Social Distance Seat Blocking (Through 1/6/2021)
Dec 10, 2020, 12:25 pm
#751
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SEA, NW/DL 1.6Million Miler
Programs: DL 1MM Annual Silver,AS 100K 22-24, AS 75K 15-21
Posts: 4,278
I think social distancing seating will end on Jan 6 2021. My guess is based on lots of AS’s PR pushed regarding safety on-board when masked, and the BOGO promo currently pushed for 1/6 travel and beyond.
Jiburi
Jiburi
Dec 13, 2020, 9:05 am
#753
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
Dec 13, 2020, 9:36 am
#754
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: On a plane or a beach
Programs: Yes
Posts: 3,150
I’ve been writing AL for each occurrence.
YMMV
Dec 13, 2020, 9:55 am
#755
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: MVPG
Posts: 253
Dec 13, 2020, 12:19 pm
#756
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
I’m about 50% for my December mid and trans con flights resulting in a stranger next to me due to “operational” reasons at the gate. When AS waits until the flight is occurring to notify me that someone may be seated next to me it doesn’t leave me much choice if I still want to take that flight. All of these flights showed seat blocking l.
Dec 13, 2020, 12:33 pm
#757
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 876
My buddy had two flights yesterday where they had tried to put someone in F next to him. They ultimately kicked someone else (Prolly an upgrade) back into to main to adjust seating, so clearly they are trying, but it seems like the computer is allowing it. He could also adjust his seat to sit next to someone. Could make for some real fun the next couple of weeks.
Dec 13, 2020, 4:56 pm
#759
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
Maybe it's just me but I would rather sit next next to a stranger in F than be stuck in Y next to an empty middle. I would also go out on a limb and say that most FTers would have no problem if PDXPremier was their seatmate...it might even give them a chance to update the Celebrity Sightings on AS thread😎
Dec 13, 2020, 6:57 pm
#760
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Maybe it's just me but I would rather sit next next to a stranger in F than be stuck in Y next to an empty middle. I would also go out on a limb and say that most FTers would have no problem if PDXPremier was their seatmate...it might even give them a chance to update the Celebrity Sightings on AS thread😎
If you should be seated next to him, don't expect to enjoy your cookie! 🍪 James
Dec 13, 2020, 7:17 pm
#761
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, BA Gold, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,987
My buddy had two flights yesterday where they had tried to put someone in F next to him. They ultimately kicked someone else (Prolly an upgrade) back into to main to adjust seating, so clearly they are trying, but it seems like the computer is allowing it. He could also adjust his seat to sit next to someone. Could make for some real fun the next couple of weeks.
If I bought an F ticket expecting a blocked seat and found someone sitting next to me, I'd be annoyed. However, if AS took my cleared upgrade away because they messed up the socially-distanced seating and tried to fix it after the fact, I'd be even more upset.
Side note: I've never had an upgrade taken away on any airline. That has to be one of the worst feelings imaginable going into a flight.
Dec 13, 2020, 7:40 pm
#762
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,299
Whether AS continues blocking F seats or not, they need to provide their customers with clear expectations and stick to them. DL seems to be able to do it with their IT, so I'm not sure why AS can't.
If I bought an F ticket expecting a blocked seat and found someone sitting next to me, I'd be annoyed. However, if AS took my cleared upgrade away because they messed up the socially-distanced seating and tried to fix it after the fact, I'd be even more upset.
Side note: I've never had an upgrade taken away on any airline. That has to be one of the worst feelings imaginable going into a flight.
If I bought an F ticket expecting a blocked seat and found someone sitting next to me, I'd be annoyed. However, if AS took my cleared upgrade away because they messed up the socially-distanced seating and tried to fix it after the fact, I'd be even more upset.
Side note: I've never had an upgrade taken away on any airline. That has to be one of the worst feelings imaginable going into a flight.
Regarding exactions: Sadly, this has been a fail w/AS for F class pax, as evidenced by myself and at least 2 other previous reports in this thread. I've been handed 5 or 6 discount codes after elevating this within Alaska Listens, which to them is a small price to pay. Their IT has clearly been a problem and/or low priority for years, and this is just one example of it. DL is clearly more robust in this regard, and always has been.
That being said, there are many pros that outweigh the cons with AS, and I guess it comes down to exactly what matters most to each individual consumer.
Dec 13, 2020, 10:48 pm
#764
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Yep, that's exactly what I said (nicely) in my twitter exchange with them concerning (no) seat blocking on RJs.
I'll also say that their F pricing is not competitive on the routes I've been looking at. I almost always get upgraded as a 75K, but with uncertainty about F seat blocking and/or whether I'll be able to pick a single on an E75 when my upgrade clears, I've mostly just been buying deep-discount F on UA (E75s only) and DL.
I'll also say that their F pricing is not competitive on the routes I've been looking at. I almost always get upgraded as a 75K, but with uncertainty about F seat blocking and/or whether I'll be able to pick a single on an E75 when my upgrade clears, I've mostly just been buying deep-discount F on UA (E75s only) and DL.
Dec 13, 2020, 11:12 pm
#765
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Eastern Shore of Lake Michigan; Formerly SEA
Programs: AS MVPG | oneworld Sapphire
Posts: 578
I'm not sure this has been noted here yet (pardon me if it has; efforts toward a certain 3-week virtual conference are really eating into my powers of perception), but it looks like middle seats in PC, and only in PC, are now blocked until May 31st. I noticed it first on seat maps for some flights I have between Jan. 7 and mid-March, but I previewed seats for a variety of flights over the following months, and consistently, middle PC seats are blocked until May 31st, and not blocked starting June 1st.
And I'm positive that just a few or several days ago, middle seats weren't blocked on my early 2021 flights.
Was this announced anywhere?
[Update: No seats appear to be blocked in FC.]
And I'm positive that just a few or several days ago, middle seats weren't blocked on my early 2021 flights.
Was this announced anywhere?
[Update: No seats appear to be blocked in FC.]