1K on USAir - *Gold Seating benefits?
Mar 19, 2013, 2:26 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 192
Always pays to remember that US Air's "Choice Seats" are anything but. They have no Economy Plus area and all the seats are the same. I once paid $45 for one these frauds. Even some of the exit row seats don't have extra legroom!
FYI: I'm 1k and never get these for free.
FYI: I'm 1k and never get these for free.
Mar 19, 2013, 2:47 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-1K, Hertz-Gold, Marriott-Gold, PC-Platinum, SPG
Posts: 2,777
IME, this UA 1K member has always been assigned one of those seats up front behind the F cabin if no seat was picked at booking. Just last week, we had a last minute booking on a pretty full flight where the only two-seat that are together is the bulkhead row and we got assigned to them right after I called to put in my *A Gold number since the third party booking site did not put in my FF number at booking!
Mar 19, 2013, 4:38 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 270
I have also been assigned choice seats on US if I don't select a seat at booking. It happened when I was Gold and Plat as well.
My experience is that phone agents can't even switch you from one choice seat to another (e.g., aisle to window) unless you pay for it.
My experience is that phone agents can't even switch you from one choice seat to another (e.g., aisle to window) unless you pay for it.
Mar 19, 2013, 8:08 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,629
IME, this UA 1K member has always been assigned one of those seats up front behind the F cabin if no seat was picked at booking. Just last week, we had a last minute booking on a pretty full flight where the only two-seat that are together is the bulkhead row and we got assigned to them right after I called to put in my *A Gold number since the third party booking site did not put in my FF number at booking!
I occasionally play the dykwia card with the GAs and they've been able to move me from choice window to aisle and vv without an add collect. YMMV.
Mar 20, 2013, 8:38 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ATL/TLV/SDF
Programs: AA EXP, UA LT Ag, Marriott LT Ti, Hyatt Glob, Avis PC, Busted-Knuckles Club Grand Poobah.
Posts: 2,590
If you are UA/*G and book through a corporate travel-hindrance gatekeeper like Concur, you can (at least in my experience) select US "choice" seats for free. Oh sure the seat-picker yells that if you don't have US status they don't have to honor the selection, but I've always gotten these seats for free.
Oh and I can safely state that row 5 on the US A321 sucks (despite what Seatguru says) because the divider between F and Y on US A321 goes to the floor unlike UA A319/320, so there's no under-seat stowage and you MUST put all your crap upstairs, and the legroom is limited. Whoever thought that was a good idea is an idiot.
Oh and I can safely state that row 5 on the US A321 sucks (despite what Seatguru says) because the divider between F and Y on US A321 goes to the floor unlike UA A319/320, so there's no under-seat stowage and you MUST put all your crap upstairs, and the legroom is limited. Whoever thought that was a good idea is an idiot.
Mar 20, 2013, 10:01 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
If you are UA/*G and book through a corporate travel-hindrance gatekeeper like Concur, you can (at least in my experience) select US "choice" seats for free. Oh sure the seat-picker yells that if you don't have US status they don't have to honor the selection, but I've always gotten these seats for free.
Oh and I can safely state that row 5 on the US A321 sucks (despite what Seatguru says) because the divider between F and Y on US A321 goes to the floor unlike UA A319/320, so there's no under-seat stowage and you MUST put all your crap upstairs, and the legroom is limited. Whoever thought that was a good idea is an idiot.
Oh and I can safely state that row 5 on the US A321 sucks (despite what Seatguru says) because the divider between F and Y on US A321 goes to the floor unlike UA A319/320, so there's no under-seat stowage and you MUST put all your crap upstairs, and the legroom is limited. Whoever thought that was a good idea is an idiot.
It sounds like I won't have much luck with a phone call, I'll have to see if I can get lucky at OLCI or at the airport...thanks everyone
Mar 20, 2013, 11:13 pm
#37
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I really wish I had known not to pick a seat when I booked my upcoming US mileage run. It sounds like there's basically nothing that I can do now except to try at the airport.
