Seat Selection on AB /airberlin / "Air Berlin" (consolidated)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: New York City
Programs: Alaska Gold. SU Silver.
Posts: 312
Seat Selection on AB /airberlin / "Air Berlin" (consolidated)
I'll be flying AB for the first time soon in economy from Zurich to New York. Got the ticket by redeeming AA miles through aa.com. Can anyone tell me whether it is possible to choose seats ahead of time? Or is it one of those airline where you have to pay extra to do that?
I was unable to retrieve my reservation on airberlin.com but can see the record locator on aa.com along with booking code (X). Many thanks.
I was unable to retrieve my reservation on airberlin.com but can see the record locator on aa.com along with booking code (X). Many thanks.
#2
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,508
There's two options:
Call AA, and ask for the AB record locator. Armed with that, call AB (866-266-5588) to have them assign seats. This is not possible to do online at the moment.
Or call AA and have the AA agent assign a seat for you. They are able to do this directly, apparently bypassing the fees and status-based waivers as reported here.
AB has a system similar to BA for advance seat reservations - a combination of fees (EUR 15 /USD18 one way on the TATL plus EUR 10/USD 13 on the connecting intra-EU leg, one way for a standard seat) and status-based waivers of those. Should you hold status with AA (GLD/PLT/EXP) the EUR15 advance seat reservation fee is waived. Additionally, as OW Sapphire or Emerald (AA PLT/EXP), you may pre-reserve the "XL" exit row seats for free, which costs non-status customers EUR 60 longhaul (one way).
Which is something not every AB agent knows about - should you get an agent insisting on that free XL seat selection and/or waived fees are only for their own elites, tell them to consult the topbonus dept., they know....
If you can, go for the exit row(s). Although, AB economy class is pretty decent as far as economy goes, and if you're not really tall you'll be fine in a standard seat.
BTW, This is a pretty common topic that's been covered here before a few times. Just look a couple threads down to here, for example.
Call AA, and ask for the AB record locator. Armed with that, call AB (866-266-5588) to have them assign seats. This is not possible to do online at the moment.
Or call AA and have the AA agent assign a seat for you. They are able to do this directly, apparently bypassing the fees and status-based waivers as reported here.
AB has a system similar to BA for advance seat reservations - a combination of fees (EUR 15 /USD18 one way on the TATL plus EUR 10/USD 13 on the connecting intra-EU leg, one way for a standard seat) and status-based waivers of those. Should you hold status with AA (GLD/PLT/EXP) the EUR15 advance seat reservation fee is waived. Additionally, as OW Sapphire or Emerald (AA PLT/EXP), you may pre-reserve the "XL" exit row seats for free, which costs non-status customers EUR 60 longhaul (one way).
Which is something not every AB agent knows about - should you get an agent insisting on that free XL seat selection and/or waived fees are only for their own elites, tell them to consult the topbonus dept., they know....
If you can, go for the exit row(s). Although, AB economy class is pretty decent as far as economy goes, and if you're not really tall you'll be fine in a standard seat.
BTW, This is a pretty common topic that's been covered here before a few times. Just look a couple threads down to here, for example.
#4
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: CGN
Programs: ALL MAJOR FFP AND FSP
Posts: 321
I've had AB agents telling me today that standard seats are free to reserve for Sapphire and Emerald. But XL seats are chargeable...and he insisted on it multiple times and even checked with his supervisor.
My solution: I asked him to just go ahead and try to reserve the XL seats on his computer and see whether it tells him to charge me (with my Sapphire number attached to the reservation of course). And surprise, surprise... the computer did it without charge! He was quite stunned and said that he's gonna have to tell his supervisor that he was wrong!
So just be persistent and try the above and see what happens. Hopefully with enough people trying, they will become better educated one day!
My solution: I asked him to just go ahead and try to reserve the XL seats on his computer and see whether it tells him to charge me (with my Sapphire number attached to the reservation of course). And surprise, surprise... the computer did it without charge! He was quite stunned and said that he's gonna have to tell his supervisor that he was wrong!
So just be persistent and try the above and see what happens. Hopefully with enough people trying, they will become better educated one day!
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,163
OW Services on AB
If you are flying AB on OW ticket stock and need to make seat reservations, don't call the regular hotline, they are in general not in any position to deal with foreign ticket stock. The calls are redirected to a call center somewhere in Eastern Europe. Call the OW Amadeus hotline 030 3434 2041.
They are located in Berlin, knowledgable and know how to deal with OW Emeralds.
They are located in Berlin, knowledgable and know how to deal with OW Emeralds.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 731
There's two options:
Call AA, and ask for the AB record locator. Armed with that, call AB (866-266-5588) to have them assign seats. This is not possible to do online at the moment.
Or call AA and have the AA agent assign a seat for you. They are able to do this directly, apparently bypassing the fees and status-based waivers as reported here.
AB has a system similar to BA for advance seat reservations - a combination of fees (EUR 15 /USD18 one way on the TATL plus EUR 10/USD 13 on the connecting intra-EU leg, one way for a standard seat) and status-based waivers of those. Should you hold status with AA (GLD/PLT/EXP) the EUR15 advance seat reservation fee is waived. Additionally, as OW Sapphire or Emerald (AA PLT/EXP), you may pre-reserve the "XL" exit row seats for free, which costs non-status customers EUR 60 longhaul (one way).
