Jan 30, 2024, 12:22 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is DYKWIA stories (Traveling on United Airlines)
DYKWIA stories (Travelling on United Airlines) (Archive)
Apr 27, 2015, 12:23 pm
#796
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 106
Not that I have anything to go on, but... I wonder if that's really the case. *shrug*
Asking? Nothing wrong with that. Pushing (which was mentioned a couple times)? Plenty wrong. 
I think it makes perfect sense. First come, first served. Not sitting together isn't the end of the world, despite what people seem to think. Even, in all honesty, with young children. I guess I'm just overly laissez-faire about the whole thing. I'll sit in E- for 11 hours. *shrug*
Of course, I generally book 2+ months in advance.
It doesn't really make sense to me to say, the only way to get seats together is to book weeks in advance. Last-minute travel is a real thing and the airlines generally monetize it by keeping seats available at a high price. It would make sense imho if they also did more to ensure there is decent seat selection for those last-minute purchasers.
People do not have to move---of course they don't---but I see nothing wrong with asking.
People do not have to move---of course they don't---but I see nothing wrong with asking.
I think it makes perfect sense. First come, first served. Not sitting together isn't the end of the world, despite what people seem to think. Even, in all honesty, with young children. I guess I'm just overly laissez-faire about the whole thing. I'll sit in E- for 11 hours. *shrug*
Of course, I generally book 2+ months in advance.
Apr 27, 2015, 12:37 pm
#797
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: UA- GS, SPG- Plat, HH-Diamond, Hyatt- Diamond, Marriott- Plat
Posts: 21
Apr 27, 2015, 2:55 pm
#798
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: UA Plat, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 677
The problem is that unless things have changed it is sometimes impossible for no status passengers to get assigned seats even if they book months ahead of time.
My experience is from early 2001 flying on PM UA. Tickets bought 5 months ahead of time. Repeated checking / requests to get assigned seats on a monthly and then weekly basis as the flight date approached, all to no avail. Seats assigned at check-in. All middles.
Can someone confirm that this has changed such that no status passengers on UA can now definitely get assigned seats if they book with sufficient lead time?
My experience is from early 2001 flying on PM UA. Tickets bought 5 months ahead of time. Repeated checking / requests to get assigned seats on a monthly and then weekly basis as the flight date approached, all to no avail. Seats assigned at check-in. All middles.
Can someone confirm that this has changed such that no status passengers on UA can now definitely get assigned seats if they book with sufficient lead time?
Apr 27, 2015, 3:34 pm
#799
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
The problem is that unless things have changed it is sometimes impossible for no status passengers to get assigned seats even if they book months ahead of time.
My experience is from early 2001 flying on PM UA. Tickets bought 5 months ahead of time. Repeated checking / requests to get assigned seats on a monthly and then weekly basis as the flight date approached, all to no avail. Seats assigned at check-in. All middles.
Can someone confirm that this has changed such that no status passengers on UA can now definitely get assigned seats if they book with sufficient lead time?
My experience is from early 2001 flying on PM UA. Tickets bought 5 months ahead of time. Repeated checking / requests to get assigned seats on a monthly and then weekly basis as the flight date approached, all to no avail. Seats assigned at check-in. All middles.
Can someone confirm that this has changed such that no status passengers on UA can now definitely get assigned seats if they book with sufficient lead time?
Apr 27, 2015, 4:35 pm
#800
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 106
The problem is that unless things have changed it is sometimes impossible for no status passengers to get assigned seats even if they book months ahead of time.
My experience is from early 2001 flying on PM UA. Tickets bought 5 months ahead of time. Repeated checking / requests to get assigned seats on a monthly and then weekly basis as the flight date approached, all to no avail. Seats assigned at check-in. All middles.
Can someone confirm that this has changed such that no status passengers on UA can now definitely get assigned seats if they book with sufficient lead time?
My experience is from early 2001 flying on PM UA. Tickets bought 5 months ahead of time. Repeated checking / requests to get assigned seats on a monthly and then weekly basis as the flight date approached, all to no avail. Seats assigned at check-in. All middles.
