American Airlines anyone else have a seat assignment moved due to Automation?

[gharter]

Our flight leaves in 3 days. I checked yesterday and we had decent seats assigned. I checked today and we had no seat assignments. The flight is quite full except for pay extra seats. I grabbed the last 2 seats near the back of the plane. Chatted with American tonight. Was told that our seats were moved due to "automation" which could be for security reasons or other reasons. They offered to let us pay more for the open seats, keep what I was able to get or see if we can move up at the airport. Luckily its the second half of the flight, so we don't have to worry about connecting flights. I can't help but feel "automation" means someone else paid more for their ticket and we got bumped.

 

[_19disnA]

Never heard of the term 'automation' as it relates to seat assignments, so I have no idea what that means. If a different aircraft or seating configuration changed the airplane's capacity is an example that could explain why some of the seat assignments had to change, but the person could have explained it better. Normally, when I do my seat assignment, the online seat map only lets me choose from unassigned seats that are still available.

 

[gharter]

I thought it was weird as well. The flight time and plane had not changed.

 

[sam_gordon]

I thought it was weird as well. The flight time and plane had not changed.

I just want to double check the bolded. Are you sure the actual aircraft didn't change? A different aircraft could have slightly different seating configuration causing the change.

 

[AZGurl]

That happened to me the last time I flew American from Phoenix to Newark. Checked in right at 24 hours, selected a premium seat (as I am entitled to do as a Gold member), but by the time I arrived at the airport it had suddenly changed. Worked out okay (I got a different seat that was almost as good), but it was pretty clear after the boarding process that the passenger that was sitting in my original seat had more status than I did. Lol.

 

[staceychev]

I had this happen once, but it was when they changed the plane being used. I was so annoyed - I had had great seats and lost them.

 

[Moliphino]

I had this happen once, but it was when they changed the plane being used. I was so annoyed - I had had great seats and lost them.

My family had it happen when flying to Paris. I picked seats together right at the 24 hour mark, then we checked in at the airport and discovered that I was randomly sitting 10 rows in front of the rest of my family. Turns out literally everyone on the plane's seating got messed up by the change and there were a lot of unhappy people at that gate.

 

[gharter]

I just want to double check the bolded. Are you sure the actual aircraft didn't change? A different aircraft could have slightly different seating configuration causing the change.

exact same seating configuration, flight number didn't change, plane type didn't change.

 

[gharter]

it was pretty clear after the boarding process that the passenger that was sitting in my original seat had more status than I did. Lol.

I have no proof, but I suspect that or somebody paid more for their seat and we got moved.

 

[sam_gordon]

exact same seating configuration, flight number didn't change, plane type didn't change.

Flight number doesn't matter. Does your current flight have the same number of rows as previously?

 

[gharter]

Flight number doesn't matter. Does your current flight have the same number of rows as previously?

same type of plane, same seating arrangement and rows.

 

[sam_gordon]

same type of plane, same seating arrangement and rows.

Then I'm at a loss. Maybe try calling the airline? Delta did this to me once where I had selected a window seat (I'm like a kid), and they moved me to a middle. I called and it turned out they had changed aircraft eliminating a single row of seats which caused a chain reaction.

 

[gharter]

I talked to customer service and their supervisor last night and all I got was the "automation" explanation, they were sorry I was bumped and lost our other seats. Nothing they can do about it, but we can pay for better seats if we like.
Annoying, but we have seats and its the flight into Orlando, so we don't have to worry about catching a connecting flight.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Unfortunately this happens all the time...especially with American. Even a change from a same type of plane with the same amount of rows/seats can cause this. Usually it happens closer to departure....when a specific flight has been assigned a specific plane. But it can happen further out with a change in flight number or the more obvious plane type being switched.

 

[kanerf]

That happened to me the last time I flew American from Phoenix to Newark. Checked in right at 24 hours, selected a premium seat (as I am entitled to do as a Gold member), but by the time I arrived at the airport it had suddenly changed. Worked out okay (I got a different seat that was almost as good), but it was pretty clear after the boarding process that the passenger that was sitting in my original seat had more status than I did. Lol.

Did they have a Platinum Halo?

 

[gharter]

Did they have a Platinum Halo?

Clearly they did. I will look on our flights, but I expect to see it glowing from many rows behind.

 

[leebee]

DD's honeymoon is coming up and she told me the other day that there'd been a flight time change (we are the airport transportation) but she wasn't concerned. I checked the reservation and instead of having 2 seats together or each leg, they are in completely different rows/areas of the plane. Glad I checked, there were still several side-by-side seats available, free, so we moved them. No biggie, but I wondered if maybe they were trying to open up 3-spots, so that if there were families trying to book there'd be something open... certainly easier than trying to beg people to give up their seats at the airport.

 

[JimMIA]

Our flight leaves in 3 days. I checked yesterday and we had decent seats assigned. I checked today and we had no seat assignments. The flight is quite full except for pay extra seats. I grabbed the last 2 seats near the back of the plane. Chatted with American tonight. Was told that our seats were moved due to "automation" which could be for security reasons or other reasons. They offered to let us pay more for the open seats, keep what I was able to get or see if we can move up at the airport. Luckily its the second half of the flight, so we don't have to worry about connecting flights. I can't help but feel "automation" means someone else paid more for their ticket and we got bumped.

When you booked your flight, did you buy assigned seats? Or were you paying a lower fare and hoping for the best?

 

[gharter]

We were able to pick our seats and modify them as we desired. We were not flying the economy where they put you where ever.

 

[JimMIA]

We were able to pick our seats and modify them as we desired. We were not flying the economy where they put you where ever.

In that case, I think you are right -- someone either paid more for those seats, or had some level of frequent flyer status and bumped you. With the normal economy fare on American (NOT Basic Economy, where your seats are assigned at the gate), you can select your seats at booking, but they are not guaranteed.

Sorry that happened to you, but it is within the bounds of their economy fare procedures.