The Early Bird
Have you ever wondered what happens when you purchase your airline ticket online, clicked your choice of seat on the cute little airplane diagram, and then you arrive at the airport only to be given a boarding pass with a different seat number on it?
Daily while I am at work, I observe people who are quite upset when their 4A window seat magically turns into the 22B middle seat by the lav. Can’t really say that I blame them, they thought they were getting 4A. They also thought they had purchased a seat next to their significant other- no worries, he/she is now in the other middle seat across the aisle from you!
Because this happens so frequently, I started asking around to try to find out what is happening and why it happens so often.
Rumor has it: So there you are online purchasing your airline ticket (Now I know you don’t want to pay the “talk to a human fee”!) and selecting what you think will be your seat. When you do this, what is actually happening is that you are placing a seat request. You have just purchased “any” seat on that flight (you have just bought yourself a space in that airplane), you have not purchased “that specific” seat (4A) on that flight. I have been told that “the company” does their best to honor these seat requests, but your best bet is to check in and get your boarding pass in your hot little hands as soon as possible with the seat you want printed on it. Waiting until you get to the gate just prior to boarding and trying to change seats will not usually get you a better seat as many other people have had the same idea.
The age-old saying “The early bird catches the worm” is definitely applicable in this situation, only now it becomes “The early bird doesn’t get the middle seat”! 
Early bird… so true! Each time I travel, I do the 24 hour in advance check-in online. If I forget and have to do it as much as 12 or, yikes, 6 hours in advance I’m all freaked out! I’m such a dork, just like knowing I’m all ready to go!
Comment by Melanie — September 5, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
Uh, DUH. I didn’t realize you could check in 24 hours early. I really want to the aisle seat on my trip to California next month (hate to climb over people just to go pee) so I will definitely do this.
Comment by Mrs. Who — September 8, 2008 @ 10:48 am
Mrs. Who,
Hello! Definitely check in online and print out your boarding pass as early as possible - and, depending on the airline, you might have the option to purchase an aisle seat in which case they should not be able to move you (refer to my post “Nickel & Diming” Aug 5, 2008).
Good Luck! Where in CA are you traveling to?
Melanie, I’m so proud! I get made fun of all the time for how neurotic I am about flights and checking in as early as possible, but it pays off for me!
As a side note, yesterday I did watch a flight get canceled and they sent as many people as the next airplane would hold to the next flight. They selected the thirty or so people to go on the next flight based on their time of check-in. I cannot stress enough how important it is to check in early!
Rant over!
Comment by Andrea — September 8, 2008 @ 12:25 pm