Not sure if this has been discussed befor but when we booked our AA tickets back in May for the flight to SXM July 31, we got good seats on all flights except PHL to SXM. We had to take center seats or pay $50 to $100 for the "Better Seats".

I started googling and found that AA saves a lot of seats to the last minute for their frequency fliers. It turns out that they release all the seats 24 hours before boarding time.

Sure enough, checked back 24 hours ahead and there were all sorts of seats. Most passengers had an empty center seat between them when we boarded.

It seems like AA is really overdoing it on their upcharge for specific seats. On our return to the US from SXM in June, basically the whole front of the plane was empty, which actually would not be a good thing, as far as weight distribution in the air. So the cabin attendant was stopping people as they got on and re-seating them up front. We were originally in row 25 or something and got re-seated in row 16 (which is our anniversary!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />), with three seats for the two of us, as almost everyone else was, unless there were three people together.

Alaska Air does the same thing. When we check in online 24 hours before flight we always get up front isle seats. Just did it on our round trip last week to Alaska.

Yup. Even though I selected seats when I booked our flights several months ago, when I look now we have no seats, and there's a notation that they can't assign seats at this time and we should check back or get our seats at check-in.

Can you see seats at all? If not, or if the plane looks pretty full, I would call them on the phone and get seats assigned, to make sure they aren't overbooked. I wonder if they changed equipment, and that's why your seats went away?

Same thing for us - November AA SXM to CLT switched to a A319 and won't assign seats, at least in Business. I called and they still won't assign.

Now that would really make me nervous, because I would bet when it comes down to it, they don't have enough seats in business...

Something I found out. Recently booked flights SXM-MIA using points. My husband has "gold" status and I do not. When I booked my ticket and our sons, ONLY middle crappy seats were available in the back of the plane. When I booked my husbands, same amount of points, he has great choices. I booked (two different locator numbers). Preceded to call AA and play stupid and ask if seats were available near my husband. Sure enough they moved us to his row!!! All same amount of points, just he has more "elite" status than we do!

Our flight time was changed about 15 minutes, but the flight number was different.....still have the same seats.
November also.
One never knows with AA.

When I looked today, the seats were showing again. We have the same seats we originally booked. I guess there was just some kind of glitch yesterday.

Last year my PWM to SXM AA flights, booked in July for a March trip, changed several times and each time i had to go into AA and fix the seat assignments. This years are booked again, and on the CHL to PWM leg of the trip they only showed first class seats available so i booked. I'm sure those will get changed somehow before March.

Good deal! I hope the first class seats stick for you.

I travel a lot for business. It makes sense for me to use an app such as Tripit PRO, which tracks flights, gates, etc. for me. For most people who only travel for vacation once or twice each year, the cost of the PRO version probably doesn't make sense.

Thanks, me too! I've always wanted to try first class. I hope we don't get addicted! LOL <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Very easy to get addicted to!!

The first time we were able to use miles to fly first class I swore I'd never fly coach again. That lasted until I priced first class tickets for our next trip. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Generally, first class fares are three to four times coach from our home airport. On a longer flight it's worth the money, but with SXM being only 4 1/2 hours, coach isn't all that bad.

Book them early enough and FC is mot much more that economy. Already have ours for our May/June trip. Used miles down in FC and paid for the return FC. Return wasn't much more than economy with no overnight stay back to SEA at 8:00pm.

Maybe from your home airport that's the case, but here in North Carolina things are different. I start looking as soon as the flights are available; I bought our November tickets in January, and the first class seats were four times the cost of coach.

That's too bad. We always start looking 331 days out. When they first come out they are a lot of money. Three days later they really come down. When we factor in the checked bag fees it's like 100 more for first class since we check 2 bags each. We did book at a higher price one time and then the next day they went down 300 each. Since AA has a 24hr free cancellation we cancelled online and rebooked at the lower price.

We booked in June for March and the fc was about 3 times more at that time.

Best to do it 331+3-7 days out. Lower fares go quick.

Will check again next year, but this ones booked! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Banana.gif" alt="" />

Scubaman, if you don't mind, how much are the fares that you think are so great? Last year, we scored FC tix for around $900 rt SFO/SXM, so that's my basis for good, ok, great fares. This year, I didn't feel like spending $1300-1500 for the same tickets. But, we're on the sticker upgrade list, so keeping our fingers crossed.

From PDX via CLT to SXM our rate for our November trip was $1400 per ticket round trip. We have paid as low as $1100 and have paid as much as about $1800 per. It is a long trip, we save in other places.
Cheers,
T

This year for 2018 we using miles to get down first class and 820 each for first class coming back including all taxes and fees. For our 2017 trip we paid 630 each to go down and miles to return. All were Sat to Sat with a Friday red eye to get SXM on a Sat at 11:30am. Both returns were/are leaving at 8:00am on arriving at 8:pm in SEA. I have no complaints.

I started checking as soon as the dates were available for flying, and although i didn't check on first class every time, when i did they where around $2100.00 as apposed to $700.00, flying out on a Wed. and return on Sat.

I had the same thing happen on upcoming European flight. They changed the time and I got an email, then I noticed I had no seats. So I went online and I discovered they aircraft type had changed. I just went to modify my reservation and selected different seats. All Good!