Blocked Seats on Expert Flyer
Jul 11, 2017, 3:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 193
Blocked Seats on Expert Flyer
I don't really use expert flyer much, but i am planning to go standby (AA Gld status) tomorrow AM on DFW-SFO. On the AA seat map tool , i noticed that there were not many seats (and assuming spots on plane) available.
However my free sub to ExpertFlyer shows that 9 additional seats are blocked. Will those be opened up or should i expect those blocked seats to remain unavailable even when i get to the airport. Just looking for 2 seats.
However my free sub to ExpertFlyer shows that 9 additional seats are blocked. Will those be opened up or should i expect those blocked seats to remain unavailable even when i get to the airport. Just looking for 2 seats.
Jul 11, 2017, 4:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
I don't really use expert flyer much, but i am planning to go standby (AA Gld status) tomorrow AM on DFW-SFO. On the AA seat map tool , i noticed that there were not many seats (and assuming spots on plane) available.
However my free sub to ExpertFlyer shows that 9 additional seats are blocked. Will those be opened up or should i expect those blocked seats to remain unavailable even when i get to the airport. Just looking for 2 seats.
However my free sub to ExpertFlyer shows that 9 additional seats are blocked. Will those be opened up or should i expect those blocked seats to remain unavailable even when i get to the airport. Just looking for 2 seats.
Seat map is a notoriously terrible predictor of availability. There could be a pile of non-elites without a seat assignment and the flight could even be oversold. If you are concerned about standby-- never infer anything from the seat map. Use the real expertflyer availability tool (or if you're cheap, see what comes up when you start a dummy booking with multiple pax).
Jul 11, 2017, 6:43 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
-FlyerBeek
Jul 12, 2017, 7:57 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
If these seats are still blocked when you check-in at the airport, you can always request the check-in agent leave an electronic note for the gate agent. I've had success in the past using this method, as the gate agent will typically receive a message once he/she starts to work the flight and fill those blocked seats. Not always 100% successful (this is one way I've gotten into row 17 on the 763 domestic segments when upgrade odds looked unlikely), but worth a try.
-FlyerBeek
-FlyerBeek
Jul 15, 2017, 8:39 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP (3MM), DL PM, BONVOY TITANIUM, HYATT GLOBALIST, HILTON DIAMOND, IHG DIAMOND AMB, et al
Posts: 5,913
I've had the AC send messages / call the gate to request specific seats on flights where it was certain I would clear. YMMV, but you never know if you don't try.
-FlyerBeek