airline question about "seats will be assigned at airport" on a connecting flight...
 

happy holidays :) I confirmed my reservation for this sat. on usair from PHL - DC-reagan (57 mins in between) and DC-reagan to NewOrleans (piedmont and republic as USAIR, smaller planes). I havent had this happen before, but I was only able to get my seat assignment for PHL - DC, but not for DC-reagan to NOLA. On the phone i was told that the seat assignment for the DC-NOLA will be made at the airport, and that 75% of seats can be assigned by the reps, but 25% at the airport. I'm not sure how long it will take me to get from the arrival gate to the departure gate for my connecting flight (unfamiliar with Reagan), and if there is another security checkpoint, etc. To make myself feel better...i was thinking if the DC - NOLA flight was oversold(?)or I didnt make it ...I looked at later flights from DC to NOLA that day and there is only 1, and coach is shown as SOLD OUT on the USAIR website with firstclass still open. It is bothering me that I will be arriving at one gate in DC, and then going to my connection, but dont have a seat assignment (i usually check in online and have the boarding pass in hand) Any words of advice in handling this situation or atleast feeling better about it?

When you check in at PHL, have them assign your seat for the Reagan/New Orleans leg of the flight right then.

Before you leave the house for PHL, see if you can print boarding passes on line. You may be able to take care of the DC-NO seat then. Otherwise, get the seat assigned at PHL; USAir has always given me both boarding passes at initial check-in.

If the flights are on Republic, you'll be on an Embraer E170 or E190 jet, which has 2x2 seating. Since there are no middle seats, even the worst assignment possible will still be fine!

I thinks she's worried about having ANY seat, not just a "good" one.This last weekend my TA had the nightmare of the decade, maybe of all time.He had clients booked to TelAviv via Madrid.They were given their boarding passes in Madrid for the flight to TelAviv.They went by the area to ensure their bags had made the flight from JFK to MAD.They got to the gate,their BP's were scanned, and they were BUMPED!! Boarding Passes, in hand and still, bumped.And ElAl of all airlines! You never know what thye airlines are going to do.

Your flights at DCA will arrive and depart from the same concourse only a few gates from each other.

thx all, im feeling a little better about it, now, due to your comments.

Recently flew usair, and had the same thing happen. Some in our group were also unable to print their boarding passes at home. USAir just merged, and they are dealing with combining two reservations systems. You will get both seats when you arrive at the first airport (if you can't get them ahead of time at online checkin). Have a nice flight!

PS: If you are a usair frequent flier, double check your miles, they did not credit mine until I wrote an email a week after the flight.

thx4: I've never been able to figure out why airlines can't (or simply won't?) assign seats on some flights. We had this experience again just last week: my roommate was going RT from LAX to Boston, and when we booked the flights online we were able to select a seat assignment for the first leg, but their website told us his seat for the return flight could only be assigned at the airport. So we called United the very next day, and the rep said plenty of space was available on that flight and they give him a seat assignment.

It just doesn't make sense.

It does make sense. Reason 1: possible change of aircraft due to changes in demand. Reason 2: desire to keep families/parties together if flight is traditionally booked by families and groups -- esp at holidays and on certain routes like FL or ski country in season. Don't worry.

It wouldn't hurt to try a few more times to get an assignment. You might get lucky. After all, a confirmation in the hand...... ((*))