E+ questions
 

I have no UA status. I am flying SJC IAD. If the machine check-in offers purchasing E+, and I accept, will I get to chose seats, and refuse if they aren't acceptable (aisle only, please)? Will the same option be offered if I check in with a person? On the web?

I will have 24, 840 miles when I board IAD FRA (744) in November. Am I correct that 25K allows me to select E+ ? Might they allow E+ if I ask?

May I select E+ for the return when I arrive in FRA?

Sylvia, new to perks from United

you should definetly be able to get E+ on the way back, it might take a couple of days to get the status posted but you can push it by calling

just make sure that you're not gonna fly on an LH plane code share with no E+

E+ may be offered to you on your SJC-IAD flight. Before you purchase, I would ask the CSR what seats are available in E+. They may tell you, they may not. At least you made the effort. Should not do this and purchase the E+ option but no like what you are offered, then caveat emptor! You may be locked in.

As for your later flight IAD-FRA, you can call MP and ask for them to grant you 2P status, once the flight is booked (There have been several threads on this). Unless, you are a 2P (25,000 EQM/30 EQS), thenyou are not entitled to E+. On your return though, you should be able to change your seats to E+.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your trips!

viewing E+ availability? SFO FRA 900 November 10
 

** aisle seats in E+ SFO FRA 900 November 10

Because New Orleans was in the middle of a complex ticket, I've rebooked and am now flying SFO FRA 900 November 10. The only economy aisle left is 49H, which I have. (Part of this was a FRA TUN award; LH cancelled those flights <sigh>, so the whole thing was booked 330 days out with my first choice of seats.)

I will now have 25K miles before that flight, the last bit earned November 4.

Members here have encouraged me to call now and try to get a better seat. Entry-level ticketing has said "Oh, no. Everyone wants E+ several times when I mentioned it in conjunction with all the rebooking." Before I pursue this, ask for a supervisor, I wonder if anyone here has a way to view the seat map - I'm told staff can't even see E+ if I haven't yet qualified.

So, are there any acceptable aisle seats in E+ SFO FRA 900 November 10? My choice is aisle on the right, C if it's three across, B if it's two across.

Sylvia

At the Easy Check-In kiosks you can accept the offer, than decline if you can't find a seat you like on the seatmap. I've done this (accepted, than decline) when only middles were available.

Only do this with the knowledge that granting 2P at this stage might be counted as using your one time status match opportunity. Only you can bdecide if this is worth the risk.

That is a great point. Caveat Emptor!

I was already comped Premier once, a few years ago. But even if I try to ask again, I would prefer to have an idea of what is available first. If there are all middle seats in E+, I'll stay in 49H.

It's sounding like I must wait until the miles that put me over 25K actually post.

Sylvia

Which takes a couple days anyway,

Good Luck

FWIW, the UA 900 is showing mostly all of the E+ cabin unassigned as of today. I can only count four aisle seats taken in the enitre cabin. Note that 51D is available, an aisle bulkhead in the rear cabin middle grouping of four. Seat Guru says not too bad (good leg room), but as is the bulkhead seat, tray is in armrest. 51G is only seat taken in that grouping, so might luck out and get no one next to you, or unluck out and get a baby next to you.

When I first hit premier, it was during a transatlantic flight, somwhere over the Atlantic. Since I was a general member at the start of the flight, I was only able to reserve seats in E-. At the gate, I told the agent that I was hitting premier during this flight, and I asked if it might be possible to get an E+ seat. Without flinching, he said, "Sure!" and gave me a fresh boarding pass with an E+ seat.

I'd consider trying this at the gate yourself, SylviaCaras. They can only say no. Doing it over the phone might work, too, but the computer could sweep you out of that seat. I would try this "speech" at the airport only.

Also, they may be less forgiving with E+ seats now that they sell them as an upgrade or try to sell the Economy Plus Access, but since you'd be hitting Premier on the flight, you've got a pretty good shot. Good luck.

Asking again at the gate is a good idea, cakobau, thanks.

LHR Tim, that's just what I wanted to know - do I have any access to the actual flight seat map myself? - I don't see where I have access to seat assignments on united.com (most of my United trips are under contract and a designated travel agent books).

Sylvia

You can pull up a seat map by doing a fake booking using "full flight search" or "more search options" on united.com. If you are not elite, start making a reservation for your existing itinerary, but choose a full unrestricted fare from the pulldown. Then, when it asks for your credit card #, there is a spot on the page to click to select seats. That will pull up the live seat map.

Just don't click purchase! (And if you do, by mistake, you can call United within 24 hours, and cancel...)

But remember, you can't (yet) change your seats on united.com. :td:

You can try to see what seats you DO have by looking at the My Itineraries link on the site. If you don't have seats assigned, make sure you call United and get some.

And be sure to consult www.seatguru.com to see where the good seats are, so you can make an even more informed seating decision...

Good luck.

Just go through the act of purchasing a flight on united.com. When you get to the "Shop for Flights" page, just select "Economy - no restrictions". This should kick you into a Y/B fare and get you access to E+ seats.

Go through the booking all the way to the last page - when you get to select your seat you'll see what's available.

And unless your flight out of SJC is one of the first ones in the morning, you should be able to go to a ticket agent for check in with no problem.

Not totally true. Once you're within 24 hours of flight time and can check in online, you can go through the online checkin process, change your seats, then click on the "Log out" link.

Your newly selected seats will be saved, even if you don't actually check in.