Random seat changes to UA itineraries after they are booked & purchased [ARCHIVE]
Jun 20, 2018, 12:53 am
#1801
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AS
Posts: 194
What happened here? Flying UAL with Aeroplan booking
4 of us flew using Aeroplan points on a leg that was using AC, then connecting to UAL. When I booked the rewards months ago, I was able to select seats (or so I thought) so that all 4 of us were together in a row.
At t minus 24hrs, I had tried to change our seats for the AC flight primarily because it was a very empty flight and I could see there were empty rows. The system would not let me do it, stating that I needed to do thru Aeroplan, so I didn’t call as in the end I was satisfied that the seat selections for both flights were good.
Fast forward to when we boarded the UAL flight (and here is when I made a rookie mistake of not checking our UAL portion of our tickets) and all 4 of us were split and placed into the middle seats, in various rows. My child is 2 and I was the only parent in our group, so I started to panic. And of course, the plane was 99% full.
With some debating and assistance of some helpful single passengers, I was able to sit beside my child, but it was a hectic, stressful experience I never want to go thru again.
What concerns me though, is that the gate agent told me (when attempting to fix the problem) that since our seats were booked by a third party and the plane was full, any United purchasers bump or shift others out of their seats. Does anyone know why this happens or can confirm this is policy? If so, I am not sure I want to fly UAL with a group ever again.
At t minus 24hrs, I had tried to change our seats for the AC flight primarily because it was a very empty flight and I could see there were empty rows. The system would not let me do it, stating that I needed to do thru Aeroplan, so I didn’t call as in the end I was satisfied that the seat selections for both flights were good.
Fast forward to when we boarded the UAL flight (and here is when I made a rookie mistake of not checking our UAL portion of our tickets) and all 4 of us were split and placed into the middle seats, in various rows. My child is 2 and I was the only parent in our group, so I started to panic. And of course, the plane was 99% full.
With some debating and assistance of some helpful single passengers, I was able to sit beside my child, but it was a hectic, stressful experience I never want to go thru again.
What concerns me though, is that the gate agent told me (when attempting to fix the problem) that since our seats were booked by a third party and the plane was full, any United purchasers bump or shift others out of their seats. Does anyone know why this happens or can confirm this is policy? If so, I am not sure I want to fly UAL with a group ever again.
Jun 20, 2018, 3:25 am
#1802
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Los Angeles / Basel
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 26,930
What concerns me though, is that the gate agent told me (when attempting to fix the problem) that since our seats were booked by a third party and the plane was full, any United purchasers bump or shift others out of their seats. Does anyone know why this happens or can confirm this is policy? If so, I am not sure I want to fly UAL with a group ever again.
I fly United using Aeroplan-issued tickets often and have never lost a reserved seat.
What is more likely is that there was a schedule change, re-issue, or some unforeseen glitch that kicked you out of your seats. I doubt it was malicious or deliberate.
Jun 20, 2018, 9:12 am
#1803
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,694
While United considers your seating requests, they are in no way bound to them, and may change them at any time based on their priorities. AFAIK this is the case at substantially all carriers.
Also there's a long running issue with their PSS changing seats with little apparent reason.
From the premerger Continental days: Random Seat Change in F Reservation and Check Your Future Seat Assignments
And now that United is using the same ex-Continental system: Random seat changes to UA itineraries after they are booked & purchased [ARCHIVE] and Random seat changes to UA itineraries after having an assigned seat [Consolidated]
Also there's a long running issue with their PSS changing seats with little apparent reason.
From the premerger Continental days: Random Seat Change in F Reservation and Check Your Future Seat Assignments
And now that United is using the same ex-Continental system: Random seat changes to UA itineraries after they are booked & purchased [ARCHIVE] and Random seat changes to UA itineraries after having an assigned seat [Consolidated]
Jun 20, 2018, 10:35 am
#1804
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AS
Posts: 194
This is simply not true, at least in my experience.
I fly United using Aeroplan-issued tickets often and have never lost a reserved seat.
What is more likely is that there was a schedule change, re-issue, or some unforeseen glitch that kicked you out of your seats. I doubt it was malicious or deliberate.
I fly United using Aeroplan-issued tickets often and have never lost a reserved seat.
What is more likely is that there was a schedule change, re-issue, or some unforeseen glitch that kicked you out of your seats. I doubt it was malicious or deliberate.
While United considers your seating requests, they are in no way bound to them, and may change them at any time based on their priorities. AFAIK this is the case at substantially all carriers.
Also there's a long running issue with their PSS changing seats with little apparent reason.
From the premerger Continental days: Random Seat Change in F Reservation and Check Your Future Seat Assignments
And now that United is using the same ex-Continental system: Random seat changes to UA itineraries after they are booked & purchased [ARCHIVE] and Random seat changes to UA itineraries after having an assigned seat [Consolidated]
Also there's a long running issue with their PSS changing seats with little apparent reason.