Which is something not every AB agent knows about - should you get an agent insisting on that free XL seat selection and/or waived fees are only for their own elites, tell them to consult the topbonus dept., they know....
If you can, go for the exit row(s). Although, AB economy class is pretty decent as far as economy goes, and if you're not really tall you'll be fine in a standard seat.
BTW, This is a pretty common topic that's been covered here before a few times. Just look a couple threads down to here, for example.
Call AA, and ask for the AB record locator. Armed with that, call AB (866-266-5588) to have them assign seats. This is not possible to do online at the moment.
Or call AA and have the AA agent assign a seat for you. They are able to do this directly, apparently bypassing the fees and status-based waivers as reported here.
AB has a system similar to BA for advance seat reservations - a combination of fees (EUR 15 /USD18 one way on the TATL plus EUR 10/USD 13 on the connecting intra-EU leg, one way for a standard seat) and status-based waivers of those. Should you hold status with AA (GLD/PLT/EXP) the EUR15 advance seat reservation fee is waived. Additionally, as OW Sapphire or Emerald (AA PLT/EXP), you may pre-reserve the "XL" exit row seats for free, which costs non-status customers EUR 60 longhaul (one way).
Which is something not every AB agent knows about - should you get an agent insisting on that free XL seat selection and/or waived fees are only for their own elites, tell them to consult the topbonus dept., they know....
If you can, go for the exit row(s). Although, AB economy class is pretty decent as far as economy goes, and if you're not really tall you'll be fine in a standard seat.
BTW, This is a pretty common topic that's been covered here before a few times. Just look a couple threads down to here, for example.
Can anyone who has flown AB on an AA (or other OW carrier) award ticket who didn't have OW status confirm whether or not they were able to maintain the seat reservation without paying?
#9
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Most at varying levels of elite-ness.
Posts: 41
Just posted our video review of 36H (XL Aisle Seat) aboard the AB A330-200.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AUS
Programs: AA-PLAT, Hilton-Gold, Marriott-PLT
Posts: 85
If you are flying AB on OW ticket stock and need to make seat reservations, don't call the regular hotline, they are in general not in any position to deal with foreign ticket stock. The calls are redirected to a call center somewhere in Eastern Europe. Call the OW Amadeus hotline 030 3434 2041.
They are located in Berlin, knowledgable and know how to deal with OW Emeralds.
They are located in Berlin, knowledgable and know how to deal with OW Emeralds.
Thanks for the number- Not sure what's happening but I am getting disconnected after reaching the English Option. This has happened 4 times in the last 10 minutes. I will try again.
General question- what's Amadeus hotline for? I will be flying AB on AA ticket stock and a OW Emerald Status.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA
Programs: AA EXP, UA GLD, Bonvoy Titan, HH Dia, WoH Exp
Posts: 2,673
I've had AB agents telling me today that standard seats are free to reserve for Sapphire and Emerald. But XL seats are chargeable...and he insisted on it multiple times and even checked with his supervisor.
My solution: I asked him to just go ahead and try to reserve the XL seats on his computer and see whether it tells him to charge me (with my Sapphire number attached to the reservation of course). And surprise, surprise... the computer did it without charge! He was quite stunned and said that he's gonna have to tell his supervisor that he was wrong!
So just be persistent and try the above and see what happens. Hopefully with enough people trying, they will become better educated one day!
My solution: I asked him to just go ahead and try to reserve the XL seats on his computer and see whether it tells him to charge me (with my Sapphire number attached to the reservation of course). And surprise, surprise... the computer did it without charge! He was quite stunned and said that he's gonna have to tell his supervisor that he was wrong!
So just be persistent and try the above and see what happens. Hopefully with enough people trying, they will become better educated one day!
#12
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,508
I'm not sure that there is a definitive answer on Seat Assignments for those with no OW status in Y. On neither thread you linked to, there is not a single confirmation of a successfully flown trip by a non OW status member who was able to get free assignment and there are numerous examples of people forking over money to pay to confirm the seats that AA's award department said were reserved.
Can anyone who has flown AB on an AA (or other OW carrier) award ticket who didn't have OW status confirm whether or not they were able to maintain the seat reservation without paying?
Can anyone who has flown AB on an AA (or other OW carrier) award ticket who didn't have OW status confirm whether or not they were able to maintain the seat reservation without paying?
#13
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 731
I will test this. I have an upcoming AA miles award booking on them with no FF number attached to the ticket, plus the person traveling has no status whatsoever - it'll be her very first OW flight. AA agent reserved non-XL seats in the first row of Y which show up as confirmed in the record locator. Called AB who also reiterated the seats are confirmed. I'll let this thread know if the assignments were honored or not come check-in.
You are from one of my favorite small European cities - though have been there on the train... not flying through BSL.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
Another data point: called the US AB 800# late last night and got through to someone in Germany (not sure if it was Berlin or not), and after a long wait on hold to check with a supervisor was informed XL seats are not available to Sapphires. Called the Amadeus number above this morning and got a helpful rep who had the XL seat assigned in less than 5 minutes.
#15
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,614
Seat Selection on AB
Thanks Flying Lawyer. Amadeus line took about 20 minutes to get someone to answer but at least they got it done without me having to call someone else.