"Default Pre-Seating" in P-class?
Jul 3, 2007, 3:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: STO/DUS
Posts: 394
"Default Pre-Seating" in P-class?
Saw this on sassalesinfo, has anyone noticed this enhancement yet?
In other words, if you have a P-class ticket and forget to OLCI the computer will put you in 31B and nothing can be done about it 
As from 03JUL07 passengers holding economy class tickets, for travel within Europe, will be default pre-seated 3 hours before departure.
It will not be possible for the passenger to change the seat on Internet, Self Service Machines, manual check-in or at gate, less than 3 hours before departure.
Passengers who want to choose their seat must check-in on Internet, Self Service Machines or manual check-in, more than 3 hours prior to departure.
It will not be possible for the passenger to change the seat on Internet, Self Service Machines, manual check-in or at gate, less than 3 hours before departure.
Passengers who want to choose their seat must check-in on Internet, Self Service Machines or manual check-in, more than 3 hours prior to departure.
Jul 3, 2007, 7:12 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SVG
Posts: 550
This makes no sense to me...
Any theories on plausible operational reasons for such a policy?
Does the the check-in agents spend too much time discussing seating options with pax as they are checking in?
I'm sure the same agents will love getting yelled for placing the EBG or *G in front of them in said 31B.
Any theories on plausible operational reasons for such a policy?
Does the the check-in agents spend too much time discussing seating options with pax as they are checking in?
I'm sure the same agents will love getting yelled for placing the EBG or *G in front of them in said 31B.
Jul 3, 2007, 10:07 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Finland
Programs: AY Platinum,Marriott Gold,HH Diamond,Sixt Platinum,Hertz PC,AMEX Platinum
Posts: 1,946
Service enhancement in SAS way?
I guess this will streamline the amount of work needed prior the flight. If you don't take any action then computer will assign you the seat and check-in doesn't have to deal with that. And as gate agents don't have to deal with seat changes any longer then it will save work there too. In the long run SAS will save quite much work. Good change!
From passenger point of view ... not a good change. Basically they are again cutting service by introducing their service enhancements but that is what some of us expected them to do.
I guess this will streamline the amount of work needed prior the flight. If you don't take any action then computer will assign you the seat and check-in doesn't have to deal with that. And as gate agents don't have to deal with seat changes any longer then it will save work there too. In the long run SAS will save quite much work. Good change!
From passenger point of view ... not a good change. Basically they are again cutting service by introducing their service enhancements but that is what some of us expected them to do.
Jul 4, 2007, 12:13 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: North of Sweden
Posts: 263
One reason might be weight and balance, sometimes the airline needs to move passengers due to balance-problems just before departure wich takes time and might irritate passengers.
Also I guess it is to save time....
Also I guess it is to save time....
Jul 4, 2007, 1:28 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, AY Gold, BA Gold, TK Gold, ITA Executive Elite+, IHG Diamond AMB
Posts: 258
IMO it's just to make more people use the OLCI and the self-check machines to keep the lines minimum and maybe to be able to fire some more CSRs.
Let's see what will be the next enhancement - any guess?
Jul 4, 2007, 1:38 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Travelling the skies over Europe
Programs: Lufthansa Senator, Hilton Diamond VIP, Marriott Gold Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,819
The main main main issue here will be for "groups" travelling together but with separate tickets. There is nothing in the system that binds them together so they will be spread out from 9B to 30E. Guess what will happen on-board? They will start to shuffle around, and expect to have their 30E traded for 9A and all of that crap.
For people that do not travel often it is not a big deal to have to buy water or a sandwhich. Sitting 20 rows apart is. Big time. A lot of older people still don't have computers at home, and OLCI isn't that well known.
For people that do not travel often it is not a big deal to have to buy water or a sandwhich. Sitting 20 rows apart is. Big time. A lot of older people still don't have computers at home, and OLCI isn't that well known.
Jul 4, 2007, 1:49 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ARN
Posts: 355
The main main main issue here will be for "groups" travelling together but with separate tickets. There is nothing in the system that binds them together so they will be spread out from 9B to 30E. Guess what will happen on-board? They will start to shuffle around, and expect to have their 30E traded for 9A and all of that crap.
For people that do not travel often it is not a big deal to have to buy water or a sandwhich. Sitting 20 rows apart is. Big time. A lot of older people still don't have computers at home, and OLCI isn't that well known.
