intuition

While I am not often in Y, I always found it odd that so many other travellers attested to seat being blocked. For me, the seat is free at most 50% of times.

So I just assumed the block was something percieved and in reality didn't exist.

But with these two posts, I must start to wonder again.

At no time have there been a X on the seat next to me in EF for my flights.

So it seems seat block exists but only for select members.

NoWindowSeat

Very sorry to hear about such inconsistency with this, especially if there is supposed to be a policy in place, which I really don't know..

My experience over the last ca. 15 years as a AY Tier member is that this "blocking" thing has been there almost the whole time. At times I have also asked/requested at checkin if the seat next to be could be blocked but haven't really done that in years as real checkin is very rare thing today anyway...and those 3rd party CI staff are often more clueless than a random security officer at any given outstation when it comes to actually knowing the AY system...so I cannot really come to any definite conclusion here other than saying the "system" - whatever it is, just seems to work and quite happy with it, too

Maybe the AY Plus Rep. could share something about this..?

reflektia

My experience is also that seat blocking works normally very well. However, economy comfort is exception to this and finnair does not offer seat block there.

intuition

Here are screendumps from an upcoming flight. No block visible in expertflyer and making a dummybooking for one status pax and for one non-statuspax, there is no problem at all for them to select seat next to me.

I did this experiment on 3 separate bookings and none of them have X in EF nor have a block in ay.com

So all of you who do get blocks, could you do the same experiment and make sure there really is a block. 'cause this is getting ridicolous.

miikka

Same experience here - not consistent and never showing X next to me in the EF. I can see X for some of my flights and on board they are indeed empty then so maybe it is the other Platinums who get these.

Platinum VIP tier which has this as a official benefit?

Edit: I forgot one time, just when they announced "Boarding completed", at the same second I was able to see how in EF the seat next to me turned into X. First and only time I have had X next to me.

NoWindowSeat

I don't have a Y booking to check that now, it could be they do some pre-blocking closer to departure / when checkin / seat selection is about to open for general public w/o payment?

I don't think we can get a conclusion on this w/o AY making a statement, which is unlikely at best as this has never been disclosed of being any kind of perk to begin with.

niksal

OSL-HEL today, load maybe 40%. Extremely rushed service, they almost ran through the cabin. No newspapers handed out. When drinks come, I order some water and NF. "I didn't check the papers but I assume you are platinum." Ok, that's one way to do it.

But service consistency? Hah.

lkrt

Today HEL-AMS and AMS-HEL. Both ways a 90% full plane, empty seat next to me, newspapers offered discreetly just after takeoff.

I guess I'm one of those select members.

Courmisch

HEL-CDG, newspaper was offered just before newspaper sale, which itself started maybe a little later than usual. Complimentary drink was offered proactively during normal service! While I have no problems getting the drink previously, it was never proactively offered (except on AA).

CPH-Flyer

AY912 TXL-HEL JAL OWE

I was welcomed aboard and offered a selection of newspapers before take off.

Once the service commenced I was offered a welcome drink (two champagnes) and anything else I wanted from the cart.

Which was really nice gestures. I sent a nice note to customer relations praising the crew.

niksal

Thought I'd post a positive comment as well. HEL-CPH today was flawless. Empty middle-seat, selection of newspapers offered, and I'm sure a drink would have been fine as well. I declined that as it was a morning flight, so coffee and water was fine.

I overheard a discussion between the FA and another plat where the plat didn't want a drink but only a sandwich. He had to pay for the sandwich, but the FA agreed there wasn't any logic in that he could get a 12€ NF for free, but had to pay for a 7€ sandwich.

intuition

Was it blocked or empty by chance?

kauppias

Indeed a AA style drink and snack would be super but stilll the free drink is better then what ba will be offering next year

GaryK84

BMA-HEL AY984

No newspapers offered. When I asked for the drink and it was handed over, the FA asked me if I was plat and I said yes. She said they hadn't had the chance to put together a list. No charge for the drink. No empty seat next to me but the flight did seem full.

HEL-ARN AY649

The purser came to me in the latter parts of boarding and welcomed me by name as a BA Emerald. She offered me a newspaper and offered her apologies as there wouldn't be alcoholic drinks due to the length of the flight. The seat next to me was free and presumably blocked as it was an emergency exit row seat.

niksal

Can't say. There were a number of empty seats so could have been by chance.