OK, we are on a flight from Chicago to Dublin, Ireland at the end of April. This is an awards trip with my H's company, and the flight is pretty booked. When the TA called with the itenerary, she did not book us any seats. Have no idea why not. That would have been the appropriate time, IMO. So, I had to call her back a few days later to ask her what our seat assignments were. That is when she got around to it, and by that time the seats on the Chicago Dublin portion were pretty crappy. We are on an isle seat, one behind the other, G or something.

When I called AA to ask about upgrades, she told me there were other seats they were holding, but not releasing until you check in at the airport. Like about two whole rows of seats. Well, we check in in San Diego and she doesn't know if they will release them that early.

So, here is the question if you are still with me. Do you know when they actually do release these seats so that we can sit next to each other on this leg of the trip? And is there any way to get AA to release them early? We are Advantage flyers and if there are these seats, I don't see why they can't give us just two of them...Help here???

assuming it works the same way as domestic but you can go on aa.com sign in and go to your reservations, click on the seat assignment and it'll show you what seats are available still. Just click on the seat you want and it's done aftger you save it.

I was watching seats for my Paris flight on AA.com and I did notice in the last week before the flight seats that were not available all of a sudden became available.

When you call, call the Advantage number not the general one.

GL

The &quot;blocked&quot; seats are probably exit rows and are only advance-bookable by &quot;elite&quot; members of AA's FF program. If they're not selected by elites at 24 hrs before flight time, they <i>may</i> be released for gate assignment. Keep checking with AA, using aa.com - they may be able to open a seat early - otherwise at 24 hrs before the Chicago-Dublin flight (i.e. 18 or so hours before your San Diego flight) check aa.com and phone AA to see if they'll seat you together.

Otherwise wait till Chicago and see if somebody will switch with you. If you both have aisle seats there's probably someone in a window or middle seat who will switch - you can ask the FA as a last resort.

Meant to add, on very full flights the 24-hour rule may not apply and the seats won't be released until the check-in window opens a few hours before the flight.

I always ask for better seats when I check in, but I always check in early then go have a bite to eat at the airport (maybe 3 hours). I usually get them, if not I ask again at the gate, politely of course.

If you can't get it done officially, hopefully the poor sap in the middle seat next to either you or your hubby will be single &amp; happy to switch and sit on the aisle instead (unless everyone is couples).

Honestly to me, two aisle seats would be great. Some couples even request that (normally across the aisle from each other).

As others have said, if you can't get new seat assignments, just ask your neighbors on the plane to switch. Chances are, with one of two aisle seats to trade, you will have good luck.

I agree about opposite aisle seats--good for comfort rather than an aisle/middle or even window/middle.

Two isle seats are great, but that is me. I would rather sit on the isle than in the middle or the window. If there is the 3-5-3 configuration we usually request two isle seats across from each other, but in front is fine. Have a great flight and a fabulous trip.

Thanks all. It is a 767, so 2 x 3 x 2. We have 22g and 23g, one in front of another. There are two isles across but that is row 39, almost all the way back, by the lavs (ugh). Don't know if it is worth it. All of the two across will probably want to stay together.

I will keep checking the AA.com and see if something opens up. That would be nice. It isn't the worst case scenario, but would at least like to have eye contact...since the agent already told me they have the seats blocked off. But...

Oh dear, you're probably correct, in a 2/3/2 nobody's gonna want to change. See what they can do for you at check-in.

Since you are an AAdvantage FF member, I assume you've called the AAdvantage number instead of the regular one? It's 1-800-882-8880. You will need to give your advantage number before you reach someone to talk to, but they are often very honest and open about when the seats reserved for elite customers will be released and things like that. Meanwhile check with them a few times to see if anything has opened up. They have found seats for me that didn't show up at all on the screen. Good luck.

At least one of you can have the luxury of telling the other one not to recline so far back!

Exit row seats and some of the forward rows are available for assignment at all times to AAdvantage elite members (Gold, Plats and Executive Plats). If they are available, anybody with status can pick the seats on aa.com. Some, such as bulkhead rows are for airport assignment ONLY. There is nothing you can do if you don't have status, but don't loose faith. Many times some of the better seats become available because the elites requested upgrades and when they clear, the best seats are there just for asking at the airport.

Good luck!

AA Frequent Flyer, do you think they might release them when we check in in San Diego? That leaves at noon, 2 pm Chicago time. The flight to Dublin does not leave until 7:25 Chicago time. Guess I will just have to watch the site, call the week ahead, and bug them in San Diego. Cross my fingers. Alas, though, no elite status. Just a lowly FF flyer.

My partner and I were assigned seats way at the back near the lavs on a last-minute switched flight. Surprise! We are aisle/window or aisle/aisle people who usually want seats as close to the front as possible.

I cringed at the thought at being being &quot;back there&quot; and feared the worst (smells; congestion). But, interestingly enough, I loved the easy access to standing space; in fact, I stood up at the back quite a bit of the time and socialized with other &quot;I prefer to stand&quot; groupies. It ended up being one of my favorite flights ever.

I'd rather be at the back on an aisle than in the middle of a three seat row any day! That was torture for a woman who stands most of her day and loves it.

Here is a suggestion. If I understand you correctly, you are flying SAN-ORD-DUB-ORD-SAN. If that's true, call AAdvantage and sign up for Gold challenge. Regardless of the fare code you will make Gold status with this one trip. Your status will be good until the end of 2/07. If you fly another 15K miles or so before the end of this year you will have the status until the end of 2/08.

Everytime you fly AA, you will be able to pre-reserve the exit row seats or some of the prefered seats up front. You will also earn 1.25 miles per each mile flown. You will be able to check in at the AA first/business class desks regardless of the class of service flown. There are few more perks. Gold status is not much but better than nothing.

Heavens, when you say this is an &quot;awards&quot; trip (through your husband's company) do you mean they are award tickets (as in, you or somebody used miles for them) or do you mean they're paid tickets given to you by your husband's company?

Reason being, AAFF's suggestion about the Gold Challenge would only apply if somebody paid real money for the tickets, rather than used miles or had some special deal that your husband's company arranged through AA. If you can see the fare paid, it will help determine what the case is.

I missed the &quot;award&quot; part. If it's a mileage award, forget about the Gold challenge. It's also possible that a revenue fare may not qualify, but if it is a paid ticket it's worth a call to Addvantage.