Is United now actively trying to block party of two, window+aisle bookings?
Jan 28, 2021, 4:50 pm
#76
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Are they trying to stop the practice? Or is this merely a consequence of frequent equipment changes, and computer seating algorithms?
Jan 28, 2021, 5:08 pm
#77
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No, they are not trying to stop the practice - it's the same silliness that was going on at Alaska when they were <cough> trying to "socially distance" customers and wanted all parties traveling together to be seated together, enabling the airline to spread around solo travelers. It was deliberate at Alaska, but with United no longer blocking middle seats or doing anything remotely useful to reduce contagion risk (other than cost cutting), the current seating changes are more likely the byproduct of the usual IT incompetence around aircraft or schedule changes.
Jan 28, 2021, 10:52 pm
#78
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There is no difference in these scenarios:
1. Person A and Person B are traveling together and buy tickets together on one PNR, book Window/Aisle Seats
2. Person A and Person B are traveling together and buy separate tickets, one books Window, one books Aisle
3. Person A and Person B are wholly unaffiliated with one another and buy tickets on the same flight, happen to buy at a similar time on the same row - one books Window and one books Aisle
In all of the above scenarios no one wants to buy the middle seat.
Jan 28, 2021, 11:10 pm
#80
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This may not be analogous to the fact pattern being discussed.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 28, 2021 at 11:41 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by the same member
Jan 29, 2021, 12:07 am
#81
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(Argument about the validity of such choices by travel companions is taking the thread off-topic and drowning out its intended function.)
Each of us enjoys the preferred seat type that we are permitted to use under the contract of carriage and the MileagePlus terms and conditions. 
Sorry for this "off-topic" digression.
Jan 30, 2021, 7:23 pm
#82
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Not sure if this has been reported before, but I have a trip in about 3 months. My flight number was changed last night (not aircraft type or times) and on the “new” flight they moved my companion and me from aisle and window to aisle and middle in the same row. The window seat wasn’t taken so I moved us back to our original seats.
Feb 12, 2021, 3:53 am
#83
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Does UA not want me to leave middle seat open?
Flying with my 17 year old son in 7A/7C - booked trip a few months ago. Today I notice they moved him to 7B. 7C is now open. Switched it back but curious if UA has started doing this now? Flight is in 2 days.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 12, 2021 at 7:56 am Reason: merged with exisiting thread
Feb 12, 2021, 4:02 am
#84
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Yes, I believe they have cracked down on this practice. It has been reported elsewhere that seats on the same booking get placed together.
Feb 12, 2021, 5:45 am
#85
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Interesting! I have never heard this before.
Normally, I choose two aisle seats (C and D on B737). Therefore, UA algorithm won’t bother me.
Normally, I choose two aisle seats (C and D on B737). Therefore, UA algorithm won’t bother me.
Feb 12, 2021, 7:12 am
#86
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I wish I could find the thread but it has come up here a few times.
Feb 12, 2021, 7:34 am
#87
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To my understanding, it is still unknown whether they are actually 'cracking down' on aisle/window bookings, or if they have simply not accounted for it when aircraft configurations get shuffled.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 12, 2021 at 7:57 am Reason: cleanup after merge;,thanks for the link
Feb 12, 2021, 10:38 am
#88
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Feb 12, 2021, 10:54 am
#89
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Moderators - thanks for finding this thread and merging mine into it.
I suspect that UA sells that EC+ seat a lot easier if it is an Aisle or Window.
and... we have always moved next to each other if someone is in the middle.
But.. Delta blocks the middle seat and personally, since my Plus Points probably won't clear on this flight, I would MUCH rather have the row to myself with my son and NOT have someone else in here.
So... have this minor challenge with UA wanting to maximize revenue (and I get it, times are tough) and my safety - especially when the airline they want to be someday doesn't even book someone in that middle seat!
I suspect that UA sells that EC+ seat a lot easier if it is an Aisle or Window.
and... we have always moved next to each other if someone is in the middle.
But.. Delta blocks the middle seat and personally, since my Plus Points probably won't clear on this flight, I would MUCH rather have the row to myself with my son and NOT have someone else in here.
So... have this minor challenge with UA wanting to maximize revenue (and I get it, times are tough) and my safety - especially when the airline they want to be someday doesn't even book someone in that middle seat!
Feb 12, 2021, 11:07 am
#90
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It is to increase social distancing
I say this is done in an effort to infection risk, when people in same household are seated together.
If same household member on seat a and c are both infected, the passenger D across the isle may get infected being close to C, therefore seating people together as much as possible benefits social distancing.
If same household member on seat a and c are both infected, the passenger D across the isle may get infected being close to C, therefore seating people together as much as possible benefits social distancing.