Any workaround for broken(?) LATAM seat selection?

[SYD]

Apparently LATAM is going through some protracted IT merge that is making it impossible for me to select some decent seats online - well at least for my booking. Wondering if there are any workarounds?

I booked SYD-AKL-SCL-AEP//MDZ-SCL//SCL-SYD via QF during the companion J sale. QF seat selection for flights SYD-SCL and back (all QF flight #s) are all accessible under MMB but SCL-AEP / MDZ-SCL are not. They're full Y class on LA flight #s. I get the Window/Aisle preference selection. Noting these are narrow body A32x flights I put in Aisle/Aisle. Which worked BUT we have been allocated the very last row on both flights! EF shows both flights pretty empty.

I tried LATAM.com and it didn't let change anything with the QF PNR. I rang QF and they couldn't select anything but did provide me the LATAM PNR. Using that also didn't pull up a seat map on LATAM.com. So I rang LATAM and they couldn't change seats either. He claimed it was due to the IT system migration... Maybe try in a few weeks time! Fortunately, travel is December, but it shouldn't be this hard?

I also tried most of the other OW portals and came tantalisingly close with RJ but no cigar...

Any other hacks I could try?

Anyone else having this problem?

 

[Mattg]

I had a similar issue on my last trip to South America. I had quite a few LA/JJ flights, and the QF website allocated seats at the back of the plane.

The good news is that LATAM does block the front seats for status holders. Each time I checked in (at the airport) I asked for a seat in the front row. It was always available and I was always given it for free.

 

[SYD]

The LATAM website is still not playing ball, but I discovered that rj.com is now working using the QF PNR. (Even though QF MMB only offers Window/Aisle preference.

However, RJ doesn't correctly show seats that are already taken/blocked, so it can be a bit hit and miss. Opening ExpertFlyer in another window and checking the seatmap helps!

 

[Tiki]

After trying sporadically to book seats (AA award, got bad seats auto-assigned) for a few weeks, I gave up and called them. They got seats booked but it didn't always "take" the first try. The lady I was talking to had to confirm a few times before I could see the changes. Don't hang up until you see your PNR with all seats confirmed.

 

[bPeteb]

I had a similar issue on my last trip to South America. I had quite a few LA/JJ flights, and the QF website allocated seats at the back of the plane.

The good news is that LATAM does block the front seats for status holders. Each time I checked in (at the airport) I asked for a seat in the front row. It was always available and I was always given it for free.

That I did not know.

After all of our flights were booked I contacted LATAM via facebook and they allocated row 2 for most of our internal flights. Row 16 and row 14 allocated on the 763 across from SCL-GRU-SCL but the seats on the return were de-allocated and we ended up back in 20 something and split. Not too happy about that last one.

Make sure you use the 'Preferente' boarding queue although if you are not using an aerobridge it doesn't quite work. You're first om the bus but unless you stay stood near the door, your last off!

 

[SYD]

I just booked an internal flight AEP-MDZ directly with LATAM and seat selection works ok (which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone). Although, they obviously don't recognise OWE status and provide access to preferred seating like most OW airlines do .

I'll monitor the QF booking over the coming months to see if the LATAM IT ever catches up....