Asiana Club - Seat Assignment

I am flying from LAX to TPE via ICN on OZ using UA award. When I called OZ last weekend for seat assignment of my flight, I was told that no seat is available.

Does OZ keep some seats to be assigned on the day of departure? Will early check-in get me a better seat or am I just have to settle with whatever is left?

OZ do keep quite a number of seats until close to the departure date (not sure of exact number but should be anywhere between 1 to 3 days) and they include a few rows on the front and back for each block, i.e. between galleys.

What I usually do is to do online seat selection as soon as possible and take the best seat available. Then every a few days, I cancel the selected seat and try it again right again. If nothing better opens up, I can always take the canceled seat back. I noticed the front rows (and back rows of course) usually open up 2-3 days before departure. But AFAIK some bulkhead row and exit rows are not available to even OZ elites except from airport check-in agents.

If nothing good open up, I'd try my luck at the airport check-in. If the flight is booked full, you're still stuck in one of the middle seats but if not, you can snatch a nice seat, possibly including an exit-row seat.

OZ do keep quite a number of seats until close to the departure date (not sure of exact number but should be anywhere between 1 to 3 days) and they include a few rows on the front and back for each block, i.e. between galleys.

What I usually do is to do online seat selection as soon as possible and take the best seat available. Then every a few days, I cancel the selected seat and try it again right again. If nothing better opens up, I can always take the canceled seat back. I noticed the front rows (and back rows of course) usually open up 2-3 days before departure. But AFAIK some bulkhead row and exit rows are not available to even OZ elites except from airport check-in agents.

If nothing good open up, I'd try my luck at the airport check-in. If the flight is booked full, you're still stuck in one of the middle seats but if not, you can snatch a nice seat, possibly including an exit-row seat.

Thanks for the quick reply. You mention online seat selection. I think that's only available to OZ members right? If I get the ticket through UA, can I also make seat selection online?

Thanks for the quick reply. You mention online seat selection. I think that's only available to OZ members right? If I get the ticket through UA, can I also make seat selection online?

You can do it only if you join Asiana club. However you don't need to have the Asiana club number in the booking to select seats so you could join, use the member number and booking ref and select seats that way - it doesn't add the Asiana club number to the reservation or anything, it is just to get access to the system.

I'm looking to do the same thing, but it doesn't seem to be accepting my UA confirmation number. Maybe because Asiana's icheck-in service says "Code-share flights are not served for the 'i Check-in Serivce'. Let me know if you have any luck!

You need the Asiana confirmation number. If you're travelling on an OZ flight on an OZ flight number, you can obtain the OZ confirmation number by calling UA or OZ. Then you can try the online seat selection.

Will do, thanks!

Bump - has anyone with a *A award been successful with the seat selection tool?

I joined Asiana Club so that I could select seats, using the OZ confirmation number.
No luck this morning. Checkmytrip.com includes the OZ confirmation number.

Any tips?
Should I look up the PNR on the OZ site rather than the OZ confirmation number?

Looking forward to the trip and would love to select F seats for the 2-service ICN-HKG flight.

BB

I joined Asiana Club so that I could select seats, using the OZ confirmation number.
No luck this morning. Checkmytrip.com includes the OZ confirmation number.

Any tips?
Should I look up the PNR on the OZ site rather than the OZ confirmation number?
BB

Which letter does your confirmation code starts with? All my OZ trips had confirmation codes starting with a 'C'. If not, checkmytrip.com is showing the confirmation number from the ticketing airline, not from OZ. In that case, you might want to call your ticketing airline for OZ confirmation code -- they will have no problem giving it to you.

Also, another possibility is to use your e-ticket number. Not sure the seat selection page accepts that though...

Hi, sorry for the delayed reply. With the PNR on checkmytrip (3EExxx) I can see the OZ booking reference (CIExxx).

I now have access, so perhaps it was a 24hr window.

Which are the best 747 seats for OZ 602 and for OZ 723?
Main deck: what appears to be F seats Rows 1-3 (is 1A-1B OK or are the other rows better due to AVOD monitors?)

I have a choice of 1A/B or 3J/K.
Upper deck: most rows available in J (except Row 11):
Any choice of Row 7-10 or Row 12-15 (only a few taken so far!).

For the 747 SYD-ICN, a very long trip, which is the better bet for a day flight?

It is approx. 16hrs before OZ 602 departure. Exciting!
Thanks!

(Once I've done this I'll do the ICN-HKG... with those F seats hopefully ;))

BiziBB,

The 747 isnt on the OZ602. Its a 777 route and has been for quite a while now.

