TAP automatic seat assignment
Apr 30, 2019, 6:09 am
#46
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,956
First time poster here (UA Gold/*A Gold):
I'm looking to book one way FNC-SFO and trying to determine whether to use miles (30k + $110 and free seat assignment) or pay for a ticket ($566) and risk the whole process that everyone is going through with some success at T-3h.
A couple questions:
1) If I book direct on TAP's website, how do I see actual fare class? From searching on Orbitz, it looks like discount is currently mapping to Economy (U) but doesn't show what Basic, Classic, Plus, etc would be. Worth noting because getting M class would trigger 100% of miles, which is 6,387 so worth looking at/making sure I get at least 50% if booking on TAP. TAP website is $6 cheaper than Orbitz, etc.
I'm looking to book one way FNC-SFO and trying to determine whether to use miles (30k + $110 and free seat assignment) or pay for a ticket ($566) and risk the whole process that everyone is going through with some success at T-3h.
A couple questions:
1) If I book direct on TAP's website, how do I see actual fare class? From searching on Orbitz, it looks like discount is currently mapping to Economy (U) but doesn't show what Basic, Classic, Plus, etc would be. Worth noting because getting M class would trigger 100% of miles, which is 6,387 so worth looking at/making sure I get at least 50% if booking on TAP. TAP website is $6 cheaper than Orbitz, etc.
2) If I us, I'm assuming T-3 is from first leg (ie my 06:00 flight from FNC-LIS) and would allow me to select seats on my second leg (ie my 10:00 LIS-SFO). Is this correct?
3) Award availability on UA is only showing FNC-LIS-EWR-SFO rather than FNC-LIS-SFO. Any idea why? (Yes, the LIS-SFO flight is offered on the day I'm flying) I'll try calling UA but curious to see if anyone knows or if this will be fixed.
Apr 30, 2019, 1:10 pm
#47
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Gold; *A Gold
Posts: 3
If anyone does have a good way to determine fare classes on TAP I'd still be interested in learning.
Jun 24, 2019, 1:49 pm
#48
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 53
Had no problems using the T-3 method with both TATL and intra-Europe flights last week. You can even select the more expensive preferred or exit row seats. Just select the seats you want when check-in opens, then complete the check-in steps without submitting payment. At T-3, you will need to first select different seats then what you reserve and complete check-in, then immediately go back and change your seat to the ones you just released.
Last edited by kchanbeki; Jun 27, 2019 at 3:23 pm
Jun 24, 2019, 3:52 pm
#49
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
Programs: SPG LT Plat, Hilton G,Priorty Club G, AC E
Posts: 2,979
Is the standard window...
Had no problems using the T-3 method with both TATL and intra-Europe flights last week. You can even select the more expensive preferred or exit row seats. Just select the seats you want when check-in opens, then complete the check-in steps without submitting payment. At T-3, you will either need to first select different seats then what you reserve and complete check-in, then immediately go back and change your seat to the ones you just released.
Jun 27, 2019, 1:15 pm
#52
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: FCO
Posts: 498
Had no problems using the T-3 method with both TATL and intra-Europe flights last week. You can even select the more expensive preferred or exit row seats. Just select the seats you want when check-in opens, then complete the check-in steps without submitting payment. At T-3, you will either need to first select different seats then what you reserve and complete check-in, then immediately go back and change your seat to the ones you just released.
So at T-3 I can complete OLCI for outbound simply selecting different seats and immediately go back reselcting the same seats I had? No issue with the inbound selected seats where TAP is also waiting for the payment?
Jun 27, 2019, 3:22 pm
#53
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 53
My flight is far ahead but I just selected the seats, both outbound and inbound, without paying.
So at T-3 I can complete OLCI for outbound simply selecting different seats and immediately go back reselcting the same seats I had? No issue with the inbound selected seats where TAP is also waiting for the payment?
So at T-3 I can complete OLCI for outbound simply selecting different seats and immediately go back reselcting the same seats I had? No issue with the inbound selected seats where TAP is also waiting for the payment?
Jul 25, 2019, 8:21 am
#55
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
Programs: SPG LT Plat, Hilton G,Priorty Club G, AC E
Posts: 2,979
I didn't even have to do that....
...I selected the EE seats at T 36, when T 3 came around I didn't have to re-select...the icon just changed during the OLCI process to Free seat from Paid Seat
Jul 25, 2019, 8:22 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA 1MM, Avis Chairman, Four Seasons Elite, HA Pualani Gold
Posts: 452
So even in business I can select seats only at check-in? I am considering SFO - LIS because it’s the only non-stop flight but I am particular about my seats....
Jul 25, 2019, 8:33 pm
#57
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K/AS 100K …Bonvoy Titanium..Hertz Presidents Club
Posts: 1,116
I flew TP in J from SFO-LIS a few weeks back and was able to chose my seat when I purchased. I purchased my ticket on the TP website. Depending when you go, I purchased my ticket about two months before departure and most of the seats were taken on a Saturday departure.
Jul 25, 2019, 10:06 pm
#58
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA 1MM, Avis Chairman, Four Seasons Elite, HA Pualani Gold
Posts: 452
Thanks for the quick reply. I am purchasing the tickets through a cruise line and they do not select seats. So wondering once I have the confirmation # if I can then go online and select seats. It will be that Sat. flt. next May.
Jul 29, 2019, 1:53 am
#60
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 102
Just chiming in to say thanks and report that it worked like a charm for me as well the last few weeks on all segments intra-Europe. On the outbounds I was upgraded (did the lowest bid) on the 2nd leg so i'm not positive if that affected anything but I was able to select any seat I wanted on the 1st leg then exited and automatically got the boarding passes when the upgrade cleared. On the return flights I just started check-in when I got the email (not T-36 but more than T-24 so some strange in between period) and was able to pick seats, exit and secure them. Even when I had to check a bag and pay for it at the counter my exit rows were free.