Changing Seats on AA
 

If I do not like my seat selection available at online check-in, is it better to do the online check-in and request different seats at the airport , or skip online check-in and do the check-in at the airport counter?

Why not select your seat when you buy your ticket and presumably take advantage of more choice? (Assuming seats are able to be assigned at that time, of course.)

I would take A seat. If it's that full, things could get worse, not better. Then ask at the airport, but lots of flights I have been on have been announcing that "due to a full flight we cannot accomodate seat changes"

You can do both. If you select a seat at online check in you can change your seat at the airport. I do it all the time.

I check in 24 hrs in advance to get my name on the airport upgrade list, then when I arrive at the airport I go to a self check in kiosk to reprint my boarding pass. It's there I get the option to change seats again.

I find that uber elite members who have the front of the coach cabin seats sometimes get cleared for upgrades ahead of me, leaving their good coach seats free when I get to the airport.

<i>I check in 24 hrs in advance to get my name on the airport upgrade list</i>

The airport list is still based on original request date for comp/sticker upgrades.

"Within each elite status level, your priority on the Airport Upgrade Standby List will also be determined based on the date and time you requested your upgrade initially, thus allowing customers with the earliest request date and time to be processed first."

https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/p...adedetails.jsp

I believe SWU upgrades and maybe mileage upgrades are based on check-in time.

Thanks patty - I didn't know that. It used to be that you could only get on the airport upgrade list once you arrived at the airport, so I like the feature of doing that at online check in time.

Since I'm the lowest tier AA elite, on most of the routes I fly my name never gets higher than #10 or so anyway, but there's always wishful thinking.

<iIt used to be that you could only get on the airport upgrade list once you arrived at the airport,<i>

huh???

It never was, well, at least not since 2000.

Any status holder can request an upgrade during reservation.

Getting back to the original question, which was changing seats (not upgrades), a lot of seats do come open on the day of travel. That's why you see so many yo-yos sitting in exit rows. There either weren't enought Elite flyers to fill those seats or the Elite flyers were upgraded.

Although I'm lifetime Gold, I take nothing for granted. I check seats almost every day and find that good seats open and close very quickly. So, when you buy a ticket, get the best seats you can and keep looking for "better" seats as often as you can. Works for me about 90+% of the time.

Also to AAFF above, if there is availability and you are Elite, you and your spouse (traveling companion) can be upgraded with the usual upgrade charges.