Swiss International Airlines - Whats up with SWISS seat allocation, OLCI?

I got a business class itinerary, directly purchased via SWISS website for MUC-ZRH-BKK.

Today I tried OLCI some 16 hours before departure and it only shows me the first sector MUC-ZRH. OK, so I select my seat 1D and wait a few hours.

Still OLCI doesn't show the second sector. I call the callcenter and tell them I can't request a seat because the OLCI doesn't show me any options for the second sector. I was told the system is flaky and that 9K was reserved for me now by that agent.

Fair enough, I turn up at MUC and check in with the LH agent.

Boarding passes are printed and I head to the lounge (without checking because I had time pressure and there was a customs drama to be sorted).

Once I get to the SEN lounge, I see that the long sector has some dodgy seat (4G). I call the callcenter and I am told nothing can be done because I am checked in. Try the lounge or gate staff. Fair enough.

Off to the gate staff "Sorry Sir, our system is different to SWISS, I cannot see any seat maps, please try again in ZRH at the gate".

Wow...

/rant

I have often noticed that LH and LX don't seem to "like" each other. Every single time I've asked one airline for "help" with the other (e.g joining PNRs, seat allocation for the corresponding flight, etc.) I always get the answer that this is not possible. As a matter of fact, now that LX flights out of ATH are within Schengen, Swiss uses the Olympic lounge, and neither the LH one nor the Swissport like before. Strange, to say the least...

I got a business class itinerary, directly purchased via SWISS website for MUC-ZRH-BKK.

Today I tried OLCI some 16 hours before departure and it only shows me the first sector MUC-ZRH. OK, so I select my seat 1D and wait a few hours.

Still OLCI doesn't show the second sector. I call the callcenter and tell them I can't request a seat because the OLCI doesn't show me any options for the second sector. I was told the system is flaky and that 9K was reserved for me now by that agent.

Fair enough, I turn up at MUC and check in with the LH agent.

Boarding passes are printed and I head to the lounge (without checking because I had time pressure and there was a customs drama to be sorted).

Once I get to the SEN lounge, I see that the long sector has some dodgy seat (4G). I call the callcenter and I am told nothing can be done because I am checked in. Try the lounge or gate staff. Fair enough.

Off to the gate staff "Sorry Sir, our system is different to SWISS, I cannot see any seat maps, please try again in ZRH at the gate".

Wow...

/rant

With all respect - why did you not call the service center after the booking to make your seat reservations :confused: but waited until it was to late.

Not personal - but I do no get the idea that you have to do everything over the internet rather than to talk to an actual person...

Cheers

Thomas

Why would you want 9K if you can have the much nicer 4G in the intimate "Stübli" front cabin?

And I agree with tcswede, on C class itineraries you can just call LX at any time after booking and get your seat assignments. If it was important to me, I would not rely on OLCI simply because by the time it opens, the best seats would probably have gone anyway.

Today I tried OLCI some 16 hours before departure and it only shows me the first sector MUC-ZRH. OK, so I select my seat 1D and wait a few hours.

Still OLCI doesn't show the second sector. I call the callcenter and tell them I can't request a seat because the OLCI doesn't show me any options for the second sector. I was told the system is flaky and that 9K was reserved for me now by that agent.


OLCI for LX flights from Germany connecting in Switzerland is quite special.
LX flights from Germany can only be handled by LH, Flights from Switzerland only by LX. The reason is, that LH and LX are using different booking systems.

When you type in your details for OLCI on the Swiss Site, your are transferred automatically to the LH site (In case for trip starts in Germany). There you can only check in for the flight MUC-ZRH.

After that you have to go to the Swiss site again and select under Web Check-in (where you put your details in before) "For departures from Switzerland ....... Advanced Login". Here you can OLCI for the flights from Siwtzerland.

I have done this several times, and it worked well.
It's a bit complicated, but doable.