How does American Airlines assign seats?
May 28, 2010, 12:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 661
How does American Airlines assign seats?
I have a flight tomorrow to Honolulu so I login early - 24hrs prior now to check in, I try to select my seats and there is only 1 seat showing as available in the entire plane and it's a middle seat 
Prior to this I could not select a seat as it said "seat cannot be selected prior to check in".
I called AA and asked them why there are no seats showing as available in the entire plan this early out and they told me that I should go to the airport early to swap the seat with a window/aisle because almost all the seat allotments are reserved to be assigned at the airport.
Is this some kind of new system? I have flown AA before and was able to choose from various seats.
What is the point of online checkin if all the seat assignments are done at the airport? I don't understand this logic.
Strangely my return flight already has a window seat assigned, it's only my outbound flight that was in a "Seat unassigned" state. I booked this flight a month and a half in advance so it's not last minute.
Prior to this I could not select a seat as it said "seat cannot be selected prior to check in". I called AA and asked them why there are no seats showing as available in the entire plan this early out and they told me that I should go to the airport early to swap the seat with a window/aisle because almost all the seat allotments are reserved to be assigned at the airport.
Is this some kind of new system? I have flown AA before and was able to choose from various seats.
What is the point of online checkin if all the seat assignments are done at the airport? I don't understand this logic.
Strangely my return flight already has a window seat assigned, it's only my outbound flight that was in a "Seat unassigned" state. I booked this flight a month and a half in advance so it's not last minute.
May 28, 2010, 1:55 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
this is another perk for AA elites. all seats are to be picked over by elites. you no elite, you dirt. all carry on storage is reserved for elites. they get on first they carry however much they want onboard. your stuff gets gate checked, even if you have medical emergency stuff in it. you no elite, you dirt. i quite flying AA, because i am not an elite.
the GA's control the baggage. first 60 people(mostly elites) get on a dc9(or whatever they call it), and they start gate checking bags. i say why? "well, that's 99 bags, and that's all we allow". note 60 people, 99 bags. even i can count 1 bag per person. yes, AA elites are allowed 2 bags PP. i think some even have3.
a travel agent can see and get you a seat.
the GA's control the baggage. first 60 people(mostly elites) get on a dc9(or whatever they call it), and they start gate checking bags. i say why? "well, that's 99 bags, and that's all we allow". note 60 people, 99 bags. even i can count 1 bag per person. yes, AA elites are allowed 2 bags PP. i think some even have3.
a travel agent can see and get you a seat.
May 28, 2010, 2:14 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
k374 - AA allows about 2/3 of their economy seats to be selected anytime after ticket purchase by any passenger. Once these 2/3 of the seats are gone, seats can no longer be chosen until the airport.
The other 1/3 of the economy seats are only available ahead of time to elite passengers. On planes where there are fewer elites flyers, there may be many seats remaining. These seats become available to all passengers at the airport. This elite benefit is one way American lures the business of those who spend the most money on plane tickets to their airline. The average fare an elite pays is also higher (average) than non-elites. Good businesses extend perks to their best customers.
AA is not alone in this practice. MOST US airlines have the same or a very similar policy.
slawecki - Your understanding is incorrect. AA allows all passengers, including elites, one carry on + a second personal item that can fit under your seat and does not need to take overhead bin space. Many/Most elite flyers bring both a carry on + personal item and do not check any bags. This saves AA money (not having to handle as many bags). slawecki - when the plane is full, only large carry ons that you cannot put under your seats need to be checked. I suggest you bring a second smaller item so that you will always be able to keep things like medication with you.
The other 1/3 of the economy seats are only available ahead of time to elite passengers. On planes where there are fewer elites flyers, there may be many seats remaining. These seats become available to all passengers at the airport. This elite benefit is one way American lures the business of those who spend the most money on plane tickets to their airline. The average fare an elite pays is also higher (average) than non-elites. Good businesses extend perks to their best customers.
