but I get this message from Northwest airlines...

Please note: Seat reservations are available within 90 days of your flight and will automatically be assigned. Please return to Manage My Reservations within 90 days of your flight to view or change your assigned seat

today is the 90th day. when do airlines "load" the seats online? I am very anxious to get a good seat....

thank you

Time to pick up the phone.

Depending on how you define "good seat", note that some seats are blacked out for full fare customers, elite FF members - so you never get full run of economy section of plane - but I too suggest you call.

Isn't NW the airline that is charging extra for aisle seats? Or was that just a rumor?

NW has a program that charges $15 for "choice" seats. They are selected bulk-head and exit row seats. Not regular aisle seats.

I had to call NW to book my seats over the phone as the online booking feature was not available for my trip from NY-Amsterdam and Amsterdam to J'burg.

I called the very first day that seating opened up and was told that many of my choice seats were already taken. I agree with a previous posting, seating is not as democractic as one would wish.

I also inquired into purchasing "preferred seating" under there new policy and was told that this was not an option, nor were upgrades.

I wish you good luck with your selections-maybe you will have a better experience than I.

NW's $15 seat choice is domestic and perhaps Canada only.