Cranachin

I'm booked next week on a domestic flight that showed no seat availability (other than premium economy seats) at the time of booking.

There are still 10 or so premium economy seats, but no regular economy.

So is it better to

* watch for open seats and select the first one I see, regardless of how desirable I think it is?

* watch for open seats but only select one if I am happy with it?

* just wait until I check in online, or get to the airport, to see what I am assigned?

I'm guessing the airline will end up bumping people with status (which I don't have) to the premium economy seats, thus opening up regular economy, but I have no idea if that actually happens. Of course what I wish is that they would just put ME in premium economy, but it's a plane, not a pig.

(For what it's worth, this is on American. Does the airline affect which of the above is the best option?)

THANKS!

clarkgriswold

I would watch for open seats (check a few times per day starting a week before your flight)...but select one only if it is a desirable seat.

lcuy

I agree with Clark, but add that I would select any seat that isn't a middle, if one appears. Not sure about AA, but United's computers don't care if you keep changing to better seats up until check-in.

If you haven't found a perfect seat, I would recommend that you check in the first moment the system will allow it, usually 24 hours before your flight time. At that point, the computer will have done the elite upgrades, and decent seats will open up for you.

Cranachin

Thanks, clark and lcuy. I'm keeping an eye on it.

AA's computers don't care about switching seats, either, as I changed my seat on the return leg. Still nothing open outbound, though.

Cranachin

Well, nothing opened up until this morning, 24 hours before my flight.

Then, all of a sudden, there were 15 open seats in regular economy—almost all window or aisle! And there were 12 in premium economy (up from 6 last night).

Don't know where all those seats came from. They can't all be people who were bumped to first/biz.

TC

The airlines sometimes hold seats out until 24 hours prior to flight. I hate booking a flight with no seat assignment. I have seen people bumped from such flights, so I like to make sure I have "something". But I watch until the last minute to make a change if something better shows up.