Aircraft change (twice), system split my wife and I travelling on same PNR
Jul 28, 2019, 11:56 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Malta
Programs: KM Flypass, Qatar, Emirates
Posts: 192
Aircraft change (twice), system split my wife and I travelling on same PNR
Happily booked on the UA928 tomorrow from Heathrow to Chicago, booked 2 seats together for my wife and I, on the old style seats (2-1-2 - business).
Then yesterday got a notification of seat change, to discover plane had been changed to new Polaris seats (1-1-1), fantastic. My wife and I were sat one window and one centre, fine. I moved myself behind my wife, on the seat beside the aisle and my wife in the proper window seat.
Now just discovered the flight has changed again to another plane, with old style seats - but this time the computer has put my wife and I in window seats with strangers beside us (as its back to 2-1-2). Tried calling but as flight is almost full, all seats are assigned and they can't do anything.
So I guess I'm just going to have to wait until checkin to find out if they can move someone out of a seat. Seems a bit daft to me, as only 2 of us on the PNR that the computer (or person?) wouldn't put us together.
Then yesterday got a notification of seat change, to discover plane had been changed to new Polaris seats (1-1-1), fantastic. My wife and I were sat one window and one centre, fine. I moved myself behind my wife, on the seat beside the aisle and my wife in the proper window seat.
Now just discovered the flight has changed again to another plane, with old style seats - but this time the computer has put my wife and I in window seats with strangers beside us (as its back to 2-1-2). Tried calling but as flight is almost full, all seats are assigned and they can't do anything.
So I guess I'm just going to have to wait until checkin to find out if they can move someone out of a seat. Seems a bit daft to me, as only 2 of us on the PNR that the computer (or person?) wouldn't put us together.
Jul 28, 2019, 12:01 pm
#2
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Jul 28, 2019, 12:58 pm
#4
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Such is the tyranny of constant swaps.. everyone else will be in a similar situation so I don't think it would be hard to swap onboard to end up next to your wife if you ask politely.
Jul 29, 2019, 12:58 am
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Malta
Programs: KM Flypass, Qatar, Emirates
Posts: 192
So checkin tell me there is nothing they can do, even though lots of people haven’t checked in yet.
They’ve sent a message to the gate, to ask them to move someone but they tell me they have to ask that person’s permission first - even though that person is going to be in the same situation as us i.e. the system moved the seats around.
They’ve sent a message to the gate, to ask them to move someone but they tell me they have to ask that person’s permission first - even though that person is going to be in the same situation as us i.e. the system moved the seats around.
Jul 29, 2019, 1:12 am
#6
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,391
Random seat changes to UA itineraries after having an assigned seat [Consolidated]
It will generally work out. There's a good chance that you'll be able to make a trade that will work out to everyone's benefit.
Jul 29, 2019, 2:41 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Malta
Programs: KM Flypass, Qatar, Emirates
Posts: 192
Sorted. The gate sorted it, presumably by moving the person beside me who was on their own. Sorry to whoever it was, thank you for agreeing to change and sorry that Uniteds systems put us in this situation in the first place!
Jul 29, 2019, 5:04 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA, VS
Posts: 328
We're in a similar situation, I'm flying on UA929 from LHR to ORD in a couple of weeks with my wife. Originally we had a window pair in the old configuration, but with the planned introduction of the High J frames on UA929 from later this week, we've gone for 1L for my wife (who likes a true window seat) and 2L for me behind. I'm hoping there isn't a change back to the old configuration, but if there is I can imagine the exactly the same situation with us no longer seated together in the 2-1-2 layout.
Good news however, and gives me some piece of mind, that you're sorted for today. Have a safe trip.
Good news however, and gives me some piece of mind, that you're sorted for today. Have a safe trip.
Jul 29, 2019, 5:35 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
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Posts: 2,771
Very likely this will be a not infrequent occurrence on LHR routes for some weeks or months to come. Is there a way to protect against it. Eg if one has a seat common to all aircraft eg 3A then will one keep 3A when aircraft changes to and fro? Are they limiting sales of Polaris to 30 for these flights to avoid having to downgrade pax if change from high to low J configuration?
Jul 29, 2019, 7:17 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2013
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I've had this happen a few times. Most common is when one of us gets displaced by an air marshal.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 29, 2019 at 10:34 am Reason: Unneeded comment removed
Jul 29, 2019, 8:03 am
#11
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Yes.