Global321

In theory, the warning only comes up when the computer sees something wrong. No person traveling with kids can choose the exit row... even if the kids sit elsewhere.

Your seats can change at any time. But, after checking in, it seems to go way down. Also, with no status, not checked in, you are most vulnerable to a seat change. However, it is relatively rare, as is the ability to not check-in online (if you are normally eligible.

Brooke.E

No, they do not remove you from your chosen seats if you do not check in at 24 hours.

As others have mentioned, these seat changes happen most frequently with an aircraft change. A lot of people won't realize there has been an aircraft change because it is often still the same aircraft type and just a different version and/or seat map.

Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing you can do to prevent this from happening. The best you can do is to check your reservations regularly so that you catch a change as early as possible and thus have a better chance of getting the seating fixed to your liking. Even if you catch it early you could still find yourself at the mercy of the gate agent and that agent may or may not be able to help. I know this is frustrating but it is, for now, the way it is.

Please try not to stress over this! Chances are that your seat assignments will stick and be fine. If something does happen the vast majority of gate agents will try to help when young children are involved and if they are given sufficient time to work on the seats (meaning you don't wait until just minutes before boarding).



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TravelLawyer

This part bothers me the most about AA. Obviously a passenger would have to utilize all sorts of resources to accomplish this task; whereas, AA just needs to put in an alert to the passenger via email, text or whatever other method they choose to be contacted that their seat assignment has changed. It doesn't even have to tell them to what other seats. Just that it changed, so they can go in and look. But nope, the technology isn't sophisticated enough to do that. :yikes:

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

Well technology is there but some airlines aren't going to invest, particularly the ULCCs for which Parker sees Y-. AA on occasion might move paxs around outside of a/c equipment switches but it's usually a small move, like being moved from 21A to 22A. A/c switches means reseating gets thrown into AA's software, not the best. However, seats are never guaranteed and DOT isn't going to take that up. By no means is this AA specific, plenty of stories about UA, DL, Frontier, Spirit. The only airline that seems to want to be family friendly (other than those paying actually paying for premium and Y+ seats) is WN.

The bottom line is that the airline business is about fees (and credit cards) not flying. What you think is a free seat selection with Main Cabin isn't guaranteed. The most assured way is for a family to remain together is to pay for the first couple of rows in MCE, and yes for a family of 4 that won't be cheap.

Jenn0625

Thank you. Not really stressing just frustrating if anything. We left AA for WN years ago (when they started flying non stop from DAL to MCO) and just this year decided to switch back to AA from WN to give them another try. One of reasons was being able to pick your seat ahead of time as we hate messing with that with WN lol. I am curious if OP confirmed that the reason for the "glitch" or why they got bumped was due to an equipment change? We are flying the old version of the 321A (as of now) in rows 5 and 6. In this layout, other than row 5, all MCE seats are exit rows as this older plane does not technically have a true "MCE". The other version of this plane does not have rows 5-7 at all. Would it be better for me to switch us to another row further back now just in case they do switch to the other version? All 4 tickets are booked under the same reservation and was a "cash reservation". My husband and I are both citi platinum select card holders (not that makes us special lol) and my husband currently has the "Plat Pro" status due to the promo thing from a few months ago. Unfortunately his temporary status will expire on 5/15 and will not be in effect for this flight on 6/1, so probably won't help us in the least status wise either. Just trying to be proactive.

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

I assume you're on a LUS321. No I wouldn't switch per se. Even taking seats in the back might not save you in the case of an equipment switch, which is doubtful. Most of the switches were 738s being subbed for the Max flights, LGA/MIA what was a Max route. I suspect that you would probably remain in those seats even if there was switch to a LAA 321.

Redeemed

Was really looking forward to getting to check out the PE seats on the ORD-FCO flight this weekend which I was able to reserve as MCE with paying the appropriate fee about a month ago. I believe AA hadn't officially sold them as PE yet as the completion date of the aircraft updating was uncertain. Seat assignments still showed in row 7 yesterday. Today I saw we had been relocated to non MCE seats. I called to inquire about the move and especially about losing the MCE seats which we had paid for. I was put on hold while the "seats department" was contacted. I was then told that we had to be moved due to a "medical accommodation". We were reassigned into MCE seats- just not in the PE mini-cabin. So an MCE specific seat selection is not a sure thing- which doesn't make sense since there is variable pricing even amongst MCE seats. I wonder how AA determines who to bump from their seats?

Antarius

I'm surprised by how many issues people have about equipment changes wrecking seating. In ~ 500 flights in the last several years, it has happened once or twice.

Given that AAs upgrade and seat assignment system is daft, theres no way it seemingly can handle elite status.

is it because of where I sit? Or that I'm usually solo? Or am I somehow lucky? Curious.

AA100k

AnaGirl

I agree. I booked almost 10 months out in PE fare to Hawaii for this July. I was well aware that the PHL to DFW flight didn't have PE, but I was assured that I was entitled to MCE on those flights. 3 equipment changes later--none of which I was notified--and we lost bulkhead on both flights. On one flight the aircraft was changed back to the ORIGINAL aircraft yet they won't give us our seats back, nor can they even get us in MCE because the only rows left are exits and we have 2 kids.

AA claims that there is nothing they can do about it--well, yes it can. AA could invest in better technology or manually make better seat assignments when it changes aircraft. AA could invest in technology that would have notified me immediately so I could try to move into the bulkhead before people booking months after me booked it. AA could fix its app so that it knows the fare I am on and doesn't charge me if I try to move the seats that I am randomly assigned; instead I have to call and wait on hold for alleged customer "service" reps that then need manager approval to move me. It's 2019; we put men on the moon on 50 years ago. No excuse for this. AA simply doesn't care about its customers enough to do any of these things.

Heck, even without the technology fixes AA could easily move the other passengers by explaining that they screwed up and need to accommodate a PE fare passenger who booked over 9 months before you did. Haven't even flown yet, but I'm dreading this trip with AA. Never again.

Redhead

Every time I've been on the subway with a young kid or pregnant, it's been a, a man over 65, young man of color or a woman who offers their seat. Young white men have never offered us a seat.

mvoight

Which PE seats were you booked in?

scottsam66

Sorry, but I disagree. You site a distinction without a difference. If someone went online and booked 6 seats that were together, then, yes, they bought 6 seats together. They paid for the seats!

chitink

You should come to Chicago! I see it every day on the Trains/Bus here.

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

Sorry AA doesn't see it that way. AA sees it as you "reserved" 6 seats together-you didn't pay for six seat together. That is the reality today of airlines monetizing the a/c.