Blocked seats
 

Currently holding a reservation for my husband and myself in Business round trip to South Africa (ex JFK). On both the flights between Dubai and South Africa (to CPT, ex JNB) all the seats appear to be blocked with the exception of the middle three seats. When I called EK it was confirmed that all the window/aisle combos were blocked and would be 'released' nearer departure (October). Has anyone else experienced this (although it shouldn't make any difference both my husband and I are gold members). Does anyone know when these seats are 'released'??

My experience has been that for blocked seats in F or J, usually reserved for unaccompanied minors, if I explicitly state that I understand they are for UM's and will move if necessary, they will unblock the seat and assign it for me. I've never once had to move for a UM

There are some wide ranging technical issues with the emirates.com website at the moment, I am getting the same error messages.

Probably gearing up for making J seats chargeable :eek:

I'm only joking, I think.

Try selecting a seat on the Emirates app, I use the iPhone one, as it has less seats blocked than the website, so more for you to select.

On a 777 the website typically blocks all the left hand side of the aircraft twin seats, on the app it only blocks the bassinet seats at the front.

son flights to South Africa this is due to codeshare agreements with South African Airways I believe

Just call them and ask specifically for a seat change. They usually then ask for your preferences and tell you they will see what they can do.

Had the same issue with all seats blocked (except middle seat) and was then moved within an hour to my preferred seat.

What are the flight numbers , it is probably due to two reason:

-SAA codeshare
-Just a normally busy CPT/JNB-DXB segment.

Tried calling and they confirmed the seats were blocked and would only be released nearer the flight time. Frustrating, as Expedia shows far more open seats. Shall try as recommended and use the app. Otherwise we'll stick to two aisle seats with someone between us if the flight is full.

Thanks!!! Was able to change on my flight ex JNB, the CPT flight showed more seats but no window/aisle.

Of all the airlines I fly, no one comes close to blocking seats the way EK does in the premium cabins... In practice, this is not an issue since they have always released the seat when asked (probably helps to be Plat; at least one small benefit ;), but it is still a hassle having to contact EK every time.

Just booked 4 sectors (2017/8) as soon as they came within range. I very much suspect we were the first bookings.
All basinets were blocked as usual and all A&B in business were blocked.
Funnily enough,the second row K, had also gone and as my routing was multi destination it is highly unlikely it was a pax.
SS

I prefer 8 A/K or 6 A/K on the 777. Each appear blocked - not necessarily taken - on an upcoming trip. Anyone have experience with getting assigned by making a phone call? I'm gold and traveling alone.

Success! Just tried calling and they made the change.

That was lucky. Those seats usually appear blocked as they are bassinet rows on the 77W's in J.

S

Not on the ULH ones. He offered to put me in there on the regular birds for which they are bassinet rows but warned me that I may be asked to move if they are required for bassinet seats. I opted to stay put to avoid that risk.

Hi,

Does Emirates block seats for "comfort" purposes? I am flying Economy with my wife and have reserved A + C seats. I am Qantas Gold and the system seems to equate that to Skywards Gold. Hoping my status will see the B seat blocked (assuming the flight is undersold of course). Any ideas? thanks.

No, but two strategies:

Choose seats in the preferred section and if flight isn't full hopefully the seat won't be taken. As they're paid for most pax chances are this section isn't as full. Other option is select seats at the back as they'll be the last to fill if flight isn't full.

You can change seats and monitor seat map up until quite close to departure on the app usually, depends on the departure point. So monitor and adjust as the seat map fills.

I've certainly asked and had a seat blocked at the airport as Skywards Gold - middle seat in exit row blocked with me and a mate in the other two. It can't do any harm to ask and probably just depends on the check in staff.

OK - reporting back. Outbound BNE-DXB-CDG, Expert Flyer showed middle seats on both segments blocked before check in. This was confirmed at check in.

Returning CDG-DXB-BNE, Expert Flyer (when I checked) showed a vacant seat on the first leg and blocked on the second. At check in, the agent blocked the middle seat for the first segment - in this case it then showed as occupied (not blocked) on EF, the agent said she couldn't do anything for the second leg, but seems it was already blocked anyway.

So in summary 3 seats between the 2 of us on all segments, so not too bad. We certainly noticed the narrower seat on the B777 compared to the A380 - I would have hated to be 3 abreast for 14 hours on the B777.

Were the seats that appeared blocked near the front of the cabin? Rows 17-21 on the 77W or the first 5-8 or so on the 380 (unsure of row numbers)?

If so they're "preferred seats" that are paid for and this appear blocked on EF if not selected. They never show as vacant

The seats that appeared blocked were throughout the cabin - not necessarily the "preferred seats". Maybe because my EF profile has me as QF Gold and these seats are free for selection for that level. When I was looking at seats early on, at least one of the A380s had the entire rear cabin blocked - but that opened up maybe at check-in.

Also I should clarify what I said earlier - " Outbound BNE-DXB-CDG, Expert Flyer showed middle seats on both segments blocked before check in. This was confirmed at check in." What I meant was that they were showing as blocked after my on-line check-in (the Gold shadow was created?), and I then confirmed this at the airport.

We were "down the back" for the 2 longer legs, and in the preferred section for the 2 shorter legs. I had not really done advanced seat selection, because although I am Gold, Mrs Aus ATC has no status and we were on different PNRs - so I had to select our seats at T-48 (didn't want to pay!).

Blocked seats J Class CPT-DXB?
 

Booked with two small children (5 and 6) and Ms ECM early January and would much prefer to sit in rows of 2 back to back (eg, 9 and 10 J-K) but due to them being blocked we either have to separate in the cabin or sit in the row of 3, all of which are sub optimal choices for a family and especially during these trickier times.

Have tried persuading them by phone and through a formal web complaint but to no avail, as they claim they are for the SA codeshare customers.

I book far ahead and in revenue J to avoid these issues so surprised I am having to deal with these stresses.

Anybody have any experience unblocking these?

Thanks in advance!