Last edit by: Prospero
Seat issues are not uncommon between finding, holding, booking and during the interim between booking and flying. There may be various reasons this can happen.
Seat held, changed or gone at booking: One member theorizes a held seat may be taken by a positive purchase by another passenger. But it could be due to another factor listed below.
Disability designated seat: Some seats are assigned preferentially to people with disabilities, and their companions, under the Air Carrier Access Act. Even some non-disability seats may be required for a person with a disability in some conditions.
"American blocks a limited number of seats on each aircraft to accommodate customers who identify themselves as having a qualified disability. Adjacent seats are provided, under certain circumstances, for customers with disabilities who must travel with a companion for assistance."
Flight nearly full: Once a flight has reached certain capacity guidelines, no further seats will be assigned. This leaves airport staff room to deal with the needs of persons with disabilities, no shows, delayed connections, etc.
Boarding pass scan fail: Sometimes a boarding pass scan fails (listen for the "Beep!") and your seat may register as no show, so another, later Passenger or standby gets your seat too.
Equipment change: AA Information Technology's very inefficient at these. You may have selected a Main Cabin Extra as an elite, yet a change from one aircraft subtype with differently numbered seat rows to another and you may find yourself moved from your carefully selected MCE aisle seat to a middle seat in one of the last rows. Aircraft substitutions from one type to another (77W to 772 or v. v.) or even "downgauging" (767 to 757) may occur - this will generally result in unanticipated seat changes.
Equipment malfunction: A seat may not be available on a specific flight because it was reported as malfunctioning and has not been repaired yet.
Crew rest seat: Some seats are contractually required to be set aside for resting crew, on flights of specific lengths.
Federal Air Marshal ("FAM"): FAMs are generally accommodated in the highest class of service in seats that are often popular with passengers. These accommodations may occur at any time, and by law AA must both comply and not reveal to passengers the reason for their seat loss or change. That's correct: AA is prohibited by law from telling you your seat was given to a FAM, so you will only hear implausible and made up reasons of how you lost your seat.
Other: AA might be required to seat a passenger with a small child together, displacing another passenger. There may be other reasons as well.
It is suggested you regularly check your itineraries to deal with route and flight changes (often unannounced) and seat changes (always unannounced).
Link to thread detailing use of Twitter for contact with AA (some have used for seat loss remediation)
Seat assignments Link
- We make every effort to ensure you get your chosen seat, but seat assignments are not guaranteed.
- We reserve the right to change seats for operational, safety or security reasons.
- You must check in at least 30 minutes before departure and be at the gate 15 minutes before departure or you may lose your seat.
Disability designated seat: Some seats are assigned preferentially to people with disabilities, and their companions, under the Air Carrier Access Act. Even some non-disability seats may be required for a person with a disability in some conditions.
"American blocks a limited number of seats on each aircraft to accommodate customers who identify themselves as having a qualified disability. Adjacent seats are provided, under certain circumstances, for customers with disabilities who must travel with a companion for assistance."
Flight nearly full: Once a flight has reached certain capacity guidelines, no further seats will be assigned. This leaves airport staff room to deal with the needs of persons with disabilities, no shows, delayed connections, etc.
Boarding pass scan fail: Sometimes a boarding pass scan fails (listen for the "Beep!") and your seat may register as no show, so another, later Passenger or standby gets your seat too.
Equipment change: AA Information Technology's very inefficient at these. You may have selected a Main Cabin Extra as an elite, yet a change from one aircraft subtype with differently numbered seat rows to another and you may find yourself moved from your carefully selected MCE aisle seat to a middle seat in one of the last rows. Aircraft substitutions from one type to another (77W to 772 or v. v.) or even "downgauging" (767 to 757) may occur - this will generally result in unanticipated seat changes.
Equipment malfunction: A seat may not be available on a specific flight because it was reported as malfunctioning and has not been repaired yet.
Crew rest seat: Some seats are contractually required to be set aside for resting crew, on flights of specific lengths.
Federal Air Marshal ("FAM"): FAMs are generally accommodated in the highest class of service in seats that are often popular with passengers. These accommodations may occur at any time, and by law AA must both comply and not reveal to passengers the reason for their seat loss or change. That's correct: AA is prohibited by law from telling you your seat was given to a FAM, so you will only hear implausible and made up reasons of how you lost your seat.
