AAExpDFW

If I recall correctly, non-status people do NOT get free access to MCE at check in. Best hope if you don't want to pay for MCE is to watch for an aisle or window back in the deeper part of the main cabin.

That being said, I just checked the flight and it is sod out in coach (Y0) and very heavy in business (J6). So the chance of seats opening up appear to be slim.

akcae

Correct. A test booking for a flight within 24hrs without logging in for me shows MCE and preferred seats available for a fee.

ThreeJulietTango

If there are only middle seats left for free seat selection before check-in, I would recommend not reserving a seat at all and waiting to be assigned one during check-in. Worst case scenario, you're back where you started and get a middle seat, but the odds are high that you'll at least get MCE and/or a window or aisle seat.

But if the flight's sold out and the elite-blocked seats haven't already been pre-reserved, then odds are high that they'll become available 24 hours before departure.

That being said, if MCE or Preferred seats are the only ones left during check-in, then they will be assigned free of charge. From my anecdotal experience, it would also seem that the system is programmed to assign paid seats for free if assigning from the remaining free seats would split up the party. For example, if a party of 3 was checking in for this flight with the seat map above, they would be more likely to get 12ABC instead of 16ACD.

ijgordon

Actually, worst case scenario is that the middle seat in the last row, next to the lavatory becomes open because that person (if anyone was there) decided to pay for MCE. If that seat is the only seat open when OP tries to check in, he will basically be forced into it. And MCE may be full by that time as well. I wouldn't recommend this strategy.

I would definitely keep checking back, I think sometimes the elite-only premium (non-MCE) seats can be released prior to T-24. I'd suggest getting an expertflyer subscription to alert OP automatically, but probably best just to spend the $99 toward buying MCE outright.

That's interesting, wasn't aware - thanks!

mananath

I was given a seat at the time of booking -- 20B -- which is a center seat. So I can't do any worse than that. Unfortunately for me the MCE seats are around 170 dollars so that really isn't an option. I will stay up super late tonight and see what happens when the 24 hour mark is hit.

azepine00

While you prob cant get into mce other pax (aa golds etc) can and will at 24 hr and that will likely open better seats in the back. Keep checking.

ijgordon

Sure you can! Like 30E in the last row. I don't think you can completely un-assign yourself a seat anyway (in order to hope for a free MCE at the gate). But there are a good number of window/aisle seats in rows 14-17 that should become available at (or even before) the 24-hour mark, so definitely check back and you should be fine.

mananath

A quick update. Earlier today I setup an alert on expertflyer for aisle seats. A few minutes ago one came through and I now have an economy aisle seat. phew. Oddly enough my new seat is right next to my original seat allocation.

palmetto86

I've searched around in the forum, but everything I see is way old pre-merger. If I'm flying CLT-FRA on one PNR and my non-status partner is on another, can I call AA and ask them to put him beside me in preferred seating? Or will they make me pay extra for him?

Thanks!

Centurion

Rules say same PNR but it really depends who and where your ask. If you have the same last surname it seems to help

Fly2Where

I have done it numerous times for my co-workers.. we rarely on same PNR, thus separate tix. I call EXP, so far, never had issue. maybe i was lucky

iahphx

A quick but important question about the release of green-coded "preferred" seats:

My wife and I are AA gold. We're on an off-peak timed transcon, and the flight wasn't looking too busy. So I reserved us window/aisle in preferred, hoping for an empty middle seat.

Now that we're getting close to departure, the aircraft is filling up, and the only "free" seat assignments left in the back are middles. In the preferred section, there are no aisle seats left, and only one window. At the 24-hour mark, will AA release the limitations on preferred seats allowing somebody without status to book "my" middle seat? If so, my strategy obviously won't work and I'd do better to change my seat assignment now, because "my" middle seat is preferable because it's further forward in the cabin.

Finally, is there a free tool that would easily give me the number of booked pax to seats on my flight, enabling me to make a more educated decision about what seats to select in this situation? Obviously, if somehow shows up for my middle seat, I could offer them the window and they'd likely accept, but I prefer a more seamless boarding experience (and also an empty middle seat!).

JonNYC

Pay service, Expertflyer.

iahphx

Yeah, that's what I remembered. Obviously not worth paying for something like this.

More importantly, what about the question of whether preferred seats are released to "the general public" at the 24-hour mark?

EDIT: So I wasn't watching the seat inventory at exactly 24-hours, but now "my" middle seat is taken and there are still some middles left in the back. So it would seem that, perhaps, these seats become publicly available at the 24-hour mark. Interestingly, some "main cabin extra" middle seats that weren't previously available are now available. Upgrades, maybe? But who books a middle seat even if it's main cabin extra? In any event, from this experience, I won't try to hold "window/aisle" in preferred going into the 24 hour mark unless regular coach looks wide open with lots of windows and aisles.

flymia

So if I am reading this right, preferred seats are never let go for free at any time? Only those with status can book those seats and if they are still free then it would be assigned randomly to those with no seats yet?