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How accurate on the online flight seating availability charts?

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How accurate on the online flight seating availability charts?

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Old Apr 28, 2013, 6:50 pm
  #1  
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Join Date: Mar 2013
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How accurate are the online flight seating availability charts?

Can I trust them?

I want to book a flight for this summer and want to makes sure I am able to reserve a particular flight.

Last edited by 17jwblue17; Apr 28, 2013 at 6:58 pm
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 6:51 pm
  #2  
 
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I have never had an issue with the UAL online system - make sure you are in "expert" mode
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 6:59 pm
  #3  
 
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Originally Posted by 17jwblue17
Can I trust them?

I want to book a flight for this summer and want to makes sure I am able to reserve a particular flight.
to make sure a particular seat is available before you book? Very accurate.

to try to gauge how full a flight is? Not very.
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 7:07 pm
  #4  
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Originally Posted by njcommodore
to make sure a particular seat is available before you book? Very accurate.

to try to gauge how full a flight is? Not very.

Can I obtain more accurate information regarding how full a flight is if I call United?
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 7:41 pm
  #5  
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If you want to reserve a flight, and they show seats as being available, then that's a good chance that there are seats on that flight. Like a close to 100% chance.

The seat map though won't show you accurately how many seats are left, nor will calling in.

It really doesn't matter what they tell you now for a summer flight, it can totally change by the time the flight gets here.
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 7:43 pm
  #6  
 
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Originally Posted by 17jwblue17
Can I obtain more accurate information regarding how full a flight is if I call United?
If you're signed into the website and have expert mode enabled, you'll be able to see how many seats are for sale in each bucket. If you see 9s for each bucket, plus a wide open seat map will give you an idea. UA won't tell you exact numbers.
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 7:56 pm
  #7  
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Originally Posted by njcommodore
If you're signed into the website and have expert mode enabled, you'll be able to see how many seats are for sale in each bucket. If you see 9s for each bucket, plus a wide open seat map will give you an idea. UA won't tell you exact numbers.
THat's the 2nd time we've told OP "expert mode" but he/she is clear that they want to call UA (and tie up phone lines). Another option is EF.
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 8:02 pm
  #8  
 
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Originally Posted by aacharya
Another option is EF.
EF = ExpertFlyer

A very useful tool for the frequent flier.
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 8:06 pm
  #9  
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Originally Posted by 17jwblue17
Can I obtain more accurate information regarding how full a flight is if I call United?
Might help if you explained why you want to know this info and how you plan to use it?

The rate at which flights fill up depends on multiple factors -- the origin / destination, leisure / business flight, day of week, special events / holidays, ... Not way to provide a useful answer without additional info -- on why the info is needed and some info on the flight.
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 8:28 pm
  #10  
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Join Date: Mar 2013
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Well this is confusing.

Why would UAL.com allow me to reserve a specific seat if it is not available?

I e-mailed United about this and received the following response. Turn around time was about half an hour which was impressive.

Dear Mr. Xxxx:

Thank you for your communication.

Our online seating charts are very accurate as they are updated several
times throughout the day.

We appreciate your patronage and look forward to welcoming you aboard
soon.

Sincerely,


United Airlines
I don't completely trust any customer service these days. In my experience, being given a correct answer from any lower level customer service representative is about a 75% proposition.

I welcome more answers.

I registered with Expert Flyer.

Last edited by 17jwblue17; Apr 28, 2013 at 8:35 pm
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 8:33 pm
  #11  
 
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If you reserve a seat while booking the flight you will have it. What in this thread makes you think otherwise?
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 8:33 pm
  #12  
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Originally Posted by 17jwblue17
Well this is confusing.

Why would UAL.com allow me to reserve a specific seat if it is not available?
There is nothing confusing here.

If a seat shows as taken, it is taken and not gonna be available unless a person who holds it cancels or changes to another seat / flight.

If a seat shows as vacant, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can buy a seat because there may be a person with a ticket into the that cabin who left his seat unassigned and who will take that seat when the time comes.
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 8:37 pm
  #13  
 
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Originally Posted by burlax

If a seat shows as vacant, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can buy a seat because there may be a person with a ticket into the that cabin who left his seat unassigned and who will take that seat when the time comes.
If the seat shows vacant and you buy it, it's yours. Period.
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 8:39 pm
  #14  
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Originally Posted by njcommodore
If the seat shows vacant and you buy it, it's yours. Period.
A vacant seat showing on a seating chart doesn't mean there are actually seats available in that cabin (unless something changed and UA started to block a seat for every unassigned pax).
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Old Apr 28, 2013, 8:39 pm
  #15  
 
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Originally Posted by njcommodore
If the seat shows vacant and you buy it, it's yours. Period.
Until they change it on you.
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