Flights on Monday?

[Foladar]

Keep in mind, I've never flown (and won't this time earlier) but my aunt is trying to fly out Kalamazoo to Orlando, and it seems just about every flight Orlando to Chicago, or whatever connecting flight back to Kalamazoo seems to be full (even though some are still offering the rate/flight) .. is this usual? Could seats open up in the near future? why are they still offering the flights? any insight is welcomed, ty!

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

When is she traveling? If the date is close at hand it is possible that the planes are full or are only offering high fares. If the date is still well in the future then it's highly unlikely that the flights are actually full, but the airlines may be sold out of the lower-priced inventory. If people don't bite at the higher fares, more seats could be opened up at lower fares. The airlines call this "inventory management".

BobK/Orlando

 

[kaytieeldr]

What do you mean, "full"? When you try to book and select your seats online, the seat plan appears to have nothing empty? Or when you try to actually pay for the ticket, you get a message, screen, etc. that won't let you complete the transaction?

 

[Foladar]

Shes traveling 16th - 23rd of Oct, and it shows all the seats "full" when you look at the seating arrangement.

 

[bavaria]

if there are no seats open on the seating chart, it is because

- only seats left in the elite zone and she's not elite
- only exit row seats left and they are under airport control
- the whole seat map is under airport control (usually 24 hours before flight)
- more than XX% of seats have been assigned; remainder fall under airport control

It does not mean that the flight is full by any means

 

[Foladar]

so could she possibly use AAA and get two seats next to eachother or because its showing full seats, she couldn't book it even though its being advertised?

 

[CarolA]

If they are selling seats she can buy one. However, if the seat map does not show two seats together then I don't think using AAA is going to help. Thier only option would be to show up early at the airport and see if the agent has some wiggle room to move them from the situations bavaria talked about.

I just went and tried to buy seats on this day. I found almost ALL the seating charts were showing lots of empty seats. It may be that you are reading the charts incorrectly. (NW also has this round trip for $198 which is a great rate!)

 

[Foladar]

I just went and tried to buy seats on this day. I found almost ALL the seating charts were showing lots of empty seats. It may be that you are reading the charts incorrectly. (NW also has this round trip for $198 which is a great rate!)

I was looking through NW too .. it seems all the upgrade seats are the open seats. The 3pm leaving from Orlando to Detroit seems to be the rough one, theres one non-premium seat available according to the seat chart but it allows me select it even though I have two people going. The 1pm flight has no seats available .. the only ones I can find is Orlando/Atlanta/Detroit/Kalamazoo flight, yikes.

We were hoping for an early morning flight (i saw some @ 6am) and some later flight returning, 3pm or 6pm. I believe AA had a few seats left, but at 250PP instead of ~218.

 

[bicker]

A bit OT: Please remember, folks, that you're not buying seats. Seat assignments are extended as a courtesy, and can be retracted after confirmed without notice and without reason. You're purchasing passage only. (Now back to our regular thread...)

 

[CarolA]

I was looking through NW too .. it seems all the upgrade seats are the open seats. The 3pm leaving from Orlando to Detroit seems to be the rough one, theres one non-premium seat available according to the seat chart but it allows me select it even though I have two people going. The 1pm flight has no seats available .. the only ones I can find is Orlando/Atlanta/Detroit/Kalamazoo flight, yikes.

We were hoping for an early morning flight (i saw some @ 6am) and some later flight returning, 3pm or 6pm. I believe AA had a few seats left, but at 250PP instead of ~218.

Well it's been a few days since I looked but the NW seat charts I was looking at were one connection leaving early in the morning from Detroit. I didn't check the return since it sounded like you were having problem on the first flight.

My suggestion is that you need to book SOON, you are getting very close. I would quit worrying about the seating chart and BUY tickets.... I think you are gettin fixated on the seating chart and that's not the goal, getting on the plane is. As Bicker points out you aren't guranteed the seat you pick under any circumstances. So paying more for AA does not assure you those seats you picked out.