Seat assignments...wth?

Unfortunately, you are most likely correct in your assessment in the world of flying in 2023. Each airline has their own policies but it is very likely you are correct, especially if it is a United flight operated by a partner airline. I have booked some tickets on United that one segment the seat selection was included but the other leg (operated by Lufthansa) was not. If that is your situation you can always go onto the partner airlines website and pay to select the seat you want. Sometimes I pay and sometimes I do not. Depends on the situation. Good luck and I hope you have a great trip.

I'm not sure this helps, but have you looked at different options of plane configuration? We almost always fly Delta. Sometimes the seats are 3-4-3 and sometimes 2-4-2, or something similar. I always try to get the 2-4-2 flights.

Sounds like you are booking a codeshare flight operated by another airline, hence you must select seats on that airline website and sometimes pay a fee. To avoid this issue, book a flight operated by the airline on whose website or app you are on. I experienced this issue recently when booking a United flight operated by Lufthansa. Had to select seats and pay on Lufthansa website. I decided to switch to a flight operated by United and was able to immediately select seats.

I fly United and have run into this problem in booking flights that are code shared with another airline. There are two ways that I addressed this, one is to go the partner site and see if you can reserve the seats. This worked best for me using the app, not the website. The other option is to call United directly. If you are a MileagePlus member, there is a number on the back of your card that can get you to an. agent. I was able to get them to book seats for me when I couldn't get it through the app.

A couple of notes:

• Wait to call until after the 5th of July, the lines are super long as they are dealing with people in transit. This will save you some time on the phone.
• Secondly, even after you book the tickets, the airline can change. the flight, especially one so far out and they can and will move your seats. I have notifications turned on to inform me of plane and/or seat changes, but I also start checking the week and even a couple of days prior.

Hope this helps.

It definitely sounds like a code share. When that has happened to me I have had to go through the code share airline to select my seat and pay extra for the privilege. I have never had to do that on a United flight. Last year when I flew on Aer Lingus, which I booked through United, they included the Aer Lingus confirmation number along with the United confirmation.

Flyer from ORD here.

Currently in Scandinavia. Booked with SAS as I have done in the past. I dislike their website, but service was quite good this time. Non-stop to Copenhagen. My flight was on-time, previous day same flight delayed multiple hours.

I fly Chicago to London or Paris fairly regularly. Last trip about 6 months ago. I book either United or American, whichever has better schedules. I also compare price. I prefer to pay for some “perks”, including upgraded seat or class, but that is my choice, others feel differently. In the end, we all get there!

Going to Asia or Pacific, I don’t fly US carriers. Service is significantly better with foreign carriers like ANA or JAL for Japan or Air New Zealand for NZ for example.

Reading other responses, could be code share, but I’m thinking it may just be early. I am usually in a 2 - 4 month window due to circumstances. I don’t play the fare guessing game well, so I’m not sure what you might expect.

I had a flying hiatus due to Covid and noticed that my most recent flight to London last fall was notably more than the price of the flight cancelled due to 2020 lock downs. That was comparing American fares. Prices may have just gone up.

I have occasionally looked at a code share on your route to maximize points, every time I’ve checked they have been higher than carrier metal.

Re-reading your original question, I think United has made seat choosing in the cheapest fare class a roulette game. As I said, I don’t book that way so can’t really remember. My current SAS flights were as you describe. Least expensive fare didn’t allow seat selection until last minute. (I think I’m remembering correctly…).

I don’t think those rules are unusual now. Sadly, I think you might be reading the website correctly.

Thanks everyone. It may be a code share issue with AA and British Air.

Or, more likely, just good old user error :) My international travel skills have gone unused far too long!

I tried a test booking on UAL site, ORD-LHR;CDG-ORD for May 2024.

Found UAL flights in prem econ for a r/t of ~$1850 per person. Seat selection occurred before getting to the payment screen. No extra cost and when I got to the payment screen the seats showed in the 'details'
The flights were non-stops each way.

Does sound like code share. I have flown United Premium Economy to Europe a number of times recently form SFO ,which is a United hub.. No seat selection issues or fees as the fligts were actually on United which doesn't charge seat selecton fees.

When you look at potential flights if you look at the details it will tell you who operates the flight. If for example you book on the United website it would say operated by Lufthansa or Swiis Air which are their common code shares. Usually they send you the appropriate code that enables you to log into the partner airline website so you can select and pay for the seat.

