Seat blocking for Covid / Coronavirus (consolidated thread)
May 14, 2020, 1:13 pm
#91
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,226
Row 1 is showing as blocked on both flights so couldn't get two adjacent seats on the LAS - PHX sector but no problem on PHX - LAX. The first flight is an A319 so only one row available, but EF shows C3 J3 R3 D3 I3 and that's reflected on aa.com with "Only 3 seats available" showing if I look to make a booking. So presumably the seats would become available if there are bookings.
Just as an aside booking the same flight number but LAS - PHX instead of LAS - LAX shows First as being available for $233. Ditto for the PHX - LAX segment. Even better value for money
May 14, 2020, 3:16 pm
#92
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: DL PLAT and 2MM;AA EXP;MR GOLD;PC Gold
Posts: 542
I've thought the same thing!
Not to take this too far off topic, but this discussion and the general concept of in-flight distancing makes me wonder why AA elected to retire the 767s and mothball the 330s at this time. I'd think that any aircraft with two aisles in coach and aisle-access pods in J/F would be a hot commodity. Especially up front where dividers could easily be used to compartmentalize each passenger. Yes, they're expensive to operate (well, at least when oil isn't nearly free), but I would think that this would be outweighed by the possible increase in loads, such as being able to be full up front.
May 14, 2020, 4:07 pm
#93
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Location: San Antonio
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Row 1 (or row 3 depending on plane) must be offered to those with qualifying disabilities. Curious if there's been any issues.
May 14, 2020, 4:23 pm
#94
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA and UK
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Silver, Alitalia Freccia Alata
Posts: 1,351
Let me clarify what the official policy is:
The first row of First should be blocked until it is needed to accommodate booked passengers. This is to give space between FAs and the first row of passengers, not to social distance within the First cabin. UPGs are cleared in the normal way, and the cabin can be sent out full.
Staff/non-Rev are not allowed to sit in Short-haul First/Business unless they are on company business or deadheading (a lot of that going on).
There is a maximum cap for flights, but this is for the entire aircraft (I.e. no specific cabin caps).
So in practise, there are only firm seat blocks for social distancing purposes in coach and the first row should remain blocked unless it is needed to accommodate booked passengers, upgrades and staff business travel.
The first row of First should be blocked until it is needed to accommodate booked passengers. This is to give space between FAs and the first row of passengers, not to social distance within the First cabin. UPGs are cleared in the normal way, and the cabin can be sent out full.
Staff/non-Rev are not allowed to sit in Short-haul First/Business unless they are on company business or deadheading (a lot of that going on).
There is a maximum cap for flights, but this is for the entire aircraft (I.e. no specific cabin caps).
So in practise, there are only firm seat blocks for social distancing purposes in coach and the first row should remain blocked unless it is needed to accommodate booked passengers, upgrades and staff business travel.
May 15, 2020, 1:32 am
#95
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Programs: AA Plat, Sixt Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis First, Caesars TR Diamond, Mlife Gold
Posts: 4,928
The question was asked and should be asked again: why is AA not using large wide-body aircraft, for Domestic social distancing?
May 15, 2020, 4:30 am
#96
Suspended
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Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
May 15, 2020, 6:03 am
#97
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,024
If you are that worried, simple solution; don't fly.
Regards
May 15, 2020, 7:36 am
#98
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ORD and RSW
Programs: Former long time AA EXP and CK - 4 MM; Now LTPL; Hilton Diamond; UA Platinum
Posts: 380
Good question. I was in Japan for much of my career and often flew HND/FUK. It is about an hour and 45 minute flight gate to gate from Tokyo to Fukuoka. At the time, many of those planes were 767s and later, a couple of 787s were thrown in at times. JAL made it work. I was told that they determined that it was more effective for them to run 6-7 flights a day on wide bodies vs a dozen flights a day on 737s. I don't know about resurrecting the old 767s, but there are a lot of efficient grounded Dreamliners that could be pressed into service and make social distancing a reality. Makes sense and at least JAL made it work even in normal times. The planes were not full on those JAL flights - I usually took an aisle in the middle section of what they called business on this short haul (kind of like MCE) and don't recall ever having had anyone sitting next to me in the middle seat .
May 15, 2020, 7:39 am
#99
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Just hoping American and its employees don't see another bankruptcy.
May 15, 2020, 7:44 am
#100
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
Good question. I was in Japan for much of my career and often flew HND/FUK. It is about an hour and 45 minute flight gate to gate from Tokyo to Fukuoka. At the time, many of those planes were 767s and later, a couple of 787s were thrown in at times. JAL made it work. I was told that they determined that it was more effective for them to run 6-7 flights a day on wide bodies vs a dozen flights a day on 737s. I don't know about resurrecting the old 767s, but there are a lot of efficient grounded Dreamliners that could be pressed into service and make social distancing a reality. Makes sense and at least JAL made it work even in normal times. The planes were not full on those JAL flights - I usually took an aisle in the middle section of what they called business on this short haul (kind of like MCE) and don't recall ever having had anyone sitting next to me in the middle seat .
May 15, 2020, 9:55 am
#101
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May 15, 2020, 6:57 pm
#102
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Row 3/1 is supposed to be blocked from selection. The 2nd FA sits on the right side, and 1A/3A can be assigned if needed for passengers with disabilities. However the other two seats arent supposed to be assigned. On both my flights today this was the case.
Otherwise it's like UA, pack them in.
Otherwise it's like UA, pack them in.
May 15, 2020, 7:10 pm
#103
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Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
Row 3/1 is supposed to be blocked from selection. The 2nd FA sits on the right side, and 1A/3A can be assigned if needed for passengers with disabilities. However the other two seats arent supposed to be assigned. On both my flights today this was the case.
Otherwise it's like UA, pack them in.
Otherwise it's like UA, pack them in.
May 15, 2020, 7:27 pm
#104
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