Unable to select 1K on 747 at T-72
Apr 13, 2019, 3:04 pm
#1
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Unable to select 1K on 747 at T-72
Got my first F in a 747 coming up in 3 days and Expert Flyer duly alerted me just before T-72 that 1K had now been released to non-golds. However, BA.com and app are still showing it as blocked whilst EF continues to show it available. All other seat selections are in agreement between two sites. Is this unusual, and is it just a case of checking back frequently?
Apr 14, 2019, 1:38 am
#3
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When I called yesterday immediately after the EF alert and before T-72, YouFirst were still seeing it as blocked. All sorted very quickly this morning though via YouFirst. Not sure if the >T-72 aspect was significant or just the usual agent peculiarities!
Apr 14, 2019, 2:53 am
#4
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Apr 14, 2019, 3:26 am
#5
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Interestingly, I noticed that row 1 for same flight for the following day was open even at >T-96.
Apr 14, 2019, 3:40 am
#6
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What does happen at T-72 (fairly precisely) is that the reservation goes from Amadeus Seating to FLY, at that point the various blocked seats such as bassinets and First row 1s may become available with agent intervention, but it won't be before then in normal circumstances. However it sometimes take T-48 before an agent can get a seat allocated, and they may need assistance from those looking after seating in Flight Management. After T-24, when OLCI opens, normally agents can't do anything more due to the aircraft falling under Airport Control. So the best window is 48 to 26 hours before departure. It is also the case that with the best will in the world an agent can't unblock a seat for some reason, even to a Prem.
Apr 14, 2019, 3:47 am
#7
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No, not necessarily, there are 3 systems involved here (Amadeus Seating/FLY-JFE which is an overlayer/Expertflyer), and though they talk to each other it doesn't mean that at agent can be sure to get a seat. Seats can be blocked for dozens of reasons and you can't rely on EF to have full visibility on that. EF homes in on Amadeus Seating.
What does happen at T-72 (fairly precisely) is that the reservation goes from Amadeus Seating to FLY, at that point the various blocked seats such as bassinets and First row 1s may become available with agent intervention, but it won't be before then in normal circumstances. However it sometimes take T-48 before an agent can get a seat allocated, and they may need assistance from those looking after seating in Flight Management. After T-24, when OLCI opens, normally agents can't do anything more due to the aircraft falling under Airport Control. So the best window is 48 to 26 hours before departure. It is also the case that with the best will in the world an agent can't unblock a seat for some reason, even to a Prem.
What does happen at T-72 (fairly precisely) is that the reservation goes from Amadeus Seating to FLY, at that point the various blocked seats such as bassinets and First row 1s may become available with agent intervention, but it won't be before then in normal circumstances. However it sometimes take T-48 before an agent can get a seat allocated, and they may need assistance from those looking after seating in Flight Management. After T-24, when OLCI opens, normally agents can't do anything more due to the aircraft falling under Airport Control. So the best window is 48 to 26 hours before departure. It is also the case that with the best will in the world an agent can't unblock a seat for some reason, even to a Prem.
