We get it: the selection of airline seats can be a frustrating effort. Window or hall? Preferred seat or standard seat? On the wing or not? Select a seat or wait excellent at check-in?
Sometimes, your ideal seat may not be available when you reserve. And who has time to manually check a seat map several times a day before a flight with the hope that one will open?
Fortunately, Expertflyer (Property of the Matrix company of TPG, Red Ventures) can do it automatically. Best of all, you can establish an alert for a window or hall seat with the free expertflyer membership. In this guide, we will take it through how to configure and use expertflyer seat alerts.
What is expertflyer?
Expertflyer is free for anyone to join, but also includes two levels of membership paid that unlock enlarged characteristics and functionalities. If you are a new member, you can register for a FIVE DAY PREMIUM TEST on the expertflyer website. Here are the three levels of Expertflyer membership:
- Free: Establish an alert for a notification if a more desirable seat opens on your flight. It is limited to a free alert at the same time, but can add more for $ 0.99 each.
- Essential ($ 4.99 per month): This plan offers additional features such as the search for awards inventory and flight availability update. You can establish four seat alerts simultaneously, but is limited to 250 monthly consultations.
- Premium ($ 9.99 per month or $ 99.99 per year): This plan includes flexible search options, unlimited consultations and the ability to create changes in aircraft and flight alerts. It can have up to 200 combined flight and seat alerts simultaneously.
For more information about Expertflyer, see our Expertflyer Guide. The rest of this article will focus solely on the alerts of the Experflyer seats.
How to establish an expertflyer seat alert
Once you have registered in Expertflyer, you can establish a seat alert even if you opt for the free membership level. Gather your flight information before going to Expertflyer to establish a seat alert. Specifically, you will need the following information about your flight:
- Departure Airport
- Arrival airport
- Date
- Airline name or International Air Transport Association Code
- Flight number
- Service class
Daily Bulletin
Reward your entrance tray with the TPG Diario Bulletin
Join more than 700,000 readers to receive news, in -depth guides and exclusive agreements of TPG experts
Once you have this information, log in to your ExpertFlyer account and click “Create Seat alert” on the home page.
Then enter the details of your flight and click “Search.”
A seat map must be charged for your flight, but you will want to click on “Create Seat alert”. In the table that appears, name your alert and select your criteria before clicking “Create”.
If you are a free expertflyer member who uses your free alert, you can only configure an alert for any seat, hall seat or window seat. If you are a paid member, you can opt for any exit row seat, two seats together or select specific seats. For example, you can configure an alert for any seat in the two seats using the “Select specific seats” option and click on those two seats.
Once you believe an alert, Expertflyer will send you an email if your desired seats are available. If you receive an email, go immediately to the website or application of your plane to change your seat. Open seats tend to be served quickly, so acting quickly when you receive an alert will maximize your chances of moving to a better seat.
Related: 8 reasons why you should always sit in a hall seat in airplanes
When to establish an expertflyer seat alert
There are a handful of times when you can find a better seat, including the following scenarios:
- Your preferred seat type (corridor or window) is not available
- You are caught in a central seat and prefers a window or hall seat
- You cannot find seats together for you and your spouse/friend/family
- I would prefer a seat in a different part of the plane (as closer to the front for easy exhaustion or closer to the back for the proximity of the bathroom)
- You want a specific seat, such as an exit row seat or one in a row of two seats
In any of these cases, ExpertFlyer seat alert function can help you change your seat to a better.
Related: The best travel cards to add to your wallet
End
If you cannot select a window or hall seat you like for an upcoming flight, consider starting a free members of Expertflyer (or a FIVE DAY PREMIUM TEST) and establish a seat alert to find a better seat. It is fast and free to do it and can let you hook a window or hall seat.
Similarly, suppose you travel with a friend or family member and you can’t find two seats together. In that case, the update to a basic or premium expertflyer membership can be worth it, so you can create a seat alert for two seats together.
