Finnair seat selection as One World Emerald
Nov 23, 2013, 1:55 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Programs: TK Elite Plus
Posts: 138
Finnair seat selection as One World Emerald
Sorry if this was discussed elsewhere, a quick search did not yield anything. I have JFK-HEL on Finnair, and after getting the Finnair PNR from AA, I tried online seat selection, but pretty much all seats needs payment. Is this the norm?
Nov 23, 2013, 3:57 pm
#3
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
As this question pertains to flights operated by Finnair, I am going to move it to the Finnair Plus forum, where the experts can hopefully shed some light on the subject. In so doing I have also updated the thread title to reflect the oneworld status equivalent.
~Microwave
AAdvantage Forum Co-moderator
~Microwave
AAdvantage Forum Co-moderator
Nov 23, 2013, 4:26 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Call Finnair. Then call AA and ask for oneworld support.
If they allow their top tier flyers to reserve exit row seats they must allow Emeralds to do it as well. Looking at Finnair's pages, they seem to indicate this:
http://www.finnair.com/INT/GB/flight...lect-your-seat
http://www.finnair.com/INT/GB/finnai...mbership-tiers
just becuase the webpage doesnt allow it doesnt mean it cant be done. Indeed, if AA told me it was a violation of the oneworld agreement, Id pay for it then charge it back.
If they allow their top tier flyers to reserve exit row seats they must allow Emeralds to do it as well. Looking at Finnair's pages, they seem to indicate this:
http://www.finnair.com/INT/GB/flight...lect-your-seat
http://www.finnair.com/INT/GB/finnai...mbership-tiers
just becuase the webpage doesnt allow it doesnt mean it cant be done. Indeed, if AA told me it was a violation of the oneworld agreement, Id pay for it then charge it back.
Nov 23, 2013, 7:11 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,067
I had 4 finnair flights in Oct and as a CX gold was able to select exits and bulkheads for free, even on the trans Atlantic flights. Nice.
Nov 23, 2013, 7:36 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,732
If you have a Finnair flight number and your AA EXP card is in the booking, you are able to select seats online free of charge. I had a case where the AY site tried to charge me for a European flight. This glitch was fixed by their web support, so if this is your case, just give them a call. If you are lucky, you get a really good agent. Call +358 9 818 1611.
However, if you have an AA flight number, you might be out of luck. Some travellers have reported that they have succeeded in selecting seats on AY's homepage for AA-flight numbers, but it doesn't seem to work all the time. A phone call might or might not help.
Basic rule number one for me is: never codeshare, no matter what the marketing department tries to make us believe. It's always a hassle of some sort.
However, if you have an AA flight number, you might be out of luck. Some travellers have reported that they have succeeded in selecting seats on AY's homepage for AA-flight numbers, but it doesn't seem to work all the time. A phone call might or might not help.
Basic rule number one for me is: never codeshare, no matter what the marketing department tries to make us believe. It's always a hassle of some sort.
Nov 23, 2013, 8:06 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 507
Finnair seat selection as AA EXP [oneworld Emerald]
I've done 4 finnair flights in November JFK-HEL and back and have two more in December. All booked as AA codeshares.
I'm AA plat and for each flight I've been able to pick exits and bulkheads through finnair.com without paying anything. For all of my flights I'm either 41C or 41J.
If any one wants seat advice for AY's A333 just holler.
I'm AA plat and for each flight I've been able to pick exits and bulkheads through finnair.com without paying anything. For all of my flights I'm either 41C or 41J.
If any one wants seat advice for AY's A333 just holler.
Nov 23, 2013, 8:26 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,980
This thread here in the AA forum http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...s-you-bet.html Advanced search does work
Dec 3, 2013, 8:53 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Programs: BA EC Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,233
Just another data point: today I made a booking on finnair.com and entered my BA (Gold -- OW Emerald) FF number. After confirming I went back to 'My Booking' to select seats. The tool wanted to charge me. I rang up the Finnair Plus Gold helpline and the very friendly, very helpful chap there assigned me the exit row / extra legspace seats I had chosen, at no charge.
cheers,
Henry
cheers,
Henry
Dec 6, 2013, 8:22 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 420
Another data point: I flew HEL-LHR on AY 2 days ago and did mobile check-in about 12 hours prior. I am AA PLT and booked the flight under the AA flight number (frequent flyer number on the reservation). I was able to choose an exit row seat upon check-in, no additional fee required.
Dec 7, 2013, 11:42 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,084
If you have a Finnair flight number and your AA EXP card is in the booking, you are able to select seats online free of charge. I had a case where the AY site tried to charge me for a European flight. This glitch was fixed by their web support, so if this is your case, just give them a call. If you are lucky, you get a really good agent. Call +358 9 818 1611.
However, if you have an AA flight number, you might be out of luck. Some travellers have reported that they have succeeded in selecting seats on AY's homepage for AA-flight numbers, but it doesn't seem to work all the time. A phone call might or might not help.
Basic rule number one for me is: never codeshare, no matter what the marketing department tries to make us believe. It's always a hassle of some sort.
However, if you have an AA flight number, you might be out of luck. Some travellers have reported that they have succeeded in selecting seats on AY's homepage for AA-flight numbers, but it doesn't seem to work all the time. A phone call might or might not help.
Basic rule number one for me is: never codeshare, no matter what the marketing department tries to make us believe. It's always a hassle of some sort.
Dec 8, 2013, 6:34 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,732
Just another data point: today I made a booking on finnair.com and entered my BA (Gold -- OW Emerald) FF number. After confirming I went back to 'My Booking' to select seats. The tool wanted to charge me. I rang up the Finnair Plus Gold helpline and the very friendly, very helpful chap there assigned me the exit row / extra legspace seats I had chosen, at no charge.
cheers,
Henry
cheers,
Henry
The e-helpdesk guy assigned me the seats and promised to look into the matter. We tried other bookings as well, where I had previously assigned the seats myself free of charge. The my booking -system now wanted to charge for those as well...
Dec 15, 2013, 1:30 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Programs: TK Elite Plus
Posts: 138
Dec 24, 2013, 12:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,848
If you have a Finnair flight number and your AA EXP card is in the booking, you are able to select seats online free of charge. I had a case where the AY site tried to charge me for a European flight. This glitch was fixed by their web support, so if this is your case, just give them a call. If you are lucky, you get a really good agent. Call +358 9 818 1611.
The office is shut right now but I will ring when it opens -- hopefully that will do it!
Last edited by ExpatExp; Dec 24, 2013 at 8:35 pm
