Jan 4, 2015, 2:37 pm
Last edit by: sexykitten7
Archive thread - Random seat changes to UA itineraries after they are booked & purchased [ARCHIVE]
Potential causes {draft list -- needs work}
Potential causes {draft list -- needs work}
- Aircraft equipment changes (appears can be an issue even if the new aircraft is the same type)
- Computer "glitch" -- common explanation, real source unknown
- Weight & Balance issues
- Federal Air Marshal {FAM}
- Seats needed for passenger with medical / disability / .... issues {particularly a bulkhead issue}
- Pet in cabin {no bulkhead}
- Accommodating an high elite or VIP {somewhat unlikely, not standard company policy, and more likely to occur in a premium cabin}
- Accommodating a family group {not very likely and not standard company policy}
Random seat changes to UA itineraries after having an assigned seat [Consolidated]
Jan 12, 2022, 1:19 pm
#181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,228
Seats are never guaranteed. Your expectation of status-derived benefits is probably inflated - guaranteed seat requests is not one. A small ETC (smaller than $300) is the best you can expect. What possible fare difference are you referring to? You didn't pay extra for E+ AND you voluntarily moved to less legroom. Why row 12? Other seats taken and it was the only window/aisle left? DId you go online and check available seats or do you expect UA just to move someone else to accomodate you?
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Jan 12, 2022 at 5:58 pm
Jan 12, 2022, 1:50 pm
#182
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,769
Not following why a fare difference applies?
Especially on separate PNRs, but this can happen, less frequently, on a common PNR
Jan 12, 2022, 6:01 pm
#184
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
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Feb 10, 2022, 9:55 am
#185
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Independent
Posts: 470
Seat re-assignment fail
United swapped our plane for my flight tomorrow last night, and notified me of a new seat. All was well - I looked and it was acceptable. Until today when I moved to check in and they had moved from the 2nd E+ aisle to the window in front of the exit row without notifying me. Apparently reservations cannot actually move people around, so now I'm just stuck sitting upright while I try to work for four hours during the flight since the only other seats remaining are middles. I could gamble that some of those are on shared reservations hoping to get an extra spot, but that's not ideal. I'm ranting, but it happened to me twice in two weeks so here we are.
Has this been happening more to other people? Is there a way to avoid it? Really I have one plea to United: just tell us when you move our seats!
Has this been happening more to other people? Is there a way to avoid it? Really I have one plea to United: just tell us when you move our seats!
Feb 10, 2022, 10:16 am
#186
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Location: Honolulu Harbor
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Feb 10, 2022, 11:31 am
#187
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Independent
Posts: 470
Feb 10, 2022, 1:08 pm
#188
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Independent
Posts: 470
I called GS, and they acknowledged an equipment swap with the same seat map (even just a tail swap) can cause passengers to be reassigned, even if all seats are sold/assigned. The very nice agent was apologetic and said there was no way that reservations could swap seats (not even a supervisor) once all seats were assigned, even in a case like this -- even for GS. She said the only thing to do was get to the gate early and ask the GA to call up the neighboring pax and ask for a swap. Alright, I was prepared to do this.
Feb 25, 2022, 9:14 am
#189
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 142
Got moved from 9F to 9E. Agent says there wasn’t an aircraft change but can’t tell what happened. No open E+ window/aisle seats, so going to end up in a worse seat (unless a last minute seat opens up).
Feb 26, 2022, 9:52 am
#190
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Location: TOA
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Mar 3, 2022, 6:28 pm
#191
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 8
Just to add my data point. I've been flying United for a while (2MM) but this week, I've been moved from my selected seat (odd # row, window on a 787) to an aisle seat. Not a big deal since both flights were redeye but still an unusual experience for someone that's been flying United for 25 years. I did not get a notification of any equipment change or a seat change prior to checking in.
Mar 25, 2022, 1:03 pm
#192
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Gold Elite, Lowly kettle across every other loyalty program.
Posts: 781
Just wondering if the seat maps are accurate. I called and was assured that our assigned (F/J) seats are in the system, but when I looked on the website or app, my wife's seats show as available. Even stranger, when she looks on her account, mine are available. It's puzzling since both of our seats show as unassigned under one condition or the other.
After 26 years, being separated for an 8 hour flight isn't the end of the world for us by any means, but it just looks weird on the seat map. Besides, if we have to be separated, I'm going to grab a window seat since I don't get the chance very often.
After 26 years, being separated for an 8 hour flight isn't the end of the world for us by any means, but it just looks weird on the seat map. Besides, if we have to be separated, I'm going to grab a window seat since I don't get the chance very often.
Mar 25, 2022, 1:52 pm
#193
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,837
Just wondering if the seat maps are accurate. I called and was assured that our assigned (F/J) seats are in the system, but when I looked on the website or app, my wife's seats show as available. Even stranger, when she looks on her account, mine are available. It's puzzling since both of our seats show as unassigned under one condition or the other.
After 26 years, being separated for an 8 hour flight isn't the end of the world for us by any means, but it just looks weird on the seat map. Besides, if we have to be separated, I'm going to grab a window seat since I don't get the chance very often.
After 26 years, being separated for an 8 hour flight isn't the end of the world for us by any means, but it just looks weird on the seat map. Besides, if we have to be separated, I'm going to grab a window seat since I don't get the chance very often.
Mar 25, 2022, 3:00 pm
#194
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Programs: AA PPro, Mariott Gold Elite, Lowly kettle across every other loyalty program.
Posts: 781
I'm able to select her seats on two of the legs. I was told to ignore the seat map because the seats are on the reservation. We have separate reservations because of the strange path our FFC took from our original booking. What I don't want to have happen is to show up in August and find all the F/J seats are booked and one of us has to sit in the middle in E- on a 787.
Mar 25, 2022, 3:10 pm
#195
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,837
I'm able to select her seats on two of the legs. I was told to ignore the seat map because the seats are on the reservation. We have separate reservations because of the strange path our FFC took from our original booking. What I don't want to have happen is to show up in August and find all the F/J seats are booked and one of us has to sit in the middle in E- on a 787.