A3 begins charging for advance seat reservations - limited discount for A3*G
Jun 9, 2018, 7:38 am
#271
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: ARN
Programs: A3*G, SK*G
Posts: 336
Most likely nobody was willing to pay 16 euro (or whatever is they needed to pay) to get more legroom on a 1.5hr flight. Somebody was required to sit by the emergency exit, and they chose you.There is good reason why even LCCs free up these seats on OLCI a couple of hours before departure, if they are still unoccupied. Which is yet another signal of how sloppily implemented this new seating policy is...
Jun 9, 2018, 9:21 am
#272
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PAS, Paros Greece
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 1,372
It has happened to me as well. But I think this was done for safety reasons rather than because A3 was concerned about A3*Gs irritation... There would have been plenty of much easier and straightforward ways to deal with that if they cared
Most likely nobody was willing to pay 16 euro (or whatever is they needed to pay) to get more legroom on a 1.5hr flight. Somebody was required to sit by the emergency exit, and they chose you.There is good reason why even LCCs free up these seats on OLCI a couple of hours before departure, if they are still unoccupied. Which is yet another signal of how sloppily implemented this new seating policy is...
Jun 9, 2018, 2:25 pm
#273
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
I'm not aware that there's any requirement to have somebody sat in each emergency exit row (although I guess it would make sense if there were, so I see your point). I've been on several A3 flight where at least one set of three was totally empty and one I remember in particular where I was the only person in any of the 12 exit-row seats.
Jun 10, 2018, 11:32 am
#275
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: OTP/KRK
Programs: M&M FTL, Miles+Bonus Gold
Posts: 664
it seems to be specific for A3 as well, I was moved on a seat at emergency exit, on all 4 seats next to exit rows were moved some pax, at the gate. each of us had 3 seats for our own
Jun 11, 2018, 11:30 am
#276
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 592
I am traveling on A3, party of 4 (2 adults, 1 child, 1 infant). I have problem getting the fourth seat assignment.
Back story: I wanted a seat for the infant and was told that, to get this, I had to book a lap child online, then call and purchase an extra seat (the way you would buy an extra seat for a large musical instrument), so I did. I also paid 5 euros each to reserve seats for the 2 adults and child. When I asked to reserve a seat next to us for the infant, I was told that I could not pre-reserve a seat for the "extra seat until I got to the airport. Any ideas?
I am happy to pay the 5 euros to reserve the seat. I get that if I was just bringing a cello on the plane, it would be fine for it to be in a different row, but not sure I would be doing any other pax a favor by seating an infant next to them.
Back story: I wanted a seat for the infant and was told that, to get this, I had to book a lap child online, then call and purchase an extra seat (the way you would buy an extra seat for a large musical instrument), so I did. I also paid 5 euros each to reserve seats for the 2 adults and child. When I asked to reserve a seat next to us for the infant, I was told that I could not pre-reserve a seat for the "extra seat until I got to the airport. Any ideas?
I am happy to pay the 5 euros to reserve the seat. I get that if I was just bringing a cello on the plane, it would be fine for it to be in a different row, but not sure I would be doing any other pax a favor by seating an infant next to them.
+ 
Jun 13, 2018, 4:09 pm
#278
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: A3 Gold, LH SEN, DL PM
Posts: 69
Jun 14, 2018, 2:28 am
#280
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,340
How has the load been on these flights? I do find it somewhat risky as I can imagine that you may get a middle seat with no option to move if the flight is full..
Jun 14, 2018, 2:31 am
#281
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
So... If you pre-select a seat for free during the booking, you eliminate your chances of getting "upgraded"? I hope this isn't the case, would be so counter-intuitive.
Jun 14, 2018, 2:44 am
#282
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: 39000ft
Posts: 956
I think it's obvious: If you pre-select a seat, you will get the seat you pre-selected. Otherwise, you are "assigned a random seat" (let's not go towards "upgraded" yet). Actually, I realized that if you checkin online at T-48 most seats are still available, so pre-selection of standards seats is really a not so useful perk.
Jun 14, 2018, 4:45 am
#283
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,566
ΟΚ, here's my case in detail:
Before the they started the seat reservation for money scheme I always OLCId at T-48 and I always (!) selected the first C or D seat behind the curtain.
After the new scheme: At the very beginning (late February-early March) I always got assigned aisle seats in the back and on two occasions (for reasons that have nothing to do with A3) I did change them to the front by paying 2€ each. Then, a couple of weeks ago I automatically got assigned seats in the front (see my posts #248 and #254 ), both on domestic flights that were part of a longer itin with the second legs upgraded with coupons. True for both myself and my wife, on the same PNR. A few days ago on a one-segment itin, HER-ATH, I was assigned a seat in the front, again without any intervention on my side (e.g. pre-selection, reservation, etc., post #269 ). Finally, I OLCId my flight tomorrow at T-48 and got the 2D seat mentioned, again full automatically without any intervention on my side.
@Xandrios: In 2 out of 3 cases there were still empty seats, one flight was packed and I don't know about tomoroow.
My conclusion: This is certainly related to my *G status, and it must be due to some gold-"favouring" change in A3's IT after the protests that reached them. I can't see another reason why I am flying in the front for free now while in March that was not possible. Of course I'm very happy about that, I just hope that I'm right in my assumption, though. I'll post again in this matter if I notice a change of the "new policy".
Before the they started the seat reservation for money scheme I always OLCId at T-48 and I always (!) selected the first C or D seat behind the curtain.
After the new scheme: At the very beginning (late February-early March) I always got assigned aisle seats in the back and on two occasions (for reasons that have nothing to do with A3) I did change them to the front by paying 2€ each. Then, a couple of weeks ago I automatically got assigned seats in the front (see my posts #248 and #254 ), both on domestic flights that were part of a longer itin with the second legs upgraded with coupons. True for both myself and my wife, on the same PNR. A few days ago on a one-segment itin, HER-ATH, I was assigned a seat in the front, again without any intervention on my side (e.g. pre-selection, reservation, etc., post #269 ). Finally, I OLCId my flight tomorrow at T-48 and got the 2D seat mentioned, again full automatically without any intervention on my side.
@Xandrios: In 2 out of 3 cases there were still empty seats, one flight was packed and I don't know about tomoroow.
My conclusion: This is certainly related to my *G status, and it must be due to some gold-"favouring" change in A3's IT after the protests that reached them. I can't see another reason why I am flying in the front for free now while in March that was not possible. Of course I'm very happy about that, I just hope that I'm right in my assumption, though. I'll post again in this matter if I notice a change of the "new policy".
Last edited by KLouis; Jun 14, 2018 at 4:51 am
Jun 14, 2018, 11:48 am
#285
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,566
As I wrote in earlier posts, I've NEVER pre-selected anything. I just booked and then days later, I OLCId and got my front seats. I simply can't offer an opinion on what happens after the pre-selection of seats.