PDXPremier

I like to have unfettered access to the lav if I need it I don't care if I had the entire economy cabin to myself....if a warm chocolate chip cookie is available, I always take a F seat over Y.

Flying for Fun

The distance between the two passengers in Main might have a slight advantage over First. The centre of 6A to the centre of 6C is ~34". The distance between the centres of 2A & 2C would be ~21" plus the width of the console between the seats.

First would give you additional space front to back as well as the ability to sit offset from the seat centre to increase distance. Comfort & cookie is a clear winner for me, I am saving my cookies for PDXPremier

James

AndyPatterson

Do NRPS have to fly in uniform in order to qualify for that heightened "Must Fly" status? I thought that was the case with another airline, but don't recall.

dliesse

I can't speak for AS, but on "another airline" (which happens to be mentioned in your signature) it would depend on who's doing the flying and what for. Sometimes the corporate executives are in this status, but they don't have uniforms to wear so in their case, no.
When I was with UA -- long before the CO merger or the train wreck of management immediately preceding it -- there were 10 boarding priorities, some with subcategories. Revenue passengers were BP2; BP1 was reserved for (a) flight crews responding as mentioned in this thread, (b) flight crews scheduled to deadhead before flying their assignments, (c) Board of Directors members -- I never did agree with this one, and (d) NTSB accident response investigators responding to, well, an accident. Other employees flying NRPS were BP3, meaning they had a reservation but were subject to being bumped by BP2s. BP4 through BP10 were varying degrees of SA travelers -- normal employee pass travelers were BP8, while retirees with 25 years' service were BP6. BP9 and BP10, in one order or the other, were for travel agents and employees of other airlines.
Of course, I have no idea how they do it now!

AS Flyer

Alaska has a policy right now to not put non-revs on if they have to be seated between paying guests. They can put three non-revs on in seats next to one another who are not together if they agree to it in advance. The only time an employee is supposed to be allowed to be seated directly next to a paying guest is if they are a deadheading crew member and other seats are not available. Deadheading crew members are not required to be in uniform. Sometimes a deadhead leg may be the only leg they are scheduled for that day so they may not be in uniform. Generally speaking, anytime there isn't a need to be in uniform immediately before, during or immediately after a deadhead leg most crew will travel in their own clothes.

fly747first

Good to know, thanks

twitch76

Reduced capacity and seat-blocking extended to November 30, 2020.

kileysmom

Hmmm...I've had 1A selected on an 800 (SAN-MCO in early Nov.) I went in yesterday and saw the block was removed on 1D and F so I grabbed 1F because I prefer it to 1A. Today took a look and !D was blocked. Wondering if that's because they made this change to extend the reduced capacity? I moved back to !A with the hope I don't get a seat mate...not even an FA.

Gig103

I just booked my first flight since the pandemic began, and it's on AS.

Am I reading this E175 seat map correctly that 16B and 17B are blocked, but AS is seating two passengers on the starboard side of the aircraft (so 16C/D may both have passengers, with 16D being open to book not that I want it)





Also I cannot book a Q400 seat, it briefly let me choose two seats but they didn't save. Will my wife and I be seated together or have separation from other guests? We did not choose "Basic".

Thanks!

pcoll

Yes, on E175's, B seats are blocked. Through November 2020. Not sure what is happening on Q400. How far out is that flight? I would try to select seat again . Calling AS may be required for that flight.
Should add that this is not a guarantee. If those seats are needed due to unusual circumstances, they will use them. In such a situation , you could choose to be seated with your wife and thereby not be seated by a stranger. This situation has happened to us.

anteater

I have flown on E175 and 737 and AS has more often than not filled the middle or aisle seats with strangers, usually due to having cancelled a light load flight for that day.

Finkface

Just call in and they will unblock a B seat and seat you together. Better to do that now than to end up with someone beside you and then have to get a GA to sort it out. And taking up two complete rows now when you know you are going to want to sit together anyway is not the right move, imo. It blocks others from potentially buying seats on that flight. Seat yourselves together now and open up a row to let someone else have it. You want to sit together anyway.

Gig103

Thanks, pcoll. We will stay as-is and if one of those circumstances arise, we can volunteer to sit together (if a stranger is given 16B for example my wife can offer them 17A).

The flight on the Q400 is next Wednesday.

Finkface

Why not just do it now? You are blocking two complete rows and preventing another passenger from selecting one. Your goal is to sit together and you plan to do that. Why prevent someone else from booking that seat? It is a bit of a d—k move to block a row now when you know you want to sit together and plan to do so anyway. Let someone else choose it now.

Klrduks

Q400 seat blocking is similar but the aisle seats are blocked on the starboard side. The policies of filling them seem to be the same as the E175 as they will keep them blocked unless there is a cancelation from another flight and they need to accommodate more passengers or a two folks on the same confirmation code if nothing is available on the port or A/B seat side. I agree with Finkface. I would call in and have the B seat unblocked now as opposed to waiting until the day of. Good luck!!