Air China economy advance seat selection when using miles?
Apr 23, 2019, 11:14 am
#2
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: United GS, MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 598
I booked some award tickets in China and took advantage of the excursionist perk for the free one way within China. I was able to call air China and get my seats assigned
Apr 24, 2019, 6:44 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2012
Location: YOW
Programs: UA*1K, Marriott Titanium (LTP), Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,665
As @Chukiechz mentioned, the only way to select seats with CA is to call them. Unless it's booked on their site directly, seat selection (and anything other than validating your ticket.... and not in English) is not allowed for booking made through UA revenue, UA awards, Expedia, BudgetAir, Kayak, etc. - anyone other than making a direct AirChina.<whatever> booking.
Apr 24, 2019, 11:01 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: CO - Onepass Gold Elite--> UA - MileagePlus Gold Premier--> Silver --> AS - MileagePlan MVPGOLD!
Posts: 735
The call in system is also garbage.
In October, I flew SFO-PEK on their 747-8i, and also couldn't book a seat.
I called THREE times, and waited on hold for over an hour each time, and they STILL couldn't handle it. I was actually told a different story each time I called. First call said "no seat available; this flight all full". Second call said "I've selected seat 159Z for you." Third call said "We do not assign seats in economy class over the phone."
They did actually reserve me a seat at one point- a window in one of the very last rows (but not so far back as to be in the coveted 2-seat sets).
At check in, I was able to move to a window seat further forward, and actually ended up in a fantastic seat. Last row of zone 4, so seat 47A which had FULL recline in spite of what seatguru tells you.
And I also discovered that, once in the air, Air China is really a pretty great ride. Seat pitch was good, cushion thickness was great, PTV was good, food was good, etc.
But no, I invested way too much time trying to get a seat assignment. The operators for the USA number are clearly selected based on their ability to speak Mandarin.... NOT English. Communicating with them was challenging. YMMV.
So, best of luck to you on that!
In October, I flew SFO-PEK on their 747-8i, and also couldn't book a seat.
I called THREE times, and waited on hold for over an hour each time, and they STILL couldn't handle it. I was actually told a different story each time I called. First call said "no seat available; this flight all full". Second call said "I've selected seat 159Z for you." Third call said "We do not assign seats in economy class over the phone."
They did actually reserve me a seat at one point- a window in one of the very last rows (but not so far back as to be in the coveted 2-seat sets).
At check in, I was able to move to a window seat further forward, and actually ended up in a fantastic seat. Last row of zone 4, so seat 47A which had FULL recline in spite of what seatguru tells you.
And I also discovered that, once in the air, Air China is really a pretty great ride. Seat pitch was good, cushion thickness was great, PTV was good, food was good, etc.
But no, I invested way too much time trying to get a seat assignment. The operators for the USA number are clearly selected based on their ability to speak Mandarin.... NOT English. Communicating with them was challenging. YMMV.
So, best of luck to you on that!