Eticket but no seats assigned....will I get on?
 

Leaving for Ireland on Sunday...I am on an E ticket with assigned seat from LAX-Newark, but I do not have a seat from Newark to Shannon-either coming or going....will I have much trouble getting a seat? (does anyone have any ideas on that?)

This is my 10th trip to Ireland but my first going alone...yikes..no navigator....going to see my mom who lives there.

Thanks for any information!
Shadow

You'll get on, but airlines only preassign a set percentage of seats in advance. This is to have maximum flexibility to accommodate families, etc. If it's at all possible with your airline, do online check-in at the first minute allowed, and you might be able to select your seat then. Otherwise, get to the airport early for the best chance at a good seat.

It is not uncommon. Many airlines will only assign a seat once you have checked in for your flight.

if you can't check in online before the flight then try when you're at LAX for the next leg of your flight.
I usually have e tickets and have never had a problem getting a seat assignment.

Shadow, I have never had a problem getting an assigned seat in advance. But maybe that is the custom of the airline you are using. I would keep calling back, or try online or get to the airport early. Best wishes.

Thanks everyone! I'm flying Continental and have seats from LAX to Newark but none Newark to Shannon...then, none from Shannon back to Newark....it won't let me do it online and when I called they said the seats were blocked....I am going to try calling again and I will get to the check-in as soon as I get to the airport-Early!!
Thanks for your help! I've never booked
2 weeks away from a trip before-always have gotten seat assignments....
This will be an adventure since I'm going alone....
Shadow

Shadow, can you do online check-in 24 hours in advance with Continental? That's what I plan to do with my Continental tickets this year. Last year I had paper tickets on a codeshare, so I wasn't able to do that.

Our April trip was on Continental. We bought them early. so had no big problem in getting assigned seats. BOTH flights (IN and OUT of Shannon) were oversold and they were offering a $500 travel voucher, a hotel and food voucher AND First Class seating on the next day's flight. I would have been tempted to take them up on it, but they only needed ONE, not two.

Most airlines don't pre-assign about a dozen "premium" seats (including exit rows) and hold them until boarding, to accommodate their Elite status customers, on upgrades, but that frees up their original seat, so I would guess you'll only be 'bumped' if you volunteer.

Have a great trip. Give our regards to your Mom. Wish we were going to Rosscommon, as well.

Bob

There is a point prior to departure where you can no longer choose seats online, even if you check in online. You must be within that limit now. You'll just have to get there early to have some choice as to what is left.

Since you will be first flying from LAX to EWR, you will be at the airport about 6hrs before anybody else. Unless there is a huge problem, when you check-in at LAX they will give you your boarding pass (and seat assignment) at LAX.

I should clarify - I'm plan to check in 24 hours in advance for my August Continental flights, but I already have seat assignments.

I thought you might be able to get seat assignments if you also do online check-in, but I'm not sure based on what Travelnut said. You might like to look at the Continental forum on FlyerTalk for more help.

Are you on CO24 EWR-SNN non-stop this Sunday, or are you taking CO126 EWR-DUB-SNN?

There are still quite a few unassigned seats on CO24, and they shouldn't block out seat assignments yet, even for non-elites. I tried to get seat assignments on that flight, and I could only do it when signed on as Onepass Elite.

I suggest you do this. Call the Continental.com website support desk at (800)300-1547, and not the regular reservations line. They can do a lot of stuff that regular res. agent can't. In fact, I'd bet $5 you will get your seat assignments that way.

can't you go to their website and select seats like you can on AA.com?

Patty, is that you????????

BC

sandi - In general, yes, you can select seats on continental.com. Even down to the last seat available. But in some instances, which I cannot explain, they don't allow online selection (or through the regular reservation lines) by non-elites. EWR-TLV routes are a prime example. But as I've explained, calling the website support desk usually will do the trick.

Might be a Continental thing. I just returned from Edinburgh via Newark, and couldn't get seats assigned online at all, for either EWR-EDI or EDI-EWR. I had no problem with the other legs of the trip to/from my hometown airport. Same deal with my parents' tickets, who were going to meet me in Newark and were ticketed separately since they had a different departure point. I normally keep checking my reservations as it gets closer to departure, but never could do those seat assignments myself. It wasn't until I contacted Customer Service (via e-mail) to ask them to put a notation on our tickets that I would be travelling with my parents. Perhaps the CS agent went ahead and assigned seats then because they magically appeared next time I checked our flights.

