I've never flown on KLM before and just recently booked my flghts for a Seattle-London; Rome-Seattle flight. The US portions are Delta, but the flight to London is a Delta-KLM flight and the Rome-Amsterdam is Alitalia. I booked through TripAdvisor/Expedia and I have seat assignments for the US flights but not for the KLM flight into London, or the Rome-Amsterdam flight. The expedia itinerary says that "seats will be assigned at check-in" for those flights????? Is that normal for KLM? These flights are in May and June, and currently they're less than half full, I really don't want to wait until the last minute to get a seat assignment.
Or am I just stuck now, and will have to wait until the last minute and hope for the best? I contacted Expedia but they said its "not our problem". Is that normal for Expedia?
Posted by
Copenhagen, Denmark
265 posts
In Europe, for intra-Europe flights, seat assignments are done at check in, not at time of booking. This is the way it works over here and this is standard procedure for most European airlines. Only business class passengers and long haul passengers can pick seats before check-in.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
1317 posts
In my limited experience, I've been able to get seat assignments on the trans-Atlantic flights but not on the shorter hops across Europe. They probably figure the flights are short enough that it isn't that important to assign seats early.
Posted by
OP
Kent, WA, USA
107 posts
Seems like there might be a little disconnect between Delta and KLM computer systems. I'd tried to a seat via the KLM web-site and with Expedia's web site and it "acted" like it took my ion but then never showed up on my flight itinerary. I tried the Delta seat ion web-site and again it "acted" like it took my ion but it didn't show on the flight status, so I called Delta, and while I was on the phone explaining my problem to them I did a refresh on my itinerary web page and the seat ion appeared. I guess it just sometimes takes a bit for the seat "request" to make its way through the system and turn into a seat "assignment"
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23269 posts
Sure -- it is the airlines that determine seat assignment policy and not Expedia. This is becoming more common as airlines move to ala carte pricing. British Air recently started charging for advance seat selection. If the policy is seat assignment at check-in you really don't have any choice. But, I am sure, that if you had bought a higher priced ticket you probably would probably get a early seat assignment. In the new world of 21th Century flying, if you buy the cheapest price tickets you get the least amount of service -- unfortunately.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
689 posts
Have you emailed KLM to request seats? It's worth a try. I booked through the KLM website for SEA-AMS, but the flight in on Delta, and KLM didn't give me seats. I emailed Delta and had a response and seat assignment within 48 hours. I know that's not the same situation as yours, but it can't hurt to send an email or make a phone call.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
Same thing happened to me last year. I flew Iberia but booked through American Airlines because I was using AA frequent flyer miles. I couldn't get an advance seating assignment and was told I had to wait til check-in. I called Iberia directly and their reservation agent told me the problem was in the programming between the American & the Iberia computer systems. He could 'see' my reservation but the computer wouldn't let him give me a seat assignment. We wound up getting great seats anyway - the A & B seats in row 10 or so. Pays to check in early.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
14 posts
The same thing happenned to me. I just purchased tickets from Delta.com. They don't have seat assignment yet for AMS-Berlin portion by KLM. I just sent an email to Delta and waiting for their reply. My only concern about the seat assignment is because We travell with my 3 year old girl. I want to make sure that she get the seat next to me.
In 2009 went to London via British Airways. They assigned our seat at the check-in time. We had no problem with the seat assignment.
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2788 posts
I have a KLM flight scheduled for this coming August from the US to Europe and was told at the time I made the reservations that I had to wait until 90 days before the flight to get seat assignments. I am counting.
Posted by
Twin Cities, Minnesota
1825 posts
Living in MN and flying Delta most of the time I have encountered this several times. I don't remember ever being successful in getting seat assignments for KLM or Air France prior to the day I fly. I seem to recall the Delta agent was able to print off my KLM boarding pass when I was at the MN gate. I also remember there is a transfer/check in desk near where you come in to Schipol and I have gotten boarding passes there. If Delta can't help answer this question, go to the KLM site.
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
805 posts
I'm flying Delta PDX to AMS and KLM intra-europe this April. What the KLM person told me was: "Delta seat assignments are available 90 days prior to departure"
"KLM intra-europe seat assignments are only made 30 HOURS prior to departure" Don't worry about those, sounds like they don't sell out anyways.