Getting exit row seating?
 

Is there a trick to getting the exit row seats? We are one pass members but don't fly enough to be elite or anything. We're traveling from Newark to Honolulu next June and would love exit row.

Thanks for your advice.

Anne

Use OLCI 23 hours 59 mins to your flight and exit rows should be open, but just hope they haven't previously been snapped by Plats. Unfortunately you have to wait till June!

if all else fails try and be the at the airport as soon as check in for that flight
starts and ask as you check in.

Well, there are plenty of OnePass members that do fly enough to be elite, and there's a good chance some of them might be on that flight as well. Wouldn't you think it's fair to say that they should have priority access to those seats over yourself? I'm not trying to be rude, just realistic.

But at the end of the day, the advice you received here is correct -- you can try at the 24-hour mark for on-line check-in, or get to the airport early. But don't get your hopes up.

The "cover story" is that an agent needs to physically see you, to determine that you can appropriately be seated in an exit row. The unstated truth (I know no CO web page that describes this policy) is that exit row seating is reserved for Platinums. It's the batter's box for last-minute upgrades to first. As such, it usefully frees up for non-plats at exactly 24 hours, or roughly 3 hours, or shortly before the gate is closed.

That said, as I worked through silver and gold in 2004 (as a JetBlue expat) I managed to sit exit row on every flight that didn't upgrade. No point in spelling out all the ways I did this; the system and how to beat it was constantly in flux. Only an active flyer like myself could keep on top of the changes to keep the run going, and that too strikes me as fair.

Go to the airport weeks before the flight, or e-mail me.
 

Call CO and ask if the exit rows are available. They might be gone already. If not, I've heard (never tried this myself) you can go to the counter and get exit row seating.

If you were an elite, CO's new policy is that ANY elite can get exit row seating over the phone. An elite MIGHT be able to call with your reservation code and try to get exit row seating for you. If you'd like to try this, e-mail me with your reservation code.

On Co.com, Platinums have been able to pick exit rows for 1-2 years now (forgot when it started).

CO keeps changing it's exit row policies.

You can't change your seat online w/i 30 hours of check in. You can call though.

Yes you can change your seat when checking in online up to an hour before a flight - at least that has been my experience?