Choosing seats on KE
Sep 30, 2018, 8:56 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DTW
Programs: AMEX, Ritz LT-Plat Prem, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Delta Plat, United Gold, Sixt Plat
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Oct 23, 2018, 1:17 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DTW
Programs: AMEX, Ritz LT-Plat Prem, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Delta Plat, United Gold, Sixt Plat
Posts: 866
Oct 23, 2018, 4:10 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 233
Related question: One of the skyteam benefits listed on the Delta website for KE is "Preferred Seats". Considering most of the economy section is unavailable to be preselected. What does preferred seats mean? Will I get a "preferred seat" at check in or is this another benefit listed that doesn't exist in reality?
Oct 23, 2018, 4:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
Related question: One of the skyteam benefits listed on the Delta website for KE is "Preferred Seats". Considering most of the economy section is unavailable to be preselected. What does preferred seats mean? Will I get a "preferred seat" at check in or is this another benefit listed that doesn't exist in reality?
Oct 24, 2018, 4:46 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DTW
Programs: AMEX, Ritz LT-Plat Prem, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Delta Plat, United Gold, Sixt Plat
Posts: 866
I just called it depends on the booking class and seats can be selected 24 hours prior or at the gate. My ticket is coded DL.
Oct 24, 2018, 4:56 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K MM, Subway Club Member
Posts: 1,988
IME — Pre-departure seat assignments are hit and miss on KE. It seems most KE passengers check-in a few hours prior to their flight and KE staff have no problem reassigning folks at random. I’d say at least 1 in every 2 of my flights have seat changes prior to departure.
Generally I’d suggest you set your expectations for KE technology at about 1995 to prevent disappointment. There are still many KE stations that don’t have any self check-in kiosks (I’m looking at you GUM) despite dispatching multiple widebody flights a day.
Generally I’d suggest you set your expectations for KE technology at about 1995 to prevent disappointment. There are still many KE stations that don’t have any self check-in kiosks (I’m looking at you GUM) despite dispatching multiple widebody flights a day.
Dec 21, 2018, 8:59 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Delta Platinum & 2MM, Marriott Lifetime TIT, Hertz Pres Club, IHG Gold, *A Gold
Posts: 1,253
I recently flew KE in business class and was able to select and change my seat weeks prior to the flight on the Concur website that I booked through.
Dec 21, 2018, 12:27 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,668
I flew SFO-ICN-HKG return on KE last month, and had no problems getting the seats I wanted in the main cabin by using the online chat feature on their website. I had attached my Skymiles number to my itinerary (which was booked directly with KE on KE metal and KE flight numbers) and they were able to confirm STE+ status, so they gave me seats on the third or so row of the main cabin (row 30 on a 777 on most flights, one was row 31).
Also, STE+ status gave me access to the Prestige lounge at ICN, which was quite nice, and the showers were available without wait in both directions. Note that there are two Prestige lounges, "East" and "West". We visited the east one early in the morning (it's the only one open at that time, around 06:00) on the outbound flights, and it was great. The west one was visited on the return, in the evening, and it was busy but not overcrowded.
Also, STE+ status gave me access to the Prestige lounge at ICN, which was quite nice, and the showers were available without wait in both directions. Note that there are two Prestige lounges, "East" and "West". We visited the east one early in the morning (it's the only one open at that time, around 06:00) on the outbound flights, and it was great. The west one was visited on the return, in the evening, and it was busy but not overcrowded.
Dec 21, 2018, 5:15 pm
#12
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,929
I flew SFO-ICN-HKG return on KE last month, and had no problems getting the seats I wanted in the main cabin by using the online chat feature on their website. I had attached my Skymiles number to my itinerary (which was booked directly with KE on KE metal and KE flight numbers) and they were able to confirm STE+ status, so they gave me seats on the third or so row of the main cabin (row 30 on a 777 on most flights, one was row 31).
Dec 22, 2018, 8:46 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
1. regional or long haul
2. coach or business
3. KE-coded or DL-coded
4. KE-ticketed or DL-ticketed
5. Fare buckets that are eligible vs. those that are ineligible.
Dec 22, 2018, 1:34 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,668