Regards

Stu

BiziBB,

It the 747 by any chance a combi (Multi-Configuration)? Your description of the seat arrangement sounds awfully close to the dreadful ICN-LAX OZ201 I took last month on an old 74M. It had 3 rows of 2-2 F seats up front in the main cabin, followed by Y seats behind the galley starting with row 20. J seats were all in the upper cabin.

Look at this Seatguru map (http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Asiana/Asiana_Boeing_747-400_combi.php) of the old 747 combi for your reference.

BiziBB,

It the 747 by any chance a combi (Multi-Configuration)? Your description of the seat arrangement sounds awfully close to the dreadful ICN-LAX OZ201 I took last month on an old 74M. It had 3 rows of 2-2 F seats up front in the main cabin, followed by Y seats behind the galley starting with row 20. J seats were all in the upper cabin.

Look at this Seatguru map (http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Asiana/Asiana_Boeing_747-400_combi.php) of the old 747 combi for your reference.

Thanks Philphys, since Row 11 is the only one booked out, it must be that one!

Thus I suppose the only other 'fair' ones are Row 1...

Hi, I can report we ended up with a seat each in Rows 1 & 2 :confused: and had this changed (by john, the excellent QF [codeshare!] staffer) to Row 3. :)

Now dined and wined, we are about to leave for the boarding call for OZ602.

Can someone confirm the B777 does the OZ601 and 602 flights from ICN to SYD???

Thanks

Stu

Hi Stu, yes OZ602 is the B777 200/300. The seats, although angled flat, are OK. Not enough adjustment for anyone of average or tall height, but acceptable compared to the rest of the fleet.

OTOH the B747 Combi we had ICN-HKG must be as old as (or older than) the airline itself!
With the bathroom having a handy ashtray for cigarettes, either OZ had a smoking clientele until recently or has kept the AC in original fitout. :eek:

I was most shocked that they still had the air-tube audio system in the F seats on the 74M. I'm pretty sure it's all exactly the same hardware as the original fitout, except changing the upholstry.

For anyone booking a *A redemption and consideration of B747 flights with partner airlines, there is a stark contrast between airlines.
For example, our flights OZ ICN-HKG, NZ HKG-LHR:

1980s style upper deck, manual J seats with 1 recline option, 2x2 config.; IFE is videotapes (worn tapes, some options with no sound left!);
2000s leather-lined, spacious pod beds, 1x1 config.; a huge movie/tv/music library with noise cancelling headphones!


After the NZ 747 in J, it will be hard to look at lesser option again!

While the FAs are excellent and attentive on OZ, the B74M is a relic that doesn't belong in *A in this century.

I forgot to include the information about Row 13, upstairs in the B74M.

There is no such row! :D Hence the unavailability.
If there is a way that you can schedule to get the 3-class service (avoiding OZ 723 2-class 747 Multi) you may be better off.

If you do, please locate and have a sniff of JWB in the F lounge for me! :D

For anyone booking a *A redemption and consideration of B747 flights with partner airlines, there is a stark contrast between airlines.
For example, our flights OZ ICN-HKG, NZ HKG-LHR:

1980s style upper deck, manual J seats with 1 recline option, 2x2 config.; IFE is videotapes (worn tapes, some options with no sound left!);


While the FAs are excellent and attentive on OZ, the B74M is a relic that doesn't belong in *A in this century.

It is the ONLY relic though. You were just unlucky. Other a/c iwth OZ (except a couple of short haul 767s) are re-equipped.

I forgot to include the information about Row 13, upstairs in the B74M.

There is no such row! :D Hence the unavailability.
If there is a way that you can schedule to get the 3-class service (avoiding OZ 723 2-class 747 Multi) you may be better off.

If you do, please locate and have a sniff of JWB in the F lounge for me! :D

The one you were is the only 74M still with the old seats, OZ 723 does NOT only scheduled with that paricular 74M, there are other days using the 74M with new seats. OZ 723 is 3 class sold as 2 class, even the 74M you were there does have F at the nose, with C only upstairs.

Hi,

Thanks for a nice thread. I have now registered with asiana and been able to change seats for one of my flights.

But for my flight SFO-ICN on the 24 december I get this message when trying to check in "The 'I Check In service' for this flight has already closed.
Please check-in at the airport on the departure day."

Thats pretty early so I am curious to know if this situation will change prior to departure of if I am stuck with check-in at the airport?

Also, when I called Asiana a few days earlier they could not allocate seats.

