AA Seating Questions [why are some seats blocked?]
Jul 29, 2015, 5:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 10
AA Seating Questions [why are some seats blocked?]
I'm wondering if AA reserves seats for some reason... when I try to book well in advance on an erj for example the seats 1A, 4A, 3B, 3C, 4C and exit rows 12b and 12c are always blocked off. Any reason why?
Jul 29, 2015, 6:28 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,949
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They are blocked for full fare and frequent fliers with elite status on AA and its partners
They are blocked for full fare and frequent fliers with elite status on AA and its partners
Jul 29, 2015, 6:54 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
They do also reserve some seats for airport assignment and/or check-in. Not sure if that involves every aircraft or if it is consistent, but I assume it does/is.
Jul 30, 2015, 2:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: AA Gold, HIltonHonors Diamond, KrisFlyer Silver, BW Diamond
Posts: 109
Check Expert Flyer
I have found when booking on AA the seat map will show many seats as unavailable. Now that I have status I find it shows more availability. But to know whether you have a chance at getting a coveted seat at a later time, you can check for free, "Expert Flyer". It will show whether a seat is taken, or simply blocked. I use this strategy often and each flight has different seats blocked...it is nice to know that the (maybe it is behind or next to yours) seat may be vacant (or given to an employee of FF) who likely will not be annoying.
You need the route, airline, flight number and date to check seat assignments on Expert Flyer.
You need the route, airline, flight number and date to check seat assignments on Expert Flyer.
Aug 4, 2015, 4:16 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
Those are most likely elite-blocked seats. The seats blocked for airport assignment are generally the first row after the exit and/or the last row. AA generally doesn't airport-block seats that could otherwise produce additional revenue like Main Cabin Extra and Preferred Seats.
Aug 5, 2015, 8:41 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
Airlines block seats for various reasons - for passengers needing bassinets, for disabled passengers, etc.
Twice now a phone agent has given me the seat blocked for a disabled person, as it was the only MCE seat left - and she made it quite clear that if there was a disabled passenger I would lose that seat assignment.
And even expert flyer isn't completely reliable ... US Airways 321s on EF always show the exit rows as blocked (or occupied), but the blocked ones are fully available to the appropriate elites. I presume EF simply doesn't have enough labels to show the full set of US seat categories.
Even so, EF is often the best way to view a seat map - as most airlines simply show you available / unavailable and EF separates the unavailable into occupied / blocked.
Twice now a phone agent has given me the seat blocked for a disabled person, as it was the only MCE seat left - and she made it quite clear that if there was a disabled passenger I would lose that seat assignment.
And even expert flyer isn't completely reliable ... US Airways 321s on EF always show the exit rows as blocked (or occupied), but the blocked ones are fully available to the appropriate elites. I presume EF simply doesn't have enough labels to show the full set of US seat categories.
Even so, EF is often the best way to view a seat map - as most airlines simply show you available / unavailable and EF separates the unavailable into occupied / blocked.
