Random seat changes to UA itineraries after they are booked & purchased [ARCHIVE]
#1726
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,420
#1728
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: UA, 1K
Posts: 155
Was I "FAM-ed"? Just lost my nice 1D seat (48h prior to departure) on a 2 class 763 (international leg). Got a text message from United stating that "you have a new seat due to aircraft swap", but the aircraft did not change (same # as the one that has been showing in flight status for the past 3 days). Is this likely a FAM or should I call and try to get my seat back (unlikely, since the cabin is completely full now)?
Safe travels
Safe travels
#1729
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,878
Was I "FAM-ed"? Just lost my nice 1D seat (48h prior to departure) on a 2 class 763 (international leg). Got a text message from United stating that "you have a new seat due to aircraft swap", but the aircraft did not change (same # as the one that has been showing in flight status for the past 3 days). Is this likely a FAM or should I call and try to get my seat back (unlikely, since the cabin is completely full now)?
Safe travels
Safe travels
#1730
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
#1731
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
If the goal of a FAM is not to call attention to him/herself, then bumping an existing (and possibly travel-savvy) passenger out of one of the most desirable seats on that flight seems counter-productive.
#1732
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: FL 290 through FL390
Posts: 1,687
Seat swap with no notice
I went to check in for a flight a couple days ago, and saw that our seats for our flight got changed from when I'd made a reservation I'd made a couple weeks back. Instead of sitting in 30-something B & C, we were now in two B seats three rows apart. I called UA reservations, and could not get an explanation beyond that there might have been an equipment swap, and she noticed that I was a UA employee. Is this a normal thing, or does anyone think that maybe I was a sacrificial lamb because I've put in 31 years as a UA employee?
It was better than a cockpit jumpseat, but not by much.
FAB
It was better than a cockpit jumpseat, but not by much.
FAB
#1733
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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
Posts: 52,121
For many years: Random seat changes to UA itineraries after having an assigned seat [Consolidated]
Are you kidding? I used to love the jumpseat, back in the day when they allowed it.
Are you kidding? I used to love the jumpseat, back in the day when they allowed it.
#1734
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,420
#1735
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,165
I went to check in for a flight a couple days ago, and saw that our seats for our flight got changed from when I'd made a reservation I'd made a couple weeks back. Instead of sitting in 30-something B & C, we were now in two B seats three rows apart. I called UA reservations, and could not get an explanation beyond that there might have been an equipment swap, and she noticed that I was a UA employee. Is this a normal thing, or does anyone think that maybe I was a sacrificial lamb because I've put in 31 years as a UA employee?
It was better than a cockpit jumpseat, but not by much.
FAB
It was better than a cockpit jumpseat, but not by much.
FAB
#1736
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,878
I went to check in for a flight a couple days ago, and saw that our seats for our flight got changed from when I'd made a reservation I'd made a couple weeks back. Instead of sitting in 30-something B & C, we were now in two B seats three rows apart. I called UA reservations, and could not get an explanation beyond that there might have been an equipment swap, and she noticed that I was a UA employee. Is this a normal thing, or does anyone think that maybe I was a sacrificial lamb because I've put in 31 years as a UA employee?
It was better than a cockpit jumpseat, but not by much.
FAB
It was better than a cockpit jumpseat, but not by much.
FAB
#1737
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: FL 290 through FL390
Posts: 1,687
FAB
#1738
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
FAB
Plane swaps, with many having multiple variations, such as 4 for 738, 3 for 739, ... can spread folks out, especially if on separate PNRs (but even common PNRs).
#1739
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: FL 290 through FL390
Posts: 1,687
I would be very surprised you were picked out as an employee -- as this thread shows it regularity happens to all paying customers. The thread archove holds another 1,200+ posts. Multiple cases reported weekly and that is just a small portion of the actually cases.
Plane swaps, with many having multiple variations, such as 4 for 738, 3 for 739, ... can spread folks out, especially if on separate PNRs (but even common PNRs).
Plane swaps, with many having multiple variations, such as 4 for 738, 3 for 739, ... can spread folks out, especially if on separate PNRs (but even common PNRs).
Anyway, we got where we wanted to get, so I guess I should just shut up and color😜
Common PNR, BTW.
FAB
#1740
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: Marriott Gold, Delta Silver, United Silver, National Executive
Posts: 11
Have had this happen to be daily since I booked a ticket last Saturday. Called United and was given the canned answer of change of schedule or change of equipment (neither of which was true). I've decided this is their way to drive up traffic to their website...