Will more Seats become available upon Online Check In?
Oct 21, 2017, 3:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 209
Will more Seats become available upon Online Check In?
Hello,
For an upcoming LAX-AKL flight (Airpoints member without status), Advanced seat selection for that flight is extremely limited. For example, towards the front left side (rows 35-46, A-C) are all blacked out as "unavailable".
I was really hoping for a Window seat, but none is available currently, without paying for the Preferred Seats.
If I were to check in online very early (i.e. 24h before), do I expect a better seat availability?
Will calling the Air NZ now help, i.e. does the customer service agents have access to seats that are not currently available online?
Thanks again
For an upcoming LAX-AKL flight (Airpoints member without status), Advanced seat selection for that flight is extremely limited. For example, towards the front left side (rows 35-46, A-C) are all blacked out as "unavailable".
I was really hoping for a Window seat, but none is available currently, without paying for the Preferred Seats.
If I were to check in online very early (i.e. 24h before), do I expect a better seat availability?
Will calling the Air NZ now help, i.e. does the customer service agents have access to seats that are not currently available online?
Thanks again
Oct 21, 2017, 4:21 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: BNE
Programs: NZ*G, QF Bronze, VA Red
Posts: 563
Rows 35-46 A-C and H-K are Skycouch rows. Those won't become available to you at all unless the flight loadings are quite low, as they are flagged as "frequent flyer seating", which is to say only available with status.
Oct 21, 2017, 4:26 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,115
35-46 are all a combination of frequent flyer seating and Skycouch rows. You won't be able to select any of these.
You also need to remember seats ex LHR will be limited as people also join this flight at LAX.
You also need to remember seats ex LHR will be limited as people also join this flight at LAX.
Oct 21, 2017, 3:26 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Air NZ Koru, Air NZ ELT *G, IHG Spire Ambassador, Emirates, Flying Blue, QANTAS Club
Posts: 424
Interesting I just checked in on line for my NZ28 flight today, was prompted to check or change my seats, normally I would not, I did check, the bulk head seats were available to me at no charge, so I grabbed the window one. See how it goes. Travelling in a party of 7 in PE . . should be entertaining.
Oct 22, 2017, 5:38 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 209
Thanks! Do you mean it won't become available to me, both now AND when OLCI opens?
Oct 22, 2017, 3:06 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,414
Interesting I just checked in on line for my NZ28 flight today, was prompted to check or change my seats, normally I would not, I did check, the bulk head seats were available to me at no charge, so I grabbed the window one. See how it goes. Travelling in a party of 7 in PE . . should be entertaining.
E.g. they are blocked off to allow the airport staff the ability to seat passengers that might require assitainces or for example of them to try seat an family together.
Thanks! Do you mean it won't become available to me, both now AND when OLCI opens?
Oct 22, 2017, 5:20 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
Speaking of seat selection, any possibility of getting either 4A or 5A on NZ2 from LAX-LHR tomorrow? I'd like a window seat if possible instead of a middle one but those two are "unavailable" on NZ's website and the only other remaining window seat is right in front of the PE cabin (where the possible noise/traffic is a bit concerning). No status, unfortunately, if that matters.
Oct 22, 2017, 5:36 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, NZ*GE, QF G, Accor Gold
Posts: 10,195
Speaking of seat selection, any possibility of getting either 4A or 5A on NZ2 from LAX-LHR tomorrow? I'd like a window seat if possible instead of a middle one but those two are "unavailable" on NZ's website and the only other remaining window seat is right in front of the PE cabin (where the possible noise/traffic is a bit concerning). No status, unfortunately, if that matters.
You could call Air NZ, try OLCI at earliest, or try physical check-in at the earliest opportunity.
Oct 22, 2017, 8:05 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
Looking at Expert Flyer, for NZ2 on 23 Oct, 4A and 5A appear blocked but unallocated. I expect these are being held back until load control goes to the ground staff at LAX so they have some clex for special care pax, separated families etc.
You could call Air NZ, try OLCI at earliest, or try physical check-in at the earliest opportunity.
You could call Air NZ, try OLCI at earliest, or try physical check-in at the earliest opportunity.
Worst-case, 3J isn't bad. In fact, I even saw a blog post somewhere claiming that it was one of the better J seats on NZ's 777s.
