Thrones no longer available for free (except HON/SEN)
Mar 27, 2017, 10:39 am
#46
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 347
They do bump you. I got bumped out of three throne seats, including one 48 hours prior to departure. Reservations and the intervention team will do nothing about it except tell you to pay or choose a non-throne seat.
Absolutely disgusting.
On the upside, I was able to get another throne for free at check in, so at least they is still an option.
Absolutely disgusting.
On the upside, I was able to get another throne for free at check in, so at least they is still an option.
Mar 28, 2017, 2:19 am
#47
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: CH
Programs: LX SEN
Posts: 899
My throne seat reservations are still marked as booked for me. There seems to be an inconsistent practice.
Apr 4, 2017, 5:55 pm
#49
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,319
Huh, good thing I found out on an award ticket first. I was about to pay $$$ for another ticket on Swiss - but this is a bit much. I guess next in line "basic business fares" - pay extra for bags, drinks and food (with prices for each item on the menu 
).
).
Apr 6, 2017, 5:05 pm
#50
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
Just checked the seat map for my completely oversold ZRH-MIA tomorrow. Zeroed out in Y and J, one seat in First (maybe my opup?) - but all thrones in J are still available 12 hours before departure, with the exception of 4A which I got for myself already at booking.
In fact, since some days I find it much easier to get thrones on my longhauls. So maybe after all LX has done good: keep its most frequent customers happy with better availability of thrones by pricing out other pax, and in case someone actually pays then LX makes quite an insane amount of money for just a seat.
In fact, since some days I find it much easier to get thrones on my longhauls. So maybe after all LX has done good: keep its most frequent customers happy with better availability of thrones by pricing out other pax, and in case someone actually pays then LX makes quite an insane amount of money for just a seat.
Apr 7, 2017, 3:42 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: MM, EK, HH, etc.
Posts: 381
Just checked the seat map for my completely oversold ZRH-MIA tomorrow. Zeroed out in Y and J, one seat in First (maybe my opup?) - but all thrones in J are still available 12 hours before departure, with the exception of 4A which I got for myself already at booking.
In fact, since some days I find it much easier to get thrones on my longhauls. So maybe after all LX has done good: keep its most frequent customers happy with better availability of thrones by pricing out other pax, and in case someone actually pays then LX makes quite an insane amount of money for just a seat.
In fact, since some days I find it much easier to get thrones on my longhauls. So maybe after all LX has done good: keep its most frequent customers happy with better availability of thrones by pricing out other pax, and in case someone actually pays then LX makes quite an insane amount of money for just a seat.
I have noticed the improved availability of thrones as well (at least on my flights, which admittedly isn't really representative). But that should not be linked to the new "pay" concept: since nothing has changed for elites, the only impact of being able to pay for a seat should be less availability, not more (as they are still blocked for elites unless a non-elite pays). But perhaps elites are flying less as as a result...
Apr 7, 2017, 6:28 am
#52
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
+1 Prior to this new concept, as a SEN, I never had a problem of getting a "throne" seat booked in advance since there was no competition for the seat from a non-status holder. Now, there could be.
Apr 7, 2017, 7:12 am
#53
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,171
Just checked the seat map for my completely oversold ZRH-MIA tomorrow. Zeroed out in Y and J, one seat in First (maybe my opup?) - but all thrones in J are still available 12 hours before departure, with the exception of 4A which I got for myself already at booking.
