Originally Posted by
bostontraveler
In my case being an AF SkyTeam Elite+ I shouldn't have to pay but the system asked me for 25€. In the past the calling center was able to help with this but they refused this time and said they had no authority to override this... (hmm).
There is no cross-alliance waiving of all seat selection fees.
DL and AFKL may have a nice little love-in going on, but AZ is excluded. Therefore, it requires payment for these seats from Elites of these other airlines.
About a year ago, I had a KL-issued ticket for which one of the sectors was actually operated by Alitalia. Bizarrely, I could not select a seat for this flight either via the KLM or Alitalia websites, despite being Skyteam Elite Plus (via Alitalia's Millemiglia programme). When I enquired about it in the Crown Lounge at Schiphol on a different ticket, the agents had to ring all around the place before summoning me back half an hour later with the news that I would have to pay (a stupid amount, like €25 or something) just to select a seat. Any old seat!
Naturally, I politely declined their generous offer...