Ger - I agree with what you said, but that's not really what I wondered. What I really asked is why <b>so many</b> people think they will not get on the plane because they don't have a seat assignment.

Anyways, I gave it a little thought, and will answer my own question. One is that the airlines are doing a very poor job (or I should say &quot;no job&quot;) in explaining to its customers that no seat assignments don't mean no seat. And perhaps the media is spreading false information to the traveling public that IDB has become an epidemic, which it definitely hasn't.

The traveling public should understand that when an airline oversell its flights and everybody show up, then it will ask for volunteers to give up their seats, in exchange for monetary compensation and/or accomodation when necessary. And most of the time they'll get more volunteers than they need. Only if nobody or not enough people volunteer will they deny boarding. And there are guidelines what they need to do to compensate.

Another thing is that many international carriers do not give out seat assignments to many or all of its passengers, even to this day. And holding a seat assignment on many European airlines mean diddly squat! On my most recent flight on AF, when I checked in, they simply told me, &quot;sorry, you don't have your seat anymore&quot;. Same thing on KLM.

So, again. No seat assignment doesn't mean you can't get on. Have seat assignment doesn't mean you have that seat and won't be bumped.

rkkwan- thanks for the clarificatioin. I get it now.

I almost prefer NOT having a seat assigned. Too many times I've selected the very the seat/row I want only to have an equipment change -- or just have the gate agent re-assign me. But in any case, especially when on discounted tickets, I haven't had an assigned seat more often than I have.

I just get there early and try to get the best seat I can . . . . .

With Virgin, all you need is your confirmation or ticket number, go to their website, input some details and you can pick a seat (plus special meals etc).

I assume what's happened here is that no seats are showing as available? Or maybe the OP hasn't checked this?

How about using the online check-in which you can do with Virgin 24 hours before departure? This is another way to pick or change your seats

I'm sorry but this has little to actually do with airlines overbooking flights and everything to do with why the OP doesn't have a seat assignment.

We <b>know</b> airlines overbook flights but that does <b>not</b> prevent <b>everyone booked on that flight</b> from having a pre-assigned seat.

The OP has apparently refused to elaborate as to the exact circumstances and why this is so I am not certain.

I don't know why I don't have a seat. I have gone online many times (a week before and now) and still can't get a seat. I called as well, and they told me not to worry about it.

&quot;they told me not to worry about it.&quot;

Good advice . . . . .

Update: We ended up buying the last emergency exits seats. Well worth the money. Hopefully, we can do the same on the return flight on tuesday.

Dr. Andrea - How did you manage to get the emergency row? Everytime I request it they give an excuse.

Also, I have booked my flight for Italy/Paris for April/May 2007 and I cannot get a seat assignment. My flight is with Northwest/KLM. They said they do not book seats until 90 days before the flight. I don't remember that happening before but I heard it from 3 different agents.

It is first come first serve. You have to buy them at the airport the day of the flight. Otherwise, I don't have any other advice for you.

<b>Dukey</b>,

you posted,

<i>We know airlines overbook flights but that does not prevent <b>everyone</b> booked on that flight from having a pre-assigned seat.</i>

please explain???

if the flight is oversold, how can <b>everybody</b> have an assigned seat???

I guess it's possible, if some are willing to let others sit on their laps...:-D

Dr. Andrea, what do you mean by &quot;buy them at the airport&quot;? The tickets? Did you have to pay more for the emergency exit seats when you checked in? I thought you had tickets but just couldn't get a seat assignment. Well, at least now you have your seats! Happy travels to you!

Rkkwan, having a seat assigned at the time of ticket purchase means &quot;diddly squat&quot; on Alitalia. Apparently, they assign a seat but it means absolutely nothing.

It means just what I said: airlines routinely overbook flights.

Just because flights are overbooked that doesn't mean averyone on a particular flight <b>doesn't get a seat assignment</b>. In fact, the majority of passengers <b>do</b> get a seat assignment with a certain number of seats being left to the gate agent to assign.

I never said that <b>everybody gets an assigned seat</b>. What I <b>did</b> say is that not everybody doesn't have one.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear and if so, I apologize.

I also think the OP never really made the situation completely clear about what was, or was not done, to secure a seat.

I had purchased my seats, but to get an e-exit seat they charge $75 extra.

Lack of seat assignment does not mean a flight is oversold. British Air routinely holds back a fairly large number, people who don't get their seat assignments until airport check-in. It's unnerving (because I only like an aisle seat) but routine.

I also am in the same situation. We are flying Seattle to London on BA July 10 with no seat assignment. The reservations were made last October. We have seats on our return trip. We have called every week but the standard answer is seat assignments 23 hours before flight. I printed out the EU rules on getting bumped. They are much stricter than here in the US. I assume most people don't know the EU rules, I was really suprised. I don't want free tickets, nor their money, we want to be on our flight. I guess for us it is we have planned this trip and are excited and this seat thing causes anxiety no matter how much I try to tell myself not to worry or read on fodors not to worry. Missing our flight would mean a trickle down effect for our connecting flight and so on.

We recently went on BA. We had seat assignments for several months. Upon checking their website 2 days prior to departure - we no longer had seat assignments. I called them, even talked to a supervisor - seat assignments are never guaranteed they tell me. When we checked in, we were given seats - which were actually better than we had.

Then on the return, we asked for different seats than we had assigned, they moved us - no problem. Assigned seats obviously mean nothing.

Hester- Not too worry. BA just doesn't like to pre-assign seats for whatever reason. I've never seen anyone get bumped from a flight, those planes are HUGE. I fly Seattle London also.

Out of curiousity, I tried to check and see if our upcoming flight on BA to London was full. I'm not able to access that information - for whatever reason.

When we booked we chose our own seats on BA World Traveller Plus, but now I wonder if we will be moved.

Can they or would they &quot;down grade&quot; our seats??

seetheworld - You bought a WT+ ticket, and you'll get a WT+ seat.

Like others have said over and over on this thread, European airlines have a very different attitude towards seat assignments.

People should just stop worrying themselves silly like this.