Any suggestions welcomed!

BDA

But for my flight SFO-ICN on the 24 december I get this message when trying to check in "The 'I Check In service' for this flight has already closed.
Please check-in at the airport on the departure day."

Thats pretty early so I am curious to know if this situation will change prior to departure of if I am stuck with check-in at the airport?

Actually this can happen when you try it on a wrong time-of-day. I learned that this happens when I try it sometime during the day in the US (when it's around midnight in Korea).

Try it again some other time (of-day) -- I suggest evening or late at night.

I made an award booking through US Airways. Several hours later, the US website itinerary is reflecting seat assignments for my OZ segments. I don't like those assigned and wish to change.

A few hours ago, I did sign up for OZ's program and I have a membership number. I have my OZ-specific record locator (starts with a C like most others). However, when I go to select seats, I get "Please contact Asiana office in your country to check membership info."

Anyone else have this problem before?

Hi Stu, yes OZ602 is the B777 200/300. The seats, although angled flat, are OK. Not enough adjustment for anyone of average or tall height, but acceptable compared to the rest of the fleet.



Odd that. You must have diiferent sized people. I'm 6 ft 1 and 230 lbs. The seats fir me; just as do LH C seats. OZ seats are better than LX, US,.

The combi is great fun, and should be compulsory for all to see what travel used to be like. Trouble is, the excellent service makes you forget the seats

ArizonaGuy, it sounds like you had your record located by the 'Enter my reservation number' option. Did you try the 'Enter my itinerary information' option also? On most of my OZ flights I make a reservation via a travel agent that doesn't give me an OZ record locator so I use that option and it finds my reservation based on my Asiana club name matching the passenger name for the specified flight.

I made an award booking through US Airways. Several hours later, the US website itinerary is reflecting seat assignments for my OZ segments. I don't like those assigned and wish to change.

A few hours ago, I did sign up for OZ's program and I have a membership number. I have my OZ-specific record locator (starts with a C like most others). However, when I go to select seats, I get "Please contact Asiana office in your country to check membership info."

Anyone else have this problem before?

Well I am sure this is WAY to late to help here :D but I just had the exact same problem and discovered the solution so perhaps it will be useful to someone else.

Same thing. Correct OZ record locater but always get "Please contact Asiana office in your country to check membership info."

Solution. My Asiana account was under the name GILA/MABUK (or something like that involving my real name.:D) The reservation included my middle name, like GILA/MABUKDAN. I created a new Asiana account entering my last name in the box for last name and my first and middle name ran together in the box for first name. The Asiana sign up form does not have a box for middle name. Worked like a charm. No more "Please contact Asiana office in your country to check membership info." message. Probably a better solution would be to call and have them change your name on the existing account rather than creating a new one.

Now one other question. One of my TPAC flights has no seats available on-line and other flights in the itinerary have less than desirable seats. Since I am a CO Plat and starting next week that makes me *Gold can I get access to any blocked seats by calling?? Does *Gold give you any tangible perks in claiming good seats on OZ?? I'm flying in Y:(

Since I am a CO Plat and starting next week that makes me *Gold can I get access to any blocked seats by calling?? Does *Gold give you any tangible perks in claiming good seats on OZ?? I'm flying in Y:(

No. Not even that, if you travel very soon on OZ, they may not even recognize your status, as technically, your CO card doesn't say STAR GOLD on it

No. Not even that, if you travel very soon on OZ, they may not even recognize your status, as technically, your CO card doesn't say STAR GOLD on it

We are promised that our new *Onepass cards are practically as good as in the mail already ;) I'm holding my breath;)

Just now I checked and the one TPAC flight opened up two seats for me to choose from. Now one other issue. The seat assignment tool allows me to choose my seats when there was no seat assignment. No problems. But whenever I try to change an existing seat, I unselect the existing seat, then reselect the new seat and then click the "next" button. Then it simply locks up and waits forever on the "please wait a moment" screen. On numerous tries on a couple of computers it just freezes on that screen indefinitely and never completes. Is this any kind of known problem?

I've never tried to change my seat assignment, so don't know if there's a bug in the procedure or not. But by chance are you not using Internet Explorer? Asiana as well as about 99.99% of all Korean websites do not work with Firefox or any other browser except Internet Explorer. Typically they may display a few pages fine but once you try to do something more advanced they will lock up, not display, or any number of other problems.