Can someone confirm that this has changed such that no status passengers on UA can now definitely get assigned seats if they book with sufficient lead time?
edit: with 2 exceptions, all flights E-
Last edited by pdxkankuu; Apr 27, 2015 at 4:37 pm Reason: clarification
Apr 27, 2015, 5:08 pm
#801
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Maryland
Programs: United, Turkish
Posts: 640
Had a flight to SEA a while ago. GF arrives at the gate about 10 minutes before departure, he yells (literally) at the GA because he didn't get an UG. Gets the UG, then yells some more about wanting a different seat. Tells the GA he's GF at least six times. Gets on the plane, overhead above his seat is taken. Confronts at least two pax to ask if they have "poached" his storage space. Ends us putting his bag in the overhead one seat back. On landing, he knocks an old lady over to get back to his bag, then tells her "I guess you don't fly much, you need to let people move back to get their bag."
I think the expression should be JERK not DYKWIA.
I think the expression should be JERK not DYKWIA.
and then she says
Oh and that reminds me, we do have a seat for you.But Im afraid the upgrade did not clear
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" He chortled in his joy
Apr 27, 2015, 8:59 pm
#803
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,704
Might have been the same guy or similar. DW is ambulatory disabled. We were holding Paid F seats out of SFO. DYKWIA is told he has to wait for his s upgrade and he crowds the front of the line. They call for boarding for the Handicapped and we start for the gate agent . He turns red and growls loud "there's a LINE" GA smiles , says Yes there is and they are ahead of you.
and then she says
Oh and that reminds me, we do have a seat for you.But Im afraid the upgrade did not clear
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" He chortled in his joy
and then she says
Oh and that reminds me, we do have a seat for you.But Im afraid the upgrade did not clear
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" He chortled in his joy
Apr 27, 2015, 10:40 pm
#804
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
Or choose E- for free
Might have been the same guy or similar. DW is ambulatory disabled. We were holding Paid F seats out of SFO. DYKWIA is told he has to wait for his s upgrade and he crowds the front of the line. They call for boarding for the Handicapped and we start for the gate agent . He turns red and growls loud "there's a LINE" GA smiles , says Yes there is and they are ahead of you.
and then she says
Oh and that reminds me, we do have a seat for you.But Im afraid the upgrade did not clear
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" He chortled in his joy
and then she says
Oh and that reminds me, we do have a seat for you.But Im afraid the upgrade did not clear
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" He chortled in his joy
Apr 27, 2015, 10:49 pm
#805
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVP 100K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, UA 1MM,
Posts: 1,710
As a 1K, I have booked flights where no seat assignments were available. This is usually very last minute or for IROPs. With any kind of reasonably full flight, it is inevitably going to happen for one reason or another.
Apr 28, 2015, 12:23 am
#806
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
Apr 28, 2015, 1:34 am
#807
Formerly known as Stephenk19
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 409
For the rest of us, you can still hear a child crying whether they are sitting next to you or five rows back.
Apr 28, 2015, 5:04 am
#808
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,697
The problem is that unless things have changed it is sometimes impossible for no status passengers to get assigned seats even if they book months ahead of time.
My experience is from early 2001 flying on PM UA. Tickets bought 5 months ahead of time. Repeated checking / requests to get assigned seats on a monthly and then weekly basis as the flight date approached, all to no avail. Seats assigned at check-in. All middles.
Can someone confirm that this has changed such that no status passengers on UA can now definitely get assigned seats if they book with sufficient lead time?
My experience is from early 2001 flying on PM UA. Tickets bought 5 months ahead of time. Repeated checking / requests to get assigned seats on a monthly and then weekly basis as the flight date approached, all to no avail. Seats assigned at check-in. All middles.
Can someone confirm that this has changed such that no status passengers on UA can now definitely get assigned seats if they book with sufficient lead time?
Apr 28, 2015, 7:38 am
#809
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
What I understood from the post was that non-status pax weren't allowed to book seats in advance, not a question of availability. Hence, "even with enough advance purchase that there would be seats," they were still unable to choose seats
Apr 28, 2015, 9:47 am
#810
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
Don't know if UA still does it but they used to only let a percentage of E- seats get preassigned. They would hold back a chunk of seats for airport assignment or check-in, can't remember which.