First Class Availability (Seats not releasing?)
Mar 27, 2003, 9:45 pm
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2001
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First Class Availability (Seats not releasing?)
Since I just ran across a good seat availability tool: http://www.cs.haifa.ac.il/~shuly/flight.html
I decided to check a trip I have on Sunday (three days from now) for first class availability. I've been on the first class wait list (MVP Gold) since I booked the ticket.
I was surprised to find at least 7 open seats in first class. I called Alaska and they said "yes, there are lots of seats available, but they haven't been released to upgrades yet. The yield folks haven't released them yet." She then went on to say that they were hoping to sell the seats.
I've never had this problem before, and I guess I just don't know how this works. Why would they hold so many seats in first class with only three days to go?
I decided to check a trip I have on Sunday (three days from now) for first class availability. I've been on the first class wait list (MVP Gold) since I booked the ticket.
I was surprised to find at least 7 open seats in first class. I called Alaska and they said "yes, there are lots of seats available, but they haven't been released to upgrades yet. The yield folks haven't released them yet." She then went on to say that they were hoping to sell the seats.
I've never had this problem before, and I guess I just don't know how this works. Why would they hold so many seats in first class with only three days to go?
Mar 27, 2003, 11:54 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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First, seatmaps don't always reflect sold/reserved space. (There may be unassigned, yet reserved space believe it or not). You may find that 48 hours out things open up.
Mar 28, 2003, 5:33 am
#3
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT (NYC Suburbs), Gulf Stream, FL
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See my comment on the "Pricing BOS-SAN" thread. I am convinced they are discovering that the yield management tools that work OK for what is largely a low fare, quick turn, linear (North/South) system, don't do as well, as they go into more longer haul services. My bet is the whole thing is being looked at, which might be what is causing what you are seeing.
Mar 28, 2003, 6:23 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle WA, USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, AS Lounge
Posts: 3,478
I was pricing SEA-MCO roundtrips for two for next fall and was surprised to not be able to get those pretty little gold diamonds both ways. Golds can get on the waitlist, but those of us (only MVP) who rely on redemptive upgrades for upgrades on transcons are out of luck. It does seem that they are changing their approach. I hope it works for them. For me, it's not worth paying a lot more for AS coach (a little more, yes, but not a lot more.)
Mar 28, 2003, 10:39 am
#5
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Eastbay1K:
First, seatmaps don't always reflect sold/reserved space. (There may be unassigned, yet reserved space believe it or not). You may find that 48 hours out things open up.</font>
First, seatmaps don't always reflect sold/reserved space. (There may be unassigned, yet reserved space believe it or not). You may find that 48 hours out things open up.</font>
Mar 29, 2003, 2:58 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Portland, OR, USA
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Not sure what city you're looking at but remember that this time of year is spring break which can lead to very high loads in coach. This can force last minute business travelers to purchase F just to fly - even when their normal restrictions require them to purchase coach. If you are looking at a market at the start or end of a spring break week you may well see odd things as the airlines try to take advantage of the situation.
Mar 29, 2003, 3:08 pm
#7
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Seattle
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I used to just bag the flight if there was no first class space available at the time of booking--I still might. I did discover, however, at the MVP Gold luncheon that they release seats based on projected loads and that Golds will often be upgraded as the date of their flight grows nearer.
My son, who currently has no AS status flew to LAX last week upgraded, but could not upgrade on his return which is this afternoon. I called this morning and was able to upgrade both him and his girlfriend. Actually there was more upgrade space available, but he only has two certs with him so the rest of the party will be in coach.
My son, who currently has no AS status flew to LAX last week upgraded, but could not upgrade on his return which is this afternoon. I called this morning and was able to upgrade both him and his girlfriend. Actually there was more upgrade space available, but he only has two certs with him so the rest of the party will be in coach.
Mar 30, 2003, 11:59 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Kirkland, WA
Programs: AS MVP, DL Silv
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by bworrell:
Since I just ran across a good seat availability tool: http://www.cs.haifa.ac.il/~shuly/flight.html
</font>
Since I just ran across a good seat availability tool: http://www.cs.haifa.ac.il/~shuly/flight.html
</font>
Mar 30, 2003, 7:00 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2001
Location: IAD
Posts: 6,148
I remember last year, maybe around this time, we were looking at IAD-SEA flights in November. Pricing as 2 people, we (both Golds) couldn't get the DCA flights or the morning eastbound or evening westbound to pull up gold stars. I started playing with the website with the number of passengers traveling, and basically I figured out that only 1 seat was allocated to Gold upgraders on those flights (1,2,3,4) for 5 days out of a week (IIRC). So we bought our tix and had them upgrade my wife while I waitlisted... and of course cleared months out. I wouldn't be surprised if this is still the case, where the default is 1 available upgrade seat for several months in advance...
Apr 4, 2003, 8:02 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Kirkland, WA
Programs: AS MVP, DL Silv
Posts: 463
I'd been waitlisted for U on the PVR-SEA nonstop in April for the last couple of months.... They finally cleared approx 60 hours prior to departure; had been holding back 3 F seats for revenue.
So question for MVP/G's: What is your overall success ratio when waitilisting U space. If you have higher (or lower) success ratios on certain routes, let's hear 'em!
Overall my success ratio on clearing waitlisted U is > 80%.
-Steve
So question for MVP/G's: What is your overall success ratio when waitilisting U space. If you have higher (or lower) success ratios on certain routes, let's hear 'em!
Overall my success ratio on clearing waitlisted U is > 80%.
-Steve
Apr 4, 2003, 10:29 pm
#11
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I think some of you are right... It seems that they released a bunch of these seats to paid upgrades instead of MVP Gold upgrades. I ended up getting one of the last seats in first class by calling about 8 hours before the flight. It never automatically took me from the wait list, for some reason I had to call first. The lady I was seated next to (one of the seats that showed as free for the longest time) was travelling on a paid upgrade.
Apr 5, 2003, 11:36 am
#14
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Eastbay1K:
If the paid upgrades come out of "A" inventory, I've never seen more "A" than "U" - A is equal or less than U. </font>
If the paid upgrades come out of "A" inventory, I've never seen more "A" than "U" - A is equal or less than U. </font>
Paid upgrades come from U. Mileage upgrades come from A. Full fare first is F.
Apr 5, 2003, 12:40 pm
#15
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by travelalot5:
Paid upgrades come from U. Mileage upgrades come from A. Full fare first is F.</font>
Paid upgrades come from U. Mileage upgrades come from A. Full fare first is F.</font>
Then the Paid and Gold are from the same pot.