A3 begins charging for advance seat reservations - limited discount for A3*G
#376
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
Currently I've got 4 flights booked on A3 (flights 841 and 7908 on the 23rd and 7901 and 840 on the 25th).
For all of them EF (the free version) is showing the majority of seats as blocked (not occupied) with only a handfull occupied seats. I can't access seat maps online or in the app since two flights were upgraded and the other two were waitlisted...
Is there a problem reporting data to expertflyer or are all the flights completely booked out in Y? Without seeing the seat map I'm loathe to call in regarding selecting a seat on the waitlisted segments
For all of them EF (the free version) is showing the majority of seats as blocked (not occupied) with only a handfull occupied seats. I can't access seat maps online or in the app since two flights were upgraded and the other two were waitlisted...
Is there a problem reporting data to expertflyer or are all the flights completely booked out in Y? Without seeing the seat map I'm loathe to call in regarding selecting a seat on the waitlisted segments
Below is your flight's seat map: EF shows all seats that are cost-free for *G prior to OLCI as blocked (i.e. the ones in the back), while paid seats are denoted by $P. In addition, the up-front aisle seats are also shown as blocked too (no idea why). Any *reserved* seats (whether free or paid), are shown in blue.
So basically any seat which is *not* entirely marked in blue, is actually available (even if marked as blocked).
#377
#378
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: M&M Frequent Flyer, A3 GOLD
Posts: 39
I agree with Knobbgb that this is really weird. The BP is simply scanned when boarding and, to my knowledge, the info on it does not include payments, etc. Moreover, unless the scanner beeps (in which case thay might go check on their computer monitor), they have no way of knowing any "details". Finally "almost" yelling is a behaviour I've never encountered by either A3 (years ago) or Goldair ground agents. Strange!
#379
I booked a couple of months ago FRA-SKG return, paid for upfront seat at 6 EUR each. Yesterday I used two coupons to upgrade to Business. I told the agent on the phone that I paid for the seats and she cut me short "The seats reservation fees are not refundable". I expressed my disappointment and we went forward with the upgrade.
Then after I tweeted publicly expressing the disappointment. Aegean twitter team contacted me. I emphasized that the seats were now free and Aegean could sell them again, effectively double dipping. Today they contacted me saying they refunded me the 12 EUR.
So I think that all of you in the same situation could push a bit on this, and hopefully Aegean will at least consider leaving those seats free for Gold.
Then after I tweeted publicly expressing the disappointment. Aegean twitter team contacted me. I emphasized that the seats were now free and Aegean could sell them again, effectively double dipping. Today they contacted me saying they refunded me the 12 EUR.
So I think that all of you in the same situation could push a bit on this, and hopefully Aegean will at least consider leaving those seats free for Gold.
#380
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
I booked a couple of months ago FRA-SKG return, paid for upfront seat at 6 EUR each. Yesterday I used two coupons to upgrade to Business. I told the agent on the phone that I paid for the seats and she cut me short "The seats reservation fees are not refundable". I expressed my disappointment and we went forward with the upgrade.
Then after I tweeted publicly expressing the disappointment. Aegean twitter team contacted me. I emphasized that the seats were now free and Aegean could sell them again, effectively double dipping. Today they contacted me saying they refunded me the 12 EUR.
So I think that all of you in the same situation could push a bit on this, and hopefully Aegean will at least consider leaving those seats free for Gold.
Then after I tweeted publicly expressing the disappointment. Aegean twitter team contacted me. I emphasized that the seats were now free and Aegean could sell them again, effectively double dipping. Today they contacted me saying they refunded me the 12 EUR.
So I think that all of you in the same situation could push a bit on this, and hopefully Aegean will at least consider leaving those seats free for Gold.
At every opportunity I get, I complain about the seats. I've completed several questionnaires on my experience with my recent flights, and always mention this in as strong language as I can. No idea if it will have any effect, as they are (understandably) trying to be profitable.
#381
Suspended
Join Date: May 2011
Location: London
Programs: *A G, OW S.
Posts: 996
Many other airlines offer free preferential seating to their GCH, it's unfortunate that A3 have opted to do things differently as it is a bit of a slap. I guess they could offer a number of vouchers in the same way as they offer upgrades to lessen the insult?
#383
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: Miles&Bonus *G
Posts: 318
How did you do this? Did you call them? Was it straightforward, or did you have to argue?
#384
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HFA
Posts: 1,712
I read much of this thread but didn't find a clear explanation of whether (and when) payable seats are released during check-in, so here is my experience: they are not.
On my two flights last weekend, extra-space seats were charged 15 euro and forward seats 12 euro. These charges were there when I bought the tickets, when I checked in, and whenever I checked, up until the flight time.
What was nice was that at check-in, I was assigned a seat but I could freely change it to any other non-assigned seat, even after I checked in and printed my boarding card. I was not assigned a "good" seat as a *G.
Finally, on the aircraft, people felt free to "upgrade" themselves to exit-row and forward seats. The flight attendants didn't seem to mind much.
Shuly
On my two flights last weekend, extra-space seats were charged 15 euro and forward seats 12 euro. These charges were there when I bought the tickets, when I checked in, and whenever I checked, up until the flight time.
What was nice was that at check-in, I was assigned a seat but I could freely change it to any other non-assigned seat, even after I checked in and printed my boarding card. I was not assigned a "good" seat as a *G.
Finally, on the aircraft, people felt free to "upgrade" themselves to exit-row and forward seats. The flight attendants didn't seem to mind much.
Shuly
#386
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
There's just been an equipment change from the A320 on my flights in and out of Corfu, so I can choose anyway for free...yippee!
Is it possible to see out of the window in 1A on the De Havilland DHC-8 400, or would it be better in another seat?
Is it possible to see out of the window in 1A on the De Havilland DHC-8 400, or would it be better in another seat?
#387
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 271
I called them for some asking something, and the the call center agent noticed that I had paid for the seat selection, so she said that untill the departure of the flight I could 'transfer' the booking of the seat in another reservation.
I hung up, look my reservations, I call again, speak to a different lady, and I selected a seat in an another flight.
#388
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: A3*G
Posts: 128
/Edit: Please tell us about your experience later!
#389
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Cyprus
Programs: LH SEN, A3*G, TK*G E+, ALL/Accor Plat
Posts: 644
After having moved my European flying almost entirely to LH/OS over the last year, I decided to check out A3 again and will fly them TXL-ATH-LCA tomorrow. During OLCI, I decided to switch my paid upfront seat from window to aisle in the same row. As a result, they have now informed me that my new seat is unpaid. For me, this is nincompoopery and reconfirms that my decision to jettison Aegean was absolutely correct.
#390
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PAS, Paros Greece
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 1,372
EDIT: The arrangement on the OA Q400s look just like on this Qantas one: https://travelupdate.boardingarea.co...0-bne-lre-bne/
Last edited by Knobbgb; Mar 2, 2019 at 6:57 am