Northwest seating assignment

[abcboys]

Does anyone have any idea how the Northwest seating assignment works? I thought it said a seat would be assigned for you or you could go in at 90 days prior and choose seats. So I am right at 89 or 90 days and I go to select seats and there are only 6 available seats (there are 5 of us). None of them are together. Some are front to back but none are sitting together. Do you think some of the seats that says "occupied" are for us?? I just can't figure it out. I don't mind being split up like 2 and 3 but I'm sure my 2 year old can't sit by himself. Do you really think these are the only available seats or do you think we already have seats assigned to us by the system? I've searched the site and can't find the answer?

 

[abcboys]

Ah well, I sent an email to northwest and they said that.....well here is the email. I guess I can't do seat selections yet. I thought it said I could do it at 90 days but I guess not. I'm a newbie here and just don't want any surprises.

Thank you for contacting nwa.com Customer Service.

We are unable to accommodate your request for seats via e-mail. You
have confirmed reservations on our flight, but we cannot tell you which
specific seat will be accommodating you. We recommend checking in early
in order to ensure flexibility in seating. Please be aware that
Northwest holds some seats from advance seat selection and releases them
for the check-in process. These seats become available approximately
2-24 hrs prior to departure.

However, if you would like to review seat options further, please call
nwa.com Customer Service at 1-800-692-6955. Please be aware that if we
are able to pre-assign seats for you, a $15 Call Center Assistance Fee
will apply per passenger.

I trust this information will help regarding your reservation.

Thank you for choosing Northwest Airlines. We value your patronage and
consider it a privilege to serve your travel needs.

 

[DebbieB]

You can look at your reservation on their website. It will show if seats were already assigned for you. If not, I would try calling. If you wait until check-in, chances are there will not be seats together.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I had similar problems with United, not Northwest on the tickets I bought for my DD, her DH, and 3yo grandson over Christmas. They had seat assignments together, then 2 weeks before travel, United reassigned everyone, putting them all in separate areas of the plane! The phone agent said they could do nothing about it.
I made sure they got to the airport good and early, and the wonderful counter agent solved the problem by bumping them all up to first class! Woohoo!

 

[Befferk]

I had no problems on NWA at 90 days (actually they were available the night before). Be sure you are going through the link in your email to get to your reservation, then check the seats. Your assigned seats will show up in a different color than the rest of the seats. Then you can click on any other open seats to move if you so choose. Try going through your email. The email from NWA is just saying they cannot tell you what seats you have, the rest of the email isn't about your seats. I am sure you are assigned, but just need to get to your reservation to see them.

 

[abcboys]

Thanks for the replies. My seats are still showing as N/A. I thought they would automatically be chosen for me but I am not seeing anything in a different color or anything. Only 6 seats left at 90 days out and its not a holiday or anything? I can't figure it out. So do I just wait till the 24 hour mark to choose seats then and NOT at 90 days? I'm new to all of this.

 

[Befferk]

Thanks for the replies. My seats are still showing as N/A. I thought they would automatically be chosen for me but I am not seeing anything in a different color or anything. Only 6 seats left at 90 days out and its not a holiday or anything? I can't figure it out. So do I just wait till the 24 hour mark to choose seats then and NOT at 90 days? I'm new to all of this.

What date are you flying?

 

[brianm27]

You can check on seat assignments and change seats on NW between 90 days out and check in.

Go to reservations center, manage my reservations, view change reservations. You can access the reservation by last name and confirmation code.

You can select seats one at a time. I would go ahead and get seats. You can go in daily (or hourly!) and change/move them. NW typically blocks some rows, usually bulkhead and has been know to swap aircraft a few days out, erasing the best laid plans (757 configurations are most succeptable). If you don't pick your seats now, you will get what is left. I am surprised that you were not assigned seats at 90 days, but if it is showing N/A then they are not assigned. Pick what is left and keep checking. If seats mysteriously open up you can snag them, move one or two at a time, etc.

I fly about 30 segments a year on NW. I have moved seats many times and there is no problem doing it frequently.

 

[CarolA]

Thanks for the replies. My seats are still showing as N/A. I thought they would automatically be chosen for me but I am not seeing anything in a different color or anything. Only 6 seats left at 90 days out and its not a holiday or anything? I can't figure it out. So do I just wait till the 24 hour mark to choose seats then and NOT at 90 days? I'm new to all of this.

Not really that uncommon.
Keep in mind that there are a lot of seats you cannot have.... Those are the FF seats (exit rows, rows towards the front etc.) NW Is pretty agressive about holding those open for thier preferred flyers.

 

[klynn]

We had a flight out of MSP on Jan. 25. It was for myself and 2 kids and I wanted to be able to sit together. I was not able to choose any seats and it looked like the plane was full. I called and was told I would find out our seats when I did the online check in. So 24 hours before our flight I checked in and our seats were assigned and they were together.