Passengers seated in the front cabin (or front of the cabin in single cabin and class aircraft) may occasionally find themselves displaced from their seat without any notice or comment, displaced to a less favored seat or even downgraded to the next lowest class of service. Contacting AA may provide answers as to "why" that don't make sense, multiple or non-specific reasons. These will often mean your seat has been requisitioned by a Federal Air Marshal (FAM).
Q. Why won't AA tell me why I lost my seat?
AA is prohibited by law from telling you your seat was requisitioned by a FAM or otherwise revealing there is a FAM on board or where they might be seated. FAMs are supposed to blend in with passengers. At best, you may be told "it's a security issue"; that's usually a confirmation of a FAM seat requisition.
Q. Can I get "unFAMed"?
There is no way to recover your original seat if it has been requisitioned by a FAM; you have no recourse other than to work with the AA system to seek a better available seat, or even reaccommodation on another flight with available and similar seating.
Q. Can I get compensated for losing my seat?
You can request fare differences, compensation and certainly get upgrade instruments reinstated if you were displaced to a lower class of service. You will not be eligible for compensation if your seat was changed within the same class of service (even if you are now separated from travel companions), however, as if you book a specific seat, a specific seat is not guaranteed by American Airlines.
Q. What is a FAM, anyway?
A Federal Air Marshal is a specially trained plain clothes anti-terrorism law enforcement officer of the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), "a United States federal law enforcement agency under the supervision of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS)." (Wikipedia)
Q. What is a FAMs specific job?
"The Air Marshal Service is meant to promote confidence in civil aviation by effectively deploying federal air marshals (FAMs) to detect, deter, and defeat hostile acts targeting the United States." (TSA)
Q. Why won't AA tell me why I lost my seat?
AA is prohibited by law from telling you your seat was requisitioned by a FAM or otherwise revealing there is a FAM on board or where they might be seated. FAMs are supposed to blend in with passengers. At best, you may be told "it's a security issue"; that's usually a confirmation of a FAM seat requisition.
Q. Can I get "unFAMed"?
There is no way to recover your original seat if it has been requisitioned by a FAM; you have no recourse other than to work with the AA system to seek a better available seat, or even reaccommodation on another flight with available and similar seating.
Q. Can I get compensated for losing my seat?
You can request fare differences, compensation and certainly get upgrade instruments reinstated if you were displaced to a lower class of service. You will not be eligible for compensation if your seat was changed within the same class of service (even if you are now separated from travel companions), however, as if you book a specific seat, a specific seat is not guaranteed by American Airlines.
Q. What is a FAM, anyway?
A Federal Air Marshal is a specially trained plain clothes anti-terrorism law enforcement officer of the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), "a United States federal law enforcement agency under the supervision of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS)." (Wikipedia)
Q. What is a FAMs specific job?
"The Air Marshal Service is meant to promote confidence in civil aviation by effectively deploying federal air marshals (FAMs) to detect, deter, and defeat hostile acts targeting the United States." (TSA)
It is suggested you regularly check your itineraries to deal with route and flight changes (often unannounced) and seat changes (always unannounced).
Link to thread detailing use of Twitter for contact with AA (some have used for seat loss remediation)
AA seat assignment loss / change / glitch / problem / FAM (master thread)
#452
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
This is minor but still annoying. I had a reservation for LAX-DEN, seated in an aisle in row 2 (A319 aircraft). This was booked way back in June.
Check-in time came and I noticed that I am now in 1C. Called AA and was told "too bad, we may have needed the seat for a service animal or some other reason." "Seat assignments are never guaranteed." Rather indifferent was the impression I got.
Sat in 1C; didn't see any service animals in row 2 or anything else unusual.
I wrote to AA and received a "sorry" response (very quickly) but no compensation (yes, I asked). Reasons for seat changes: "equipment changes, schedule changes, class of service changes, agent error, broken seats, disability mandates along with TSA security mandates may prevent us from achieving our objective 100% of the time." Besides TSA I can see none of these applying.
Is AA always so non-chalant about such matters? Just venting my frustration.
Check-in time came and I noticed that I am now in 1C. Called AA and was told "too bad, we may have needed the seat for a service animal or some other reason." "Seat assignments are never guaranteed." Rather indifferent was the impression I got.
Sat in 1C; didn't see any service animals in row 2 or anything else unusual.
I wrote to AA and received a "sorry" response (very quickly) but no compensation (yes, I asked). Reasons for seat changes: "equipment changes, schedule changes, class of service changes, agent error, broken seats, disability mandates along with TSA security mandates may prevent us from achieving our objective 100% of the time." Besides TSA I can see none of these applying.
