bubbashow

I am on an EXTREMELY full flight tonight on everybody's favorite flying sea of seats. F was gone at booking, as was Comfort Plus. I am #1 for C+, but have an aisle seat in the bowels of Y. There are 2 y+ seats showing available, and I need to determine what seats those are (if possible). Seating chart shows full, so I am assuming these are the typically held seats for agent use for bassinets. This will determine whether I stay on the list or ask to be removed.

3Cforme

There are probably bulkhead aisle (held for persons with certain disabilities who shall be accommodated at the gate) and adjacent seats (for their companions) held for gate assignment.

xliioper

10BC in C+ (and 14DE in MC).

bubbashow

Thank you much!

ethernal

A word of advice: if you're able to get to the gate early (gate agents usually get there at T-65 minutes before departure but I would aim to be standing and waiting at the podium at T-70 at the latest) and "claim" those seats I would recommend you do so (especially 10C).

I'm #1 on the C+ upgrade list a lot on 739s, but my upgrade success rate into 10C is probably only about 10% when I'm #1 on the C+ list on a 739 (which means I end up stuck back in Y) despite the intuition that the upgrade should clear most of the time. I have a pretty good sample size too (at least 20-30 instances in the past year) so this is not a fluke or anything.

While obviously there are occasionally pax with disabilities, the majority of the time this is not the case. Gate agents seem very amenable to either:
1) People already in C+ asking to be moved to an aisle (when they have a middle seat)
2) Cranky non-statused pax trying to sit next to someone when they are split (or any variation of the "but I need an aisle!" spiel)

The end result is that often times there are no window/aisle C+ seats left by the time C+ upgrades clear - meaning I stay at #1 and no one clears (even if I select all seats, gate agents generally don't clear people into C+ middle seats unless you specifically ask).

I spend a lot of time in 36C on 739s... good luck!

bubbashow

It's 17C for me tonight, and I already feel like I need an ativan. I HATE the 739, and will actively book away from it. Ticket was bought by a friend.

The Situation

Generally speaking a middle over an aisle in not a good upgrade, but if 10C is taken and all that is left is 10B, the amount of legroom provided in that seat more than makes up for being in the middle.

ethernal

I agree with this - if I can get to the gate early enough before a gate agent clears standbys into it, I'll ask for 10B over an aisle in the back of the plane. In general, on a 739, I'm willing to take 10B, 19B, or 19E if the alternative is a regular economy window/aisle seat. Unfortunately I tend to get to the gate too late to get 10B, and 19B/E are rarely available (I usually have to call to get 36C unblocked as all aisle/windows are already gone - so all else equal people will take 19B/E middle seats when no aisle/window seats are available).

ethernal

Good luck! If you get to the gate early enough there is a decent chance you can snag 10C. If you got 17C it sounds like the plane isn't that full - that's premium up-front aisle space right there - so more likely for the upgrade to clear.

griffy208

You'll figure it out, I'm sure. ;-)

bubbashow

You can ask them to clear you early? I know this sounds weird coming from someone that flies so much, but I RARELY talk to the gate agents.

ethernal

Technically I think no, but if you make it clear you want the seat and will hold them accountable to the upgrade list they are less likely to give it away.

Unlike F seats, there is very little audit/rigor on C+ upgrades so gate agents feel empowered to disregard the rules on them if no one is watching.

gooselee

Ugh, I'm on a 739 ATL-SFO in a few days. Flight completely sold out. I had an aisle in the back and was finally able to grab 19C (which seems like the exit row with plenty of legroom).

DL app shows 3 C+ seats available but I'm assuming they're sold but unassigned.

It'll be fun to see where my RUC gets me on this flight. I'm going to guess I'll be #8 for 0 seats at boarding.

ethernal

You're a lucky flyer - I wouldn't change from 19C, it's the best economy seat on the plane (unless you really want free drinks). 10C is comparable, but it has its own issues (tray table in arm, etc).

If I can get 19C/D or 21A/F I don't request C+ - too much risk you end up in a middle or row 11 (while I know opinions vary, I firmly believe these are some of the worst Y seats on the plane - probably only 20BC/DE are worse).

Unfortunately there are only 12 "good" C+ seats on the whole plane (one of which is 10C which is saved for gate assignment) - which is pretty sad for a plane with 160 total Y/Y+ seats.

gooselee

Yeah, I don't have C+ requested. 19C seems plenty fine and I'd rather know I've got that for 5 hours than risk an "upgrade" to a window/middle.

I have plenty of drink chits and Amex credit for my dietary needs.