It was a full flight, I believe. And I have no status with Continental.

Shadow

I wish for you a happy visit with your mother. I know how much these visits mean to you and also how difficult they can be. My own mother lives in the U.K. and will be 87. Once again I am getting ready to plan another trip over to see her.

Please post back and tell us how things work out for you.

Sandy

Wow! Great responses! Thanks everybody!
Bookchick: yes, I'm Patti!
rkkwan: yes, I'm on CO 24 this Sunday...I sure will try that number!!
Thanks! (I'll let you know what they say)
Sandybrit: yes, its difficult with an older mother in another country...and, my mother is hard to deal with on top of that! I try to do the best I can by her anyway. This is my 3rd trip in a years time. But, I do love Ireland so that is good!

Shadow - If the continental.com website support people can't help you, then just go ahead and to online checkin 24-hours before YOUR FIRST FLIGHT out of LAX. Since you'll checking in earlier than most other passengers (from NY or with other shorter connections), you should still be able to get some aisle and window seats at that time.

rkkwan:thanks for all information...I did call the number you gave me and they could not give me seats either...but, they did tell me why...they are reserving them for families, etc....so, yes, I will check tomorrow before I leave my town to stay the night near LAX and of course at LAX...they did say there were enough seats so I would make the flight!! Yeah!!
So, again, thanks for the information!!
Shadow

Oh well, I owe you $5 then. How about a Continental coupon? Good for an alcoholic drink. :)

BTW, make sure you have your passport by your side when you do OLCI, and do at right at the 24-hour mark. You'll need passport number and date of expiration.

See if they'd open up Row 16DEF or not. It's reserved for crew rest, but EWR-SNN may not need them. Those are really really prized seats with tremendous legroom. As of this moment, they're not available yet, while 16ABC are all taken up. [Those are exit rows, so you need to be able-bodied, and not with young kids.]

Italian chauffeur (Bob) thanks for the kind thoughts...I know we share a love of Ireland as I have read and enjoyed your reports!
Yeah, most folks don't go to Roscommon...the only real "touristy" thing there is the Famine Museum in Strokestown..about 15 miles (I think) from my mom in Ballaghaderreen. So, you really see the "real Ireland".....folks going about their day not expecting to hear an American accent...
Here's to an adventure!!!
I'll report back!
Shadow

And if you don't know this yet, go to seatguru.com to look at the seat charts. You're flying the "757-200 International".

Shadow,

You are as my Mum calls it a 'seat filler' :-)

She used to panic when she realised that she didn't have a seat assigned until we explained that single travellers will ALWAYS be the first to be moved when a couple or family complain about not being seated together.

She has never had trouble getting a seat and always enjoyed her travel companions, she would be the first to take the later flight and the compensation- and I wouldn't blame her :-) How tempted were you Italian Chauffer? I'm sure your wife would have loved the first class flight :-D

If I read rkkwan's information correctly, you'll probably be in an aisle or a window seat.

Have a lovely time, come back and let other single passengers know how it went.

Wow, you guys are awesome! I absolutely love seeing people being so helpful. That's what this forum is all about.

Luckily for me, my only trip to Ireland was in 1997 with a co-worker who was from Ireland. Her niece was getting married in Ennis and the reception was at the Clare Inn. What was so cool was that she owned a B&B in Ennis and we had the use of her other home a few blocks away.

Since I don't want to hijack this thread, I just want to express my appreciation for the help that other Fodorites are so willing to give. You guys rock!

rkkwan: thanks again!
Alya: your mum sounds like a trooper!
Good for her! I do hope I get an aisle seat!!
travgina: It is great to get such help!
I sure will post a report when I get back...however, most of my trip is to see my mom and not a travel log...but, I will get a day to walk around Ennis and I'll be doing lots of visiting with friends in Co. Roscommon!
Shadow

Oh well, 16DEF have been released, but all occupied. So, you can't get them. Anyhow, make sure you do not pick rows 14 (no recline) or 34 (narrow seats, limited recline) on the 752.