Preferred Seats
Jul 2, 2007 | 8:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: YYZ
Posts: 632
Preferred Seats
Do preferred seats become available for the public at any time prior to the 24 hour window?
Jul 2, 2007 | 8:57 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MCI
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 749
Elite public yes, non-elite public no! Unless you call with some kind of a medical reason to request a bulkhead etc.
Jul 2, 2007 | 8:57 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: A festering pit; a pustule of a fistula set athwart the miasmic swamps of the armpit of the Gulf of Mexico - a Godforsaken wart upon a dark crevasse of the World. (IAH)
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, BA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 31,403
Jul 2, 2007 | 9:11 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: YYZ
Posts: 632
thanks for the responses... i'm booked for August right now, got seats but they're pretty much in the back of the plane and there are a bunch of empty "preferred" seats, so i'll try and move up at the 24 hour window.
Can you reprint boarding passes at the kiosk? I won't have access to a printer at that time as i'll be in BUF..
Can you reprint boarding passes at the kiosk? I won't have access to a printer at that time as i'll be in BUF..
Jul 2, 2007 | 9:13 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: IAH/HOU
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Premier Plat, UA Plat
Posts: 248
if you happen to be travelling with someone who is elite, have them call and get you moved up (even if you are on a different PNR) - have done/seen this numerous times with no problems
Jul 2, 2007 | 9:14 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: PVD
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,312
You can print/reprint BPs at a kiosk, or you can have the BP faxed to you. [It will even fax to international numbers!]
Jul 2, 2007 | 11:12 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston
Programs: CO Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle, HHonors Gold
Posts: 55
I was able to call the Plat line and get seats for my wife and baby daughter in the blue section for a flight in late August (all of the other seats were taken) for a flight I purchased while I was logged in, but the Plat line would not help me with my wife's friend who is traveling with them and who has to wait until OLCI to get a seat.
Sad thing is this friend was a multi-year plat who lost status last year due to taking a consulting gig in town, and got no love at all from Continental.
Sad thing is this friend was a multi-year plat who lost status last year due to taking a consulting gig in town, and got no love at all from Continental.
Jul 3, 2007 | 2:24 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: UA 1K Million Miler, Marriott Ambassador (lifetime Platinum), Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 370
Some of these posts bother me somewhat--I completely understand that as a Platinum (or other elite) you should be able to get your travel companions moved to the Elite section of the plane; however this should only work if you're on the plane with them! I know at times I've tried to move my wife (non-elite) when I am not with her and they do not let me and frankly, I agree with this. It doesn't seem fair to the other elites that are actually on the plane. I do fully agree with being able to move your companions when you're flying though.
Anyone know the actual rules/policy on this? I know unfortunately I've seen it work both ways.
Anyone know the actual rules/policy on this? I know unfortunately I've seen it work both ways.
Jul 4, 2007 | 5:20 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 179
actually 24 hours out all seats are avail to all pax. Also if you are purchasing a full fare ticket you can select pref. seating. at anytime. The best time to do this is at check in when it asks you to review your flight details. Keep in mind once you are checked in only you can change your seat online or you will need to wait to get to the airport. You can print out BP however many times you would like theoretically.
A non elite should only be give an elite seat in the situations I listed above or in situations where they are traveling with an elite. Just because you know or are related to an elite does not suddenly give you elite benefits.
A non elite should only be give an elite seat in the situations I listed above or in situations where they are traveling with an elite. Just because you know or are related to an elite does not suddenly give you elite benefits.
Jul 4, 2007 | 8:58 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: CO non-elite, Marriott Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,621
Jul 4, 2007 | 9:36 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 16
Ive been somewhat curious about this preferred seating thing too. This may be a stupid question, but if all other seats are sold on a flight, leaving only the preferred ones, do pax who book at that time get first dibs on them, as that's all that's left?
Jul 4, 2007 | 11:31 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: PVD
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,312
You're talking about before OLCI, right? In that case, a non-Elite will simply not get a seat assignment, and is told he/she will get it at check-in (online or otherwise).
Jul 6, 2007 | 2:01 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 179
unless that passenger is buying a full fare, then they can. It allows CO to leave seats open for full fare passengers and elite passengers