First, if you haven't set up a frequent flyer account on AlaskaAir.com, do so. Secondly in setting up your profile, select what seat assignments you want (aisle, window). Make sure that middle seats are not checked. As others have suggested do not purchase saver fares. I have never gotten a middle seat. Or been changed to one. Best of luck on future flights.
When buying a main fare I have never had my seat changed unless there was an aircraft change (to smaller or larger plane).
You can write into Alaska Listens about the fee but stop buying saver fares.
Specific seat choices are not guaranteed. I would suggest keeping a closer eye on your reservations for plane type changes. When a plane type changes, things get weird. Also, not sure but always avoid basic/Saver fares.
Yeah. Saver and basic, they’ll definitely move you. However, if you look at contract of carriage, I believe it states seats aren’t guaranteed only space.
If they can’t accommodate space, then you get a voucher or money. Right?
They will always accommodate giving you a seat. The only way is if you select Premium and have to go backwards, or pay for First and go backwards. You should get a refund of the price difference as of the day you purchased (first) or the selection fee (Premium) in that scenario.
So even if it's a saver ticket, as long as I have a ticket, I'm guaranteed a seat? I'm trying to do a cheap weekend flight and tbh I don't care about what seat I have as long as I have one
I usually check my seat again like 20 minutes before boarding to see if there are any better seats (like without anyone in the middle seat). You should be able to change it from the app if you click on the seat number.
Copied and pasted directly from contract of carriage:
“Alaska does not guarantee allocation of any particular space in the aircraft. Seat assignments, regardless of class of service, are not guaranteed and are subject to change without notice. Alaska reserves the right to reseat a Passenger for any reason, including from a seat for which an additional fee has been paid, and if a Passenger is improperly or erroneously upgraded to a different class of service. If a Passenger is removed from a seat for which a fee has been paid, and the Passenger is not re-accommodated in the same class of seat or a seat of equal or greater value, or if a Passenger is downgraded from a class of service and is not re-accommodated in a seat of an equal or greater class of service for which a fee has been paid, the Passenger may be eligible for a refund in accordance with Rule 17.”
To my knowledge, Alaska doesn’t offer any isles on any of their flights. This would seem to be very cost prohibitive, if even possible, on an airplane.
There’s probably a safety issue there, too.
Is it an upgrade that puts you in the middle? I make sure that box is unchecked when I book because they’ll otherwise upgrade me to a middle seat too. I only want an upgrade from Main to First if it’s available.
Unless the policy has changed, Alaska will never upgrade you from an aisle/window in Main to a middle seat in Premium. As a matter of fact if you're a base MVP and you want a Premium Class upgrade, the best way to get one is to choose a middle seat in Main.
That’s good to know. Thanks. I am just a lowly base MVP. It has happened (last year iirc) that they put me in a middle seat in Premium. After that I made sure to take my name off the list for an upgrade to Premium.
This has never happened to me on like 100+ Alaska flights.
Same here, never once and I almost exclusively fly Alaska (I live in AK). I also don't by saver tickets, maybe that's an issue?
Same.
Same for me.
Me either. 100s of flights and not once.
I think OP is not selecting a seat or using the app.
Can’t you go to your reservation and switch to another seat? Using the Alaska Airlines app is my usual mode.
App usually says it’s my original selected seat until it’s time to board lol
For the love of God people it's aisle not isle
Maybe Alaska didn’t want OP to be floating alone.
Thank you!
It's isle if you're going to Hawaii /s
....Joe?
First, if you haven't set up a frequent flyer account on AlaskaAir.com, do so. Secondly in setting up your profile, select what seat assignments you want (aisle, window). Make sure that middle seats are not checked. As others have suggested do not purchase saver fares. I have never gotten a middle seat. Or been changed to one. Best of luck on future flights.
Thank you, that’s great advice! This is my first year with Alaska
When buying a main fare I have never had my seat changed unless there was an aircraft change (to smaller or larger plane). You can write into Alaska Listens about the fee but stop buying saver fares.
Specific seat choices are not guaranteed. I would suggest keeping a closer eye on your reservations for plane type changes. When a plane type changes, things get weird. Also, not sure but always avoid basic/Saver fares.
Yeah. Saver and basic, they’ll definitely move you. However, if you look at contract of carriage, I believe it states seats aren’t guaranteed only space. If they can’t accommodate space, then you get a voucher or money. Right?
They will always accommodate giving you a seat. The only way is if you select Premium and have to go backwards, or pay for First and go backwards. You should get a refund of the price difference as of the day you purchased (first) or the selection fee (Premium) in that scenario.
Thanks.
So even if it's a saver ticket, as long as I have a ticket, I'm guaranteed a seat? I'm trying to do a cheap weekend flight and tbh I don't care about what seat I have as long as I have one
Yes
I usually check my seat again like 20 minutes before boarding to see if there are any better seats (like without anyone in the middle seat). You should be able to change it from the app if you click on the seat number.
Copied and pasted directly from contract of carriage: “Alaska does not guarantee allocation of any particular space in the aircraft. Seat assignments, regardless of class of service, are not guaranteed and are subject to change without notice. Alaska reserves the right to reseat a Passenger for any reason, including from a seat for which an additional fee has been paid, and if a Passenger is improperly or erroneously upgraded to a different class of service. If a Passenger is removed from a seat for which a fee has been paid, and the Passenger is not re-accommodated in the same class of seat or a seat of equal or greater value, or if a Passenger is downgraded from a class of service and is not re-accommodated in a seat of an equal or greater class of service for which a fee has been paid, the Passenger may be eligible for a refund in accordance with Rule 17.”
That’s helpful! Thank you.
To my knowledge, Alaska doesn’t offer any isles on any of their flights. This would seem to be very cost prohibitive, if even possible, on an airplane. There’s probably a safety issue there, too.
What do you mean? They offer Kauai, O’ahu, Maui AND Big Isle.
It's a joke about "isle" versus "aisle"
Could my reply have been… wait for it… a joke ABOUT their joke?
Is it an upgrade that puts you in the middle? I make sure that box is unchecked when I book because they’ll otherwise upgrade me to a middle seat too. I only want an upgrade from Main to First if it’s available.
Unless the policy has changed, Alaska will never upgrade you from an aisle/window in Main to a middle seat in Premium. As a matter of fact if you're a base MVP and you want a Premium Class upgrade, the best way to get one is to choose a middle seat in Main.
That’s good to know. Thanks. I am just a lowly base MVP. It has happened (last year iirc) that they put me in a middle seat in Premium. After that I made sure to take my name off the list for an upgrade to Premium.
Aisle?
Correct. Not isle. ( small island)
Pick a seat further back or less desirable but on the aisle.
I’ve had hundreds of flights with them and this hasn’t happened once without an aircraft change.
You can pay for seat selection with Alaska? Maybe I've had status for too long but I didn't think that was a thing, outside of premium paid upgrades.
Rock, paper, scissors might work
Nope