A3 begins charging for advance seat reservations - limited discount for A3*G
#256
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,339
She couldn't change to another up front seat while still in 5E?
The flights that I booked (and pre-assigned up front seat for free) before they started charging people allow me to move around the cabin - selecting any seat for free. Even though this was essentially a 'free upgrade' (Which was just a normal seat assignment back then under the old rules).
I did notice that quite a lot of people do use the new service. Only on my next flight (for which I actually paid for the up front seat) I managed to get row 4 with middle seat empty - with all the other flights later this year I'm in 4C/D but couples have taken AB/EF On the A320 the extra legroom only goes until row 4 right?
The flights that I booked (and pre-assigned up front seat for free) before they started charging people allow me to move around the cabin - selecting any seat for free. Even though this was essentially a 'free upgrade' (Which was just a normal seat assignment back then under the old rules).
I did notice that quite a lot of people do use the new service. Only on my next flight (for which I actually paid for the up front seat) I managed to get row 4 with middle seat empty - with all the other flights later this year I'm in 4C/D but couples have taken AB/EF On the A320 the extra legroom only goes until row 4 right?
#257
#258
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: A3*G
Posts: 128
On my recent four flights I got placed automatically in the 'preferred area', unable to change my seat with the exception of seats below row 14 or other paid seats. The assigned seat said 0 €, any other paid seat showed an amount (2 € etc.). It didn't seem like any of the passengers paid for their seat. They really should allow us to choose any seat free of charge again. Rude answers as mentioned in this thread are unbearable as was this marketing failure (new feature: pay 50% less for seat reservations [or 100% more...]).
A relative of mine (A3 Gold) also got 5E automatic assignment at OLCI. Since she didn't want a middle seat, she went for the first "free" row (row 15). After I talked to her, she wanted to switch back, but she was asked for 6 Eur then.
So it seems as if A3 Gold get a standard assignment up front, but if you are not happy with this assignment, you lose your entitlement for a free up front row...
So it seems as if A3 Gold get a standard assignment up front, but if you are not happy with this assignment, you lose your entitlement for a free up front row...
#259
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: A3*G
Posts: 42
A relative of mine (A3 Gold) also got 5E automatic assignment at OLCI. Since she didn't want a middle seat, she went for the first "free" row (row 15). After I talked to her, she wanted to switch back, but she was asked for 6 Eur then.
So it seems as if A3 Gold get a standard assignment up front, but if you are not happy with this assignment, you lose your entitlement for a free up front row...
So it seems as if A3 Gold get a standard assignment up front, but if you are not happy with this assignment, you lose your entitlement for a free up front row...
#260
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: ARN
Programs: A3*G, SK*G
Posts: 336
By chatting with fellow pax, usually after being asked to exchange seats so that they seat with their relatives/friends/colleagues, or when some new person comes and seats next to me after having exchanged seats with my previous neighbor, it seems that the majority of pax seated in the up-front and extra legroom seats neither have paid for them nor have they any status. Although many of them did actually check-in late, some were simply assigned that seat by default. So I do not know how big a role status (or checking-in late) plays in premium seat allocation, although I guess that as a *G one does get higher chances of getting one.
#261
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,339
I flew yesterday in Economy to AMS. Because I wanted to be sure I'd have one of the front seats I had paid 8 euros for and isle front seat.
Initially I was able to move around the cabin and change seats for free. Then when check in opened the app showed something like "Seat XX has been selected for you. If not happy with this please change your seat at the airport". On the laptop I was able to change to any other seats - but it again asked me to pay the 8 euro fee! I got the impression that I had been given the same restrictions as somebody who would be upgraded to one of these seats for free (judging from the descriptions in this thread). So I stayed put at the seat I originally selected.
Up till the day of departure the middle seat was kept empty and the window seat occupied. Then, arriving at the airport I was told that both seats next to me were now empty. Bad sign, because two seats together are popular and probably meant a couple would sit there. Turned out no: Two people, not related to each other, were seated here. One of them forcefully upgraded (His friend was sitting at the back).
