Random seat changes to UA itineraries after they are booked & purchased [ARCHIVE]
May 25, 2017, 8:42 am
#1591
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May 25, 2017, 8:44 am
#1592
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UA does this frequently. Obviously to UA it does not matter your status. Who knows why UA does it. They will be creative in their "reasoning".
Last edited by TonyBurr; May 25, 2017 at 10:21 am
May 25, 2017, 8:48 am
#1593
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May 25, 2017, 8:54 am
#1594
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May 25, 2017, 8:55 am
#1595
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Why drag in the other pax who is probably oblivious to what happened.
May 25, 2017, 9:06 am
#1596
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Flying IAH - LAX earlier this week (booked 2 weeks ago)
I'm in 9C, PAX in 9A asks me if I paid for my upgrade to E+. I said, "no, it's complimentary at booking because of status." He goes on to tell me that he selected 9C at booking a month ago, and his seat only changed after he got to the airport. He showed me his paper (printed from home) boarding pass showing 9C, and the email from when he purchased the seat also showing 9C. His current electronic boarding pass had 9A.
Seemed odd, and I offered him the aisle because he was very nice about the whole thing, but he said he was fine with the window, just curious why he got moved.
I'm in 9C, PAX in 9A asks me if I paid for my upgrade to E+. I said, "no, it's complimentary at booking because of status." He goes on to tell me that he selected 9C at booking a month ago, and his seat only changed after he got to the airport. He showed me his paper (printed from home) boarding pass showing 9C, and the email from when he purchased the seat also showing 9C. His current electronic boarding pass had 9A.
Seemed odd, and I offered him the aisle because he was very nice about the whole thing, but he said he was fine with the window, just curious why he got moved.
May 25, 2017, 9:08 am
#1597
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Before I start: I hope this discussion doesn't go into the "United has the right to move your seat". I am aware of that but just wanted to get people's thoughts on what happened below and why:
I am a Global Services customer who booked a paid business class seat. The cabin configuration was 2-1-2 so I booked the 1 row seat. Today when I go to check-in, I noticed my seat was re-assigned to the 2 side. I called UA and they tell me that about 10 days ago my seat was changed due to "operational reasons". They said they can do this if there is an equipment change or "other operational issues". What does this mean. The equipment is still the same and I doubt they knew 10 days ago that the seat is not working. So if someone else is sitting in that seat tomorrow, what am I to make of it??
I am surprised they would treat their best customers this way and not even tell me. Moving anyone is wrong but to move your best customers, I don't get it. Any suggestions or ideas why they did this?
I am a Global Services customer who booked a paid business class seat. The cabin configuration was 2-1-2 so I booked the 1 row seat. Today when I go to check-in, I noticed my seat was re-assigned to the 2 side. I called UA and they tell me that about 10 days ago my seat was changed due to "operational reasons". They said they can do this if there is an equipment change or "other operational issues". What does this mean. The equipment is still the same and I doubt they knew 10 days ago that the seat is not working. So if someone else is sitting in that seat tomorrow, what am I to make of it??
I am surprised they would treat their best customers this way and not even tell me. Moving anyone is wrong but to move your best customers, I don't get it. Any suggestions or ideas why they did this?
May 25, 2017, 9:10 am
#1598
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May 25, 2017, 9:43 am
#1599
Join Date: Jul 2011
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I see equipment changes TATL from time to time. UA may or may not send a change alert email. That is why I also use EF to alert me.
May 25, 2017, 10:15 am
#1601
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May 25, 2017, 10:20 am
#1602
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This is an example of why many of us watch our seat assignments almost daily in case of changes. It happens, but if you catch it early enough, you can often recover with a seat that is still acceptable. I do not blame UA for this; it is just a fact of flying.
May 25, 2017, 10:38 am
#1603
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It could be a FAM, it could be the infamous SHARES Seat Scrambler, neither of them care about your status.
May 25, 2017, 10:52 am
#1604
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If I recall, I don't think a FAM is required to sit in that specific seat. If you get the right agent, you might be able to switch back or ask the FAM to switch
May 25, 2017, 11:50 am
#1605
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Two leading causes of this are FAMs and "glitch" equipment swaps (like 764 -> 763 -> 764, all in the space of an hour). Sounds like it's probably the former, especially if booted out of a '1' seat near the front of the cabin.
Wait, how long had you been assigned to 9C? 
Flying IAH - LAX earlier this week (booked 2 weeks ago)
I'm in 9C, PAX in 9A asks me if I paid for my upgrade to E+. I said, "no, it's complimentary at booking because of status." He goes on to tell me that he selected 9C at booking a month ago, and his seat only changed after he got to the airport. He showed me his paper (printed from home) boarding pass showing 9C, and the email from when he purchased the seat also showing 9C. His current electronic boarding pass had 9A.
I'm in 9C, PAX in 9A asks me if I paid for my upgrade to E+. I said, "no, it's complimentary at booking because of status." He goes on to tell me that he selected 9C at booking a month ago, and his seat only changed after he got to the airport. He showed me his paper (printed from home) boarding pass showing 9C, and the email from when he purchased the seat also showing 9C. His current electronic boarding pass had 9A.