Originally Posted by
Redline260
Hi,
I've been looking at some random flight searches using ExpertFlyer and I regularly come across airlines which state seats are unavailable yet when I look into it further there appears to be rows and rows of seats blocked out by the airline. Why do they do this. They dont appear to be occupied by passengers. Is it a tactic to see how full the flight may become then the airline may release seats slowly? Im baffled how this happens?
Also, apologies if I have posted in the wrong forum
Originally Posted by
BLHD
Weight and balance, keeping seats back so Families can be seated together, tonnes of other reasons.
I presume you're looking at the "X"ed out seats and are not referring to the seats that are being held back for elite/priority passengers.
+1 to what
BLHD said. I'm only more familiar with AA's policies/practices, but rows of seats towards the front and back are normally blocked to:
- rebalance the plane as needed
- accommodate families that may end up separated (i.e. only middle seats scattered throughout the plane are available; instead of having to play musical chairs, gate agent can seat parent(s) and child(ren) next to each other.)
- accommodate passengers with mobility issues (a seat towards front of the cabin would assist that passenger and ensure that the entire boarding/deplaning process is not held up by one passenger)