One other point. It is a bit early IMHO, to book a flight so far in advance. I have found prices are often higher and schedules more likey to change. Still, if you are happy with the price by all means go for it. But it would be wise to periodically check your reservation to make sure your schedule and/ or plane hasn't changed as well as your selected seats.
Good luck!

I flew United RT Phoenix to Munich with a US connection each way; I returned a week ago. I did not book any code share flights, United only. I bought Economy tickets, chose my seats for all legs, paying extra for seat upgrades and priority boarding. I had no problems.

From what I understand from previous posts on the forum, the problem with seat selection is from booking code share legs. Each airline has its own policies. I just find it easier to book only United (or Delta, try not to fly American). If I have a problem with flight changes, I only have one airline to deal with.

We just booked Premium economy seats today on United for May of 2024 and had no problem choosing our seats.

OP -- on the United website, when you select the "advance search" option and enter your multi-city flight search options, you have the ability to filter out code share flight by selecting the "United & United Express Only" under the "Show Flights From" option. Please I recommend that you do your search on United's website at united.com

As you're figuring out, European carriers in general maximize the monetization of seat selection for all fare classes, much more so than US legacy carriers. And it's not a smooth process for code share flights. On United the only times that seats are paid for are when one buys a basic economy fare (and one is buying BE & still insisting on seat selection... why?), plus the upsell for economy+ seats and the hand full of seats labeled as priority seats.

And I do recommend United's app.

Thanks again everyone. I so appreciate the knowledge that everyone on this forum has and is willing to share.

I did a little more research, and yes, the issue was due to code share flights. I was on the AA website, but the outbound flight was with BA. I didn't pull the trigger on anything, and I'm glad I didn't. Looking into it further, there are some nightmare stories of people getting volleyed between airlines when there's been a problem with one of the flights...neither airline wanted to take responsibility for sorting it out. No thanks! I will make certain to refine my search to avoid that issue when I get back to looking for flights.

Thanks again, and happy traveling!

Perhaps it is date dependent, but I had no trouble finding AA flights ( non stop) for random May 2024 dates. It was the cheapest fare offered at $1556 r/t prem econ, of the offered flight solutions.

Happy shopping and travels

2-4-2 configurations are great if you're traveling with someone, but beware. We had our planes changed twice to 3-4-3 or 3-5-3.

Fortunately our seat mate was very nice and had good hygiene, and did not bring a tuna fish sandwich on board.

Remember planes often change so don't count on a 2-4-2 configuration.

BA charges for advance seat assignments. Free for those with status or everyone at the 24 hour mark before your flight. Flying first also allows free advance seat selection.

Too late last night! I didn’t read your question correctly.

I agree that there should be no problem with booking Premium Economy with no charge or difficulty. I generally fly that way. I misread and thought you were looking at the absolute lowest base fair. I understand the code share responses and agree, as you seem to have found.

I was going to add that I avoid BA whenever possible. Strikes and changes. I also refuse Air France out of ORD after being “struck” out of a plane a few years ago. United saved me on that occasion.

In the past, I've always flown direct on United, and they have been competitive with pricing. This trip, my dates are pretty locked in, and United is around $1900. That seems high even with the increases since I've last flown internationally. I guess I'll wait awhile, and if necessary, connect on the east coast. I'm actually meeting up in London with friends from the east coast, so maybe we could meet at JFK or Boston.

Thanks again for the insight into the world of code share flights. I always learn something here!

In regards to Air France, we used them once as a code share with Delta. I purchased an economy plus/main cabin seat. With Delta that seat class allows seat choice. That's the way it is sold. That's what I paid for. I feel like with a code share, the code share airline is basically a subcontractor, and I should get what I paid for. I lost that argument. In the tiny print, "additional fees may apply". There were other small issues with Air France (no free drinks, horrible wine), so I now avoid any code shares with Air France.

With Delta, I've had flights canceled and rebooked by the airline, I've had flight times changed often, I believe I've only had the aircraft changed on short notice once. The aircraft change actually benefited passengers since it was a bigger plane so there were many empty seats. I've never ended up on 3-4-3flights when I initially booked the 2-4-2. But, then, I'm almost always on Delta and as Tom mentioned, they have more of that plane type.

Currently we are booked on a 3-3-3 LAX to Aukland. Sure would like that to change! However, I believe Delta has a certain plane type they are using for New Zealand and its a 3-3-3.

