USAirways Preferred Seats

[tarheelmjfan]

Does anyone have any advice for getting one of the preferred seats. DH & I have booked a non-stop flight to San Diego. When DH called, the lady in reservations (who apparently didn't speak very good English) assured him we had seats together. Not really being that familiar with booking flights, he trusted what she was telling him was the truth. When he gets off & tells me our seat numbers, I knew immediately they weren't together.

Expedia is showing a preferred seat with a seat beside it. I have a FF number, but am not an elite member or anything. Currently, I have a little over 14,000 miles. I average flying with them about once a year, sometimes more, sometimes less. Does anyone have any suggestions on how we can possibly get one of the preferred seats? We'd be happy to pay a little extra, just to sit together. This is such a mess. If the lady would have just told DH that our seats wouldn't be together, he would have booked a different flight.

We would really appreciate any advice you can give us.

 

[bicker]

Arrive very early for your flight. There are often a good number of seats reserved for assignment at the airport. You could luck out and get a really prime assignment.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

What are the seat numbers? Do you know the aircraft type?

Most airlines have some economy seats that are only available to elite frequent flyers — those who fly at least 25,000 elite-qualifiying miles per calendar year — or to full-fare passengers. Typically, the preferred seats are the exit row seats and some rows in the front of the economy cabin. On United Airlines, the "Economy Plus" seats actually have more legroom. On other airlines, they're simply toward the front of the cabin, where it can be a little quieter and it's a little faster getting off the plane at the end of the flight.

The first thing I would do is to call another agent at the airline. Ask that agent for advice. Without elite status, the agent may not be able to help you. Ask why the other agent said the seats were together. Maybe the agent or an supervisor can pull some strings, or at least give you some advice about changing your seats at the airport.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Arrive very early for your flight. There are often a good number of seats reserved for assignment at the airport. You could luck out and get a really prime assignment.

tarheelmjfan,

Yes, that's excellent advice from bicker. There are usually some seats that are under airport control only, and cannot be pre-reserved.

Also, I should have suggested checking back with the airline by phone, or online if possible, because seat assignments change all the time. There are often elite frequent flyers who upgrade to first class in the final 24-100 hours, freeing up good seats in the economy cabin. There are business travelers with refundable, changeable tickets who can and do change their flights as their needs change. And there may be seats assigned to unpaid reservations that will expire if they are not ticketed by a certain deadline.

One more thing... As far as I know, American is the only airline with nonstop flights from Boston to San Diego. Are you sure your US Airways flight is a nonstop?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks to both of you for the advice. I'll have DH call back & give it a try. The preferred seats are in the front of the economy class. We were hoping that since there's so few seats left on the plane, they would allow us to have the seats together. Obviously, not. As I mentioned, if she would have told him that, we would have taken another flight. The worst part is that we didn't even get a really good deal on the flight. I suppose that's what we get for booking so late. If all else fails, we will take your advice & arrive at the airport early.

Questions..... When I try to go on USAirways.com & access our reservation, there's not one showing. How do I get a reservation that was booked on the phone to show up online? I haven't actually booked a flight over the phone in years (Now, I know why. ), & I'm not familiar with the process. Also, what's the easiest way to check for open seats on USAirway's website? Is it possible w/o having to go through the whole process, including entering CC info.? If I luck out & find 2 seats together, can I change a called in reservation online, or do we need to call to change them? Thanks again!!! You guys are very helpful!

One more thing... As far as I know, American is the only airline with nonstop flights from Boston to San Diego. Are you sure your US Airways flight is a nonstop?

We are flying RT from Charlotte, NC. It's a bit confusing, because Tampa is our home airport, but our babysitter (my Dsis) is in NC. Yes, it's a very long way to drive for a babysitter. What can I say? I'm a crazy, over protective mother.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Also, what's the easiest way to check for open seats on USAirway's website?

If US Airways' website has an easy way to check for available seats. I'm not aware of it. (In comparison, American Airlines makes it very easy.)

Try http://www.orbitz.com/ — search for CLT to SAN nonstop service for the date of your flight, and you should be able to click on "view seats" without starting the purchase process.

We are flying RT from Charlotte, NC. It's a bit confusing, because Tampa is our home airport, but our babysitter (my Dsis) is in NC.

Oops. Sorry. I'm not sure why I thought you were in Massachusetts. Perhaps I saw bicker's location out of the corner of my eye.

 

[DebbieB]

The preferred seats are for elite frequent flyers. To be an elite, you need to fly at least 25,000 miles or 30 flights in a year. They do release these seats 24 hours before for online check-in if they are empty. So jump onto usairways.com 24 hours before and do online check-in.

