Big Discrepancy Between Fare Class Availability and Seat Map on co.com?
 

Trying to book a flight from EWR-SEA next week, and when I'm trying to book the return for Friday, one of the options (my preferred option) is only showing first-class availability, even though there appear to be a number of empty seats in economy (20+ seats). I know the fare class availability and seat map don't always line up, but this seems to be a pretty huge discrepancy.

Has something like this ever happened to anyone else? Is it more likely that the seat map is wrong, or the fare class availability? I'd really like to book that flight, but client won't go for a first-class ticket.

Never rely on the seat maps for anything except for where you can sit.

It is not a very reliable indicator for seats available. One would be surprised at the number of people who book flights, but don't have seats assigned.

..and if it is getting near the departure day they would be willing to sell a last minute seat at a higher fare that would make them money even after comping a bump.

Flew that route twice last month and it was full both times. Lots of folk connecting onward to alaska for the cruises.

Ding ding. Probably a lot of passengers who booked air through the cruise line and don't have seat assignments. (Though whether they're connecting to/from ANC or cruising out of Seattle, it doesn't matter.) I think this typically happens with group travel as well (e.g., class trip), so there is very often a good reason for the seat maps in coach to be quite different from the actual availability.

Thanks all - very helpful and enlightening!

I know colleagues who regularly utilize Expedia for booking flights and I would estimate at least 50% of the time no seat assignments are made.