Social Distance Seat Blocking (Through 1/6/2021)
#46
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: London, UK
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 594
Flight today on E175. 5 of 12 F seats free. 2A, 3A, 1C & 1D, and 3A. The couples seated next to each other all were couples travelling together. So nobody sat next to someone they didn’t know. Only spot with someone sitting with just the aisle between them was 4A & 4C. And I assume if 4A wanted more space she could move to 1D.
I could see last night the flight disappeared from booking availability when there appeared to be 4 open F seats on the flight. Felt better about the social distancing on this flight.
I could see last night the flight disappeared from booking availability when there appeared to be 4 open F seats on the flight. Felt better about the social distancing on this flight.
#47
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 181
Is AS allowing Y pax to move to the Preferred seats (behind Premium, available to elites at booking) at boarding? Asking because I'm flying SFO-JFK on a 319 tomorrow. Due to cancellation of earlier flight this one is relatively full in coach, both regular and Premium. But the Preferred block only has 2 pax, including me, so there's a great buffer. I'm curious whether those seats will get filled as pax redistribute themselves?
#48
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,292
Is AS allowing Y pax to move to the Preferred seats (behind Premium, available to elites at booking) at boarding? Asking because I'm flying SFO-JFK on a 319 tomorrow. Due to cancellation of earlier flight this one is relatively full in coach, both regular and Premium. But the Preferred block only has 2 pax, including me, so there's a great buffer. I'm curious whether those seats will get filled as pax redistribute themselves?
#49
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 181
Thanks - I've been watching the seating chart shift around - now I understand why. I'm a long-time UA elite (Plat/1K, depending), now considering an AS status match. Interesting learning the small variations.
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,309
#51
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 181
You're correct - I was conflating it with UA1025, a flight I'm now considering switching to. I originally booked AS254 dep 7am--also a 739--because it was so empty. (That was when UA was still filling middle seats on transcons at the gate.) When my flight was canceled, I was switched to AS1022, dep 8:30am. It's now much fuller than the UA flight I originally rejected. Sigh. I'm not faulting AS at all -- I'm just not wild about flying yet, as even with middle seats blocked (which I truly appreciate), we're way shy of 6 ft between passengers. I'm not trying to provoke debate, btw - I'm fully aware of the extent to which "safety" barometers are personal
#53
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta Gold, Alaska Gold 75K, LATAM Black
Posts: 3,393
#54
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MM, MVPGold100k, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,475
Flew the PDX SEA shuttle yesterday, at 2PM. It was a 737, and all middle seats were blocked from what I could tell, I was in 9F and could not see fully behind me, but from at least row 11 forward it was middles blocked and FC at 50%. Not looking forward to my SEA AUS work trip next week, only 4 seats available, so it looks like that is being capped at 50% as well.
#55
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
I'm booked in F on several AS flights, and while AS may be capping sales, as far as I can tell they aren't actually blocking any seats in F at all. They allowed two pax to book seats immediately adjacent to me on one flight - I was in 4D on E75, and these idiots took 4A and 4C. I've moved to row 2, but have also made duplicate bookings on WN and will likely fly them instead.
#56
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta Gold, Alaska Gold 75K, LATAM Black
Posts: 3,393
I'm booked in F on several AS flights, and while AS may be capping sales, as far as I can tell they aren't actually blocking any seats in F at all. They allowed two pax to book seats immediately adjacent to me on one flight - I was in 4D on E75, and these idiots took 4A and 4C. I've moved to row 2, but have also made duplicate bookings on WN and will likely fly them instead.
#57
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,985
I'm booked in F on several AS flights, and while AS may be capping sales, as far as I can tell they aren't actually blocking any seats in F at all. They allowed two pax to book seats immediately adjacent to me on one flight - I was in 4D on E75, and these idiots took 4A and 4C. I've moved to row 2, but have also made duplicate bookings on WN and will likely fly them instead.
#58
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,300
It's true that UA is blocking seats for selection by passengers, but they are not blocking sales nor are they blocking seats for assignment by its agents. UA will allow its agents to book a row full across (and will sell every seat on the aircraft).
#59
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,608
I'm booked in F on several AS flights, and while AS may be capping sales, as far as I can tell they aren't actually blocking any seats in F at all. They allowed two pax to book seats immediately adjacent to me on one flight - I was in 4D on E75, and these idiots took 4A and 4C. I've moved to row 2, but have also made duplicate bookings on WN and will likely fly them instead.
#60
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,818
I know that's AS's marketing pitch, but it's not consistent with Bellerina's first hand report upthread, nor is it consistent with what AS is currently allowing in terms of pre-flight seat selection. And I've been around the block enough times not to be willing to just have faith that the agents will sort it all out at the gate.
For social distancing purposes, I do not find the aisle desirable due to aisle traffic.
It's true that UA is blocking seats for selection by passengers, but they are not blocking sales nor are they blocking seats for assignment by its agents. UA will allow its agents to book a row full across (and will sell every seat on the aircraft).
For social distancing purposes, I do not find the aisle desirable due to aisle traffic.
It's true that UA is blocking seats for selection by passengers, but they are not blocking sales nor are they blocking seats for assignment by its agents. UA will allow its agents to book a row full across (and will sell every seat on the aircraft).