FlyerTalk Forums - Someone sitting next to me on an EMPTY flight?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CPRich (Post 22001733)

Then a related question - why would the algorithm to assign seats put pax next to each other when there are so many free?

If the computer sees what it thinks are two single travelers, why not put them together; later when two passengers who are traveling together book, they will not need to be split up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikew99 (Post 22002297)

If one of my analysts came up with that design, I'd slap them. :p

I'm hoping airline professional development staff would be a bit more insightful. Then again, given their history....

Good point. I suppose there's a trade-off of optimizing seating assuming it will fill up vs. assuming it will be sparse.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPRich (Post 22003594)

If one of my analysts came up with that design, I'd slap them. :p

I'm hoping airline professional development staff would be a bit more insightful. Then again, given their history....

I seem to recall a discussion here on FT that this is the exact method used by AA when assigning seat upgrades (except that AA goes from back to front instead).

They probably coded it 30 years ago, and they haven't updated the code since! :D

Ok,

My theory is that these are very sophisticated algorithms developed in conjunction with journey control and inventory management, that predict how many seats in J are going to sell on a particular flight.

If they are putting you together it means that they intend to sell out the whole cabin.

We should now begin to analyze this information and adopt it as one more datastream feeding the the FT Upgrade Chances Predictive Modeling Calculus / W.A.G. Machine®.

:eek:

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPRich (Post 22001733)

Then a related question - why would the algorithm to assign seats put pax next to each other when there are so many free?

OR maybe it's just this:
:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikew99 (Post 22002297)

The most basic computer algorithm would scan the seats front to back, left to right, until an unoccupied seat is found, then assign it to the passenger. (The first pax is assigned 1A, the second 1B, the third 1C, and so on.)

Most human beings use a completely different algorithm that's more akin to the "Urinal Problem." :cool:

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPRich (Post 22003600)

Good point. I suppose there's a trade-off of optimizing seating assuming it will fill up vs. assuming it will be sparse.

AF offers automated online check in (not mandatory) to travellers, and permits them to list a preference for aisle or window (but not middle seat :D )

It's interesting to watch the automated advance seat assignments at the 30 hour mark, especially on a flight with a light load. I was watching a flight this week as I suspected that the first and last section of the plane was not open for automated seat selection due to weight and balance issues. It was quite interesting to watch the seat map change and it was clear that seats were not assigned in this case as simply as 1A, 1C, 1D, 1F etc.

The middle and window next to me were not filled at the 30 hour mark, nor were they ever assigned during the seat selection process (or apparently at the airport). In the end, it was one of the lightest passenger loads I have witnessed in years, and only the centre section was sparsely filled.