For people that do not travel often it is not a big deal to have to buy water or a sandwhich. Sitting 20 rows apart is. Big time. A lot of older people still don't have computers at home, and OLCI isn't that well known.
Another thing is that it isn't possible to OLCI when travelling with an infant. Later this month, me and Mrs. SK989 with our baby are flying SAS on separate tickets (Mrs. SK989's and babySK989's ticket are award tickets, mine isn't). SAS new policy thus means that we wont be seated together unless we manually check in at the airport at least 3 hours before departure!
I'm sure it has to be possible to manually override the pre-seating at C/I even when it's less than 3 hours to departure. Well, we'll se in a few weeks.
Jul 4, 2007, 1:52 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Finland (TKU)
Programs: SK*Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Melia Gold
Posts: 56
Jul 4, 2007, 1:59 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: STO/DUS
Posts: 394
I wonder if they will implement this from airports outside Scandinavia? There's no such thing as OLCI for SAS flights from Germany, for instance. Will you still be able to choose a seat from the LH self-service kiosks, or will the SAS system just random assign a seat to everyone 3 hours before departure?
If so, that would be another major reason to choose LH over SK on M tickets...
If so, that would be another major reason to choose LH over SK on M tickets...
Jul 4, 2007, 2:13 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Travelling the skies over Europe
Programs: Lufthansa Senator, Hilton Diamond VIP, Marriott Gold Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,819
I wonder if they will implement this from airports outside Scandinavia? There's no such thing as OLCI for SAS flights from Germany, for instance. Will you still be able to choose a seat from the LH self-service kiosks, or will the SAS system just random assign a seat to everyone 3 hours before departure?
If so, that would be another major reason to choose LH over SK on M tickets...
If so, that would be another major reason to choose LH over SK on M tickets...
Jul 4, 2007, 2:40 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the skies of the world
Programs: SAS Gold, FB Gold, BA Gold, EY Silver
Posts: 3,167
Another stupid 'enhancement' indeed!!
I don't know about the exact rules for babies/infants, but when you use OLCI you can either check-in or just select seats.
I very often just use the OLCI to secure a good seat without actually checking in, that means you arrive at the airport with a good pre-assigned seat, but you're not checked-in.
This is very useful if you have connecting flights with other airlines, perhaps it could work in your case as well?
Another thing is that it isn't possible to OLCI when travelling with an infant. Later this month, me and Mrs. SK989 with our baby are flying SAS on separate tickets (Mrs. SK989's and babySK989's ticket are award tickets, mine isn't). SAS new policy thus means that we wont be seated together unless we manually check in at the airport at least 3 hours before departure!
I'm sure it has to be possible to manually override the pre-seating at C/I even when it's less than 3 hours to departure. Well, we'll se in a few weeks.
I'm sure it has to be possible to manually override the pre-seating at C/I even when it's less than 3 hours to departure. Well, we'll se in a few weeks.
I very often just use the OLCI to secure a good seat without actually checking in, that means you arrive at the airport with a good pre-assigned seat, but you're not checked-in.
This is very useful if you have connecting flights with other airlines, perhaps it could work in your case as well?
Jul 4, 2007, 5:04 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ARN
Posts: 355
Another stupid 'enhancement' indeed!!
I don't know about the exact rules for babies/infants, but when you use OLCI you can either check-in or just select seats.
I very often just use the OLCI to secure a good seat without actually checking in, that means you arrive at the airport with a good pre-assigned seat, but you're not checked-in.
This is very useful if you have connecting flights with other airlines, perhaps it could work in your case as well?
I don't know about the exact rules for babies/infants, but when you use OLCI you can either check-in or just select seats.
I very often just use the OLCI to secure a good seat without actually checking in, that means you arrive at the airport with a good pre-assigned seat, but you're not checked-in.
This is very useful if you have connecting flights with other airlines, perhaps it could work in your case as well?
Jul 4, 2007, 6:11 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ARN
Posts: 2,321
There exists a NUMBER of scenarios when OLCI does not work. As mentioned it applies from some destinations. Also if there is a note in your booking record of any kind, such as "Ask for volunteers for later flight" etc OLCI does not work. And you will not even get to the screen to select seats.
This policy s***s big time.
This policy s***s big time.