I clearly just never noticed before, but code sharing seems very prevalent. AA and British Air, Delta and Virgin Atlantic...just the ones that I remember after looking until my eyes are almost crossed. Clearly it works or it wouldn't be so common, but it seems like just one more thing that can go wrong in an environment where things are going wrong fairly often. I guess for now I will just hit pause.

JKL, I agree that 1900 seems a bit high for ORD, at least based on my recent experience. Caveat that I haven’t booked anything in 2024 as of yet so don’t know how that is trending.

For comparison, did you check without the open jaw from Paris? Maybe check round trip ORD LHR and see what a round trip London - Paris Eurostar fare might be . It’s quite inexpensive when booked early and very comfortable and easy. Of course, it adds travel time, but if you have the time might be something to consider.

For Delta fans, Delta doesn’t have good ORD service. I have relatives that swear by Delta, but it is rarely a good option for most Chicago based jaunts.

We just booked premium economy r/t to Zagreb for September on BA. We had to pay extra to get the 2 seater, both ways.

I have fairly often flown into or out of European airports that aren't served by US carriers, so I end up on code shares quite a bit. I will not take BA unless there is no other reasonable option, because its seat reservation fee is usually higher than the other airlines'. It's not much money, actually, but it really annoys me.

This year for the first time United gave me the locator number for my Lufthansa connecting flight right after I booked my trip, so I was able to choose my (plain-vanilla economy) seat right away. Maybe the airlines' computer systems are talking to each other at last.

When I was struggling with my Air France codeshare, the Delta rep gave me the Air France locator number and told me I could purchase seat assignment thru their website, where it was likely cheaper than paying for it thru the Delta website. Perhaps the locator number is available for the asking?

ORD, I did check rt both to London and Paris, and it's not a savings when factoring in time/cost of the Eurostar. I struggle to find a route that's not a code share, so maybe it's just too early.

I'm searching open jaw tickets for May 2024, flying Chicago to London and Paris to Chicago. &
I struggle to find a route that's not a code share, so maybe it's just too early.

I disagree.

See my July 2 posts. I found non-stops, non-code share, for both AA and UAL. AA was cheaper for the random May dates I chose for the test booking at the time. ( ORD-LHR/ CDG-ORD as a multi-city, aka open jaw booking)

Tom and Joe;
Yes, I would like to avoid European airlines, and yes, there is a non code share with United. I just wasn't willing to book at close to 2K for premium econ.
My travel dates are not very flexible, so in the end I'll book what I need to book. Maybe a code share, maybe more $ than I'd like, maybe basic econ, but I'll get there one way or the other :). For now I'm doing nothing except looking at google alerts.

ORDtraveler, what's your opinion of SAS out of Chicago to Europe (London to be exact, returning from Paris)? Their current sale is very tempting. I've always booked direct flights to/from Europe, but could be tempted given the sale.

Timely question!!

We flew SAS to Copenhagen with a return to ORD last month. The return flight was canceled with only a couple hours notice. The best solution was a two-day delay. As of today, I have been informed that my out-of-pocket hotels and meals will be reimbursed. I am waiting for the final installment to hit the bank account. It has taken a full month to get to this point.

I am still "disputing", trying to get any reimbursement from EU261. Without detailing everything, there were multiple flights on several days between ORD and CPH that were canceled due to a bird strike, an event labeled outside of the airlines control. However, as my flight cancellation was part of a cascading series of cancellations on subsequent days, I would like it verified that we are not due compensation due to extraordinary circumstances. The airlines had time to re-juggle the schedules. Undoubtedly, as they emerge from bankruptcy, planes are short in supply and the corporate decision was made to cancel both ORD - CPH and CPH - ORD routes for multiple days. I would like official confirmation that this is within the interpretation of EU261 case law.

Long story short, I am done with SAS for a while until they have been out of bankruptcy for a couple years. I can't trust that they will fly my routes. Too bad - this trip the flight attendants were quite good and planes fine. In the past, I have found the FA's rather surly and brusque.

I'm surprised that ORD - LHR or CDG via SAS is an option, even with stops. I generally fly United to LHR, sometimes American depending on price. Not BA. Paris - same thing. Nonstop to both cities.

Hope that helps. My prejudices and opinions may not be everyone's!!!! That's certainly fine!

Thank you for the prompt reply! I am so sorry you had to live through that nightmare. 2 days???!
I think I will continue to keep a watch on United and American and eventually bite the bullet on a direct flight. I don't travel until May, so it's still early.
I hope the remainder of your reimbursement comes through soon!