The crazy thing is that there were plenty of normal (and even some up front) seats still available. Why is the middle seat not kept free for people who paid for the upgrade, while other people (Who don't even want to sit there!) are forcefully upgraded?
I was not very happy with this arrangement. Other rows around me had middle seats empty while these seats were not pre-booked (meaning those pax were probably upgraded), but in my case all three seats were taken...while I was one of the few people that actually did pay to sit up front!
Initially I was able to move around the cabin and change seats for free. Then when check in opened the app showed something like "Seat XX has been selected for you. If not happy with this please change your seat at the airport". On the laptop I was able to change to any other seats - but it again asked me to pay the 8 euro fee! I got the impression that I had been given the same restrictions as somebody who would be upgraded to one of these seats for free (judging from the descriptions in this thread). So I stayed put at the seat I originally selected.
Up till the day of departure the middle seat was kept empty and the window seat occupied. Then, arriving at the airport I was told that both seats next to me were now empty. Bad sign, because two seats together are popular and probably meant a couple would sit there. Turned out no: Two people, not related to each other, were seated here. One of them forcefully upgraded (His friend was sitting at the back).
The crazy thing is that there were plenty of normal (and even some up front) seats still available. Why is the middle seat not kept free for people who paid for the upgrade, while other people (Who don't even want to sit there!) are forcefully upgraded?
I was not very happy with this arrangement. Other rows around me had middle seats empty while these seats were not pre-booked (meaning those pax were probably upgraded), but in my case all three seats were taken...while I was one of the few people that actually did pay to sit up front!
#262
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
I flew yesterday in Economy to AMS. Because I wanted to be sure I'd have one of the front seats I had paid 8 euros for and isle front seat.
Initially I was able to move around the cabin and change seats for free. Then when check in opened the app showed something like "Seat XX has been selected for you. If not happy with this please change your seat at the airport". On the laptop I was able to change to any other seats - but it again asked me to pay the 8 euro fee! I got the impression that I had been given the same restrictions as somebody who would be upgraded to one of these seats for free (judging from the descriptions in this thread). So I stayed put at the seat I originally selected.
Up till the day of departure the middle seat was kept empty and the window seat occupied. Then, arriving at the airport I was told that both seats next to me were now empty. Bad sign, because two seats together are popular and probably meant a couple would sit there. Turned out no: Two people, not related to each other, were seated here. One of them forcefully upgraded (His friend was sitting at the back).
The crazy thing is that there were plenty of normal (and even some up front) seats still available. Why is the middle seat not kept free for people who paid for the upgrade, while other people (Who don't even want to sit there!) are forcefully upgraded?
I was not very happy with this arrangement. Other rows around me had middle seats empty while these seats were not pre-booked (meaning those pax were probably upgraded), but in my case all three seats were taken...while I was one of the few people that actually did pay to sit up front!
Initially I was able to move around the cabin and change seats for free. Then when check in opened the app showed something like "Seat XX has been selected for you. If not happy with this please change your seat at the airport". On the laptop I was able to change to any other seats - but it again asked me to pay the 8 euro fee! I got the impression that I had been given the same restrictions as somebody who would be upgraded to one of these seats for free (judging from the descriptions in this thread). So I stayed put at the seat I originally selected.
Up till the day of departure the middle seat was kept empty and the window seat occupied. Then, arriving at the airport I was told that both seats next to me were now empty. Bad sign, because two seats together are popular and probably meant a couple would sit there. Turned out no: Two people, not related to each other, were seated here. One of them forcefully upgraded (His friend was sitting at the back).
The crazy thing is that there were plenty of normal (and even some up front) seats still available. Why is the middle seat not kept free for people who paid for the upgrade, while other people (Who don't even want to sit there!) are forcefully upgraded?
I was not very happy with this arrangement. Other rows around me had middle seats empty while these seats were not pre-booked (meaning those pax were probably upgraded), but in my case all three seats were taken...while I was one of the few people that actually did pay to sit up front!
#263
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
I flew yesterday in Economy to AMS. Because I wanted to be sure I'd have one of the front seats I had paid 8 euros for and isle front seat.
