Picking a seat-NWA

[kkmauch]

Ok--I have flown with NWA and many others companies numerous times. This is the first time this has happened to me.
I have two seats on a NWA flight from MSP to MCO.
Now, my aunt and her two boys would like to be on the same flight. So, I looked on-line and they are still selling the fare. But, there are no seats left to pick on the flight going down or coming back.
What does this mean? If we don't have actual seats assigned to them, can we get them at the 24 hour mark? Do we have to go to the counter at the airport to get them?
Anyone else ever have this experience?
Thanks!

 

[Minnesota!]

I would guess that they would be assigned by NWA. Maybe you will be allowed to pick seats after purchase?? I think that's how other airlines work...

BTW - I live in WBL, too! Hi neighbor!

 

[kkmauch]

I thought that they would be able to pick the seats after purchase, but when we get to that point it says that seat selection is not available.
I guess I am just worried that they will be bumped because they don't have an actual seat, but they have a confirmed reservation. Doesn't make much sense to me. I'd rather they just sell the number of seats they have available.
Go bears!

 

[LauraLea]

NWA just implemented a new seating policy. They now reserve some "preferred coach seats" for their "Elete" World Perk members and also charge an $15 for exit row seats in coach.

For the flights we are on in May, all the regular seats are taken, but there are Preferred and Exit row seats available. The Exit row seats can only be purchased 30-24 hours prior to the flight.

I wondered when I saw this as to what will happen in the case that someone wants to book the flight but does not qualify for the Preferred seat or does not want to pay for the Exit row seat. Since the Exit row seats cannot be purchased until the day before the flight, no one will be assigned seats until the regular coach seats open up after people buy them

I sure hope the lengthy explanation helped.

Laura

 

[Minnesota!]

Ooh - I forgot about the new charge for 'preferred seating'. That could definitely have something to do with it! I don't think you have to worry about them getting bumped, but maybe call the airline directly to confirm?

ETA - Nope, Hill Murray girl here! Sorry...the Bears were our competitors. Can't support em', LOL!!

 

[hercamore]

Make the reservation online and then call them. As Laura said, they have a new seating policy now. It's nuts.

herc.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The new seating policy is a test and only applies to some flights, not all.

The OP failed to mention the flight dates. If the flight is more than 90 days in the future, I believe that NWA does not allow you to select seats. If it is close to flight time, she'll probably have to get a seat assignment at the airport, as a number of seats are held back until the flight date.

 

[DebbieB]

I've flown NW 6 times in the past year for work, PIT/MSP. They reserve the front half of the plane for their preferred frequent fliers. If these seats are not taken 24 hours before, you can get them during online check-in. I usually book less than a month before and most of the time did not have a reserved seat until 24 hours before. This really has nothing to do with the new $ seat policy, those seats were held for preferred anyway.

 

[jenelope]

This happened to me once on a flight from California. I like picking my seat out in advance, but there were no seats available. This was before NWA's new seat policy, too. In my case, it was just that the number of seats available for pre-selection is less than the total number of seats in coach because you can't reserve an exit row. By the time I got to the airport, the exit row seats were taken, freeing up some seats and I was assigned one of those when I checked in. It wasn't a great seat, but it got me home!