Is there a trick to online check in?

[dreamwatch]

Hi everyone.

We're finally leaving for our trip to Australia on Friday! Hubby checked in online today, exactly 48 hours before departure, only to find virtually no seats for selection. Naturally, we stayed with the seats we had picked at time of purchase, but I found it bizarre that we had nothing to chose from so early.

Is there some kind of trick to this, or at 10.55am were we just a few seconds too slow?

Thank you!

[impresta]

i was able to pick 3 days in advance on-line i assumed this was due to different time zones.

i've read other SQtalkizens calling SQ CSR's to reserve their seats.

[EWR]

It used to be the case where one can easily change seats during OLCI. But this is not so anymore as SQ now honors most seat requests and reservations. (i.e. if you check in later, no one can steal your reserved seats)

[dreamwatch]

Hmmm... thanks for the reply guys. As we would like this same particular pair of seats on the way home, what would be your suggestion for nabbing them? I feel a little bummed that after booking four months in advance, and doing it through SQ.com we couldn't get them (we're Y by the way, nothing special). Then OLCI doesn't help either.

[Kyo]

The trick with online check-in is... to not actually do it online.

Ring them up with the seat you want.

[Trawler]

If you booked through the website under your KrisFlyer account you can change your seats at any time, you don't have to wait until online check in opens.

Just log into KrisFlyer, open your booking and click on the select seats button.

Around 5-6 days from the flight more seats can open up. So if you can't get the seat you want at booking time, login about a week before and give it another go.

[ginkoka]

Hmmm... thanks for the reply guys. As we would like this same particular pair of seats on the way home, what would be your suggestion for nabbing them? I feel a little bummed that after booking four months in advance, and doing it through SQ.com we couldn't get them (we're Y by the way, nothing special). Then OLCI doesn't help either.

If you bought your tix online, you should've been able to choose your seat right after you made the payment? Online check-in is kind of too late to choose seats.

[dreamwatch]

Unfortunately, half the seats (everything on the left and some at the back) were greyed out. It was explained to me here that that is due to SQ allocating them for travel agents. We have checked all week for seat changes but nothing has been available.

Kyo - ah, thank you. I guess that is the trick on the way home.

Will let you all know if it works!

[Kyo]

Even now, before your imminent departure, it's worth giving them a call and requesting for seats both tomorrow and on your return leg. Assuming you *really*, really want a very specific seat and are sure about it.

Failing that, try at the airport.

[Dent@SUB]

Just did OLCI for SQ26 tomorrow. Tried to change my preassigned seat, but there was only one seat free, 1B
Hmmm..... a very good F load for this flight.
Will see tomorrow about the real load in F....

Also tried to change my preassigned seat on other flights, and the results are:
SQ865, 31Mar, only seat 14E and 17EFK are free (only 4 of 42 are not preassigned)
SQ231, 01Apr, only seat 14AHK, 18A, 19AC, 20HK, whole row 24 and 25DEF are free (only 18 of 50 not are preassigned)
SQ220, 05Apr, only seat 14AK, 17H, whole row 19 and 20, 24ADEFHK, and 25 DEF are free (only 18 of 50 are not preassigned)

Not a bad load for J cabin, considering present condition.

Dunno 'bout the real load later....