avianca seat selection issues

[Mattg]

I'm flying today with avianca. Booked the ticket using A3 miles.

Tried to choose a seat on both the avianca and Aegean websites. Got an error message.

Tried calling avianca to choose a seat. The call centre told me that they were only able to choose a "premium" seat for me, and only if I paid extra - but that they couldn't even do that because their system was offline.

At online check-in, of course I was allocated a middle seat. The avianca website showed a seat map and I tried to change it to a window or aisle seat, but got an error message when trying to confirm the change.

Asked to change my seat at the airport, and was told at check-in that it would cost me USD60.

If this is how avianca runs their airline, I'll be looking for other options on my next trip to South America.

 

[justinbrett]

I'm flying today with avianca. Booked the ticket using A3 miles.

Tried to choose a seat on both the avianca and Aegean websites. Got an error message.

Tried calling avianca to choose a seat. The call centre told me that they were only able to choose a "premium" seat for me, and only if I paid extra - but that they couldn't even do that because their system was offline.

At online check-in, of course I was allocated a middle seat. The avianca website showed a seat map and I tried to change it to a window or aisle seat, but got an error message when trying to confirm the change.

Asked to change my seat at the airport, and was told at check-in that it would cost me USD60.

If this is how avianca runs their airline, I'll be looking for other options on my next trip to South America.

If you’re booking revenue it’s pretty simple, book a M or higher fare and you get seat selection. Otherwise you have to pay.

 

[Mattg]

If you’re booking revenue it’s pretty simple, book a M or higher fare and you get seat selection. Otherwise you have to pay.

This is true... unfortunately this was a redemption booking so there was no option even to pay for advance seat selection.

I also don't think USD60 to change from a middle seat at the back of the plane to a window seat at the back of the plane is reasonable for a 2.5 hour flight.