Is AA always so non-chalant about such matters? Just venting my frustration.
And yes, it is true seats are not guaranteed.
#453
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA Executive Club, Aeroplan
Posts: 196
Avios Reward Flight on AA
Hi,
I've just booked an Avios reward flight on AA metal (I'm BA Bronze/OW Ruby) and I've gone to the AA site to select a seat (and keep an eye on MCE seats to grab 24 hrs out) and the AA system is saying 'We’re unable to assign seats for everyone. Please check back or we’ll assign seats at the airport.'
Is this a temporary glitch, or a problem?
My other half will be on the same flight and is AA Platinum, so if I can't select a seat, can AA customer services 'link' our bookings and get us MCE seats together?
Thanks!!
I've just booked an Avios reward flight on AA metal (I'm BA Bronze/OW Ruby) and I've gone to the AA site to select a seat (and keep an eye on MCE seats to grab 24 hrs out) and the AA system is saying 'We’re unable to assign seats for everyone. Please check back or we’ll assign seats at the airport.'
Is this a temporary glitch, or a problem?
My other half will be on the same flight and is AA Platinum, so if I can't select a seat, can AA customer services 'link' our bookings and get us MCE seats together?
Thanks!!
#454
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: AA
Posts: 2
I have a worse situation
I booked two First class seats from LAX to LHR in July and used full miles for both and ticketed them
I am EP
On Nov 21st they changed one of our seats to a Bulkhead which we didn't like or want
we were told the Seat was Broken but we found out that a CK person wanted 3 seats in row so they bumped us
To make it worse the guy who got us bumped bragged to his buddies
They have since told me they have the right to switch people from their seat for this reason
They have lost all good will from me
I won't stop flying AA as I have too much status and too many miles but I will fly other Airlines as I fly over 200k per year
I am EP
On Nov 21st they changed one of our seats to a Bulkhead which we didn't like or want
we were told the Seat was Broken but we found out that a CK person wanted 3 seats in row so they bumped us
To make it worse the guy who got us bumped bragged to his buddies
They have since told me they have the right to switch people from their seat for this reason
They have lost all good will from me
I won't stop flying AA as I have too much status and too many miles but I will fly other Airlines as I fly over 200k per year
Last edited by Canadiangonebad102; Dec 10, 2017 at 3:43 pm Reason: Spelling
#455
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: AA Plat (Lifetime Gold), Hilton Honors Plata, Avis PFD
Posts: 190
So having trouble with AA seat map - it's not showing any other seats. Booked in Jan LAX-OGG-LAX, with two pax in aisle and window in MCE. Issue started about 1 month ago, where the mobile app stopped showing other seats. Then AA.com had the same issue. The map pulls up, but shows every other seat as unavailable.
If I go to purchase the same flight, and look at view seats, it pulls up the seat map showing the available seats. Any idea why the issue?
If I go to purchase the same flight, and look at view seats, it pulls up the seat map showing the available seats. Any idea why the issue?
#456
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 179
So having trouble with AA seat map - it's not showing any other seats. Booked in Jan LAX-OGG-LAX, with two pax in aisle and window in MCE. Issue started about 1 month ago, where the mobile app stopped showing other seats. Then AA.com had the same issue. The map pulls up, but shows every other seat as unavailable.
If I go to purchase the same flight, and look at view seats, it pulls up the seat map showing the available seats. Any idea why the issue?
If I go to purchase the same flight, and look at view seats, it pulls up the seat map showing the available seats. Any idea why the issue?
#457
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,990
So having trouble with AA seat map - it's not showing any other seats. Booked in Jan LAX-OGG-LAX, with two pax in aisle and window in MCE. Issue started about 1 month ago, where the mobile app stopped showing other seats. Then AA.com had the same issue. The map pulls up, but shows every other seat as unavailable.
If I go to purchase the same flight, and look at view seats, it pulls up the seat map showing the available seats. Any idea why the issue?
If I go to purchase the same flight, and look at view seats, it pulls up the seat map showing the available seats. Any idea why the issue?
#458
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 34
I discovered that AA has altered my aircraft configuration. We are booked on AA57 LHR MIA and the designation has been altered from 77W to 772. I can’t say that I am overly happy about this but I’ll have to live with it. The interesting bit for me was they transferred my seat assignments across to the new aircraft.
The AA seat map for the 77W shows A / D G / J
The AA seat map for the 772 shows A / D H / L
Going into our booking on AA we were still shown as 6 D G which, with the aircraft change was a non-starter as there is only one seat on row 6 - and that is 6L? That would have been an interesting conversation at check in time …. I changed them to 2D 2H !
