Originally Posted by father_ted

So we all know that EK blocks seats on every flight, such that they cannot be assigned by online seat reservation. Some of these are exit rows, which are held back for airport assignment to able-bodied pax. But there are others, and I think we would benefit from knowing a)why these are held and b)how to get them released. Never mind that other airlines will let status pax preselect exit rows (in the knowledge that ground staff or cabin crew will reassign them if they fail to meet the requirements).

Bassinet areas are held for an obvious purpose. I've heard that 1A on 380/777 is held for unaccompanied minors, but I have also seen it assigned ahead of time quite often (and not to UMs). There aren't that many IOs to explain how often I have seen 1A preselected... just look at any of the LHR flights for the next few days and you will see how often it is reserved.

While airport check-in will unblock and assign me any of these seats (even 24h in advance at DXB), I've never managed to get them released by calling ahead of time. I have read some reports here that being persistent will get them released, but I've had no success.

However, I was once able to preselect 9/10/11 A and B (on a 3 class 777) when they appeared blocked on EF. Has anyone else had this experience?

For the reference of those without EF, here is what I find to be blocked as soon as the flight is available for reservation. There are too many seating configurations for me to bother listing them all...

Airbus 380
F: 1A, 2A
J: 9A,11A,14A,16A. All of row 26 (BDGJ).
Y: Exit rows (all of 41,67,80 - and 68/81 A,K). 54 through 58 A,B,C.

77W (EF: 73M)
F: 1A, 1E
J: 9,10,11 A,B. All of row 6.
Y: All of row 17. Exit rows (24 and 37 ABC,HJK). 29 through 34 A,B,C.

77W (EF: 73W)
F: None
J: 9,10,11 A,B. All of row 6.
Y: All of row 17. Exit rows (24 and 37 ABC,HJK). 29 through 34 A,B,C.

77L
F: 1A, 1E
J: 9,10 J,K. All of row 6.
Y: All of row 17. Exit row (26 ABC,HJK). 29 through 34 A,B,C.

773
F: 2A,2B.
J: 9,10,11 A,B. All of row 6.
Y: All of row 17. Exit rows (22 and 37 ABC,HJK). 29 through 36 A,B,C.

73X
F: 2A,2B.
J: 9,10,11 A,B. All of row 6.
Y: All of row 16. Exit rows (23 and 37 ABC,HJK). 29 through 34 A,B,C.

73J
J: 2,3,4,5 A,B.
Y: 8,23,37 ABC,HJK. 9DEFG. 29 through 34 A,B,C.