No reason I can't check in at the airport the day before (within T-24) my flight, right?
No reason I can't check in at the airport the day before (within T-24) my flight, right?
Jun 6, 2013, 12:44 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DC
Posts: 255
This lowly silver did get an exit row on a SFO-PHL US Airways flight a few weeks back. Was originally in a middle seat somewhere near the back until OLCI, when I was able to move into an exit row (a godsend for trancon flight). Interestingly it did not let me into an exit, or any choice seat, on my connecting PHL-DCA flight. I also had zone 1 boarding for both flights.
I had no luck getting into an exit row on a US DCA-PHX-SJC flight a few days before (and was stuck with zone 4 boarding), even at OLCI, so as others have said seems to be hit-or-miss. Both reservations had my MP number on them.
I had no luck getting into an exit row on a US DCA-PHX-SJC flight a few days before (and was stuck with zone 4 boarding), even at OLCI, so as others have said seems to be hit-or-miss. Both reservations had my MP number on them.
Jun 6, 2013, 1:12 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Hertz Prez Circle
Posts: 572
Is there complimentary upgrade for *G? I was upgraded on a recent ORF-CLT. There were 3 empty F on take off so, they were just upgrading anyone they could at that point and trying to butter up a MP *G to come along with the new AA?
I had no idea that US gave upgrades to *G at all.
I had no idea that US gave upgrades to *G at all.
Jun 6, 2013, 2:36 pm
#40
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
Is there complimentary upgrade for *G? I was upgraded on a recent ORF-CLT. There were 3 empty F on take off so, they were just upgrading anyone they could at that point and trying to butter up a MP *G to come along with the new AA?
I had no idea that US gave upgrades to *G at all.
I had no idea that US gave upgrades to *G at all.
Jun 6, 2013, 3:11 pm
#41
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, UA Platinum, Alaksa MVP 75K, Air Berlin Gold, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,389
Is there complimentary upgrade for *G? I was upgraded on a recent ORF-CLT. There were 3 empty F on take off so, they were just upgrading anyone they could at that point and trying to butter up a MP *G to come along with the new AA?
I had no idea that US gave upgrades to *G at all.
I had no idea that US gave upgrades to *G at all.
Sep 5, 2013, 8:03 pm
#42
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: UA 2.6 MM, 1K, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 115
Choice seats for a UA 1K
Just made a reservation on US SMF -> PHX -> GDL. Following advice read on this and other threads, I purchased my ticket including my M+ account info and without selecting a seat (I would have needed to pay for a seat up front). It asked me if I wanted to proceed, as they would assign a seat automatically for me. I chose yes and upon checking the assigned seats after the fact, they were both bulkheads (4F on A320 and 1F on CRJ900). Worked like a charm. Thank you to those of you who posted this clever trick.
Sep 5, 2013, 8:15 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,166
An awesome experience for me as well with my four short-haul US flights on Tue. When my TA booked my ticket, my first two seats were of the back of the plane variety, but my final two she was able to get me Choice seats. At OLCI, was able to change into exit rows on my 3 mainline flights. At the LGA US Club, I moved seats for my 4th flight (express, E75) to the nice bulkhead row (with tons of legroom).
My first US flights in 2 years...forgot how nice of an alternative it was to UA ^ Especially when it helps "beat" EWR monopolistic pricing!
My first US flights in 2 years...forgot how nice of an alternative it was to UA ^ Especially when it helps "beat" EWR monopolistic pricing!
Sep 12, 2013, 8:21 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Just made a reservation on US SMF -> PHX -> GDL. Following advice read on this and other threads, I purchased my ticket including my M+ account info and without selecting a seat (I would have needed to pay for a seat up front). It asked me if I wanted to proceed, as they would assign a seat automatically for me. I chose yes and upon checking the assigned seats after the fact, they were both bulkheads (4F on A320 and 1F on CRJ900). Worked like a charm. Thank you to those of you who posted this clever trick.