From the premerger Continental days: Random Seat Change in F Reservation and Check Your Future Seat Assignments
And now that United is using the same ex-Continental system: Random seat changes to UA itineraries after they are booked & purchased [ARCHIVE] and Random seat changes to UA itineraries after having an assigned seat [Consolidated]
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 20, 2018 at 10:51 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Jun 20, 2018, 10:54 am
#1805
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
You'll have to consult the flight history to be sure, but there are changes that may not be immediately visible to you. (You can research this via websites flightstats, flightaware, ...)
But as others have mentioned there is no disadvantage of having been booked via AeroPlan miles.
But as others have mentioned there is no disadvantage of having been booked via AeroPlan miles.
Jun 20, 2018, 11:07 am
#1806
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,662
I’ll give UA some credit as they have done well over the years. UA agents have proactively kept my family together despite being on separate reservations, however, my cousin swears UA intentionally splits her and spouse every trip. I don’t know what the truth is, but actively reviewing my flights almost daily is the norm for me, and on the rare occasion I see something change, a quick call to UA fixes things.
Jun 20, 2018, 11:14 am
#1807
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I’ll give UA some credit as they have done well over the years. UA agents have proactively kept my family together despite being on separate reservations, however, my cousin swears UA intentionally splits her and spouse every trip. I don’t know what the truth is, but actively reviewing my flights almost daily is the norm for me, and on the rare occasion I see something change, a quick call to UA fixes things.
Jun 20, 2018, 12:32 pm
#1808
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM/AA Gold & 1MM/HH Gold/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 2,928
My fourth seat change this year! I had 2A on ORD-DCA operated by a Republic E170, wake up to a text that my seat was changed due to an aircraft swap, but it's still operated by an E170! Thankfully I was swapped to 2C which is my second favorite seat on this plane.
Jun 20, 2018, 2:20 pm
#1809
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,134
Jun 20, 2018, 2:40 pm
#1810
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Because you think that calling will change the outcome? I was saying that there's no need to call to change the seat. It can be done on the website. Naturally, as you point out, sometimes there are no seats left. Had happened, made me unhappy but I don't take it personally since it's a computer thing. Then, there's still the option of continuing the babysitting of the seat map for if someone more important than me gets an upgrade and vacates a real good seat.
Jun 20, 2018, 4:28 pm
#1811
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,134
Because you think that calling will change the outcome? I was saying that there's no need to call to change the seat. It can be done on the website. Naturally, as you point out, sometimes there are no seats left. Had happened, made me unhappy but I don't take it personally since it's a computer thing. Then, there's still the option of continuing the babysitting of the seat map for if someone more important than me gets an upgrade and vacates a real good seat.
Anyway, I took a long path to get here but my point is that hovering over an app likely won't change the outcome when unknown forces completely outside of your control are working against you. Close in your odds likely get even worse.
Jun 20, 2018, 5:35 pm
#1812
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,662
Jun 21, 2018, 7:36 am
#1813
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
My mother was flying 6/17 ORD-AMS on a 763 V2. She had 21K as of a month ago. Did not pay attention to her seat until she boarded and noticed her seat was 23L. Went from an E+ Exit Aisle to a E- Window. My dad's seat (22L) remained unchanged. Mom is Gold, Dad has no status on the same PNR.
I could not see any obvious reason from the flight status page. I know they've been swapping between V2 and V3 so perhaps that caused a glitch. I'm curious if there's any other resources to check for the reason. Though I think my Mom doesn't care much about the reason and has probably shifted focus to compensation. I guess I'd be upset too if I went from an exit seat to a E- seat for an intl flight
I could not see any obvious reason from the flight status page. I know they've been swapping between V2 and V3 so perhaps that caused a glitch. I'm curious if there's any other resources to check for the reason. Though I think my Mom doesn't care much about the reason and has probably shifted focus to compensation. I guess I'd be upset too if I went from an exit seat to a E- seat for an intl flight
Jun 21, 2018, 7:40 am
#1814
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,471
There usually isn't any apparent reason.
UA doesn't typically comp for involuntary seat reassignments. If E+ was paid for, they will refund it.
UA doesn't typically comp for involuntary seat reassignments. If E+ was paid for, they will refund it.
Jun 21, 2018, 9:37 am
#1815
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Houston
Programs: United Silver, Hyatt Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 195
My last flight to EWR I had snagged the first row aisle of E+ at OLCI. As I was getting ready to board I noticed that my seat had changed to a middle about two rows back. I went to the gate agent and she immediately put me back on the aisle bulkhead. A very elderly lady ended up boarding (after me) and took the middle seat. Certainly they wouldn’t boot a “passnerger needing assistance” for a lowly silver would they?