Check your email preferences.

So are you saying that the example I provided is 'odd', or that the result of the algorithm results in odd seating for families? I would agree with the latter. That's my point.

The latter :)

Is there a method to the upgrade seating algorithm?
 

Interesting...when I get an advance CPU, ice found that I am always seated per my aisle preference assuming there is one and it assigns a seat at all.

There have also been a handful of times when I get the email saying seats will be assigned at the airport, I go online to select a seat, and it doesn't take, because apparently it decided to assign a different seat just ehen I went to select one. I find this very odd behavior.

SHARES clears NRSA starting in the E+ cabin based on seniority. They absolutely do not clear them into E-.

Like many, I of course have this box checked, and like many, I pretty much never get these e-mails (maybe ~10% of the time, best guess, since 3/3). PMUA wasn't perfect with this, but I was well over 50% in getting the notices.

Note that I went 2/2 last week on AA w/T-100 UGs and UG emails like clockwork though...somehow they've figured it out

And then read my post - I'm not talking about NRSAs, nor do I care about them. Of course NRSAs go into E+. I'm talking about revenue passengers on standby.

I've never cleared CPU without an email.

This seems to mesh exactly with what I've been seeing. Not that I clear CPUs at the 1K window much anymore, but when I do it always seems to throw me into row 1 which I really don't like because I'm not a fan of FC bulkhead seats with restricted legroom.

although spotty right after the merger, i have been receiving my upgrade emails about 20-30 minutes after the upgrade window opens (for the flights i have cleared - which has been the majority in 2013)

:) Depends on your status :)

To be fair, SHARES used to process NRSA from back to front, which means junior employees would get the best seats.

Thankfully this was reprogrammed in mid to late 2012.

I still prefer how legacy UA agents usually clear NRSA - one by one at the podium, and letting you know what seats are open.

And despite having it checked in my profile, I can't remember ever getting an email when a CPU cleared. Only time I have ever gotten an email is when a waitlisted (RPU/Award) segment cleared before the CPU window.

I agree 100%.

And while this really is a first world problem, this has become the hardest thing to acquire in this day in age of CPUs and especially ToD upgrades - two seats together.

My wife and I fly a lot and now that we have a baby, it isn't easy to be worrying about the baby+supplies and then ask folks if they don't mind swapping out seats, since it seems that if my CPU clears as a 1K, there are no other seats at all to select from.

I really really miss PMUA's way of doing this - I could *always* get two seats together, since I was active and *knew* when my upgrade would go through, since NF space was visible!

Wow, what a thought - systems that actually worked and were predictable...oh wait, Jeffy Jeff wouldn't make enough cash to fill his pockets with, if he did that! :td: :td: :td:

-jeremy

And THIS is exactly our situation.

On the other hand, I have yet to find anyone who refuses to swap seats considering their alternative is to sit next to a baby, LOL!

Interestingly, we went from being a 6A/6B couple on a 757 to a 1A/1B couple after kids. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to get the F bulkhead anymore because the CO algorithm auto-fills that row, whereas PMUA assumed (rightly so) that the F bulkhead was the least desirable seats in the cabin and thus the bulkhead seats often were available right up until the finally UGers were cleared at the gate.

And yes, it is truly a FirstWorldProblem..... and for sure, don't even THINK about complaining about it to any of your other parent friends! It's also not a topic that usually comes up on the MommyBlogs. ;)