Code:
SM LX 0066/C/08APRZRHMIA/V
SM LX 0066 C 08APR ZRHMIA 333
A B D G K
C 4 + + + + 4 C
5 + + + + + 5
6 + + + + 6
7 + + + + + 7
8 < + + + + > 8
9 < + + + / + > 9
10 < + + + + > 10
11 < + + + + + > 11
12 < + + + + > 12
14 < + + + + + > 14
A B D G K
. AVAILABLE <> WING F GEN FACI K GALLEY E EXIT C COT
+ OCCUPIED - LAST OFF H HANDICAP Q QUIET G GROUPS P PET
/ RESTRICTED B BULKHEAD V PREF.SEAT X BLOCKED L LEGROOM U UMNR
() SMOKING D DEPORTEE UP UP-DECK Z NO FILM I INFANT R REAR
Y CHARGEABLE
>
Apr 7, 2017, 10:59 am
#54
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
Now they are all gone:
Code:
SM LX 0066/C/08APRZRHMIA/V
SM LX 0066 C 08APR ZRHMIA 333
A B D G K
C 4 + + + + 4 C
5 + + + + + 5
6 + + + + 6
7 + + + + + 7
8 < + + + + > 8
9 < + + + / + > 9
10 < + + + + > 10
11 < + + + + + > 11
12 < + + + + > 12
14 < + + + + + > 14
A B D G K
. AVAILABLE <> WING F GEN FACI K GALLEY E EXIT C COT
+ OCCUPIED - LAST OFF H HANDICAP Q QUIET G GROUPS P PET
/ RESTRICTED B BULKHEAD V PREF.SEAT X BLOCKED L LEGROOM U UMNR
() SMOKING D DEPORTEE UP UP-DECK Z NO FILM I INFANT R REAR
Y CHARGEABLE
>
Apr 10, 2017, 1:02 pm
#55
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: BA Silver, TK ElitePlus
Posts: 74
Got bumped first on a recent HKG-ZRH flight but asked for a single window seat at checkin and got one at the gate as the checkin agent could not allocate it to me.
In the promo video before take off they promote these seats as premium but to be honest I would never want one again. Indeed more privacy but also very narrow space for your feet when laying flat which is a deal-breaker for me. Cant image they really charge people for these seats...
JJBe
In the promo video before take off they promote these seats as premium but to be honest I would never want one again. Indeed more privacy but also very narrow space for your feet when laying flat which is a deal-breaker for me. Cant image they really charge people for these seats...
JJBe
They do bump you. I got bumped out of three throne seats, including one 48 hours prior to departure. Reservations and the intervention team will do nothing about it except tell you to pay or choose a non-throne seat.
Absolutely disgusting.
On the upside, I was able to get another throne for free at check in, so at least they is still an option.
Absolutely disgusting.
On the upside, I was able to get another throne for free at check in, so at least they is still an option.
Apr 12, 2017, 10:43 am
#56
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 109
As a Senator I reserved at the time of booking throne seats on 4 flights in May July September and December. Yesterday I received emails from LX informing me that my seats had been changed on all these flights. I investigated online to discover that I had been moved to non throne seats on all 4 flights yet Expert Flyer confirmed that all of my original throne seat choices were still available. I immediately called the Senator hotline explained the reason for my incandescence and was reallocated to my original throne seats on all 4 flights. They could not offer any explanation for the seats being changed.
I consider myself lucky that I was alerted by email but from now on will check all my reservations frequently.
I consider myself lucky that I was alerted by email but from now on will check all my reservations frequently.
Apr 12, 2017, 3:49 pm
#57
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
Just booked some Swiss J segments, and on the website selected seats 6A (333) and 7A (77W) gratis which were the only available 'throne' seats. So far the seat assignments are holding.
Question: are these seats not desirable enough to block for SEN/HON members, or did I come across an unusual circumstance?
SL
Question: are these seats not desirable enough to block for SEN/HON members, or did I come across an unusual circumstance?
SL
Apr 15, 2017, 12:41 pm
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
Just booked some Swiss J segments, and on the website selected seats 6A (333) and 7A (77W) gratis which were the only available 'throne' seats. So far the seat assignments are holding.
Question: are these seats not desirable enough to block for SEN/HON members, or did I come across an unusual circumstance?
SL
Question: are these seats not desirable enough to block for SEN/HON members, or did I come across an unusual circumstance?
SL
Apr 19, 2017, 11:06 am
#60
formerl motty
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1K, UA 1MM, VS Gold, Hertz Pres. Circ, Avis Pres Plus, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 56
I just made a reservation on LX for a TLV-ZRH and ZRH EWR. Then realized LX was charging for the seats (after a call to their service center), I switched to the direct TLV-EWR on UA Polaris. In UA Polaris - 50% of seats are "Thrones".
Charging for seat assignment on a $3K+ ticket is simply nickel and dimeing your passengers IMHO. In the end LX loss is UA gain. I guess LX has figured out a way to make me prefer UA over them. Way to go LX.
Will not be booking any of my business travel on LX (unless all other airlines start the same despicable practice).
Charging for seat assignment on a $3K+ ticket is simply nickel and dimeing your passengers IMHO. In the end LX loss is UA gain. I guess LX has figured out a way to make me prefer UA over them. Way to go LX.
Will not be booking any of my business travel on LX (unless all other airlines start the same despicable practice).