Last edit by: garkman
Can Seats Be Preassigned?
If your flight is marketed as AA, but on JL metal (i.e. "AA 8499 Operated by Japan Airlines"), the following apply based upon the fare code or booking code for your flight segments:
If your flight is marketed as AA, but on JL metal (i.e. "AA 8499 Operated by Japan Airlines"), the following apply based upon the fare code or booking code for your flight segments:
N - Seats may only be selected at checkin/airport
O - Seats may only be selected at checkin/airport (Confirmed with AA 6/11/17)
Others - Probably can preassign, but please modify this wiki if not
AA Award tickets on JL metal - DO allow seat assignments.
**When inputting a flight number that is a single digit (such as flight 1 from HND-SFO), you must add a leading '0' (zero) when looking up your flight. Failure to do this will result in an error that they can't find your PNR.
If you try to call AA on these fares and select seats, even as an EXP, the agent will be unable to view the seatmap and select seats for you. Your reservation will simply display "--" as the seat selection. Oftentimes these codeshare tickets do not allow JL checkin at T-72 hours, so you may not be able to actually get seats until the airport. You can try online checkin with JL here: http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/boarding/quic/
You may find more information here:
Flights from US to Japan
Flights from US to Other Asian Destinations
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Info added on 15th Sept. 2019. As a one world Sapphire, you can select the following business class window seats
From row 5 on the 767, 787 and 772 (excludes rows 1-4 window seats)
From main cabin on the 777W (excludes whole of mini cabin)
As a non-status passenger (or Ruby member), you can only select the following business class window seats
From second row onward of second cabin on the 767, 787 and 772 (excludes all of the forward cabin window seats and first/exit row of main cabin)
From second row onward of main cabin on the 777W (excludes whole of mini cabin and first/exit row of main cabin)
As a OWE, you have unlimited access.
Info added on 15th Sept. 2019. As a one world Sapphire, you can select the following business class window seats
From row 5 on the 767, 787 and 772 (excludes rows 1-4 window seats)
From main cabin on the 777W (excludes whole of mini cabin)
As a non-status passenger (or Ruby member), you can only select the following business class window seats
From second row onward of second cabin on the 767, 787 and 772 (excludes all of the forward cabin window seats and first/exit row of main cabin)
From second row onward of main cabin on the 777W (excludes whole of mini cabin and first/exit row of main cabin)
As a OWE, you have unlimited access.
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Which Booking Code Am I In?
If you have not viewed your fare at booking, you can follow the below steps to check your booking code:
Which Booking Code Am I In?
If you have not viewed your fare at booking, you can follow the below steps to check your booking code:
- Visit AA.com and open your itinerary
- Visit the URL https://www.aa.com/reservation/print...raryReceipt.do
- Your booking code should appear for each flight
Selecting seats on JAL when booked as AA codeshare
#333
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SAN, TYO, OSA
Posts: 227
Award flights booked using AA miles are not code share flights to my knowledge, and people have been able to select seats on JAL's website. My upcoming "paid" trip on AA code share flights operated by JAL cannot be retrieved on JAL's website using JAL's (Amadeus) PNR, and I needed to call the TA for seat assignment.
#334
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Diamond (*G), Marriott Ambassador (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 17,601
It should be possible to select seats. Unless all selectable seats are taken, or they are planning to change the assigned aircraft config.
#335
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: UA 1K, Delta PM, AA EXP, Marriott AMB, IHG Gold
Posts: 432
I never had problem assigning seats on AA/JL codeshares pre-Covid but I'm seeming to have a lot of issues with a newest booking. AA Ex Plat line has just spent an hour trying to figure out how to assign seats. JL keeps rejecting the seat entries
We've talked to both the helpdesk and the liaison desk and still no resolution. Just a heads up for any brave souls thinking of booking a codeshare!

#336
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 1
The only problem I had was deciphering the reservation number and flight number from my Alaska Airline and American Airlines flights. The Flight Number was "2" for me. After I figured that out, I went on JAL's japan website, went into managed booking, entered in my details and I was able to select seats. This was all in economy. This occurred today.
#337
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 139
Just figured it out today that in order to select seats on award booking using AA miles was not to login on your JMB account but instead, go to your region's site and plug in the information. I was able to select seats on my flights for November with DCA-MNL route.