I just used my First USA credit card miles to
book a ticket on American Airlines from Phoenix to Madrid with a stop and change of planes in Chicago, where I will board an American Airlines flight to Madrid operated by Iberia Airlines. Coming back to the states, the Madrid-Chicago flight will also be on an Iberia Airlines jet on an American Airlines. The travel agency that First USA uses was only able to give me confirmed seat assignment on the domestic end of the flight because they
didn't have access to Iberia's seat map. After calling both Iberia and American Airlines and speaking to a supervisor at AA, I am not guaranteed a seat assignment until I arrive at the gate because it's a codeshare flight and no one's computers have permission to give me a seat assignment. What are the chances of getting an aisle seat when I arrive at the gate? How should I go about getting a seat of
my preference? is there anything I can do or is it up to the gate agent I get? Another unrelated issue I found out a little late is that because I am flying on a codeshare and V class flight, I will only get 30 percent of the normal amount of miles for the Chicago-Madrid and Madrid-Chicago leg. Wish I was told this beforehand but oh well.
Happs
Seat Assignment
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That's funny, I have clients booked to leave for the xmas holidays dfw to madrid to the canary islands. Booked on codeshare flights AA and Iberia....I was able to give my clients seats...no problem. I think I would try again, ask for your record locators (AA and Iberia's). With those you can call the airline direct, and request your seats. I am dismayed to hear that the travel agency you had to use would not have already done this for you. Unless of course there are no more advanced seat assignments available and all seats are blocked now for airport check-in. Then it really would be an "out of control" issue, meaning the travel agency would not be able to assign. But they should be able to send over a request in your pnr to assign seat preference prior to your departure date.
The Individual Airline can assign the Seats. I guess good agents like Penny and I take the time to do these things for our clients, sorry you either used a lazy agent or booked on line.
Penny is right though, if Advance Seats are at Max, it must be done at the airport. Many airlines start blocking seats 320 days Prior to departure and save up to 1/2 the plane for Elite Frequent Flyers, so often there are good seats available at the airport. Just check in really Early for the best chance.
Oh Happs, I just read your post and I have gotten deja-vue. I also flew on an Iberia flight, that was an AA code-share in March '99, and I also got my ticket through the Card Miles program. However, my flight was through Miami.
I was able to get seat assignments through Card Miles (and I double -checked them with American, they were OK). However, when we got to Miami, Iberia had changed our seat assignments! The flight originated in South America and it was FULL, even though it was a Monday night in mid-March. The flight was awful...I only picked it because I earned miles with American. Definitely bring Tylenol PM and your own water and don't worry about having seat assignments because Iberia doesn't honor them.
On a positive note, my in-laws flew on Iberia on a flight that originated in Chicago and they thought it was OK (but they also thought Alitalia is OK, which is another awful airline). They said the flight originated in Chicago, which is key, because your flight will not be full (like ours was). You'll be fine.