I've never tried to change my seat assignment, so don't know if there's a bug in the procedure or not. But by chance are you not using Internet Explorer? Asiana as well as about 99.99% of all Korean websites do not work with Firefox or any other browser except Internet Explorer. Typically they may display a few pages fine but once you try to do something more advanced they will lock up, not display, or any number of other problems.

Yea, first thing I tried after it wouldn't work in Firefox. Same result. I even tried the Korean language version. I'm pretty sure it's broken.

I experienced this issue as well re seat selection on the website.
It goes-- please wait a moment, and the clock just keeps spinning round and round.

However, when I used IE, it worked OK. Not sure whether it was a fluke.

That's the screen alright. The clock just runs and runs forever. I tried In Internet Explorer 8 on XP and Firefox on XP and Ubuntu Linux. Maybe I'll try it with an older version of Internet Explorer or an older version of Flash Player. It's a cool looking little Flash app they have but they really should have done something more compatible. Of greater concern is that most phone's web browser's can't run Flash and last minute seat assignments and on-line check-in is something it is very nice to be able to do on your phone's browser.

In any case, now someone else has already poached the seat I was trying to change to:(

Couldn't get it to work on Firefox but was able to get it to work on IE 6 just fine.

I can now say I have attempted changing seat assignments in a wide array of browsers and operating systems with the same result in every case. Click on continue and the clock animation just runs forever and ever. Tried IE8 on XP with Flash 9 and 10. Tried IE7 with Flash10 on XP, Tried IE6 with Flash 8, 9 and 10 on Windows 2000 and Linux (yes I installed IE6 on a Linux box, I realize this is the type of unholy thing that is a sign of the apocalypse). As well as Firefox 3.5.3 and Opera 10 with Flash 9 or 10 under XP and Linux. Having tested it on about half a dozen computers around the office I can confidently say the web site formally sucks bigtime (that's a technical term) and that lack of browser compatibility is not the underlying problem. The damned thing is broke.

What about trying it from a different location and using IE? Perhaps there's something at your office internet connection, a firewall or something, that's causing a problem.

I tried it at home over the weekend. No windows computers there so I can't conclusively rule that out but no firewalls or anything and I tried all manner of combination's under Linux including IE6. Seriously this is WAY to much work to change a seat assignment ;):D. Although I had hoped the on-line system would give me an edge at 48 hours out if they opened up some blocked seats since currently the options are not so great. I will be calling them tomorrow anyway to add my newly minted Continental Plat *Gold FF# to the itinerary. I'll just count the web site a completely useless nuisance for now and lump OZ in with other technologically challenged airlines as far as on-line features until they fix it.

I'll just count the web site a completely useless nuisance for now and lump OZ in with other technologically challenged airlines as far as on-line features until they fix it.

Thats a good way of looking at it. If you get anything useful from the website you will think its the best ever and you will not be disapointed when things don't work.

I got it to work on one flight! I was so excited. I canceled my seat, chose a new seat, clicked continue and it instantly it worked. Still doesn't work for any of the other three flights :rolleyes: but it did work one time just to taunt me.

Keep trying... ha ha....:D

Hi all,
I have followed the advice here, and joined Asiana Club etc in order to make it easier to make a seat reservation for my wife and I on mileage flights between LHR & ICN.
I can log onto the OZ system, enter my Booking Ref and FF number and it's all a case of 'so far so good'.
However, once I have selected my desired seats, a pop-up states 'completed' before giving me 2 options. These are:
'Continue for another itinerary' or
'Boarding Pass Check and Print'
Since I am not travelling until next March, I cannot print my Boarding Card but since do not have another Itinerary either, I am confused as to what to do next?
Can anyone advise me what to do in order to confirm a seat reservation?
Is there a way of checking that the seats requested have definitely been held?
I would be extremely grateful for any assistance.
Thank you.

checkmytrip.com should show your seat.

'Continue for another itinerary' or
'Boarding Pass Check and Print'


OZ will let you print a boarding pass 48 hours prior to departure (^ - I believe all other *A carriers allow for OLCI only 24 hours ahead of departure). Normally you need a stamp from check-in (to validate an OLCI B/P), but yesterday security, immigration and SEN lounge folks in FRA let me through without a stamp - I just said I am in transit from MAD (what was the truth).

'Boarding Pass Check' is just a seat assignment confirmation.

checkmytrip.com should show your seat.

It depends - remember that OZ does not use Amadeus as its reservation system!

It depends - remember that OZ does not use Amadeus as its reservation system!


Obviously you need to have the relevant reference number.

LOL@Mabuk above.