AA is not alone in this practice. MOST US airlines have the same or a very similar policy.
slawecki - Your understanding is incorrect. AA allows all passengers, including elites, one carry on + a second personal item that can fit under your seat and does not need to take overhead bin space. Many/Most elite flyers bring both a carry on + personal item and do not check any bags. This saves AA money (not having to handle as many bags). slawecki - when the plane is full, only large carry ons that you cannot put under your seats need to be checked. I suggest you bring a second smaller item so that you will always be able to keep things like medication with you.
May 28, 2010, 2:34 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 23
I have a flight tomorrow to Honolulu so I login early - 24hrs prior now to check in, I try to select my seats and there is only 1 seat showing as available in the entire plane and it's a middle seat Prior to this I could not select a seat as it said "seat cannot be selected prior to check in".
I called AA and asked them why there are no seats showing as available in the entire plan this early out and they told me that I should go to the airport early to swap the seat with a window/aisle because almost all the seat allotments are reserved to be assigned at the airport.
Is this some kind of new system? I have flown AA before and was able to choose from various seats.
What is the point of online checkin if all the seat assignments are done at the airport? I don't understand this logic.
Strangely my return flight already has a window seat assigned, it's only my outbound flight that was in a "Seat unassigned" state. I booked this flight a month and a half in advance so it's not last minute.
Prior to this I could not select a seat as it said "seat cannot be selected prior to check in". I called AA and asked them why there are no seats showing as available in the entire plan this early out and they told me that I should go to the airport early to swap the seat with a window/aisle because almost all the seat allotments are reserved to be assigned at the airport.
Is this some kind of new system? I have flown AA before and was able to choose from various seats.
What is the point of online checkin if all the seat assignments are done at the airport? I don't understand this logic.
Strangely my return flight already has a window seat assigned, it's only my outbound flight that was in a "Seat unassigned" state. I booked this flight a month and a half in advance so it's not last minute.
May 28, 2010, 2:41 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 23
this is another perk for AA elites. all seats are to be picked over by elites. you no elite, you dirt. all carry on storage is reserved for elites. they get on first they carry however much they want onboard. your stuff gets gate checked, even if you have medical emergency stuff in it. you no elite, you dirt. i quite flying AA, because i am not an elite.
the GA's control the baggage. first 60 people(mostly elites) get on a dc9(or whatever they call it), and they start gate checking bags. i say why? "well, that's 99 bags, and that's all we allow". note 60 people, 99 bags. even i can count 1 bag per person. yes, AA elites are allowed 2 bags PP. i think some even have3.
a travel agent can see and get you a seat.
the GA's control the baggage. first 60 people(mostly elites) get on a dc9(or whatever they call it), and they start gate checking bags. i say why? "well, that's 99 bags, and that's all we allow". note 60 people, 99 bags. even i can count 1 bag per person. yes, AA elites are allowed 2 bags PP. i think some even have3.
a travel agent can see and get you a seat.
May 28, 2010, 5:31 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
You're wrong. According to AA website, seat selection is not just reserved for elites. "** Preferred seats are available to AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum, AAdvantage Gold, AAirpass members and all passengers holding tickets with a Y or B booking code." I believe regular seats can be selected by anyone. Also, check your spelling before you post.
what misspeel? speel kecker shw no mizspl. AA website is a lying bunch <redacted>. on the md80 on dca-dfw-dca, first seat available for meat is about 2/3rds of way back row 23 or 24 on an md 80, where you live with the finest from p&w . the fa's end up back there. how they avoid osha noise regs for employees is beyond me.
Last edited by dstan; May 29, 2010 at 1:09 pm Reason: inappropriate for FlyerTalk
May 28, 2010, 5:51 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
Welll you DID say it was ONLY elites who got good seat choices...
...so now that it has been pointed out that such an assertion was actually incorrect you change your story... and we find that it is NOT just elites.. as you said in your first post, but also "Premium price" seat choices that you object to...
Tell us... how SHOULD airlines allocate the better seats (if not by status or fare paid)... other than giving YOU the first choice which seems to be what you want, given this statement:
"first seat available for meat (sic, presumably meaning "me") is about 2/3rds of way back"
You are aware that ALL airlines have some form of "elite" treatment aren't you?
