United Airlines have changed seats from ones chosen when booking

littlesnuggy

I booked a flight to the US for a colleague and me about 6 weeks ago which departs this coming Saturday. I've just logged in (to see when I could check-in, but it's not until 24 hours before) and see that they have completely changed the seats that I had chosen at the time of booking and we are no longer sitting anywhere near each other, on either the outbound or return flights.

We had planned on discussing work on the flights (which are 9 hours) so this is very inconvenient.

The system says that there are no 'complimentary seats' still available to reserve but that some may become available at the time of online check-in. Does anyone know what the likelihood of this usually is? Is there any point speaking to anybody at the check-in desks at Heathrow, or do we wait until the Gate or speak to the stewardesses on board?

I'll be flying United with my OH for a special anniversary trip to New York in November and now I'm concerned they'll split us up too!

Doshwaster

All airlines have in their small print their ability to move preasigned seats. You should be able to move them back at online check-in or at the airport.

Personally, I hate sitting next to colleagues on planes as I don't want to spend 9 hours talking about work when I could be sleeping or relaxing. Maybe your colleague asked for the seats to be changed?

InsideInsurance

Your best chance is to checkin online as early as possible and look to switching the seat then

littlesnuggy

Doshwaster wrote: »

All airlines have in their small print their ability to move preasigned seats. You should be able to move them back at online check-in or at the airport.

Personally, I hate sitting next to colleagues on planes as I don't want to spend 9 hours talking about work when I could be sleeping or relaxing. Maybe your colleague asked for the seats to be changed?

Haha, the thought had crossed my mind that maybe it wasn't such a bad thing, but we really do have lots to discuss and no time beforehand to do it, and my colleague was mightily annoyed when I mentioned the seats had been changed (he's the type to cause a scene too, so I'm going to try and resolve it by logging into the online check-in as soon exactly 24 hours before the flight and hoping there'll be a chance to change.

Murphy_The_Cat

If it helps at all, United let you move your seats at any stage - as long as there is availability.

Westin

Are you both on separate bookings? If not and both on the same booking it seems strange that the reseating would have split you up like this. If two separate bookings and perhaps a change of aircraft type or configuration then the computer system would reseat passengers but have no way of knowing you were travelling together.

See if better seating options are available when you checking online. If not ask at the airport checkin desk. Don't leave it until you get of board.

littlesnuggy

Westin wrote: »

Are you both on separate bookings? If not and both on the same booking it seems strange that the reseating would have split you up like this. If two separate bookings and perhaps a change of aircraft type or configuration then the computer system would reseat passengers but have no way of knowing you were travelling together.

See if better seating options are available when you checking online. If not ask at the airport checkin desk. Don't leave it until you get of board.

Both on the same booking, so yes I agree it is strange. I Googled it and it appears that its not uncommon; even families with young children have had their seats split up! I'd booked myself into the window seat and my colleague into the aisle seat on the 2-seats at the side. I am still in a window seat and he is in an aisle seat (some rows away) but at the end of the middle 3-seat section. None are the rows I originally booked and on the return I am in the very back row, infront of the toilets

I'll be looking online as soon as check-in opens and if that fails will speak to the staff at the airport desks.

Westin

Hmmm, very strange. I do hope you get things sorted.

Mr_Wang

Airlines in the US are notorious for this, Delta for example have a gate allocation system in place for some flights. Literally, you rock up, kids in tow and are allocated a seat at the gate.

I have been bumped twice, had our family split up (which isn't always a bad thing) and seen some of the heftiest flight delays ever (outside of India)
Add into the mix the obnoxious milfs on most UK airlines and the contempt from European carriers and you will notice that economy on any airline in Europe/US is the same.

..Then step onto a Middle Eastern airline

Bennifred

....obnoxious milfs? :rotfl:

littlesnuggy

Update - went into online checkin at exactly 24 hours before flight. Couldn't change seats AND wasn't allowed to print boarding cards as our passport info has to be verified, so we'll definitely be going to the check-in desks!