Friday, January 9, 2009
Airport release seats
I'm an MVP Gold flying with my family of six from SEA to BOS a few days before Christmas. I booked the flight just recently (unfortunately) and I got the message that "seats will be assigned at the airport" when I tried to pick seats. Of course, the flight is full - maybe oversold - at that time of year.
If I were travelling by myself, this would be no big deal, as I could always snag a middle seat somewhere at check-in. Painful, but doable. However, travelling with young children who need a parent sitting with them makes this problematic. So, I called Alaska, and they told me they hold two rows - the one behind the exit row and the last row in the plane - for release at airport check-in.
What I'd like to know from anyone that might have been in a similar situation is whether these seats can be "claimed" at web check-in the day before or not? Or, if I have to be at the airport, can I go alone really really early (like getting to Seatac at 5:30 AM for the 8:45 AM flight) and check in my whole family, without getting my little kids up that early? Any other suggestions?
I am trying to imagine my 4 year old sitting between two strangers :eek: ... I hope they are very patient.
Thanks!
Frank
Your best bet is just to check in online as soon as the check-in window opens (24 hours prior to departure).
Hope that helps! Have a great Christmas in Boston! :)
Thanks for the info! I'll try that... now I just have to synchronize my clock with Alaska's server so I can submit my check-in request 23:59:59 before the flight :D!
- Frank
I'm an MVP Gold flying with my family of six from SEA to BOS a few days before Christmas. I booked the flight just recently (unfortunately) and I got the message that "seats will be assigned at the airport" when I tried to pick seats. Of course, the flight is full - maybe oversold - at that time of year.
If I were travelling by myself, this would be no big deal, as I could always snag a middle seat somewhere at check-in. Painful, but doable. However, travelling with young children who need a parent sitting with them makes this problematic. So, I called Alaska, and they told me they hold two rows - the one behind the exit row and the last row in the plane - for release at airport check-in.
What I'd like to know from anyone that might have been in a similar situation is whether these seats can be "claimed" at web check-in the day before or not? Or, if I have to be at the airport, can I go alone really really early (like getting to Seatac at 5:30 AM for the 8:45 AM flight) and check in my whole family, without getting my little kids up that early? Any other suggestions?
I am trying to imagine my 4 year old sitting between two strangers :eek: ... I hope they are very patient.
Thanks!
Frank
You probably know that you can't select specific seats doing web check-in, but when you try to check-in online, we do our best to seat the group together, and the pool of eligible seats to assign your group to includes those extra rows of seats which aren't pre-reserved. If those seats are open and the only other stuff left is in middle seats in different parts of the aircraft (probably the case, like you mentioned above), then you'll be seated in one of those empty rows.
Your best bet is just to check in online as soon as the check-in window opens (24 hours prior to departure).
Hope that helps! Have a great Christmas in Boston! :)
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Posted by mike |