AC for that ticket as well.
https://services.aircanada.com/Servi...method=english
and was able to change my wife and me (both on the same PNR for an Aeroplan award ticket that had booked into Tango) to a preferred seat at no charge. So it clearly recognised my SE status OK. Perhaps this is the trick one needs to apply!!
This ticket had been booked on March 19th, after the aforementioned March 12th date
As an aside, what was also interesting was that it showed the complete fare breakdown that Aeroplan must have paid AC for that ticket as well.
