UPDATE Post 1 2/11 Continental and seat assignments

[Pembo]

UPDATE 2/11: Called again today and after 45 mins and 2 agents, I have reserved seats for all of us. They are bulkhead so they could still change. Thanks for the tips about calling again.


I booked our tix back in Sept for an end of March trip. At the time of booking I picked our seats. In Dec I noticed the flight times changed to a later time on dep day. Last night I was looking at our ressie and noticed that we don't have seat assignments. I tried to pick seats online and couldn't.

I called CO and was told that I couldn't choose seats until 24 hours before departure or the airport would choose them for me. We are 2A and 3K. She assured me that our family size would be taken into consideration.

Why would our seat assignments disappear??? Will they seat us all together? If I call at the 24 hr mark, will I be better off than just throwing it to chance??

We usually fly SW. Their nonstop flight times were bad. So I was glad to fly Continental this time so I wouldn't have to worry about seating and calling at 24 hrs, etc. Now I'm stressed...

Any feedback?

 

[sbtrfly74]

Im sooo glad I read this, I have a flight scheduled in May and my flight out was changed also. Continental doesn't actually do the seating selection, United does. Go online to your reservation with continental and at the bottom of the screen after Travelers names are listed it says to go to united dot com and has a different confirmation number to use through united.

It wont allow me to choose new seats either (says no more economy plus seats to pick from), but before I chose my seats previously they automatically gave us seats straight across the isle (party of 5). But its worth a try to see if you can pick new seats.

 

[Missytara]

This similar experience happened to me on Airtran last year, when my flight number changed from 490 to 491.

I noticed that the seat I had chosen was reserved, but the actual box with my seating assignment for my return flight has "???". I also couldn't go in and pick another seat, and it hadn't credited me the $6.00 I paid for my seat assignment. So I found it rather odd. I didn't appear to have a seat, even though it wouldn't let me book another one and I had no credit against my account.

I did have to eventually call and I was told when the airline makes changes, they roll the information on the computer "into another folder" and my seat assignment would not roll over and it had already been taken by someone else. They did find me a comparable seat a few rows back, so it was good.

But had I shown up that day of departure, I didn't have an assigned seat, even though the system showed I paid for it.

And I never did receive an e-mail from Airtran; I was luckily diligent enough to check every now and then.

Good to always check.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Continental doesn't actually do the seating selection, United does.

Only if this is actually a United flight.

OP - I'm not sure why CO isn't letting you choose your seats for a flight in March.

 

[DebbieB]

Only if this is actually a United flight.

OP - I'm not sure why CO isn't letting you choose your seats for a flight in March.

Chances are all the ones available for advance choice are taken. They sometimes hold seats for their elite level flyers, those may open up at 24 hours if not reserved. They also block seats for airport check-in. I would keep watching it to see if any open up. People worry about Southwest and their seating, I think the others are worse because they are always changing the seats you chose or dropping them.

 

[Pembo]

Chances are all the ones available for advance choice are taken. They sometimes hold seats for their elite level flyers, those may open up at 24 hours if not reserved. They also block seats for airport check-in. I would keep watching it to see if any open up. People worry about Southwest and their seating, I think the others are worse because they are always changing the seats you chose or dropping them.

That's what CO said, all available were taken. I'm really annoyed about this. One "luxury" of flying CO was knowing our seat assignments. Now I'm longing for SW...

 

[tiferetsix]

OP - If the flight you are on IS showing seats available for picking but only IF you are Elite - then try calling again (with the aim of speaking to someone else LOL) We have had something similar happen in the past with Continental and when I called the gentleman I spoke to was able to reserve me a set of 4 seats in the "special elite" section (he did stress that he was giving me better seats.....LOL.......a better seat is on the other side of the thin curtain. not 3 rows ahead of where I was orginally....but I accepted them graciously) Good luck

 

[Pembo]

OP here, the only seats showing are in first class or extra leg room(first row of the bulkhead).

 

[dudspizza]

OP here, the only seats showing are in first class or extra leg room(first row of the bulkhead).

Honestly, I would call back and see what another rep would do. It sucks to lose your seat assignments and some reps are better at customer service than others. Be very nice and polite. If they can't do it, thank them and call back. If you just can't do anything, log in at the 24 hour mark and try to pick seats then.

What is your party size?

 

[DebbieB]

OP here, the only seats showing are in first class or extra leg room(first row of the bulkhead).

If you are not logged in as an elite, those seats will not show as open. It's possible there are seats open, you just don't see them.

 

[Travelingdad]

It tends to to more with the fares paid per seat than anything else. Their system makes the Magic Your Way options looks easy. I fly a lot and can say that the good news is you always have the chance to get seats changed at the airport (check in and at the gate) or if all else fails ask the stewardess to see if other passengers will switch (assuming this is so that all family can sit together). A lot of folks do. Good luck.