Silver - How to sit next to my wife
Jan 1, 2009, 12:38 pm
#1
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: DFW,TX USA
Programs: Lifetime Platinum Marriott
Posts: 1,568
Silver - How to sit next to my wife
So I dropped down to Silver this year 
(Wife is not elite)
Booked a flight to PHX, paid for my flight and used miles for the Mrs. so separate reservations.
In the old days, would call the elite desk and they would put her in the seat next to me (only open seats are elite seats).
Well - there is no Silver elite line, just regular reservations - who say they can not do it but offer to transfer me to the elite lines, which of course just send me back to the regular reservation line once I enter my WP#.
So anyone know how a Silver can find someone to let me fly next to my wife (other than at check-in)
(Wife is not elite)
Booked a flight to PHX, paid for my flight and used miles for the Mrs. so separate reservations.
In the old days, would call the elite desk and they would put her in the seat next to me (only open seats are elite seats).
Well - there is no Silver elite line, just regular reservations - who say they can not do it but offer to transfer me to the elite lines, which of course just send me back to the regular reservation line once I enter my WP#.
So anyone know how a Silver can find someone to let me fly next to my wife (other than at check-in)
Jan 1, 2009, 12:54 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
1. Buy adjacent Coach Choice seats via online check-in at T-23:59.
2. Get two aisle seats, and once on board offer one aisle seat to someone in a middle next to you or your wife.
2. Get two aisle seats, and once on board offer one aisle seat to someone in a middle next to you or your wife.
Jan 1, 2009, 7:09 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: NW GE
Posts: 605
Try a different agent... agents on the Silver line are pretty hit/miss.
Jan 1, 2009, 7:22 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA CK
Posts: 78
I was in the same situation a few days ago -- i.e. me paid ; family member on award -- but only difference was that the fam member was my 4 year old son, so perhaps my position was more compelling.
Anyway, I called, got regular service desk, they told me nothing they could do, I told them that I was SE and that the Elite Services people had done this for me before. They transferred me, the Elite Services guy said no problem and took care of it for me (though I was on hold for a while so it was not as simple as him clicking a button to override).
Going to be interesting when I get upgraded (F is wide, wide open). I plan on calling Chisolm and asking for a free "pity upgrade" for my 4 year old (he can upgrade himself with his own darn miles if need be)
Edited to say: BTW, there were lots of open seats in back on 3/4 of my segments, so I could have sat with my kid in non-premium seats...they put him next to me in premium seats, not the other way around (even when both options were available)
Anyway, I called, got regular service desk, they told me nothing they could do, I told them that I was SE and that the Elite Services people had done this for me before. They transferred me, the Elite Services guy said no problem and took care of it for me (though I was on hold for a while so it was not as simple as him clicking a button to override).
Going to be interesting when I get upgraded (F is wide, wide open). I plan on calling Chisolm and asking for a free "pity upgrade" for my 4 year old (he can upgrade himself with his own darn miles if need be)
Edited to say: BTW, there were lots of open seats in back on 3/4 of my segments, so I could have sat with my kid in non-premium seats...they put him next to me in premium seats, not the other way around (even when both options were available)