Seat assignments to/from Madrid

It's completely standard procedure. European airlines do generally not assign seats before check-in on intra-Europe flights. You will probably get seat assignments for Madrid to Venice at JFK, though, since you normally check in and get boarding passes for both legs at your initial airport. And here you have an advantage, since you will be one of the very first to check in for the Madrid to Venice flight many hours before departure.

that clears up my confusion - thanks for your help!

Technically, airlines can move you around the plane at will. If you manage to keep the same seats you actually booked, you're lucky. They don't have to provide you with a final seat until they are loading the plane. My wife and infant are traveling in late June and they won't "confirm" seating until the day of the flight even though they have "promised" us bulkhead seating for the use of a bassinet.

I sympathize with your predicament, but we are all in that same position.

Good luck in your travels.

thanks for the info - I understand that seat assignments can change and I don't expect a greater level of service than others receive.

My question was, is it normal for European flights or Iberian flights to not allow seat assignments until the day of travel, or is there another way I should be seeking my seat assignments. It's been years since I've booked a domestic flight and not done the seat assignments, as best I recall. So I'm wondering if this is standard operating procedure for Iberian or European flights in general.

I don't know about Iberian but I think that we have received advance seat assignment from British Air for a similar type situation.

If you have your confirmation code I think you might be able to check Iberian online and see if the code gets you to the seat assignment screens. No harm in trying.

Might be, but many European carriers only do advance seat assignment for bussines class passengers. normally, set assignment is done at check in. For long haul flights, seat assignment is normally possible.

Jeff, on BA I was advised to go online 24 hours prior to check on assigned seats. I think that is when they release any holds.

Call or check the day before departure

Just three of us in our group so it's not a large number of people to seat. We'll try the 24-hour advance check in and hopefully get put together.

Iowa City, eh? I was just there last fall for Homecoming! Say hi to Kinnick for me . . .

I'm glad to hear that many of us here understand how the whole seating assignment thing works. The ground agents do their best to keep families together etc but s/t changes do have to be made.

The Crew on board are ultimately the ones who have to deal with the aftermath of it all. We do our best and often Pax will accept a new assignment if they know that it will allow a Family to travel together. It also helps to "have something in your back pocket" so to speak to sweeten the deal to make them want to accept a new location.

It's always nice to take an agreeable pax up to Business for being cooperative. It really does pay to be pleasant with the Flight Crew...It's always in your best interest.

Fly Safe,

F/A