Social Distance Seat Blocking (Through 1/6/2021)
Apr 12, 2020, 5:36 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
Apr 12, 2020, 9:14 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 184
Well, this would explain why I received 2 calls and voicemails + email from Alaska asking me to change my itinerary to a different flight or cancel altogether and were offering a refund + discount code to do so. They wanted to decrease passenger density. I was on an E175 that had just a few seats open. Looks like they are taking the social distancing seriously for economy passengers now.
I took them up on their offer.
I took them up on their offer.
Apr 21, 2020, 3:44 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
Saw this on the website "Families or large groups wanting to sit together can make the request with reservations or at the airport." so I asked reservations via chat about getting my kids next to my wife and I on a future reservation and was told that wasn't possible due to seat blocking so when they say the aisle seats are blocked on the E175 and Q400 flights, it sounds like they are totally blocked regardless of whether or not they are families traveling together. On the positive side, all 4 of us each have two seats, but as passenger loads potentially increase, are they going to start selling those blocked seats or not? Booked a few flights today for November and the seat map still showed the blocked seats.
Last edited by PDXPremier; Apr 21, 2020 at 4:22 pm
Apr 21, 2020, 5:32 pm
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Guessing it's too soon to tell. I'd keep an eye on the seat map, and maybe set an EF alert in case the seat you want becomes bookable.
Apr 23, 2020, 12:27 am
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Ran across a BBC article today referencing AS' attempts at blocking the middle seat (And OAL's)
https://www.bbc.com./worklife/articl...t-flying-again
https://www.bbc.com./worklife/articl...t-flying-again
Apr 23, 2020, 10:33 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
Saw this on the website "Families or large groups wanting to sit together can make the request with reservations or at the airport." so I asked reservations via chat about getting my kids next to my wife and I on a future reservation and was told that wasn't possible due to seat blocking so when they say the aisle seats are blocked on the E175 and Q400 flights, it sounds like they are totally blocked regardless of whether or not they are families traveling together. On the positive side, all 4 of us each have two seats, but as passenger loads potentially increase, are they going to start selling those blocked seats or not? Booked a few flights today for November and the seat map still showed the blocked seats.
Apr 23, 2020, 10:38 pm
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Asked another agent via chat about this yesterday and they were able to put family members in blocked seats with no problem so maybe this is just one of those log-out and log back in to find an agent that knows how to make those changes. With all the seat blocking, I did notice one of my flights next month looking rather full so I am curious how sustainable this will be from a financial standpoint--are those blocked seats still for sale?
As there are reports that AS has had to remove some pax for flights too full...
Apr 25, 2020, 1:43 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MM, MVPGold100k, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,475
I flew PDX SEA yesterday and the FA told me that there were not any direct flights out of PDX now, that all flights are connections out of SEA for now. I had SDC'd from the 6:00pm to the 2:00pm flight and noticed that there were 21 crew members on the awaiting seats list. All but one got assigned a seat. As people walked by my seat I noticed that there were some, but not that many seemingly revenue passengers so it felt very much like a "crew" repositioning flight. Crazy times! BTW, all passengers in FC were in window seats, with only one window not taken (3F)
Apr 25, 2020, 3:23 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
I flew PDX SEA yesterday and the FA told me that there were not any direct flights out of PDX now, that all flights are connections out of SEA for now. I had SDC'd from the 6:00pm to the 2:00pm flight and noticed that there were 21 crew members on the awaiting seats list. All but one got assigned a seat. As people walked by my seat I noticed that there were some, but not that many seemingly revenue passengers so it felt very much like a "crew" repositioning flight. Crazy times! BTW, all passengers in FC were in window seats, with only one window not taken (3F)
Apr 25, 2020, 9:35 pm
#25
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
I flew PDX SEA yesterday and the FA told me that there were not any direct flights out of PDX now, that all flights are connections out of SEA for now. I had SDC'd from the 6:00pm to the 2:00pm flight and noticed that there were 21 crew members on the awaiting seats list. All but one got assigned a seat. As people walked by my seat I noticed that there were some, but not that many seemingly revenue passengers so it felt very much like a "crew" repositioning flight. Crazy times! BTW, all passengers in FC were in window seats, with only one window not taken (3F)
Must admit... bit jealous you got on an a/c
Apr 26, 2020, 1:26 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,598
I have an LAX - PDX RT booked for mid May that hasn't been changed to go through SEA. They have decreased the frequency by a lot and down gauged to E175s, but they're still flying non-stop.
Apr 26, 2020, 2:06 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
I thought I heard on the news that Alaska was one of the states with the lifted stay-at-home order and even restaurants were opening back up in Fairbanks....you could do a run (with miles?) up to BRW and back...you still might be the only one on the plane 
May 24, 2020, 2:59 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
If there is an available PC window seat on a 737 with the 2 seats next to it blocked out, is there a way to know whether a couple is sitting there or if the middle seat is in fact empty?
Apologies if this has come up elsewhere.
Apologies if this has come up elsewhere.
May 24, 2020, 3:59 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,301
It could be either, but there's no way to ascertain that on your own. Perhaps a Res Agent could tell, but I'm not even sure of that.
May 25, 2020, 5:21 pm
#30
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
On my Galaxy Phone, their seat map does not have the middle seats blocked out. Maybe try that?