E+ Seats Released for all Prior to Check-in?
Jun 9, 2019, 2:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 8
E+ Seats Released for all Prior to Check-in?
Flying tomorrow (6/10) on UA883 from LHR to EWR. The plane is the new 767 high-j config with PP seats (service not offically started so these are still considered E+). Was on the same aircraft on the way here and had no issue selecting a PP seat at check-in as a free E+ seat as a silver member.
Return flight on 883 was also showing seats open all over E+ ~36 hours before, but at T-24 check-in there are no selectable seats. I cant even move from my standard E seat to another E seat. Does this mean that the system auto-assigned all of those E+ seats to passengers without seat assignments before the check-in window opened? I checked in right on time so I find it hard to believe nearly 20 E+ seats were grabbed by others before I got through.
I even called in and the phone agent told me the flight is oversold and every seat is taken. Wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience...
Return flight on 883 was also showing seats open all over E+ ~36 hours before, but at T-24 check-in there are no selectable seats. I cant even move from my standard E seat to another E seat. Does this mean that the system auto-assigned all of those E+ seats to passengers without seat assignments before the check-in window opened? I checked in right on time so I find it hard to believe nearly 20 E+ seats were grabbed by others before I got through.
I even called in and the phone agent told me the flight is oversold and every seat is taken. Wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience...
Jun 9, 2019, 6:39 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
It is also entirely possible that passengers monitoring the seating situation have seen the declining availability of "good" seats and have decided to pay for E+. If indeed the flight is overbooked and at risk of oversale, it would most likely mean that E- seats cannot be assigned and, if assignable, are the worst on the aircraft. Exactly the situation where someone playing the odds figures it is better to pay up.
Jun 9, 2019, 8:59 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,381
for OP's flight, even though seat map and flight status page shows Economy full, UA is still willing to sell 6 economy seats (with plenty of J seats 15 unassigned/8 willing to sell)
my guess is some GS/1K/Plat will get bumped up to J - OP should keep an eye on open E+/PP seats
Jun 9, 2019, 9:10 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,889
That has never been the case, at least in my memory. You can check in to all your connecting flights at T-24 of the first flight, with some potential exceptions (need to produce a visa to an agent, SSSS, etc.). Silvers can also select E+ seats for free for all connections at T-24 of the first flight (however, the seatmap will act like it will charge you for connections beyond 24 hours, but there will be no checkout page).
Jun 9, 2019, 9:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,381
maybe that's why i thought it was the case... will test it another time, thanks
Jun 9, 2019, 9:13 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 127
There does seem to be a maximum somewhere around 48 hours which I’ve experienced in the past on multi segment trips spread out over a long period of time.