Please come back and post how it goes.

Most GA's will try and fix you up. I'm just not sure they are obligated to-especially in hurried and stressed situations; or they if can't they have no slack to re-seat easily--like a fully sold airplane. Or both at once.

Or, as I once experienced, a very angry woman boarded with husband and child as the last three people on the plane. The GA had told her there were only three seats in three different but close rows. But she went off demanding everybody or anybody move so they could have three together anyway. But the nearby rows were all occupied by pairs of travelers needing to be together--each pair included a medically-impaired person in need of a companion to escort them.

What is the seat assignment policy for tickets booked in BE for 2 adults? Do we get to sit together or are we made to sit in different sections based on seat availability?

Should I checkin? Only 2 seats together are MCE. See the header. Will I get row 7???


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d2f01a801d.jpg

Matches my experience x3 times

I'll update when I have more news. It's been over 24 hours since purchase, actual ticketing occurred a few hours after that. So, if by tomorrow morning I don't see any seat assignments in our record, I'll definitely have more questions. At least this has been exciting....

You may or may not be seated together. I am running at exactly 50% for seats together right now.

I checked in at t-8 hours. There were 14 middles, and 1 window next to a middle available. The window was 17A. All the middles were 17 or lower numbered row.

I decided to go for it and we did get seated together (17 A & B), instead of 2 middles.

Thank you BE fare. The only thing lost out in the end for this AA-Gold was....really nothing.

Update: at t-4 hours. I would have ended up with 2 middle exit row MCE seats. Only 4 seats left on the map.

Happy to report good news on my end as well. While it took close to 48 hours after purchase, we have been assigned seats together. I was starting to worry!

I know this goes counter to AA's wishes, but this concession to families really makes BE a deal. Don't get me wrong, I'll still spend 50k miles in the air with them on standard high-cost coach fares in 2020!

Thanks again all,
Leighjohnwi

Now whether or not you actually WANT to sit next to your kids is another story entirely :D I've personally threatened mine with riding in the cargo hold on at least 2 occasions, but now she knows better!

Glad it's all sorted out.

I budget for not purchasing Basic Economy as if I have to pay for an assigned seat I would much rather use the AA Credit Card and get my bag checked free and then purchase a better seat than having to take a gamble with the Basic Economy seat assignment. One thing preventing me from purchasing Basic Economy is to be in the dreaded middle seat with a Customer of Size.

Another issue is if I sit towards the front on a connecting flight it will be easier to make that tight connection. I see Basic Economy fine on a SJC-LAX -SJC flight on a CRJ with a 2-2 and using the Credit Card checked luggage benefit and Priority Boarding. I would discount it at all costs and pay the extra $$$ to get an assigned seat.

BTW do the Basic Economy Passengers seated in MCE get a free drink? If so then it would be worth the gamble.

Yes! I'm 50/50 on getting an MCE seat assignment in BE if I wait till t-46 to check in. I enjoy my free drink. Sometimes they even give me a double without request. Without status, all main cabin provides is a window or aisle seat in the back of the plane. With better seats for sale for less than the $70+ upfare for main cabin, I dont know why anyone without status would book a main cabin fare. Roll the dice, and if you don't like it, buy a better seat.

I've always wondered what life would be like if I just shrugged and said "Well, the airline seated me away from my 3-year old, he's now someone else's problem!" Honestly he would be thrilled and wreak his havoc on the poor unsuspecting soul next to him. But, at least from my experience, there's something about air travel that makes my boys behavior improve 10-fold. If only I could have them maintain that...

Last time I had a problem like this (flight got delayed and we were put on a different routing) they upgraded them both (my girls) to First Class and I was asked to sit in between 2 college going kids in the middle seat. My kids would be very pleased with that setting yet again. Well lucky they are teenagers and don't need my constant supervision.

AA Basic economy - check in strategy
 

Hi all,

I have searched but I can’t find any discussion about a good check in strategy for an AA transatlantic flight in basic economy.

I am flying Heathrow - Charlotte - Orlando this weekend on a basic economy ticket.

Are there any thoughts about when to check in for the ‘best’ seat allocation on a transatlantic flight?

many thanks, Chris

Just to add - there are 2 of us flying with hand luggage only