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I did get an e-mail back from AA explaining they will be selling those seats on day of departure, in both directions, but they didn't answer the part of my e-mail asking why I was removed from 5A to begin with and placed in the back of the plane about two weeks prior. The e-mail said the seats are available for top tier flyers or full fare passengers until day of departure, when they open up for sale. That would explain why they wouldn't let me grab a seat up front on departure day, but I still have no idea why they moved me from 5A to a middle seat in row 23 when the aircraft type didn't change. It may be one of life's unsolved mysteries. The e-mail clearly states you should be able to book the front cabin still, except on day of departure. When I noticed the seat change before leaving the U.S., I was told the front cabin was full and there was nothing left for me to select there.
Has me wondering if I had called from Ireland, while on holiday there, if I might have had a chance of getting up front. I waited until departure day to ask (not even knowing about the 150 euro upgrades and figuring, as an EXP, I'd have a shot if something opened up). Next time I'll call before departure day.
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I did get an e-mail back from AA explaining they will be selling those seats on day of departure, in both directions...
Thanks for reporting back-- it's interesting. I think most here would agree, "good for them" as long as folks aren't being bumped out of pre-reserved, front-cabin seats based on day-of-departure "demand" for same. That would be a recipe for really, really bad feelings.
If people have that happen to them they should definitely complain-- and loudly-- for all the reasons detailed in this thread; coulda' picked better seat in advance, coulda' flown another carrier, etc.
Whatever the ground-rules are, I just hope certain agents aren't getting "creative" and making their own rules up.
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A friend of mine had the same SNN seat "re-assignment"/"downgrade" problems and e-mailed AA about it. As she knows I am considering making either a SNN or MAN run this fall, she forwarded AA's reply (here's the relevant part):
Quote:
We do our very best to provide the seats reserved by our customers as we know this is an important amenity. However, we cannot absolutely guarantee a particular seat. There are too many variables that occur within our daily operation (aircraft equipment changes, flight schedule changes, class of service changes and even agent error) that prevent us from achieving our objective 100% of the time.
Still, you should be able to reserve a seat and expect to secure it 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time and we'll do our best to make your trip with us satisfactory in that regard. In the meantime, rest assured that I have documented your concerns and have shared them with the appropriate personnel for internal review purposes.
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Another FTer just contacted and told me that he and his wife were downgraded. He trusts me enough to give me the record locator number and sure enough, on the BOS-SNN-BOS segments the front cabin was not even available for him to pick seats. Only the back of the bus.
Either this is some kind of system problem, or AA is changing the policy as to the front cabin on these 1 class flights.
I told him to try calling the EXP desk AGAIN and get a clear explanation as to what's going on. Hopefully we will get some definite answer on this issue soon.
Another FTer just contacted and told me that he and his wife were downgraded. He trusts me enough to give me the record locator number and sure enough, on the BOS-SNN-BOS segments the front cabin was not even available for him to pick seats. Only the back of the bus.
Either this is some kind of system problem, or AA is changing the policy as to the front cabin on these 1 class flights.
I told him to try calling the EXP desk AGAIN and get a clear explanation as to what's going on. Hopefully we will get some definite answer on this issue soon.
Well, I don't mind outing myself here to clarify. I have a slightly different situation. I'm scheduled SNN-BOS-SFO-LAX, and the SNN-BOS and BOS-SFO "segments" are both flight 211. When I booked this trip, that was not the case. I am not sure when it changed, but I am 99.9% sure I was still in 4A on the SNN-BOS after the change was made. As recently as yesterday, as a matter of fact. AA called this morning about a schedule change on the outbound, and I didn't pay attention. When I got my updated res via email, both segments showed 29A. When I went to aa.com, SNN-BOS showed unassigned, and I could see the front, but not select it. I called aa to see what could be done, and now I cannot even see the front. Whether I click on SNN-BOS or SNN-SFO, the seat map says SNN-SFO. So, this is not necessarily related to the issue at hand (though it looks like it will be a massive issue for me ). I was not clear enough in my initial pm to andrzej.
The EXP agent, FWIW, did not seem to know anything about these seats being available as paid upgrades.
I'm scheduled to fly BOS-SNN-BOS (seat 2A both directions) next month.
Can I get a refund on a non-refundable fare if they switch my seats.
