A3 begins charging for advance seat reservations - limited discount for A3*G
#286
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
My next flight's OLCI opens tomorrow, and I wanted to try to remove my selected seat, to further test out the theory that Golds get preferential seats automatically at OLCI. However, the system will NOT let me remove the seat! I am forced to pick another one. Furthermore, it will NOT let me pay for an extra legroom or upfront seat - it simply shows that the price is 0 euros for these, then throws an error when I try to complete the "payment". Not sure if this is a bad glitch, or if it has something to do with the fact that I'm waitlisted for a C upgrade (I doubt it...).
#287
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Jerusalem
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,281
These are the exact rules :
- Preselection of Standard seats free of chargeEnjoy free of charge preselection of your preferred Standard seats, for all Aegean and Olympic Air operated flights, any time you wish, for you and your travel companions, online or offline through the Aegean's Call Center at 801 11 20000 (from a fixed phone) or at (+30) 210 6261000 (from a mobile phone or from abroad).
- 50% discount for Up Front seatsSelect your preferred Up Front seats on all Aegean and Olympic Air operated flights and enjoy a 50% exclusive discount, online or offline through the Aegean's Call Center at 801 11 20000 (from a fixed phone) or at (+30) 210 6261000 (from a mobile phone or from abroad). Effective for sales from 01.02.2018 for travel from 12.02.2018 onwards.
No more seating upfront for free or getting a preselected exit row seat for free. Come on Aegean, we're loosing most of the perks day by day.
Time to send a few more complaints to them, social media, email, call whatever !
#288
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
https://en.aegeanair.com/travel-info...funds_changes/
#289
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Jerusalem
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,281
The discount is only available for M&B Gold, not *A Gold:
https://en.aegeanair.com/travel-info...funds_changes/
https://en.aegeanair.com/travel-info...funds_changes/
#290
@Innocent Abroad, check your PM
#291
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
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".
What slightly irritated me is that I changed my flight (the original flight was on a turboprop and I wasn't charged for pre-assigning the upfront seat), and I couldn't pick a seat during that process and I had to make a silly charge of EUR 2.00 after I changed and paid for the flight. I had to go back into my booking, and then pick a seat. Re-entering the card details etc. was more painful than being charged EUR 2.00
#292
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
I wouldn't dare not assign a seat just in case I end up in the middle seat, so I won't be doing your experiment to see if they'll put me in one of the upfront seats if I don't pre-assign anything at all. (Also A3*G here)
What slightly irritated me is that I changed my flight (the original flight was on a turboprop and I wasn't charged for pre-assigning the upfront seat), and I couldn't pick a seat during that process and I had to make a silly charge of EUR 2.00 after I changed and paid for the flight. I had to go back into my booking, and then pick a seat. Re-entering the card details etc. was more painful than being charged EUR 2.00
What slightly irritated me is that I changed my flight (the original flight was on a turboprop and I wasn't charged for pre-assigning the upfront seat), and I couldn't pick a seat during that process and I had to make a silly charge of EUR 2.00 after I changed and paid for the flight. I had to go back into my booking, and then pick a seat. Re-entering the card details etc. was more painful than being charged EUR 2.00
I confirmed with the customer rep that when you do NOT pre-select a seat, you are "randomly" given one at OLCI. Of course, we all know from @KLouis that A3 (and other?) Golds are given preferential seats. Indeed, after I attempted to check in again, I got seat 5D! Also, I confirmed with the rep that if there are free C seats up until boarding, then coupon upgrades are possible (even at the gate).
In case you are given a middle seat, you can always call A3 and have it cancelled, then pick one wherever you want. Keep in mind that there are loads of seats available at OLCI, even with very full flights. My conclusion? Unless I really need to pay for a preferential seat, I will never pre-select again. I will wait til OLCI.
#294
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
I tried that, but it didn't work for me- The seat I had last selected stuck and I could not get the system to assign me a random one when re-starting the check in process from scratch.
#298
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
I didn't pre-assign seats on the flights that I just took. At OLCI which I didn't do until T-24 hours, I was automatically given B (ie. middle) seats towards the back, even though aisle seats a few rows behind the curtain were still available which I moved to.
I decided to move right to the back on the flight that turned out to be almost completely full; this was wise as it was a bus gate at ATH and I was the first off the plane (then last off the bus, by choice).
On the other flight which was only half full, rows 14 to the end were basically all filled up yet there were only 11 passengers in rows 1-12. Nobody was in row 11 and the crew said that each exit row must be occupied. They first asked one member of the couple in 12BC to move to row 11, but they refused to sit apart. Then the FA got the passenger manifest, and selected me and another passenger to move up to row 11.
I assume we were the Golds sitting the furthest forward, as the other guy was at a window seat so two pax had to stand up to let him out.
I decided to move right to the back on the flight that turned out to be almost completely full; this was wise as it was a bus gate at ATH and I was the first off the plane (then last off the bus, by choice).
On the other flight which was only half full, rows 14 to the end were basically all filled up yet there were only 11 passengers in rows 1-12. Nobody was in row 11 and the crew said that each exit row must be occupied. They first asked one member of the couple in 12BC to move to row 11, but they refused to sit apart. Then the FA got the passenger manifest, and selected me and another passenger to move up to row 11.
I assume we were the Golds sitting the furthest forward, as the other guy was at a window seat so two pax had to stand up to let him out.
#300
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: GVA
Programs: A3 *G, LX *G, AF *S
Posts: 761
Just had OLCI for a flight HER - ATH, no seat pre-selected. And the system "randomly" came up with 6E (up-front seat for M&B *G, but middle seat)
Despite other up-front seats free (aisle and window). And if I wanted to switch to another up-front seat, it showed "2 EUR please".
Would be nice if the "random" system could be tweaked to focus on aisle or window seats
Despite other up-front seats free (aisle and window). And if I wanted to switch to another up-front seat, it showed "2 EUR please".
Would be nice if the "random" system could be tweaked to focus on aisle or window seats
Last edited by Carpacchio; Jul 12, 2018 at 6:19 am