Why does an airline block seats??
Feb 10, 2015 | 12:29 pm
#16
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Indirectly.
FAA has a max ratio of pax to Flight Attendants. On some planes, with some configurations, you will have a small number of seats that if they book, they have to add another FA.
So they will block those seats until they project that the flight will sell out, then they can justify adding another FA.
They don't want to add an FA, open the seats, only sell the windows and aisles, then have one more FA than the passenger load actually requires.
FAA has a max ratio of pax to Flight Attendants. On some planes, with some configurations, you will have a small number of seats that if they book, they have to add another FA.
So they will block those seats until they project that the flight will sell out, then they can justify adding another FA.
They don't want to add an FA, open the seats, only sell the windows and aisles, then have one more FA than the passenger load actually requires.
There is also a difference between seats blocked from assignment and blocked from sale. UA will occasionally block F seats from sale and not that on the flight status. Typically this happens when Y is oversold and they expect opups to solve that issue. But the actual seat assignments are possible in the system. Unless they are the seats allocated for crew rest on long-haul flights with augmented crews. Then they are not assignable either.
Feb 10, 2015 | 2:33 pm
#17
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Rochester NY, Marriott Silver, Hilton Gold, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 88
Only when an A/C is operating under Part 91 (CFR 91.533) then it would be based on the number of passengers.
Feb 10, 2015 | 9:02 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 164
Have to disagree with you. Since we're talking about a regular commercial flight then it's the seating capacity, not actual passenger count that determine how many F/A's are required. See 14 CFR 121.391(a)
Only when an A/C is operating under Part 91 (CFR 91.533) then it would be based on the number of passengers.
Only when an A/C is operating under Part 91 (CFR 91.533) then it would be based on the number of passengers.
And Dave is correct, part 121 regs are much more restrictive than part 141 or part 91.
Feb 11, 2015 | 10:12 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 383
Delta now flies mostly B777's via transpacific and transatlantic. The seating configuration, on Delta's aircraft, are 3-4-3. However there are a few two seat configurations on this aircraft. When you go into Delta's website and start a booking the seating availability will be shown prior to paying. I have not found one flight where the twin seats were available. No matter how far out I attempt to book, even 6 months. I cannot believe that all the twin seats on all of these flights over 6 months are not available. They must be routinely blocked by Delta possibly to accommodate their Medallion members as first priority. I have not found this to be the case will all airlines. Some of the Asian airlines have the twin seating indicating availability before booking.
Feb 11, 2015 | 1:14 pm
#20
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Delta now flies mostly B777's via transpacific and transatlantic. The seating configuration, on Delta's aircraft, are 3-4-3. However there are a few two seat configurations on this aircraft. When you go into Delta's website and start a booking the seating availability will be shown prior to paying. I have not found one flight where the twin seats were available. No matter how far out I attempt to book, even 6 months. I cannot believe that all the twin seats on all of these flights over 6 months are not available. They must be routinely blocked by Delta possibly to accommodate their Medallion members as first priority. I have not found this to be the case will all airlines. Some of the Asian airlines have the twin seating indicating availability before booking.
The 777 is 3-3-3; 767 is 2-3-2 and A330 2-4-2.
Feb 11, 2015 | 3:13 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 383
You are correct. However, doesn't change the point I was trying to make which is what the reason is for two seats together on this aircraft not being available for booking, at least on line. Possibly they may be available for booking through calling customer service.
