Flight missing from options if MVP box is checked
Apr 12, 2019, 7:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 919
Flight missing from options if MVP box is checked
I was looking at FAT-SAN for this Sunday (Apr 14). If I have the MVP upgrade box checked (I’m using the app), the 720p flight doesn’t show up. Is there a reason for this, or is it a blip?
Apr 12, 2019, 8:13 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
Seems to be a glitch. Looking online, they are not offering the option to purchase a main cabin ticket, even though preferred seating and premium are available.
Apr 12, 2019, 8:16 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Noticed that also. Only F being offered on that flight. Seat map shows a good amount of seats in Y and preferred. Both under No Preference and MVP selections, only F showing available.
Wonder if it is worth a call?
Wonder if it is worth a call?
Apr 12, 2019, 8:31 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 120
Not sure why you folks think the seat map means it isn't sold out. The open seats are all ones you need to have status or pay extra to choose, plus people buy saver fares that don't come with seat assignments. Main cabin is clearly sold out. It seems possible they will upgrade someone to first and something in the back would open up, but there's no guarantee.
Apr 12, 2019, 8:34 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
Not sure why you folks think the seat map means it isn't sold out. The open seats are all ones you need to have status or pay extra to choose, plus people buy saver fares that don't come with seat assignments. Main cabin is clearly sold out. It seems possible they will upgrade someone to first and something in the back would open up, but there's no guarantee.
Apr 12, 2019, 8:43 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
It's entirely possible that two people cancelled or changed their flights.
It's also possible that AS zeroed out the space for some reason, and then put it back. I've definitely seen that before (though, usually, same-day)
It's also possible that AS zeroed out the space for some reason, and then put it back. I've definitely seen that before (though, usually, same-day)
Apr 12, 2019, 8:53 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Someone who bought a ticket will be sitting there. Premium seats are part of the economy cabin; there is not separate inventory for them. If the cabin sells out and there are not enough elite passengers or people willing to pay, then someone else will get assigned a premium seat for free. However, they will not be able to select a premium seat, so that seat will be available on the seat map until it's assigned. This is why there might be no inventory even though there are 10 available seats on the seat map.
Apr 14, 2019, 10:08 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Programs: DL-Platinum / AS-PlatPro / Hyatt - Glob / Hilton-Diamond
Posts: 1,573
They're only willing (at the time of the last screen shot) to sell 2 more seats in Coach, and only at the highest fare classes. Most flights are authorized to sell more than just 2 seats beyond capacity. So seeing auth down to 2 and lower fares "sold out" is a good indication that the cabin is oversold.
Also coming into play is the fact that First still has available seats. While they would obviously rather have all remaining sales as First Class fares, it would also be silly to turn away a high Coach fare when there is still "oversale protection" available in First. Where do you draw the line ?? The truth is that the line can be redrawn at anytime, authorized booking levels at each fare class is highly dynamic. My guess is that they consider the flight full in Coach, but watching interest in the flight along with availability in First ... and releasing authorization to Coach one or two seats at a time. Seeing coach seats reappear for the flight is not a result of poor AS IT, it is IT constantly rethinking the strategy in an effort to maximize the revenue on the flight.
Seat maps are NEVER a good indication of booking levels. Use them to get a feel, but the only definitive thing they show are seats available for assignment, not booking. Two different things.
Also coming into play is the fact that First still has available seats. While they would obviously rather have all remaining sales as First Class fares, it would also be silly to turn away a high Coach fare when there is still "oversale protection" available in First. Where do you draw the line ?? The truth is that the line can be redrawn at anytime, authorized booking levels at each fare class is highly dynamic. My guess is that they consider the flight full in Coach, but watching interest in the flight along with availability in First ... and releasing authorization to Coach one or two seats at a time. Seeing coach seats reappear for the flight is not a result of poor AS IT, it is IT constantly rethinking the strategy in an effort to maximize the revenue on the flight.
Seat maps are NEVER a good indication of booking levels. Use them to get a feel, but the only definitive thing they show are seats available for assignment, not booking. Two different things.