Initially I was able to move around the cabin and change seats for free. Then when check in opened the app showed something like "Seat XX has been selected for you. If not happy with this please change your seat at the airport". On the laptop I was able to change to any other seats - but it again asked me to pay the 8 euro fee! I got the impression that I had been given the same restrictions as somebody who would be upgraded to one of these seats for free (judging from the descriptions in this thread). So I stayed put at the seat I originally selected.
Up till the day of departure the middle seat was kept empty and the window seat occupied. Then, arriving at the airport I was told that both seats next to me were now empty. Bad sign, because two seats together are popular and probably meant a couple would sit there. Turned out no: Two people, not related to each other, were seated here. One of them forcefully upgraded (His friend was sitting at the back).
The crazy thing is that there were plenty of normal (and even some up front) seats still available. Why is the middle seat not kept free for people who paid for the upgrade, while other people (Who don't even want to sit there!) are forcefully upgraded?
I was not very happy with this arrangement. Other rows around me had middle seats empty while these seats were not pre-booked (meaning those pax were probably upgraded), but in my case all three seats were taken...while I was one of the few people that actually did pay to sit up front!
Initially I was able to move around the cabin and change seats for free. Then when check in opened the app showed something like "Seat XX has been selected for you. If not happy with this please change your seat at the airport". On the laptop I was able to change to any other seats - but it again asked me to pay the 8 euro fee! I got the impression that I had been given the same restrictions as somebody who would be upgraded to one of these seats for free (judging from the descriptions in this thread). So I stayed put at the seat I originally selected.
Up till the day of departure the middle seat was kept empty and the window seat occupied. Then, arriving at the airport I was told that both seats next to me were now empty. Bad sign, because two seats together are popular and probably meant a couple would sit there. Turned out no: Two people, not related to each other, were seated here. One of them forcefully upgraded (His friend was sitting at the back).
The crazy thing is that there were plenty of normal (and even some up front) seats still available. Why is the middle seat not kept free for people who paid for the upgrade, while other people (Who don't even want to sit there!) are forcefully upgraded?
I was not very happy with this arrangement. Other rows around me had middle seats empty while these seats were not pre-booked (meaning those pax were probably upgraded), but in my case all three seats were taken...while I was one of the few people that actually did pay to sit up front!
#264
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
Ridiculous. This demonstrates how badly thought out the implementation has been. At the very least, they should have copied what LH does, where all seats become free at OLCI. By the way, being upgraded by force to a middle front seat is not my idea of an upgrade. I'd rather be in an aisle seat in the back, than a middle seat at the front. If this happens to me, I will call customer support immediately, not wait to be jerked around at the airport ("sorry, there's nothing we can do").
#265
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
Is my understanding wrong? Haven't traveled in Y since the new rules were in force, so likely I may be confused.
In any case, I still don't get why this whole process has to be so complicated, when all would be fine if they just released the seats at OLCI...
#266
#267
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: Priority Club Platinum Ambassador, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 264
I think is completely random, i have been given front middle seat in the past when the seat selection was free and almost all seats were empty.
Last edited by winkny; Jun 8, 2018 at 2:41 am
#268
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,339
This is of course true. But it is strange that people who get upgraded for free have an empty middle seat, while the one(s) who pay do not. Of course, I have received what I paid for...but it is still not nice. You would expect an airline to treat the people who pay for a service, and/or are elite, a little better than the ones who do not. Especially in cases like this where it is very obvious and measurable.
#269
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
Got assigned 5D at OLCI today (for free!). The amazing thing is that for as long as one didn't have to pay and I almost never called them for a seat I was always given 4E and I had to change it to an aisle seat. Mysteries of A3 IT
#270
Join Date: May 2003
Location: DEL
Programs: Mucci du Miel d'Or
Posts: 2,374
I recently flew BEY-ATH-EVN. Both occasions chose seats in the free area at the back. But on transferring at Athens was offered (unprompted) a move to an emergency exit. Perhaps they are trying to manage the level of A3 gold irritation.