When will AF finally allow seat selection for short and medium haul
May 22, 2016, 2:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
Programs: El Al Matmid, Air France Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 2,294
When will AF finally allow seat selection for short and medium haul
Don't you also think that it is high time for AF to allow seat selection during booking for short and medium haul flights?
May 22, 2016, 10:28 pm
#2
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It's been high time for at least a dozen years and they still haven't so I wouldn't hold my breath. One of AF's key specialties is to try and transform every solution into a problem rather than the other way round so you can be sure that they have a list of at least 999 reasons why it would be bad/wrong/impossible/counter-productive to make such pre-selection possible.
May 24, 2016, 12:30 am
#5
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I am a lowly Ivory, but I cannot understand why AF does not try to implement seat selection for its elite+ members. They will all sit in the front, so the argument that there is a risk of substitution within the A320 family is ridiculous. Just open for assignments seats up to a A318 (23 rows). If AF can "block" x rows for C pax and assign them, they could block y rows for elite+ if that makes it easier.
May 24, 2016, 2:58 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
AF is weird in that aspect, I have a long-haul C booking with them that includes an AMS-CDG leg, on the way out they have pre allocated 2 rows for C, on the way back they have pre allocated 5 rows.
With KL, they at least always consistently allocate all available rows as C, and then change it at T-72 to make some C rows into Economy Comfort based on the actual booking.
With KL, they at least always consistently allocate all available rows as C, and then change it at T-72 to make some C rows into Economy Comfort based on the actual booking.
May 24, 2016, 6:50 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2008
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They will all sit in the front, so the argument that there is a risk of substitution within the A320 family is ridiculous. Just open for assignments seats up to a A318 (23 rows). If AF can "block" x rows for C pax and assign them, they could block y rows for elite+ if that makes it easier.
With KL, they at least always consistently allocate all available rows as C, and then change it at T-72 to make some C rows into Economy Comfort based on the actual booking.
That said, it seems like a reasonable compromise is to allow seat selection from (say) the exit rows on mainline (or some equivalent position on RJs) back, and allow seat selection within that range. At check-in, the forward non-C rows would open as usual.
May 24, 2016, 7:25 am
#8
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May 25, 2016, 7:43 am
#9
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The arguments used by AF about the impossibility of assigning Y seats remind me of those we heard about allowing Elite members to board first. They kept insisting that quick turnaround required boarding by rows from the back of the plane. That meant that elite were typically boarding last when there were no more newspapers available nor overhead space. And now they shortened the turnaround and call the skypriority first and all others afterward.
May 27, 2016, 6:34 am
#10
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So, in summary, I give up trying to understand AF here. They should just not assign seats for anyone until checkin
May 30, 2016, 9:30 am
#11
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Has this been implemented?
Can FB elites now select AF seats at any time??? Or other customers pay in advance? Even on shorthaul?
Originally Posted by Flying Blue
AIR FRANCE and KLM standard seat selection
A new way to select your seat in Economy Class
We all have our seating preferences when we fly. A solo traveller, for example, has different needs to a family travelling together. Unfortunately, it has not always been possible to ensure AIR FRANCE and KLM’s most loyal frequent flyers to choose the seat they want. Likewise, families have not always been seated together. To help more passengers get the seat they prefer, AIR FRANCE and KLM are changing the way you reserve seats in Economy.
With this improvement, the following passengers will be able to choose a standard Economy seat any time prior to departure free of charge:
During check-in, all passengers can still choose a standard Economy seat free of charge. Passengers, who wish to reserve a seat before check-in opens, will also have the opportunity to do so as a paid service.
This new method of selecting seats is a real improvement that ensures Flying Blue members can choose from more seats, even close to departure. It’s just one of the many ways that AIR FRANCE and KLM is recognising your loyalty while providing a better travel experience for all.
A new way to select your seat in Economy Class
We all have our seating preferences when we fly. A solo traveller, for example, has different needs to a family travelling together. Unfortunately, it has not always been possible to ensure AIR FRANCE and KLM’s most loyal frequent flyers to choose the seat they want. Likewise, families have not always been seated together. To help more passengers get the seat they prefer, AIR FRANCE and KLM are changing the way you reserve seats in Economy.
With this improvement, the following passengers will be able to choose a standard Economy seat any time prior to departure free of charge:
- Flying Blue Platinum, Gold, Silver, Club 2000 and Skipper members
- AIR FRANCE and KLM passengers with a Full Flex Economy ticket
During check-in, all passengers can still choose a standard Economy seat free of charge. Passengers, who wish to reserve a seat before check-in opens, will also have the opportunity to do so as a paid service.
This new method of selecting seats is a real improvement that ensures Flying Blue members can choose from more seats, even close to departure. It’s just one of the many ways that AIR FRANCE and KLM is recognising your loyalty while providing a better travel experience for all.
May 31, 2016, 2:42 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: FB Platinum, All Accor Platinum
Posts: 532
if you take the french version of the page, you will see that they mention that for all other passengers, it costs 20 euros for a standard seat.
i don't know why they don't mention that in the english version and why they don't specify that this applies only to long haul...
https://www.flyingblue.com/news/2254...selection.html
Jun 4, 2016, 12:04 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC
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Posts: 2,310
I just pulled up a reservation I have for December, with two short-haul segments. I'm STE+ which shows as Flying Blue Gold on the AF website. I have my seats for the long-haul flights but the intra-Europe segments still indicate Seat selection at check-in.
Jul 5, 2016, 2:21 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: DTW
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I'm flying CDG-IST on Air France this Friday (connecting on DL metal from DTW). I've called DL and AF (which re-routed me back to DL). I'm SkyTeam+, DM, and I can't get any seat selected. I've read here that there may be new alternatives but not able to select a seat even paying for it. Is seat selection prior to check in a possibility?
Jul 5, 2016, 3:48 pm
#15
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