Airline seat selection: Do you select your seats?

[Etnt]

56 minutes ago, Yeshe said:

I recently took a couple of SQ flights. I notice that if u check-in at the 48hr mark before flight, u can actually select premium economy seats even though u paid for economy seats at not extra cost.... 

wah, lobang.

but SQ PE product is quite lousy, comparing with jap airlines.

[Jellandross]

Select seats cannot self service. Next time make baby also need ppl to help them?

 

Edited July 15, 2022 by Jellandross

[Voodooman]

This disease of paying for seat selection started with budget airlines and have now spread to full services airlines.

I am cheapo and never had to pay to select a desired seat in advance, so long as I booked the tickets under 1 booking as a couple and check-in in advance. Not too fuss with seating when I am traveling on leisure.

But these days, every flight is 100% full, for longer flights, looks like I may have to pay and pay. Don't want to end up with a centre seat flanked by 2 oversized angmos. Just another way for airlines to milk more money from everyone.

Can't wait for capacity to catch up with demand.

 

 

[Vratenza]

Actually.... The problem here is not a matter of pay or not. It is all business decision by the airlines whether to charge. Rules are simple: check in early to avoid disappointment whether it is via paid selection or not. 

The problem here is that someone expects to be treated differently from the rules and posting it on social media to apply pressure on the airline to do some "service recovery". 

 

[Windwaver]

13 hours ago, BabyBlade said:

Saw this complaint posted on Singapore Airlines Facebook page, posted by someone I know. Although it's a short post but it somehow reeks of entitlement. I stand to be corrected but if you did not select your seats in advance, then the airline will allocate your seats upon check-in. If you want to be seated together with your group, complimentary seat selection is available at the check-in counter, subject to availability. I find it interesting how we stomp our little feet at organisations when we don't have things our way. 

I'm sorry you had a slight hiccup on your honeymoon but perhaps if one had a little more contingency plan to pre-booked one's seat in order to avoid disappointment on one's honeymoon, then we would all be spared from reading my little rant here. 😆

When I travel in a group, I usually pre-select my seats unless it's like a short budget flight and I don't want to add cost to my budget tix just to be seated with my friends for that two hours. What's two hours of separation when you have the entire trip and a lifetime to catch up anyway? 

Maybe honeymoon in Sentosa better? 

[jcmm]

Encountered this unhappiness once. My younger daughter n me were traveling in a non budget airline. Was in the check in desk about 1.5 hrs before departure. Surprisingly check in staff told me we were not sitting together. I was like, "errr u expecting my 3 yrs old daughter to sit with strangers??" Might be system bug, the check in staff made a few calls, spent 15 mins to secure me n my daughter sitting together.  

[Voodooman]

38 minutes ago, Vratenza said:

Actually.... The problem here is not a matter of pay or not. It is all business decision by the airlines whether to charge. Rules are simple: check in early to avoid disappointment whether it is via paid selection or not. 

The problem here is that someone expects to be treated differently from the rules and posting it on social media to apply pressure on the airline to do some "service recovery". 

 

It is the airline's perogative to charge whatever they want and can get away with. If I don't like, I will just bring my business elsewhere, confirm no social media for me. 

But if I booked just 2 tickets under 1 single booking and we don't care where we are seated, I would probably expect SQ to seat us together at the minimum.

I didn't read that they checked in late but I did notice these days when I book tickets on SQ, they will try to charge me for seat selection. I usually get a free pass but it seems this privilege does not extend to my travel companion.  

I almost never fly budget cause I hate the idea of paying for each meal, blanket and even water on a flight and having to weigh my carryon luggage at the counter.  Just mark up the freaking ticket price by $20 and give free seat selection, stop cheapening the SQ branding. 

[Sotong1977]

14 hours ago, bsswan said:

I have my flight to HK next month, of course 95% empty.

Reserved my usual seat; front cabin, last row, window.

Because of this chat, I went in for a look see........ some muppets reserved the two seats next to me! The whole rest of cabin is empty!!!

WTF!

COVID-LAH! Some people just too stupid to have been born.

Make seat reservations whenever possible so you can change when some other idiot screws around. I mean, really, WTF!

Make sure first thing you do onboard is check that the call button is working :)

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/grab-driver-molest-sexual-assault-two-men-jail-caning-appeal-2794081

 

[Vratenza]

8 hours ago, Voodooman said:

It is the airline's perogative to charge whatever they want and can get away with. If I don't like, I will just bring my business elsewhere, confirm no social media for me. 

But if I booked just 2 tickets under 1 single booking and we don't care where we are seated, I would probably expect SQ to seat us together at the minimum.

I didn't read that they checked in late but I did notice these days when I book tickets on SQ, they will try to charge me for seat selection. I usually get a free pass but it seems this privilege does not extend to my travel companion.  

I almost never fly budget cause I hate the idea of paying for each meal, blanket and even water on a flight and having to weigh my carryon luggage at the counter.  Just mark up the freaking ticket price by $20 and give free seat selection, stop cheapening the SQ branding. 

I am seeing from perspective of the airline in managing the seat selection to be as fair (or profitable) as possible. This will be what they probably be ranking in terms of priority:

1) some elite frequent flyer program member

2) those who pay for seat selection at purchase of seat tickets. 