You will only see a reservation online that was made on usairways.com. If you made the reservation over the phone, you will not see it online.

I also use Orbitz to check for empty seats. One thing to keep in mind, they block some seats for airport check-in so they will show on the chart as not available even though they are empty.

 

[plutospup]

Hi TarheelMJfan
Call USAir...1. ask for change in seat assignment. 2. Ask for "Confirmation/Record Locator Number".

On the USAir homepage, in the yellow area click on itinerary/receipt. Enter your Confirmation/Record Locator Number. Check it from time to time to see if there are any changes.

Try checking in on line 24 hrs prior to departure. You might be able to change your seats at that time.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Oh my god! I had the samre experience with TWO UsAirways agents last week. My guess is that English is their 3rd or 4th language...also, they were incredibly rude, disorganized, and unknowledgeable of their own procedures. I happen to love this airline and am thrilled it is still flying thereby giving me the chance to avoid the giant cattle call. Bu they seriously ned to take a look at the people answering their telephones.

233.00 round trip in August

 

[safetymom]

Silver elites which are the last to clear to a preferred seat with USAirways clear at the two day mark. If there is a waiting list of preferred elites waiting for a seat you won't get those seats until they work the standby list at the airport.

I would check and see if there is another part of the plane that the two of you could be seated together.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

You should still be able to see your itinerary, online, for flights not booked online.

I booked our flights, at the airport, and I can view them online.


Go to their website's home page. Click on "itinerary/receipt". You need to put in your confirmation/record locator and last name. It should come up. If it doesn't, I would call and find out why.

I would also call and talk to someone else about your seats. I'm not sure what type of aircraft you're flying on, but we're on a 757 and we got seats in row 4 both ways. We are only FF members, too, with less miles than you.

Good luck!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks, everyone for the help. I'll keep checking daily for seats to open up. I was able to access our reservation online, but can't change seat assignments on there. We'll have to call to do that. I'll definitely do online check-in, if there's seats available then. If not, we'll get to the airport early & check-in there.


Dopey Sharon,
We're on an Airbus, & all the seats with an available seat next to them are premium. Actually, one of the seats they assigned to us has an open premium seat beside it. DH tried to get one of those, but didn't succeed. I'll have him try again.

 

[safetymom]

When my corporate travel agent books my flights I can't see them online. Have you tried www.virtuallythere.com You can't change seats online until you go to check in.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Dopey Sharon,
We're on an Airbus, & all the seats with an available seat next to them are premium. Actually, one of the seats they assigned to us has an open premium seat beside it. DH tried to get one of those, but didn't succeed. I'll have him try again.

I just went on Expedia's site, put my dates in to see the seating chart for the flights we're on.

The window seat in row 4 is a preferred seat and we got 4A&B down and back. I would call again and talk to someone else. If you can't get anywhere with them, or can't understand them, call the customer relations number.

I'll see if I can find the number...

US Airways Customer Relations
Customer Relations (phone) 866-523-5333


Good luck!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

These days, if you're not an elite member of an airline's FF program, or travelling with one, you are unlikely to get a preferred seat unless you get lucky and can snag one at check in.

In many planes with a 2 seat together configuration, the aisle seat is designated a preferred/premium/elite seat while the window is not.

I suggest that you just call the airline to get assigned 2 seats together.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

These days, if you're not an elite member of an airline's FF program, or travelling with one, you are unlikely to get a preferred seat unless you get lucky and can snag one at check in.

In many planes with a 2 seat together configuration, the aisle seat is designated a preferred/premium/elite seat while the window is not.

I suggest that you just call the airline to get assigned 2 seats together.

There's 3 seats on each side of the aisle on this plane, & all of the available premium seats are window seats. We couldn't care less about getting what they consider a premium seat. Actually, I prefer sitting in the middle of the plane (near the wings), as I feel that provides the smoothest ride. The only reason we wanted the premium seat was that those were the only ones available with empty seats beside them. There's about 8 premium seats available, but nothing else with an empty next to it.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

You guys are great! Persistence does pay off. I've checked Orbitz twice a day, since we booked our flight. That may be overkill, but I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything that may become available. Continuing on with my regular routine, I checked once again this morning. My DH & I are now seated together. The 2 seats together are one row from the back, which isn't my favorite place to be. That said, I've sat back there before, & will be happy to do it again, if that's the only way we can sit together. Thanks again for all the tips!!!