I have always been able to choose my seat when I booked my tickets, however, I have frequent flyer miles with Air France which will let me choose my seat using those miles at check-in, only. The flight is from EWR to CDG which lands at midnight on a direct flight. This means that I probably won't be trying to fall asleep, so choosing a window seat in order to lounge against the plane wall is not an issue. My husband will be using Chase Points, and I know that we very likely won't be able to sit together. My question is, for those of you who haven't been able to make a seat choice until check-in, what were your experiences like? I always assume my flights to Europe will be fully booked, btw. TIA.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
24114 posts
If you aren't particular, why not just let the airline assign you a free seat?
Posted by
Bend, OR
1649 posts
On British Air Premium Economy, we ended up with our seats together but we backed up to the bathrooms. Not a pleasant place to be for 10 hours. Whenever I look at prices for the European carriers I look to see what the total cost will be with the cost of seat selection added in.
Posted by
OP
1405 posts
It appears that I don't have the option of paying for seat choice with Air France's Frequent Flyer Program, otherwise, I'd pay not to be in a middle seat in a middle row and next to my husband. I'm a neophyte---Does the seat chart pop up with the ability to pick at check-in?
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
2556 posts
I have used seatguru.com to see how the seating is on the planes. Your ticket or purchasing site should tell you which plane is being used (It can be changed, but not too often). Enter the airlines, then the plane type, to see the seat layout. You will hopefully be able to avoid the dreaded next-to-the-bathroom seat. It has been a big help when presented with a choice. I am surprised you have no option of paying for a seat choice. Could it be because of the price class you are choosing, whether paid for by points or money?
A few years ago we went to China and flights were arranged by the tour company. I naively forgot to ask about seat assignments and spent a loooong Pacific Ocean flight to Beijing in a middle seat of five. Now I do whatever I can to choose my aisle seat. Even with Southwest flights I will not opt for the cheapest level because you are the last on board and get stuck in a middle seat. My old arthritic bones (81) don't do well squished in the middle seat. I hope you get something decent.
Posted by
Chicago
1038 posts
OP, first off, I have my doubts that there is a direct flight from EWR to CDG that lands at
midnight. That is just too late for a day flight. It would have to leave the US around 10am
to be in Paris at midnight, and I see no such flight. I have been wrong before, though. All
I see is a flight that leaves Newark at 5pm and lands in Paris at 6:10am.
Second, seat selection is a revenue opportunity for the airline. As I noted, I have been
wrong before, but it just seems impossible that the airline won't allow you to pay to be
able to select a seat at the time of booking. How far into the booking process did you
go? I would call Air France if this is a concern - it may be that you have to complete the
booking, and once you have a confirmed reservation, you can go into the record and pay
to choose a seat at that point.
Finally, I will note that Air France is a transfer partner for Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Depending on the amount of the fare in $ vs miles, it may be cheaper to move the Chase
points to the AF program and book that way. Not a sure bet either way, though.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
3058 posts
I see someone recommended seatguru. Please note that it is VERY out of date and no longer updated or reliable. They haven’t updated it since before the Covid shutdown from what I understand. I do know that if you send them an update they respond with “we are no longer updating this site”