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]
Mar 30, 2023, 1:32 pm
#286
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: 66,861
Yes, saw the two reports, but the explanation from UA still seemed to be an aircraft change. The other possibility is the seat sweep is being run unnecessarily.
Mar 30, 2023, 2:29 pm
#287
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,484
My involuntary seat reassignment was absolutely not an aircraft swap. The aircraft was, and still is, a 320. The email from 1kvoice admitted it was a problem with UA's systems ("We were informed that there is an error in the seat engine programming after we starting receiving emails from our 1K members") - no mention of an aircraft swap.
Mar 30, 2023, 2:37 pm
#288
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: 66,861
In the case of A320, UA only one seat configuration, so that eliminates one common cause, but there have been report cases of tail number changes or fat finger changes that generate seat sweeps. It takes some effort to dig thru the data to used the history to see what may have happen in between. If the seating sweep was unnecessary, hopeful that was been corrected. Curious what would be 1K specific. But as usual, we have very limited information to tried figure out the cause -- which does not change it happened, when it shouldn't.
Mar 30, 2023, 6:16 pm
#289
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: AA, Hyatt
Posts: 108
I just had this same issue with 3 of my next 4 trips. Went from aisle E+ to back of the plane window or middle on all three of the four flights.
I immediately called the 1K desk and unfortunately my best option was to take E+ middle seats for 2 of the 3 and a bulkhead aisle for the third flight.
I was told there was a recent “system glitch” that caused these problems. I wasn’t happy and expressed that to the agent. I was given a $250 future flight credit.
I immediately called the 1K desk and unfortunately my best option was to take E+ middle seats for 2 of the 3 and a bulkhead aisle for the third flight.
I was told there was a recent “system glitch” that caused these problems. I wasn’t happy and expressed that to the agent. I was given a $250 future flight credit.
Mar 31, 2023, 1:06 am
#290
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,484
I just had this same issue with 3 of my next 4 trips. Went from aisle E+ to back of the plane window or middle on all three of the four flights.
I immediately called the 1K desk and unfortunately my best option was to take E+ middle seats for 2 of the 3 and a bulkhead aisle for the third flight.
I was told there was a recent “system glitch” that caused these problems. I wasn’t happy and expressed that to the agent. I was given a $250 future flight credit.
I immediately called the 1K desk and unfortunately my best option was to take E+ middle seats for 2 of the 3 and a bulkhead aisle for the third flight.
I was told there was a recent “system glitch” that caused these problems. I wasn’t happy and expressed that to the agent. I was given a $250 future flight credit.
Mar 31, 2023, 7:52 am
#291
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: MSP/ORD
Programs: UA 1MM/GS, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 318
In many of the anecdotes shared on the Facebook group, it looks as though the application of PlusPoints was the trigger for the undesired and uncommunicated seat change. That could explain why it was 1K-specific.
Mar 31, 2023, 7:56 am
#292
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,484
Perhaps this is a new MP "feature." Apply PlusPoints, forfeit E+. An added dimension to the upgrade waitlist calculus. How badly do want that upgrade?
Last edited by Kacee; Mar 31, 2023 at 8:16 am
Mar 31, 2023, 8:19 am
#294
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: AA, Hyatt
Posts: 108
That explains why it wasn’t all of my flights. It indeed was only the flights I applied PlusPoints to.
Apr 23, 2023, 9:30 am
#295
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Prisoner of EWR
Programs: Lifetime AA Plat, UA status-less after 15 years
Posts: 153
UA randomly reassigning seats after I've already selected
Well, this is my first year as a non entity on UA in almost 15 years, no status whatsoever. We've mostly been using whatever airline has the best fare and schedule, but as EWR is our closest major airport, UA is often the most convenient. Not sure if this is because I'm a plebe MP now, or if this is an altogether other issue.
Have taken 2 RTs in the past 4 weeks, and have a couple more coming up, all domestic. We really don't care where we sit on shortish domestic flights, but in 3 out of 4 of the most recent flights, even though I selected seats when ticketing, as we get closer to departure, the seat assignments are gone, and we are all randomly around the cabin
I just looked again, flying SAV to EWR on tuesday, and again, we are scattered about the cabin, after having been together when I booked it.
I have the mostly useless Quest card, and was hoping that with Group 2, at least I would get some respect from the dystopian computers that runs the airline, but alas, no.
Any thoughts on this, or is this just the way it is now that I am a pond scum MP member
Have taken 2 RTs in the past 4 weeks, and have a couple more coming up, all domestic. We really don't care where we sit on shortish domestic flights, but in 3 out of 4 of the most recent flights, even though I selected seats when ticketing, as we get closer to departure, the seat assignments are gone, and we are all randomly around the cabin
I just looked again, flying SAV to EWR on tuesday, and again, we are scattered about the cabin, after having been together when I booked it.
I have the mostly useless Quest card, and was hoping that with Group 2, at least I would get some respect from the dystopian computers that runs the airline, but alas, no.
Any thoughts on this, or is this just the way it is now that I am a pond scum MP member
Apr 23, 2023, 10:14 am
#297
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,001
It happens all the time and is extremely frustrating for pax traveling together.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 23, 2023 at 10:47 am Reason: clean after merge; thanks for the link
Apr 23, 2023, 2:12 pm
#299
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Prisoner of EWR
Programs: Lifetime AA Plat, UA status-less after 15 years
Posts: 153
Well, its stuff like this that make me not regret going mercenary and no longer caring about FF programs. The upside is just no longer there to care about loyalty
Apr 23, 2023, 3:53 pm
#300
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,092