Originally Posted by
knope2001
(b) Every airline shows certain seats blocked out, and just which seats varies by airline and by plane. These can be good seats (like bulkhead) or bad seats (like no-recline rows).
(c) Exit rows are a particular question mark. Some airlines and seat map sources always show them as full becuase you can't book them. Others show them accurately.
(d) To get an idea of what seats are blocked, check the seatmap for the same plane on the same airline months out on an off-peak day.
Good points. Here is what I found for Frontier via my company's TA site:
Blocked: All of row 1, 2C/D, 3C/D, 22D/E/F (or 19D/E/F on 318). That back row is for wheelchair storage.
"Premium": Rest of rows 2 & 3, all of row 4, all of the exit row (10 on 319 or 9 on 318), and C/D on the rows from 5 up to the exit row.
It appears the blocks and premium flags are released at 48 hours to flight.
The surprising piece of data is that the exit rows tend to be slow filling. I guess the seating software will not automatically place Ascent or Summit members there. I will have to remember to check what I get assigned when I get status.
I have noticed on light flights that the plane is very front-loaded with passengers. I'll gladly take the rear when I can get a whole block of rows to myself.
It is a good sign when you know the plane is a 319 and the gate agent starts boarding with row 15 and up (with a packed plane they usually start with row 19).