"Seats for this flight are under airport control"
Feb 24, 2016, 7:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
"Seats for this flight are under airport control"
We fly AS alot, living in Seattle, and I have never had this happen. I just booked flights to Burbank from Seattle in mid-March, using a companion certificate. When I went to choose seats, I got the message above for the outbound flight. For the inbound, there were only 2 seats available, not together, but I did choose those. Anyone know what is going on? Are these flights oversold?
Feb 24, 2016, 8:09 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
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We fly AS alot, living in Seattle, and I have never had this happen. I just booked flights to Burbank from Seattle in mid-March, using a companion certificate. When I went to choose seats, I got the message above for the outbound flight. For the inbound, there were only 2 seats available, not together, but I did choose those. Anyone know what is going on? Are these flights oversold?
Feb 25, 2016, 8:27 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
We are not elite---by flying AS "a lot" I meant that it is the only domestic airline we fly. But we fly short West coast routes and do not accrue enough miles for elite status.
So should I be concerned? I still have time within the 24-hour period to change to a different flight (if there is one with seats). It would be a less convenient flight so not a change I want to make if this situation is nothing to cause concern.
On the other hand, we would rather make that change now than get bumped at the airport.
So should I be concerned? I still have time within the 24-hour period to change to a different flight (if there is one with seats). It would be a less convenient flight so not a change I want to make if this situation is nothing to cause concern.
On the other hand, we would rather make that change now than get bumped at the airport.
Feb 25, 2016, 8:54 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,835
We are not elite---by flying AS "a lot" I meant that it is the only domestic airline we fly. But we fly short West coast routes and do not accrue enough miles for elite status.
So should I be concerned? I still have time within the 24-hour period to change to a different flight (if there is one with seats). It would be a less convenient flight so not a change I want to make if this situation is nothing to cause concern.
On the other hand, we would rather make that change now than get bumped at the airport.
So should I be concerned? I still have time within the 24-hour period to change to a different flight (if there is one with seats). It would be a less convenient flight so not a change I want to make if this situation is nothing to cause concern.
On the other hand, we would rather make that change now than get bumped at the airport.
Feb 25, 2016, 9:32 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 2,206
You should be able to do a dummy booking to see all seats including those available to elites. Most of those open at check-in. They do hold off some for airport assignment too.
Last edited by alphaeagle; Feb 25, 2016 at 9:44 am
Feb 25, 2016, 9:49 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
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One of the "tricks" of many frequent flyers is to always "View Seats" before booking. That gives you a good idea of whether your preferred seats are available.
For example, I strongly prefer an aisle seat. So, I will "View Seats" before booking a flight to make sure that there are aisle seats available. Depending on the fares, I generally would select a flight where I can get an aisle seat. If there is a big difference in the fares, I have been known to endure a window or middle seats.
For example, I strongly prefer an aisle seat. So, I will "View Seats" before booking a flight to make sure that there are aisle seats available. Depending on the fares, I generally would select a flight where I can get an aisle seat. If there is a big difference in the fares, I have been known to endure a window or middle seats.
Feb 25, 2016, 9:55 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
To clarify---I have already booked the flight---last night, so still,within the 24-hour change/cancellation period. It is Flightn520 on March 8. I did not check the seat map before booking. When it came to seat selection, the map showed all seats Xed out, and the message about "airport control" appeared. The two other non-stop flights that day have only a few middle seats left.
What is odd is then before I booked, it said "only 3 seats left at $xxx" and it still says that after I booked two of those seats.
What is odd is then before I booked, it said "only 3 seats left at $xxx" and it still says that after I booked two of those seats.
Feb 25, 2016, 10:02 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
One of the "tricks" of many frequent flyers is to always "View Seats" before booking. That gives you a good idea of whether your preferred seats are available.
For example, I strongly prefer an aisle seat. So, I will "View Seats" before booking a flight to make sure that there are aisle seats available. Depending on the fares, I generally would select a flight where I can get an aisle seat. If there is a big difference in the fares, I have been known to endure a window or middle seats.
For example, I strongly prefer an aisle seat. So, I will "View Seats" before booking a flight to make sure that there are aisle seats available. Depending on the fares, I generally would select a flight where I can get an aisle seat. If there is a big difference in the fares, I have been known to endure a window or middle seats.
Feb 25, 2016, 10:44 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,723
To clarify---I have already booked the flight---last night, so still,within the 24-hour change/cancellation period. It is Flightn520 on March 8. I did not check the seat map before booking. When it came to seat selection, the map showed all seats Xed out, and the message about "airport control" appeared. The two other non-stop flights that day have only a few middle seats left.
What is odd is then before I booked, it said "only 3 seats left at $xxx" and it still says that after I booked two of those seats.
What is odd is then before I booked, it said "only 3 seats left at $xxx" and it still says that after I booked two of those seats.
Feb 25, 2016, 10:56 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
Thanks. So will those seats be available to non- elites at checkin? Or are we really at risk of being bumped because we have no seats assigned?
Last edited by enzian; Feb 25, 2016 at 10:57 am Reason: Typo
Feb 25, 2016, 11:51 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,835
There are plenty of seats for sale. Check in right at 24 hours prior and you should have many good elite seats to choose from.
Feb 25, 2016, 12:35 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Plat
Posts: 234
Although probably not relevant to the OP's situation, when does Alaska'a upcoming "Economy+" seating go live ? Has AS announced the process for booking, costs, etc. for both Elites and non-Elites yet ?
Feb 25, 2016, 12:49 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
Are those the fare buckets? Do they overlap? They add up to more than 100 seats available,which I assume is not correct.
Feb 25, 2016, 1:16 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,835
7 is the maximum shown for any fare bucket, so 7 means at least 7 available,
D, P, U, A are all subsets of F - the first class cabin.
Z, S, B, M, H, K, L, V, K, G, T, R, N, E, W, V are all subsets of Y - the coach cabin
Feb 25, 2016, 2:26 pm
#15
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Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Generally, fare buckets are "nested" within each other. Plus, "7" is typically the maximum number of available seats displayed (that is, "7" means 7 or more seats available).
My earlier suggestion was simply (in the future) to remember to check seat maps before booking. It seems that AS is blocking nearly half the plane for elites, if you look at the seat maps.
My earlier suggestion was simply (in the future) to remember to check seat maps before booking. It seems that AS is blocking nearly half the plane for elites, if you look at the seat maps.