Doubtful, since they reserve the right to reassign all seats, and it is a one class flight. But I don't have a lot of AA experience, so hey you never know. I'm doing it in November in the back of the bus, should be okay, heck its only 2900 miles, could do it standing on my head
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Two identical itineraries (expect the dates), one has seats in front of the cabin both ways, and other I can see and select the first class seat, but it errors out, when I hit ok, Also on this itineraries the return is in first class
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alamedaguy
Well, I don't mind outing myself here to clarify. I have a slightly different situation. I'm scheduled SNN-BOS-SFO-LAX, and the SNN-BOS and BOS-SFO "segments" are both flight 211. When I booked this trip, that was not the case. I am not sure when it changed, but I am 99.9% sure I was still in 4A on the SNN-BOS after the change was made. As recently as yesterday, as a matter of fact. AA called this morning about a schedule change on the outbound, and I didn't pay attention. When I got my updated res via email, both segments showed 29A. When I went to aa.com, SNN-BOS showed unassigned, and I could see the front, but not select it. I called aa to see what could be done, and now I cannot even see the front. Whether I click on SNN-BOS or SNN-SFO, the seat map says SNN-SFO. So, this is not necessarily related to the issue at hand (though it looks like it will be a massive issue for me ). I was not clear enough in my initial pm to andrzej.
The EXP agent, FWIW, did not seem to know anything about these seats being available as paid upgrades.
I am doing the same return, and when this first appeared (a few weeks ago) and I called they were able to maintain the original seats. HOWEVER, on AA.com the BOS-SFO seat is the one showing for both legs, despite the fact they have told me the SNN-BOS seat is different (i.e., up front) - it is exit row, so maybe the shift will occur later. I will check back and make sure prior to departure.
I am doing the same return, and when this first appeared (a few weeks ago) and I called they were able to maintain the original seats. HOWEVER, on AA.com the BOS-SFO seat is the one showing for both legs, despite the fact they have told me the SNN-BOS seat is different (i.e., up front) - it is exit row, so maybe the shift will occur later. I will check back and make sure prior to departure.
I called last night to get things fixed. While still on the phone with the agent, the seats were the same, though he stated they were not. When I checked shortly later (and still today), I see 3A for the SNN-BOS and 10B for the BOS-SFO.
I'm outbound to SNN on November 10, returning Nov 11. I've still got a seat up front on both legs. BOS-SNN appears full, no other seats available while the return has three open. I'll be irked if I'm booted out, I picked BOS-SNN over ORD-DUB for the ability to get a seat up front.
ByeByeDelta
We are also holding seat numbers up front on the same outbound flight to SNN on November 10th (LAX-MCO-BOS-SNN). We too are hopeful that we will not get the boot and moved to the back of the bus as they are showing our up front seating originating in MCO.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alamedaguy
Well, I don't mind outing myself here to clarify. I have a slightly different situation. I'm scheduled SNN-BOS-SFO-LAX, and the SNN-BOS and BOS-SFO "segments" are both flight 211. When I booked this trip, that was not the case.
Well, now that is a different situation. If you're doing SNN-BOS-SFO with the same flight number, it's a direct flight. One of the requirements of a direct flight is that you have to sit in the same seat on all legs. Obviously, you can't be confirmed in 4A on the BOS-SFO leg, since it's sold as two-class. So you can't be confirmed in 4A (or any other seat in the front cabin) on the SNN-BOS leg either.
At least, I know that's how it would work if you had originally booked it as a direct flight... I'm not sure how things change when you book as one-stop and it later becomes direct, but it looks like AA's software treats the situation as if you had booked direct all along.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alamedaguy
Whether I click on SNN-BOS or SNN-SFO, the seat map says SNN-SFO.
Yup, that's exactly what you'll see for a direct flight. Incidentally, you'll also get miles for SNN-SFO, not SNN-BOS-SFO... it's about a 550-mile difference
If I were you, I would call AA back and ask to be placed on a different BOS-SFO flight... any flight other than flight 211. They should waive the change fee, since it was their schedule change that precipitated your desire to change flights. You may still experience the SNN-BOS downgrade issues that others have mentioned, but at least it won't be due to that direct flight. You'll also get those extra 550 miles.
Last edited by Flyer23; Oct 14, 05 at 1:26 am.
Reason: adding suggestion to call AA
At least, I know that's how it would work if you had originally booked it as a direct flight... I'm not sure how things change when you book as one-stop and it later becomes direct, but it looks like AA's software treats the situation as if you had booked direct all along.
If you have it booked as 2 sectors, then you can have a different seat assignment for both sectors with no issues. It just becomes an issue, if booked as SNN-SFO . I wouldn't change flights just for 550 ff miles, just isn't worth extra journey time imo
). I was not clear enough in my initial pm to andrzej.
