brp1264

I booked a SQ business award ticket a few months back and it let me choose seats on UA.com.

zitsky

Are they assigned at check in? It would be an award ticket, haven't booked yet. It's a long flight so not sure I want to get stuck in a window seat. I like to get up and walk around.

jsloan

There are no codeshares on award tickets.

You can select seat assignments for Singapore Airlines (SQ) operated flights on United.com or in the United app, for any seat that doesn't require payment. I believe that's most SQ seats (although, to be fair, I've never flown SQ in economy). You would also be able to select the seats on singaporeair.com or by contacting SQ.

zitsky

Thanks. If that's the case why can't I pick seats at booking? I'm trying to avoid getting stuck in middle seats.

FlytheTail

It looks like the seat maps are not working now at singaporeair.com. That, and I don't think there are any free seat selections in Y, but am not sure.

emcampbe

i think it may depend on type of fare (and maybe * status). Not sure about award tickets. I believe SQs most discounted fares don’t have seat selection in advance, and the more mid-price ones can select certain seats (ie rows in the back section of the Y cabin), while those on the higher fares should have access to most seats. It’s been a while since I’ve flown on SQ, and it was before the latest iteration of fare groups, but I know in the past as a *G I got to select seats toward the front of Y for no charge, and I was always on fares that earned UA RDM/PQM, but on the mid-high end of the fare class scale. I think it’s now all based on fare class, with some exceptions for the higher SQ status customers.

note that most carriers I’ve used consider award tickets in the higher end of benefits for things like seat selection - I’d assume the same for SQ, but not sure.

I don’t believe most - definitely some, but again, will depend on fare class. Again, don’t know for sure on awards.

you have 24 hours to cancel a ticket and refund miles without any fees. if you can’t select at booking, make the booking, then go to SQs website to select seats, or call for it. If they don’t have any you like, then just go back to UA and cancel for a full refund.

IME, however, with less and less people getting seat assignments for free, I find it easier to get decent ones at check in for free. For example, LH has only a small group of people (HON/SEN, I think) that gets them free, even on international flights. Most Y travelers aren’t willing to pay the $35 (or whatever it is) to select them in advance, so if you check in as soon as it is open, I find you can usually get the seats you want.

paperwastage

Sq doesn't have free seat selection on cheap Y tickets. Some fare classes have free seat selection (except some blocked seats for PPS)

Unsure how award tickets are booked. If not, you should be able to select seats T-48 hours or at check-in

Afaik UA and SQ PNRs are different systems, UA should tell you what the SQ PNR is

Kacee

UA now offers the ability to select seats on SQ flights through the UA website.

zitsky

Is that after you pay for the ticket?

Kacee

Yes. That's subject to any limitations SQ may place on seat selection. I've not booked an economy award on SQ and thus don't know whether that ticket allows free seat selection.

uastarflyer

Yes SQ allows it if the coach award seat is booked using UA miles. I have done this several times. Once UA tickets it they provide you an SQ record locator which you can use to select seats, special meals on SQ’s website via “manage booking”

I didn’t try seats on UA website as the passenger in question also wanted a special meal.