I tried myself with IE8 under WinXP and I do not even get the logon screen (when you input the OZ number and Record Locator). With Firefox I do get in but I get the known problem with the clock spinning after having selected a seat. Will try with Linux later on, but not holding my breath. :(

Not trying to threadjack but I had a similar questions. @:-)

I found a great flight / hotel combo on Expedia. I signed up and received my Asian Club Silver card in the mail (as to hope for better seat assignment luck).

I will be flying economy and due to Expedia I'm sure it will be a pretty low class ticket. Does the booking class of economy change when you can select seats?

Booking 2-3 months in advance, would there be much of a problem securing 2 aisle seats across from each other in Y that are not in the last few rows or next to the lav?

reading some of seat assignment these threads it sounds like sometimes you "get what they give you" and 14 hrs in a center seats is not what I'm looking for!

Routing if that plays a part in it:
CLE-SFO-ICN-HKG

HKG-ICN-ORD-CLE

You can actually input your CO number if you want to earn all those miles with CO.
As for seating, I've put in a OZ reference on an award ticket made by UA with my UA number in it, and then put my zero balance OZ number in and the seat selection screen came up.

Booking classes do not change when you select a seat. Booking classes change only when you change a ticket or when an airline protects you on another flight due to irregular operations.

Is there any trick to getting the 747 main deck business class seats allocated? We are travelling as a group of 3 and the entire main deck is showing as "unavailable" when I look online, and the same when I call Asiana.

Thanks,
Steve

I am flying 4 segments with Asiana next 2weeks and got all my seats by calling 800 number in the US.

LOL@Mabuk above.

I tried myself with IE8 under WinXP and I do not even get the logon screen (when you input the OZ number and Record Locator). With Firefox I do get in but I get the known problem with the clock spinning after having selected a seat. Will try with Linux later on, but not holding my breath. :(

I got it to work one more time. On one of the TPAC flights, in Firefox, on Linux no less.:eek: I was really shocked and excited. But then to prove it was only taunting me again, it stopped working immediately thereafter and hasn't worked again since. I have concluded it is not a browser issue. It is clearly a broken web site issue. I am generally tolerant of funky web site issues with Asian airlines but I have to say, as a newcomer to OZ, the web site sucks bigtime. I am still hoping some good seats are blocked and will open up at the 48 hour mark but I will plan on calling if I see something good.

Looks like OZ's site is only MS friendly. Had to install windows on bootcamp just to make my seat selection. Tried to select my seat via Safari/Firefox/Camino/Chrome. Nada. Only works with IE. :mad:

Looks like OZ's site is only MS friendly. Had to install windows on bootcamp just to make my seat selection. Tried to select my seat via Safari/Firefox/Camino/Chrome. Nada. Only works with IE. :mad:

Everything in Korea is MS territory. They wouldn't even test on other browsers. Having said this, wouldn't it have been easier to just call?

I got it to work one more time. On one of the TPAC flights, in Firefox, on Linux no less.:eek: I was really shocked and excited. But then to prove it was only taunting me again, it stopped working immediately thereafter and hasn't worked again since. I have concluded it is not a browser issue.

Came to the same conclusion too as it worked on me on linux for a nanosecond before throwing out an exception that clearly revealed it was a server issue.

Ended up calling them to put in the seat request. At least one can see the plane map so you know what seat to request.

Everything in Korea is MS territory. They wouldn't even test on other browsers. Having said this, wouldn't it have been easier to just call?

I was put on hold the entire period while installing windows. By the time I selected my seats, my call was still on hold. :p

I would be perfectly happy if it worked under MS Windows and IE but it does not work there either. I will call if I see something but if I don't have ideal seats and the flight is fairly full I like to be able to pop in from time to time and see if anything better opens up. Normally in that situation it would not be uncommon for me to make a number of changes before flight date since seats do open from time to time. Kind of annoying to have a web site except it does not work.

I agree most Korean websites work better in PC + IE. But OZ website works well in Firefox in my case. Maybe it is quite sensitive to some of browser settings... I flew SFO-ICN-PEK and will fly NRT-ICN, but I had no problem with selecting seats on their website.

I Hope OZ can improve their website soo and meet the standards of their global customers.

I saw some of FT'ers complaining about OZ website (flyasiana.com or us.flyasiana.com). But I recommend just putting 'asiana airlines' in the address bar. These days web browsers (IE and Firefox all do this trick) are very smart. They search the address for the company and transfer to that site very fast. And browser has all information like where you are accessing from and the language you might use and so on. You might see less hassle then.

Good luck!