AA refuse to comment on the seat mismatch and in fact they ignore the question and deflect the issue by saying aircraft designations are liable to change?
Prats?
The AA seat map for the 77W shows A / D G / J
The AA seat map for the 772 shows A / D H / L
Going into our booking on AA we were still shown as 6 D G which, with the aircraft change was a non-starter as there is only one seat on row 6 - and that is 6L? That would have been an interesting conversation at check in time …. I changed them to 2D 2H !
AA refuse to comment on the seat mismatch and in fact they ignore the question and deflect the issue by saying aircraft designations are liable to change?
Prats?
#459
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: AA
Posts: 2
I am not sure what your Status with AA is but I am exec platinum and I was in First Class in 1J and 2J
They moved my Girlfriend to 1 G which is a Bulkhead which she doesn't like and the reason they said was the seat was Broken
It wasn't broken but they wanted to accommodate a concierge key person traveling with his two buddies
We had those seats for 5 Months
AA said they can do it
They have all the power and don't care
We have to keep on calling them out on these things
They moved my Girlfriend to 1 G which is a Bulkhead which she doesn't like and the reason they said was the seat was Broken
It wasn't broken but they wanted to accommodate a concierge key person traveling with his two buddies
We had those seats for 5 Months
AA said they can do it
They have all the power and don't care
We have to keep on calling them out on these things
#460
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP; Avis PC; Hertz PC; Marriott LT Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,133
I am not sure what your Status with AA is but I am exec platinum and I was in First Class in 1J and 2J
They moved my Girlfriend to 1 G which is a Bulkhead which she doesn't like and the reason they said was the seat was Broken
It wasn't broken but they wanted to accommodate a concierge key person traveling with his two buddies
We had those seats for 5 Months
AA said they can do it
They have all the power and don't care
We have to keep on calling them out on these things
They moved my Girlfriend to 1 G which is a Bulkhead which she doesn't like and the reason they said was the seat was Broken
It wasn't broken but they wanted to accommodate a concierge key person traveling with his two buddies
We had those seats for 5 Months
AA said they can do it
They have all the power and don't care
We have to keep on calling them out on these things
#461
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 104
I just booked a trip on BA with AA internal and return flight, when I select a seat on AA for all the non BA legs i get " We’re unable to assign seats for everyone. Please check back or we’ll assign seats at the airport."
Anyone know what this means? Flights are way out and not full.
thanks
Anyone know what this means? Flights are way out and not full.
thanks
#462
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 161
So having trouble with AA seat map - it's not showing any other seats. Booked in Jan LAX-OGG-LAX, with two pax in aisle and window in MCE. Issue started about 1 month ago, where the mobile app stopped showing other seats. Then AA.com had the same issue. The map pulls up, but shows every other seat as unavailable.
If I go to purchase the same flight, and look at view seats, it pulls up the seat map showing the available seats. Any idea why the issue?
If I go to purchase the same flight, and look at view seats, it pulls up the seat map showing the available seats. Any idea why the issue?
I don't think there was an equipment change, but there was a 15 minute schedule change on one of the flights, so maybe that triggered the problem?
For the other people posting that were unable to choose seats, I'm wondering if it is a similar issue? Mine is also a BA ticket.
On the upside, when 2 weeks before the flight I saw all of the seats saying occupied, even the preferred and MCE, I was worried that the flight must be terribly oversold, so at least that isn't looking quite that bad!
#463
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
I just booked a trip on BA with AA internal and return flight, when I select a seat on AA for all the non BA legs i get " We’re unable to assign seats for everyone. Please check back or we’ll assign seats at the airport."
Anyone know what this means? Flights are way out and not full.
thanks
Anyone know what this means? Flights are way out and not full.
thanks
#464
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,672
I'm having the same problem, ...
I don't think there was an equipment change, but there was a 15 minute schedule change on one of the flights, so maybe that triggered the problem?
For the other people posting that were unable to choose seats, I'm wondering if it is a similar issue? Mine is also a BA ticket.
I don't think there was an equipment change, but there was a 15 minute schedule change on one of the flights, so maybe that triggered the problem?
For the other people posting that were unable to choose seats, I'm wondering if it is a similar issue? Mine is also a BA ticket.
#465
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,301
Awhat seats are most likely to be used by FAMs? Say in 321t two class, 321 3 Class, 772 )2 class), 77w (3 Class)? does it make sense to avoid these seats?