Online check in and seat selection
 

Can you tell me, when checking in on line in economy 48 hours before the flight, are all seats free in economy or are the preferred seats and twin seats still at full price , discounted or free?

Finally, if I look at the seat map and there are still lots of empty seats, will that mean that it's not a full flight so pointless paying for seats ?

Regards

I believe all seats (other than exit row) are free once OLCI opens.

The seat map may be empty because not many people have paid for their seats... they're all thinking the same as you :)

That's great to hear, so might even get a preferred seat

However, I think that EK pre allocates seats to everyone when OLCI opens. I am not 100% certain that this is the case, but I have heard that it happens.
So in that case, the choice can be pretty limited, especially if the load is high.

I did ask Emirates but they are not willing to say anything, it's about trying to get you to upgrade your seat
see reply below

I'm sorry but we can't confirm if and when certain seats will become available closer to the online check in. We can't know for sure if the flight will be full or not and how passengers would have bought and selected their seats. To have your guaranteed seats, it's better to pay as soon as possible and not wait until the online check-in opens. The seat charges are the same whether you'll pay now or closer to the departure date. Trust this clarifies.

Once you are in the OLCI window, you can move your seats to the preferred section (forward cabin) at no cost (but not exit rows).

Basically if it is important to you to sit in a certain part of the cabin then you need to pay for it rather than leaving it to chance and being disappointed!!

Most likely need to pay for one leg since we have to transfer onto a domestic flight within 2.5 hours , but watching closely.

As anyone been able to get a preferred seat during OLCI with a saver flight

Hi,

Once OLCI opens it depends on the flight itself, if its busy then sometimes EK will auto allocate seats, other times its open for you to select any preferred seat except for extra leg room seats. The same applies if you book a saver, its only Flex fare which includes preferred seat selection after booking. Sometimes its useful to see the seat map just before OLCI opens, I have had it where you cant see the seat map at all, and the call centre staff can, so having an idea where I want to go helps

Great information suley

I keep checking the seat maps and plenty of seats left , infact their isn't many seats taken.
The flight isn't until mid August, so it could fill up by then

I would not worry too much, at OLCI I have always found a preferred window seat availible. Just check in as soon as it opens and you will be fine