No longer able to reserve a seat on Swiss as a UA StarAlliance Gold?
Jul 18, 2014, 4:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 100
No longer able to reserve a seat on Swiss as a UA StarAlliance Gold?
Just booked a flight on Swiss (ZRH-ORD). I got a seat in the second last row as a UA SA Gold (lifetime). I called twice and got different answers on why I can't get another seat.
I heard there are some new rules on Swiss for seat assignments. However, both CS I talked to were not aware of any changes.
Does anyone have any insight on this?
I heard there are some new rules on Swiss for seat assignments. However, both CS I talked to were not aware of any changes.
Does anyone have any insight on this?
.
Jul 18, 2014, 7:21 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 100
Very strange concept. So, how can a corporate customer (using a corporate travel agency) even pay them for a seat? Seems like they have not thought this through.
When I called, they did not offer any pay premium. CS seemed to be rather confused what is going on. One told me it is because the flight is already 75% sold out. An other one told me that flight is pretty much empty and could not understand.
When I called, they did not offer any pay premium. CS seemed to be rather confused what is going on. One told me it is because the flight is already 75% sold out. An other one told me that flight is pretty much empty and could not understand.
Jul 18, 2014, 7:23 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
Jul 18, 2014, 7:35 pm
#6
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Seat assignments in C and F are still possible and free of charge. ORD-ZRH is not a route that most corporate customers would ever consider flying in Y ... hence LX is not terribly concerned.
Jul 18, 2014, 7:36 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
But then I myself would not fly an EU carrier over a US one in coach. Unless of course I get to sit in a 380 ...
Jul 18, 2014, 7:46 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 100
Corporate US flying biz/first is pretty much over.
I took Swiss several times back from ZRH. I always got assigned a good seat by default and the airline is slightly better than any US, plus direct routing.
It seems that with the changes on July 8th something happened.
Can't use a credit card to add options on a corporate travel agency. Can't do it on UA. I am not a miels&more customer.
I took Swiss several times back from ZRH. I always got assigned a good seat by default and the airline is slightly better than any US, plus direct routing.
It seems that with the changes on July 8th something happened.
Can't use a credit card to add options on a corporate travel agency. Can't do it on UA. I am not a miels&more customer.
Jul 18, 2014, 10:59 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,671
Because there are quite a number of companies out there making the math and figuring that a paying the premium for business class for standard fares does not offset the additional labor time that can be squeezed out of an employee when traveling in business.
What kind of business are you working in that you seem to think all corporate customers would be flying business or first?
HTB.
What kind of business are you working in that you seem to think all corporate customers would be flying business or first?
HTB.
Last edited by htb; Jul 20, 2014 at 11:47 am Reason: "lots of companies", "not lots of airlines"
Jul 19, 2014, 3:19 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
I had FAs on day flights (sic!) forward complaints to me from passengers for using the computer too much. They felt annoyed by someone typing excessively rather than sleeping and watching movies. The last one was on LX nb.
Of course one can simply substitute the "opportunity to work" argument for the "well rested" one.
Jul 19, 2014, 4:59 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Medford, NJ
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 1
No reserved LH seats
Just had the same problem. Booked on LH's 380 IAH-FRA in December and they won't give me an assigned seat. Called UA's Prem Exec desk and they said even though it's a UA codeshare flight, LH will not give UA's elite custsomers ANY pre-reserved seats any more unless they pay extra for the privilege.
So without forking $ over to LH, one runs the risk of being 1K and getting stuck in the middle seat of a 380 for 11 hours.
LH is my most frequently chosen airline, other than UA. But no more.
So without forking $ over to LH, one runs the risk of being 1K and getting stuck in the middle seat of a 380 for 11 hours.
LH is my most frequently chosen airline, other than UA. But no more.
Jul 19, 2014, 6:52 am
#13
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company in DJA. Domestic sure and even a quick intl. hop but an 8 hr intercontinental flight? I'd for sure upgrade if I was forced to book coach on such a trip and be expected to function upon arrival.
Jul 19, 2014, 7:43 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859
Ergo, a lost productivity day for the 99% workforce is probably less then C-Y.