What's the Deal with 1A?
Jun 30, 2015, 5:30 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
What's the Deal with 1A?
Forgive me if this is an old question, and soon to be obsolete, but I am curious...
I only started flying pmUS post-merger, and I understand the phenomenon of row 1 being blocked as handicapped accessible or such; this is well-documented. The threads I can find discussing this refer to the whole row collectively as being open for release at T-24. However, in my experience, using ExpertFlyer, it seems that 1A in particular often remains held after T-24, showing as blocked on EF. Then, at some point, it gets released. To whom? I don't know. I'm often #1 on the upgrade list, see it blocked, then it gets released, but never to me.
So the simple question is...when is 1A actually released, and to whom?
Just curious. Most of my flights are on 319s and I'd rather sit in my 10A/F seat than 1A due to legroom and overhead issues.
Again, apologies, I am sure there must be a definitive explanation in a thread somewhere, but even with much searching I cannot seem to find it.
I only started flying pmUS post-merger, and I understand the phenomenon of row 1 being blocked as handicapped accessible or such; this is well-documented. The threads I can find discussing this refer to the whole row collectively as being open for release at T-24. However, in my experience, using ExpertFlyer, it seems that 1A in particular often remains held after T-24, showing as blocked on EF. Then, at some point, it gets released. To whom? I don't know. I'm often #1 on the upgrade list, see it blocked, then it gets released, but never to me.
So the simple question is...when is 1A actually released, and to whom?
Just curious. Most of my flights are on 319s and I'd rather sit in my 10A/F seat than 1A due to legroom and overhead issues.
Again, apologies, I am sure there must be a definitive explanation in a thread somewhere, but even with much searching I cannot seem to find it.
Jun 30, 2015, 10:00 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
What's the Deal with 1A?
To whom? To the last person ticketed/ upgraded into F. If I receive the last upgrade I may not initially have a seat assignment. Typically receive seat assignment at the gate after GA confirms that no one needs special accommodation seating.
Jun 30, 2015, 11:18 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Also, many times I have received that last seat, but have never had to confirm anything with a GA.
Jun 30, 2015, 11:37 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,382
If ExpertFlyer is to be believed, 1A often goes from blocked to occupied sometime after T-24 but often well before the flight goes over to gate agent control. At that time there is an upgrade list visible, but no one moves off of it when that 1A goes to occupied. So are you saying that someone received an F upgrade outside of the T-24 window but that said upgrade did not come with a seat assignment?
Jun 30, 2015, 11:46 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
This is exactly what happens. It just happened today to me on a flight in 48 hours. Segment changes from coach to upgrade confirmed with no seat assignment. Ticket inventory changes to X class. Unless someone changes seats in F or cancels, the seat I will receive will be 1-A.
Seems, then, like that's the answer. Thanks!!!
Jun 30, 2015, 5:53 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: Starwood Gold, Hilton Gold, Mariott Gold, AMEX Plat, US CP
Posts: 273
Cuz of US great IT system it is easy to jump the upgrade list. Let's say they release 1A at T12 hours. All someone has to do is recheck in and they can snag the upgrade even if they are number 10 on the list. I always check every couple hours or so and more often then not have been able to snag an upgrade. Was great when I was gold now that I'm CP I'm upgraded 4 days out 99% of the time.
Jul 1, 2015, 4:12 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Cuz of US great IT system it is easy to jump the upgrade list. Let's say they release 1A at T12 hours. All someone has to do is recheck in and they can snag the upgrade even if they are number 10 on the list. I always check every couple hours or so and more often then not have been able to snag an upgrade. Was great when I was gold now that I'm CP I'm upgraded 4 days out 99% of the time.
Jul 1, 2015, 5:42 am
#8
Join Date: May 2007
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors-Diamond, Marriott-Silver, SPG-Gold
Posts: 391
Actually you're EXP now. CP no longer exists.
Cuz of US great IT system it is easy to jump the upgrade list. Let's say they release 1A at T12 hours. All someone has to do is recheck in and they can snag the upgrade even if they are number 10 on the list. I always check every couple hours or so and more often then not have been able to snag an upgrade. Was great when I was gold now that I'm CP I'm upgraded 4 days out 99% of the time.
Jul 1, 2015, 9:27 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AA EP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 636
Cuz of US great IT system it is easy to jump the upgrade list. Let's say they release 1A at T12 hours. All someone has to do is recheck in and they can snag the upgrade even if they are number 10 on the list. I always check every couple hours or so and more often then not have been able to snag an upgrade. Was great when I was gold now that I'm CP I'm upgraded 4 days out 99% of the time.
Jul 2, 2015, 12:03 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
Cuz of US great IT system it is easy to jump the upgrade list. Let's say they release 1A at T12 hours. All someone has to do is recheck in and they can snag the upgrade even if they are number 10 on the list. I always check every couple hours or so and more often then not have been able to snag an upgrade. Was great when I was gold now that I'm CP I'm upgraded 4 days out 99% of the time.
Jul 2, 2015, 5:51 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
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Posts: 14,518
If a seat is reserved for someone with limited mobility, wouldn't it make a lot more sense to block the aisle seat, for easier access?
Jul 2, 2015, 7:37 am
#12
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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A few weeks ago I was flying RDU-CLT-EWR. At T-48, upgrades cleared for both flights but I couldn't pick a seat for RDU-CLT. I called US who said the only seat available was 1A but because it was a limited mobility seat, I needed to be prepared to relinquish it if someone who was disabled needed it. So it seems it can be given out before T-24.
Jul 9, 2015, 9:25 pm
#13
Formerly known as billinaz
Join Date: Oct 2003
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I have 1A on a flight later this month and again on a flight in August (both outbound and inbound legs). Ive had that seat booked for months now.
Jul 10, 2015, 12:55 am
#14
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
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Posts: 4,550
Don't know how relevant it is, but I was flying LAS-PHL redeye two days ago (A320) and the entire row 1 was blocked off. There were maybe 8 of the remaining 12 F seats occupied. Pre-takeoff I tried to move from 2F to 1F so that I wouldn't have to disturb my seatmate if I had to get up, and the FA told me (nicely) to get back in my seat.
Jul 11, 2015, 7:06 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Don't know how relevant it is, but I was flying LAS-PHL redeye two days ago (A320) and the entire row 1 was blocked off. There were maybe 8 of the remaining 12 F seats occupied. Pre-takeoff I tried to move from 2F to 1F so that I wouldn't have to disturb my seatmate if I had to get up, and the FA told me (nicely) to get back in my seat.