3) those who check in online within the stipulated time period

4) those who are first in queue once the check in counter opens up. 

5) those who cannot be bothered and did not make any effort to sound out their preference in any way. 

If I am the airline, going by the above priority list, if someone from (1-4) made know their preference, I will split up the multiple tickets purchased under 1 booking from those in (5) in order to accomodate them. We all know how limited the seats are especially in fully booked flights.

Only when there are available seats after (1-4) will the airline try to accomodate the multiple tickets in a single booking to be seated togther. 

Just to illustrate it with another seat assignment conundrum. Movie tickets online booking. I am sure movie goers will have the experience of trying to buy movie tickets for 2 online but only to be greeted with a movie seating layout that is almost fully booked but with quite a few single available seats dotted around. In that scenario, is the theatre expected to move those who booked earlier so that they can earn more by squeezing out more couple seating? 

 

[Vratenza]

9 hours ago, jcmm said:

Encountered this unhappiness once. My younger daughter n me were traveling in a non budget airline. Was in the check in desk about 1.5 hrs before departure. Surprisingly check in staff told me we were not sitting together. I was like, "errr u expecting my 3 yrs old daughter to sit with strangers??" Might be system bug, the check in staff made a few calls, spent 15 mins to secure me n my daughter sitting together.  

In order to correct this "system bug", the counter staff probably need to split up other multiple tickets purchase in 1 booking, did not pre-select the seats and have yet to check in. 😁

And he/she was keeping her fingers cross that the affected multi-tickets booking would not make noise also....😋

[Voodooman]

22 minutes ago, Vratenza said:

I am seeing from perspective of the airline in managing the seat selection to be as fair (or profitable) as possible. This will be what they probably be ranking in terms of priority:

1) some elite frequent flyer program member

2) those who pay for seat selection at purchase of seat tickets. 

3) those who check in online within the stipulated time period

4) those who are first in queue once the check in counter opens up. 

5) those who cannot be bothered and did not make any effort to sound out their preference in any way. 

If I am the airline, going by the above priority list, if someone from (1-4) made know their preference, I will split up the multiple tickets purchased under 1 booking from those in (5) in order to accomodate them. We all know how limited the seats are especially in fully booked flights.

Only when there are available seats after (1-4) will the airline try to accomodate the multiple tickets in a single booking to be seated togther. 

Just to illustrate it with another seat assignment conundrum. Movie tickets online booking. I am sure movie goers will have the experience of trying to buy movie tickets for 2 online but only to be greeted with a movie seating layout that is almost fully booked but with quite a few single available seats dotted around. In that scenario, is the theatre expected to move those who booked earlier so that they can earn more by squeezing out more couple seating? 

 

Did you know that SQ is making me pay $20 just for the privilege of reserving a seat next to mine when there are tons of seats still available on a flight I booked? These are not even premium seats (ie front section, extra legroom, etc).  

When I go watch a movie, I book and pay for the seats I want. I don't have to pay extra just for me and wifey to sit together.

[Vratenza]

2 minutes ago, Voodooman said:

Did you know that SQ is making me pay $20 just for the privilege of reserving a seat next to mine when there are tons of seats still available on a flight I booked? These are not even premium seats (ie front section, extra legroom, etc).  

When I go watch a movie, I book and pay for the seats I want. I don't have to pay extra just for me and wifey to sit together.

Yeah understand. Experienced that with SQ many times even before Covid. (had not flown since).

Same rationale as what I have posted earlier, that is how SQ want to improve their bottom line. If we choose not to pay the $20, we will be relegated down the pecking order and either get to the check in counter as early as we can and pray hard that the flight is not fully booked by then.

We may not like it but we have to ask ourselves, is it a deal breaker that we will choose another airline that do not do the same? SQ is making the bet that most will not, since it is a premium brand with decent safety records.

On the other hand some will say, just incorporate the $20 into the seat price already but that also means those who cannot be bothered about seat selection will be charged extra for a service they do not need?

When we go for a movie, the tickets we purchase already incorporated the "seat selection fee". We see what is available and book as is.

Will there be a movie theatre business model that sells the tickets $2 cheaper so that we just book the movie timing and let them randomly assign us the seats?😁

[Vid]

This thread reminds me not to prebook seats when going long haul trip 😏

[Vratenza]

6 minutes ago, Vid said:

This thread reminds me not to prebook seats when going long haul trip 😏

Especially on your honeymoon😁

[Jamesc]

People here so mean one.

Maybe this guy first time take aeroplane.

Everything also he don't know.

We should give him this doubtful benefit.

[BabyBlade]

SIA's reply. No surprises there. 

[Ody_2004]

I don fly often now but seem even if you wanna select seat the Available Seats for selection also DYNAMIC..

they will not open the full aircraft for selection but only those that they want you to select..

If u itchy hand go and check again your "favorite" seat maybe available for selection later..

Likewise Royal Caribbean oso practice same same for cabin.. now they will offer RoyalUP instead of free upgrade like in the past.. they will dictate the minimum to bid for the upgrade..

[Vid]

1 hour ago, BabyBlade said:

SIA's reply. No surprises there. 

Know how to use Facebook to send complaint but don't know how to go online to select seats. Serve whoever that was RIGHT!

Edited July 16, 2022 by Vid