What happens to all those empty "Economy Plus" seats?
 

I have a full-fare, Y, ticket on United Airlines - US to London and return. I am NOT a UA Elite member. On one of my flights, I have no seat assignment although my flight is "confirmed" According to the seating map, there are no empty seats on this particular flight -- no empty "free" seats that is. There are nearly 14 rows of empty "Economy Plus" seats on the flight. In order to get an EP seat assignment in advance, it will cost me an extra $99. What happens if I don't pay and just go to the airport? Will I eventually be assigned one of the empty EP seats in order to make my flight? Not being a UA frequent flier, I don't know how their system works.

Can anyone offer some insight? Thanks

I don't fly UA, so I can't answer for certain........did you try calling the airline? If you do an find out, post it, please! :)

You most probably won't get upgraded if that's what you are after. If they need one seat for you they will upgrade some elite customer first and give you the vacated seat.

OR they may upgrade you, being on a full Y. But slim chance of this.

there are several possibilities
•(worst one) flight winds up oversold and as you do not have a seat assignment you will be the first one bumped off the flight and offered some compensation/another flight.

• you will be assigned one of the empty E+ seats at checkin

• (least likely) As a single person, it is POSSIBLE you might get upgraded over a couple if there is only 1 Business seat left. VERY unlikely.

I would definitely call and see if you can snag a seat now in E+.

I'd spring for the $99 to get one of the roomier seats. You could end up in coach in the middle seat.

On domestic flights if there are still Economy + seats available when I check in online, I will be asked if I want to purchase one. I usually do. The United elite members people will be asking for and getting any available E+ seats at the airport as upgrades, they will not be given to non-members.

On a Y fare you can get a true upgrade - to business class - for 15,000 miles and no copay.

FF milers get the upgrades hat are not bought if any.
Pay as you go for best experience usually best for me.
Use my points for upgrades if possible.Also book with
points andpay for upgrades if cheap day of flight.

>>>According to the seating map, there are no empty seats on this particular flight -- no empty "free" seats that is.<<<

You can't go by seating maps on the airline websites as to what's available as they aren't what is really booked or available. They are just showing what they want to at the moment. There are some paid services with more accurate seat accounting (search Flyertalk if you are interested - KVS Availability Tool and Expertflyer).

http://mileageplusmergerupdates.com/...Overview#chart

This isn't a matter of my not wanting to pay for an upgrade, or even wanting an "upgrade" -- I just want to get on the flight and get home. I am flying for a charity that buys the ticket, their policy won't cover an E+ seat assignment. Fine by me. I just don't understand how UA works. At boarding, will a bunch of E- seated people be moved to E+ seats so that others who have a confirmed reservation with no seat assignment can be accommodated ? Sounds like a wild game of musical chairs. It's a wonder their planes ever get off the ground.

I had one experience with this situation on UA. I was traveling on business that was booked kinda last minute, 3-4 days in advance. There was no pre "free" seat assignment available, not even middle seat. I Arrived at the airport and was given an economy plus seat as those were still available when I arrived. This was at LAX. I am not any kind of special UA mileage plus member. I think there is no sure answer, it is just luck of the draw at the moment if all economy "free" seats are pre-assigned on that given flight.

Am I correct in assuming that you have a MileagePlus account and that your MP number is on the reservation? Do you have other trips booked with UA/CO and/or elite status with another airline?

Yes, I have a MP Acct. It has no miles in it. I have no other trips booked with them. I live in a Delta hub and have a high elite status with DL, but this trip is being paid by someone else who is using UA to save on the cost of this trip. What difference will that make, mrwunrfl?

Again, it's not about an upgrade....I just want to get on the flight.

Don't worry. You'll get on your flight.

>>>I live in a Delta hub and have a high elite status with DL,<<<

Ask United for a status match.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,53424,00.html

Status matching was the point of my questions.

I would call and ask to talk to a supervisor about a status match. They may just give you the instructions on the page linked by kybourbon, but I would try calling. It used to be that it could be done over the phone. Your Y fare helps the case as would future bookings if you had any.

So, get Premier-somthing status and get the E+ seats that you want for free.

My first question, about putting your MP# on the res, was about maximizing your "rank" in the UA pecking order. My thinking is that general member on a Y > GM on an L > MP non-member. This might not make any difference, but it can't hurt (unless you actually want to earn the miles on a different *A program, in which case I would use that other number).

If you go for a status match then after it is approved, I would call UA and have them remove and reenter your MP number on the reservation. This might not be necessary any more, but I would do it.

Wow! Thank you SO much for this status match information. I will give a call today and see what happens. Can't hurt to ask. A million thanks!

There are status match forms, but I only see 2011 and 2010. Maybe the 2012 isn't online yet.
http://media.expedia.com/ads/ECT/Car...equestForm.pdf

Kybourbon (one of my favorite drinks, BTW). I spoke with UA customer service rep and a supv. No help from either. Recommended that I email <u>and</u> fax my request stating urgent need. This I did. We'll see if next week brings a response. I hope so. In any case, thank you so much for this advice.

2012 link is HERE

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,53424,00.html

the big change is, if you get the status match you only keep it if you fly 10K + miles in 90 days. But if you don't plan to fly UAL much in the future that won't matter.