Getting an AC Seat with a UA Ticket
Apr 29, 2014, 5:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 284
Getting an AC Seat with a UA Ticket
I am a UA platinun = SA Gold.
I have a flight to Toronto from the States - going up there on UA metal, returning on AC metal. The return flight is booked as an UA 8xxx flight. A single ticket for both flights, issued by United.
After my travel agent purchased the ticket, I was able to go to the UA web site and check on/get a better seat on the outbound. How do I do that for the AC flight? I don't have an Aeroplan number nor a AC reservation number. Is it possible to do in advance or am I at the mercy of whatever the travel agent / airline gives me (until check-in).
I have a flight to Toronto from the States - going up there on UA metal, returning on AC metal. The return flight is booked as an UA 8xxx flight. A single ticket for both flights, issued by United.
After my travel agent purchased the ticket, I was able to go to the UA web site and check on/get a better seat on the outbound. How do I do that for the AC flight? I don't have an Aeroplan number nor a AC reservation number. Is it possible to do in advance or am I at the mercy of whatever the travel agent / airline gives me (until check-in).
Apr 29, 2014, 6:04 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,802
Depends.
First, it depends upon the booking code. More precisely, it depends upon the AC booking code that the United booking code translates into. At the bottom end, AC charges separately for seat assignments. also, people with no seat assigned are the highest priority for involuntary denied boarding, i.e. bumped.
Plus, in order to get a seat assigned, at least, to do it on aircanada.com, you will need the AC booking refernce (locator), which differs from the UA one. If your TA is not too clueless, he might be able to find it.
Otherwise, you would need to call AC; you might after an hour waiting on the phone for an agent, end up talking to someone willing to help. Or not.
First, it depends upon the booking code. More precisely, it depends upon the AC booking code that the United booking code translates into. At the bottom end, AC charges separately for seat assignments. also, people with no seat assigned are the highest priority for involuntary denied boarding, i.e. bumped.
Plus, in order to get a seat assigned, at least, to do it on aircanada.com, you will need the AC booking refernce (locator), which differs from the UA one. If your TA is not too clueless, he might be able to find it.
Otherwise, you would need to call AC; you might after an hour waiting on the phone for an agent, end up talking to someone willing to help. Or not.
Apr 29, 2014, 6:19 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: YKF
Programs: AC Elite 50K, Amex AP Plat, Choice Privileges, National Exec Elite, Via Prefrence
Posts: 2,996
OP, your real options for seat selection are either online (at Aircanada.com) or calling in. UA seat selector tool does not work for AC flights.
Apr 29, 2014, 6:23 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
I've booked AC seats on a UA ticket by asking them on Twitter. You need the AC PNR. If you tweet to @aircanada saying you need help getting a seat selection on flight X on date Y, they will follow you back and you can DM them.