nyc10036

I've done more than my share of the "get the JL PNR from AAgent then pick seats w/ JL" routine over the years, but it hasn't worked for me for the upcoming trip. First, unlike what we used to do previously, you are now expected to enter the flight # w/ AA prefix (i.e., instead of JL7, you are to enter AA8475) on JL's site. Hopefully, this will help.

If it doesn't, then, I'd recommend that you call JL, hoping that they can help. I had a rather lengthy conversation with a JL agent this morning, and she pretty much told me that, since their system migration last November, the "seat assignment behavior" of the system has become less than transparent/predictable in some cases, and the system may have some kinks they needs to work out.

If I understood her correctly, under the new system, AAgents are able to assign seats on JL codeshares on AA's system (I wonder how many AAgents are actually familiar w/ this new development, BTW!). But AA only has an "x" number of seats allocated for pre-assignment, and once that number is reached, neither JL nor AA can assign seats until you check in at the airport (not even online checkin, from the sound of it...b/c she emphasized "airport ctrl"--but I hope she is wrong & I can pick my seat upon online checkin @ T24). She admitted that there was a block of seats reserved for airport control, but she says neither she nor her supervisor has the authority to override this.

This sounds bizarre to me, especially for paid J pax, but that what JL says...and I guess I will find out if I end up in that hard-to-access middle seat that presumably makes some people feel like they are in a prison cell... I am venting now, but I really hate the "pick seats at the airport" system...because many pax are connecting from domestic flights and they have the advantage of checking in very early--when "direct flyers" like me can't check in until the JL counter opens 2? 3? hours before the flight!!!

CPH-Flyer

The simple solution is of course book the flights JAL. coded. Which may give other restrictions, probably mainly EQD.

I tend to avoid code share bookings on long haul stretches, always seems to give seat selection and check in issues. Not just between AA and JL, but on many carrier combos. Though sometimes I do go for the code share for point reasons, but then I have to accept the quirky things in contrast Most frequently getting Emirates to Dubai JL coded

nyc10036

I just wanted to post an update on the issue above, in case if anybody is interested. I called EXP AAgent today and explained the situation (because it really bothered me that I paid for J--not even an upgrade--yet there seems to be a policy preventing me from getting a seat assigned 'til I get to the airport), and she initially seemed to confirm this new policy. But she put me on hold for a few minutes to speke to somebody to see if there's anything they could do, and they were somehow able to unblock one of the seats previously designated to be under airport ctrl by JL.

So, while their policy might say otherwise, it is apparently technically possible to accomplish this on AA's system.

tomj888 said on Jan 5, 18 2:24 pm: Sadly, while their onboard products are usually quite superb, JL's CS reps don't seem very effective at solving problems. Don't get me wrong, they are EVER so nice, professional and caring, but I'd rather get "unprofessional but competent" than "professional but incompetent."

Incidentally, one of my Japanese colleagues has told me that the quality of JL's CS in the Japanese language (which apparently used to be outstanding), too, has been declining greatly in the recent years since JL began relying on PT employees and temps, letting FT employees go, to save $.

JALPak

rustykettel

Except that it's not universally true at all. Many codeshares, including AA codeshares of JAL flights until just recently, require seat assignments to be made directly with the operating carrier.

JALPak

nyc10036

Thanks for your assertive comment and I certainly hope that the "intuitive simplicity" you describe, JALPak, is going to continue. But, as a point of information, I'd like to note here publicly that your assertion about "JL having always required seat assgn by AA" has never been my experience in the last decade, online or over the phone--until this time. We always had to call AA to get JL PNR first (and when we did, we always made sure to first ask AAgent to assign seats because people have periodically shared anecdotes on Flyertalk that AAgents were able to help), then we had to deal separately w/ JL to get seats assigned. AAgents have never been able to help us w/ JL seat assignments, presumably until the system migration which took place in November of 2017. My company and I have purchased dozens of AA J tix on JL-operated flights, so I think my N is large enough here.

I know this is going to upset JALPak, but I do believe this inconvenience was due to JL's policy because AAgent has long been able to assign seats on AY-operated AA tix on our behalf.

I am glad to hear that your experience has always been dreadfully simple, painfully intuitive and velvet smooth with JL-operated-AA tix, JALPak--but, being an expert that you are, you should perhaps be aware that your experience is quite atypical!

Also, it is often profoundly difficult to understand anything, from the consumers' standpoint, when airlines change their long-standing policy and, in this case, even the JL agent didn't quite know how to handle it--noting that they may or may not have ctrl over seat assignments these days and they must try putting thru the request anyhow to find out how it pans out. In fact, she characterized the system behavior unpredictable (see my initial post on this matter from Mar 23, 18 9:44 pm) and she was only able to give me her best guess as to what was happening. So, perhaps JL agents are competent as JALPak posits, but the entire protocol didn't seem all that transparent, even to the JL agent I spoke to--and certainly to me (and my company) as consumers.

JALPak

sambagrrl07

Hi all - I wanted to post another data point, having booked an itinerary all on JL metal through AA, JFK-NRT-TPE, TPE-NRT-JFK, the long haul flights having AA flight numbers and fare classes, D, D, X, and I. After getting my JL PNR from AA, I was finally able to retrieve my reservation on the JAL US site using the combo suggested above of AA flight number, JL record locator, last name, and first name (NO middle name needed). I was then able to select seats, which are NOT shown in my reservation on AA's website, but still showing when I retrieve the reservation again on the JAL website. (When I called AA for seat selection, the system robot confirmed that the seats had been selected, however.)

OskiBear

Just a data point - I had booked a flight for November 2018 a month or two ago and nothing was possible. I called AA today to make a change on an AA segment and, at the same time, the agent said, "Hey, you don't have a seat assignment on your SIN-HND leg. I'll get you these two seats." It's O-fare, AA codeshare. Let's hope the assignments stick. When I received the email confirmation, it has my seats assigned!

cuyp

I just bought BOS–NRT–SIN–NRT–BOS in business through AA as it was $600 cheaper. I called AA and they quickly assigned the window seats I wants, and they show up on the AA trip management.
So how can I pre-order a Japanese meal? Impossible?

CPH-Flyer

There are some restrictions.

The flights need to be booked directly with JAL. And codeshares operated by JAL but marketed by another carrier are excluded

https://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/service/business/meal/meal_yoyaku/

cuyp

Well that's no fun! SQ lets you Book the Cook on partner-marketed flights (by phone).

CPH-Flyer

There is a slight difference, SQ book the cook is for options not available otherwise on the flight JAL is just securing your selection. Unless you are in the very last rows, unlikely to be an issue. But it can happen.

ckx2

Umm. AA didn't even have proper access to JL system up until recently. But yeah, incompetent AAgents.