Continental seat assignments

[wdwaholic]

Hi-
we are flying from Newark to MCO in August and My in-laws are finally able to join us .I was able to book them on the same flight down as us but was unable to get them pre-assigned seats as Continental said that the remaining seats have been turned over to the airport.I've called Continental every day to see if the seats were released back but today i was told that they won't be released back and I would have to wait til checkin to get them seats.they are both 83yo and I was hoping for pre-assigned seats.Should I continue to call every day or just wait til check-in?
Just another bump in the road to Disney

Trish

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Once an airline locks the seating chart, there's really nothing they can do until the day of the flight at the airport. I believe Continental offers online check in, so you can use their website 24 hours before your flight, and get a seating assignment that way.

Continuing to call the airline isn't going to help

 

[PammyK]

check in online 30 hrs before your flight and you should be okay. At that point, they often open up the seats that were reserved for their preferred FF customers, i.e. the seats near the front of the plane.

I always check in as early as possible on Continental and it has always worked out great for me.

 

[safetymom]

I have heard that the TSA has changed online check in to 24 hours. You might want to check your airlines website for that item.

If the flight is near full the only way you can get seats at this point is at the airport. Just get to the airport early and you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[prncess674]

try calling at 5 days, 3 days and 1 day out. These are the upgrade windows for elites. elites are upgraded at these windows to first class if space is available. When they move up it will open up seats in the economy cabin. These time frames are your best bets for seats opening up otherwise checkin online.

Check in online here
http://checkin.continental.com/travel/checkin/start.aspx

Check-in is permitted between 60 minutes and 24 hours before scheduled departure.

 

[Future Cast Member]

I fly Continental each and every time i fly. If you would like to be seated together, At check-in, Arrive at least an hour and a half and tell your check-in agent that you are one family flying together and demand that the seats are placed together. If you arrive early enough, they can juggle around the passengers not checked in. (believe me, ive seen them do it) Hope I Helped a little bit!!!

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by Future Cast Member
....one family flying together and demand that the seats are placed together...

Demanding anything of a ticket agent is the worst thing you could possibly do. I too am a Continental frequent flyer. 55,000 actual flight miles since January of this year, Platinum Elite. Rude DEMANDING passengers rarely get what they want. Try calling at the elite upgrade windows as I stated above. If you can't get them at those windows, try next to check in online exactly at the 24 hour mark, and if all else fails arrive early and CALMLY AND POLITLY explain to the ticket agent that you have small children who can not be separated from the adult. Be prepared that if you are 2 adults/2 children then the best the agent may be able to do is 2 seats and 2 seats. This would allow each child to be supervised. Remember it is only 2 hours and as long as each child is with an adult then you will survive.

 

[safetymom]

prncess674, I agree with you. Getting to the airport ticket counter early is the key. They have seats that they hold and can only be released at the airport on the day of departure.

Approach the agent with an understanding attitude and it will work wonders. Approach with a entitlement attitude and you won't get what you want.