Social Distance Seat Blocking (Through 1/6/2021)
Dec 13, 2020, 11:14 pm
#766
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
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?
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?
Dec 14, 2020, 12:00 am
#767
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
Although if there was seat blocking in PC, that could be a fairly strong selling point for upsells to PC....sit in saver/main/first if you don't care about seat blocking...upgrade to PC if you do...caters to both crowds, right?
Dec 14, 2020, 9:14 am
#768
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
Would be helpful if their phone agents acknowledged this too. I have an essential trip this week (LAX-SFO and back in same day) for a work security appointment and noticed the seat map wide open on both flights on the E175. Was asking the phone agent and she informed me they are still seat blocking, but manually moving passengers who are seated next to others. She wouldn't budge when I kept trying to dig deeper (like why they are no longer X'd out, or how mainline ac still show blocked seats). I know there's noone moving passengers' seat assignments, and will monitor myself for the quick flights, but a shame they are either misinforming (if not intentionally misleading) customers.
Dec 14, 2020, 9:24 am
#769
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
Would be helpful if their phone agents acknowledged this too. I have an essential trip this week (LAX-SFO and back in same day) for a work security appointment and noticed the seat map wide open on both flights on the E175. Was asking the phone agent and she informed me they are still seat blocking, but manually moving passengers who are seated next to others. She wouldn't budge when I kept trying to dig deeper (like why they are no longer X'd out, or how mainline ac still show blocked seats). I know there's noone moving passengers' seat assignments, and will monitor myself for the quick flights, but a shame they are either misinforming (if not intentionally misleading) customers.
Dec 14, 2020, 5:59 pm
#770
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
Would be helpful if their phone agents acknowledged this too. I have an essential trip this week (LAX-SFO and back in same day) for a work security appointment and noticed the seat map wide open on both flights on the E175. Was asking the phone agent and she informed me they are still seat blocking, but manually moving passengers who are seated next to others. She wouldn't budge when I kept trying to dig deeper (like why they are no longer X'd out, or how mainline ac still show blocked seats). I know there's noone moving passengers' seat assignments, and will monitor myself for the quick flights, but a shame they are either misinforming (if not intentionally misleading) customers.
DL flies this route and is still blocking seats.
Dec 14, 2020, 8:33 pm
#771
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: The Far, Far North
Programs: Alaskans fly everywhere on any aircraft going there!
Posts: 1,262
If AS doesn't stop some of the bull they're feeding pax and have been for a couple of months now about seats blocked for crew and generally seats being blocked, they will lose some of us. One of the reasons I have flown almost exclusively AS for about 25 years now (I was a NW fan and a Markair Mom) is because they have had great customer service. Doesn't seem to be the case anymore and I don't accept that covid is an excuse to not provide honesty. If anything covid is the reason to be very honest and transparent so people can take care of themselves and feel cared for.
Dec 14, 2020, 9:03 pm
#772
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,838
If AS doesn't stop some of the bull they're feeding pax and have been for a couple of months now about seats blocked for crew and generally seats being blocked, they will lose some of us. One of the reasons I have flown almost exclusively AS for about 25 years now (I was a NW fan and a Markair Mom) is because they have had great customer service. Doesn't seem to be the case anymore and I don't accept that covid is an excuse to not provide honesty. If anything covid is the reason to be very honest and transparent so people can take care of themselves and feel cared for.
Dec 15, 2020, 1:54 pm
#773
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
According to an AS representative on social media, premium class middle seats will in fact be blocked through May. If you’d prefer to stay in PC with an empty middle, be sure to change any existing reservations and remove the request to be upgraded to first class. I think this is a great compromise on the part of AS.
Dec 15, 2020, 2:28 pm
#774
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
According to an AS representative on social media, premium class middle seats will in fact be blocked through May. If you’d prefer to stay in PC with an empty middle, be sure to change any existing reservations and remove the request to be upgraded to first class. I think this is a great compromise on the part of AS.
Dec 15, 2020, 7:06 pm
#776
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,909
In my AS email today
Stretch your legs (and elbows) with a Premium Class upgrade. And through May 31, 2021†, we’ve blocked middle seats in Premium Class, giving you even more space.
†Extra space is not guaranteed. Certain occasions, such as aircraft changes or reaccommodating guests from a previously canceled flight, may require guests to be seated next to someone not in their party. If you’re uncomfortable with the distance between you and others on your date of travel, please speak with a customer service agent about your options. On aircrafts that do not have middle seats, the Premium Class section will not have additional seats blocked. Guests traveling in parties of 3 are able to select Premium Class seats in the same row by contacting reservations.
†Extra space is not guaranteed. Certain occasions, such as aircraft changes or reaccommodating guests from a previously canceled flight, may require guests to be seated next to someone not in their party. If you’re uncomfortable with the distance between you and others on your date of travel, please speak with a customer service agent about your options. On aircrafts that do not have middle seats, the Premium Class section will not have additional seats blocked. Guests traveling in parties of 3 are able to select Premium Class seats in the same row by contacting reservations.
Dec 15, 2020, 8:57 pm
#777
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: The Far, Far North
Programs: Alaskans fly everywhere on any aircraft going there!
Posts: 1,262
So those of us with paid F don't get the same consideration? No empty seat beside us? That's sort of a slap in the face of some big spenders. Wow. I can buy a row of PC and put up the arms for more space less expensively than two F seats so they are just kicking themselves in the foot (being polite). Maybe a rethink of loyalty is in the near future for many of us.
Dec 15, 2020, 9:47 pm
#778
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,300
So those of us with paid F don't get the same consideration? No empty seat beside us? That's sort of a slap in the face of some big spenders. Wow. I can buy a row of PC and put up the arms for more space less expensively than two F seats so they are just kicking themselves in the foot (being polite). Maybe a rethink of loyalty is in the near future for many of us.
However, the pricing of those I fares through the end of the schedule is unlike anything I've ever seen before, so I'm not exactly incensed by this.
Dec 15, 2020, 10:00 pm
#779
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: The Far, Far North
Programs: Alaskans fly everywhere on any aircraft going there!
Posts: 1,262
I buy F and am now wondering if my custom is appreciated....seems not. Have 3 or 4 trips in the next 4 months and am going to take a look at Delta tonight....if AS want to basically tell me my spend is not important to them, then let's see if it's important to anyone else. It's not like we're getting anything at all for our F purchase...a glass of wine, maybe 2 if the FA feels like getting up from the F seat they are now using, a wrap that is barely suitable for basic economy and, maybe, if the FA feels like it, a warm cookie and/or a snack basket.....what about $10 max?
Dec 15, 2020, 10:39 pm
#780
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
I buy F and am now wondering if my custom is appreciated....seems not. Have 3 or 4 trips in the next 4 months and am going to take a look at Delta tonight....if AS want to basically tell me my spend is not important to them, then let's see if it's important to anyone else. It's not like we're getting anything at all for our F purchase...a glass of wine, maybe 2 if the FA feels like getting up from the F seat they are now using, a wrap that is barely suitable for basic economy and, maybe, if the FA feels like it, a warm cookie and/or a snack basket.....what about $10 max?