NWA/KLM Seat Assignment
 

When I made my reservations last week, I was able to reserve some of the seats I wanted (multi-leg trip). Since then I have not been able to access that section of the NWA site.

I continue to get the following message: "Seat assignments for this flight/airline are not available online at this time."

This screen does show a couple of my seats - but I can't continue. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Is there a way around this screen? Is a computer problem at their end?

Thanks.

Are you talking about intra-Europe segments? If so, it's normal for airlines not to pre-assign seats on flights within Europe, but to assign them when you check in.

Yes, KT - Europe to Africa. Does 'check-in' mean at the gate in Europe? Or my origin in the US? Or what?

Thanks for helping.

Actually, I don't know about Europe to Africa, just about within Europe. Somebody else here may know more. Sorry.

My guess is that you're not able to choose seats on the KLM-operated portions of your trip. That's typical. I had the same thing happen on flights I took last week, but I found that KLM did honor my aisle seat request that I keep in my profile.

KLM allows seat assignments starting 90 days prior to the flight. Could your flight(s) be more than 90 days away? Either that or you may need to call NW to get your seat assignments by phone. You can definitely get advance seat assignments on AMS-Africa flights.

I am trying to book seats on KLM from JFK-AMS and AMS-CPT. On the site, and by phone with NWA here in the US, I have been told that I can do this only 90 days before the flight. So how can I book the AMS-CPT seats now? Or the seats for both flights?

I also used to get answers from NW that no, they don't have access to KLM's system. I don't know if this is real or a pathetic excuse.

Have you tried calling KLM directly? Even then I think they only allow seat request 90days before the flight. Also, in general European carriers are less neurotic when it comes to seat request. Remember it's "request", not "assignment".

Thanks, W9. They do not appear to even have an office in the US anymore (how can this be??) so I could try calling Holland...

We can't even get on to the KLM website here in the US; we get shifted to the NWA site.

their netherland reservation number is 31.20.4747.747. I can give you a UK number if this doesn't work but it's a premium rate number.

ekscrunchy,
If your flights are more than 90 days away, you can't get your seat assignments now. Just wait until 90 days prior and call NW reservations. They'll assign your seats then. You can make two separate calls if you wish, one when the JFK-AMS is within the 90 day window and the following day for the AMS-CPT flights.

Thanks, Patty. I did not even realize I would have to make two calls; thought they would book both seats at the same time... But not a big deal..I will call early that day...

You do not HAVE to make two calls. Since your two flights (JFK-AMS & AMS-CPT) aren't on the same date, they'll become eligible for advance seat assignments on different dates. You can certainly wait until your AMS-CPT flight is within the 90 day window, then make one phone call and get seat assignments for both flights. Hope that clarifies things.

We did AMS to Africa recently. I managed to NWA here in the US to book those seats but it took a couple of phone calls before I got someone who did not even question me but went ahead and did it. The seats were all exactly as I requested on every flight.
J