Air travel - seat selection question

[WhiskeyPapa]

My wife and I are flying to DC next week. When we booked, the flight was almost filled, so we were not able to request our seat assignments. Looking at the seating chart currently available, there are only 13 unassigned seats left, all "Premium" or "Coach Choice" seats.

Will the airline try to seat us together, or don't they care about that? What are the odds of getting bumped up to first class?

[MrGreg]

If you booked your tickets together, they usually try to seat you together. Wouldn't hurt to ask when you check in. Also, this isn't directly related to your question, but seatguru.com is awesome for knowing which seats are good/bad on a particular flight.

[Daedalus]

They won't move you up to allow you to sit together for free. As stated, ask when you check in, in case anything opens up. If no go, then see if one of you is sitting next to someone flying alone, then kindly ask if they would switch seats with the other spouse. People are most willing if they don't have to give up their preferred spot (aisle or window, no one likes to be in the middle).
MrGreg, awesome tip on the website. Thanks!

[Jeffbx]

What airline is it? Sometimes they'll open the coach choice or exit row seats the day of or a few hours before the flight, but if it's a full flight like you said, they'll be snagged by the frequent flyers before you even see them as available.

Also, chances of a first class upgrade are about 0.006%. With the massive number of people flying these days there are NEVER empty seats in FC. For example, on Northwest the FC seats go to:

1) those who pay for them (suckers)
2) then Platinum level flyers
3) then gold level
4) then silver level
5) then airline employees who happen to be flying
6) then to whoever the gate agent decides

Odds of en empty FC seat making it past level 4 is very rare.

Get to the airport early & ask the gate agent to seat you together, but if it doesn't work, best bet is to choose the BETTER seat of the 2 & offer that to whoever is sitting next to the worse seat. Or pay to sit in the coach choice seats!

[Markel]

Like Jeffbx said, sometimes choices open up the day before the flight. I'd suggest calling the airline just inside 24 hours before the flight departure time to see if they can offer you any seat choices at that time. Unfortunately, in cases such as this the only available seats end up being middle seats, and the only option to be seated together is to find (after you have boarded) some kindhearted traveler who will trade his/her aisle or window seat for one of your middle seats so that the two of you can sit together. (Incidentally, I have done this for couples on a few occasions.)

[mcs328]

I've been upgraded to first class once and didn't even know it until I asked what group number I was in. The group number wasn't on the ticket and the guy told me I was in first class. Sure was nice.

[Prngr44]

I've never been upgraded to a first class seat... do people ask to be upgraded and just get it?

[WhiskeyPapa]

It's Northwest, and it's an Embraer 175, so there are no middle seats. Usually if I fly, I'm alone, and this circumstance has never come up.

[Cheesypuff]

i'm sure andrew jackson can convince somebody to move...

[Prngr44]

i'm sure andrew jackson can convince somebody to move...

And if that doesn't work you can always try Samuel L Jackson.

[renovation]

Northwest im no help on . not been on one of there planes in years.
i fly a lot but i want to get there and not worry about delays so i pass on there flights .i have heard to many story's about delays. and Detroit one of there major hub centers .

[cheapie]

if one of you has an aisle seat, you'll very likely be able to get the person sitting at the window to change seats.