You should go after concert promoters too... (or Footbal/Baseball Stadiums) THEY charge HUGE premiums for the best seats... I suppose you think that can't be fair either....
...so now that it has been pointed out that such an assertion was actually incorrect you change your story... and we find that it is NOT just elites.. as you said in your first post, but also "Premium price" seat choices that you object to...
Tell us... how SHOULD airlines allocate the better seats (if not by status or fare paid)... other than giving YOU the first choice which seems to be what you want, given this statement:
"first seat available for meat (sic, presumably meaning "me") is about 2/3rds of way back"
You are aware that ALL airlines have some form of "elite" treatment aren't you?
You should go after concert promoters too... (or Footbal/Baseball Stadiums) THEY charge HUGE premiums for the best seats... I suppose you think that can't be fair either....
May 28, 2010, 5:51 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
k374 - AA allows about 2/3 of their economy seats to be selected anytime after ticket purchase by any passenger. Once these 2/3 of the seats are gone, seats can no longer be chosen until the airport.
/B]
slawecki - Your understanding is incorrect. AA allows all passengers, including elites, one carry on + a second personal item that can fit under your seat and does not need to take overhead bin space. Many/Most elite flyers bring both a carry on + personal item and do not check any bags. This saves AA money (not having to handle as many bags). slawecki - when the plane is full, only large carry ons that you cannot put under your seats need to be checked. I suggest you bring a second smaller item so that you will always be able to keep things like medication with you.
/B]
slawecki - Your understanding is incorrect. AA allows all passengers, including elites, one carry on + a second personal item that can fit under your seat and does not need to take overhead bin space. Many/Most elite flyers bring both a carry on + personal item and do not check any bags. This saves AA money (not having to handle as many bags). slawecki - when the plane is full, only large carry ons that you cannot put under your seats need to be checked. I suggest you bring a second smaller item so that you will always be able to keep things like medication with you.
May 28, 2010, 7:03 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 661
ok, so the way I understand it is that when I booked this flight a month and a half in advance 70% of the flight was already sold out which is why a seat assignment could not be made? After that the other 30% can only be assigned at the airport?
May 28, 2010, 7:09 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Programs: Lifetime AA Gold-1MM
Posts: 4,909
May 28, 2010, 7:16 pm
#11
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,543
Please continue to follow this discussion in the AA Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
May 28, 2010, 7:29 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
Which HNL flight is it?
May 28, 2010, 8:16 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
Want to find out how many seats AA makes available to cheap non-elites?
Look at AA761 on Apr 24, 2011. Almost no one has bought tickets for Apr 24, 2011 yet, so you can see how many seats AA makes available by looking at AA's seat maps for Apr 24th flights. 87 economy seats are available to cheap non-elites, 37 economy seats are reserved for AA's best customers on this MD83 plane. 87 of 124 seats is 70%, more than two thirds.
Last edited by wanaflyforless; May 28, 2010 at 8:36 pm
May 29, 2010, 2:08 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,279
I too have always wondered how AA systems pick seats especially for Elite passengers. I have noticed in nearly every of flights especially those code-share ones on the 777 or the 767 that the fwd economy cabin are also filled with passengers connecting from other non-AA flights or non-status passengers.
I know that these seats were not available for selection even a couple of weeks ahead and the plane is not full. So, when I board and see that these seats are occupied by these code-share or non-status passengers I do wonder.
What I am certain is that the computer system will ALWAYS assign me a seat outside of the Elite access seat when booking despite my logging into my AA profile. Why, I don't understand?
I have never understood how the AA seating assignment works..
I know that these seats were not available for selection even a couple of weeks ahead and the plane is not full. So, when I board and see that these seats are occupied by these code-share or non-status passengers I do wonder.
What I am certain is that the computer system will ALWAYS assign me a seat outside of the Elite access seat when booking despite my logging into my AA profile. Why, I don't understand?
I have never understood how the AA seating assignment works..
May 29, 2010, 5:06 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hotlanta.
Programs: I've gone underground!
Posts: 4,602