Previewing Seat Maps

You can preview seat maps before booking from Air Availability and Fare Shopping responses for Network (GDS) Carriers. However, you cannot assign a paid seat on a Network carrier before end transacting the PNR/Booking File.

Access to preview seat maps depends on the availability of seat maps from the carrier for the selected flight.

Notes:

• Because seat selection is required before booking for Direct Payment Carriers, the Preview feature is available only for Network Carriers. For Direct Payment Carriers, you can display the seat map for the selected class of service from an unbooked itinerary.

• Smartpoint does not currently support ancillary services for group bookings through the Shopping Cart. Use terminal formats to request ancillary services, including paid seats, for groups. See Ancillary Services (DAS) in the Travelport+ Format Guide. Travelport+ (1G) and Apollo (1V) use the same formats for ancillary services.

To preview a seat map:

1. Click the equipment (aircraft) code.

If available, the seat map is displayed. If there are multiple segments in the selected fare option or connecting flight, all available seat maps are displayed.

A Preview Only warning at the top of the seat map window indicates that seats can be viewed but not reserved. In Preview mode, if you try to select a seat from the seat map, Smartpoint ignores the selection.

Mixed itineraries with both Network and Direct Payment Carrier segments

If the itinerary contains segments for both Network and Direct Payment Carriers:

• Previews are available only for the Network segments. Because seat selection is required before booking for Direct Payment Carriers, you can display the seat map for the selected class of service from an unbooked itinerary.
• To display the seat map, you must save the PNR/Booking File. A message with a link displays to end transact (ER) the PNR/Booking File.
  

2. Optional. In Seat Type, click on the Any arrow to select from any available paid seat options. The availability of free and paid seats depends on the carrier, flight, and passenger's frequent traveler status.

Important!

• For paid seats, approximate prices are displayed. The final cost of the paid seat may be affected by booking information such as a loyalty membership.
• Because the actual class of service is not yet booked, preview seat maps display only Economy class.

3. Optional. Select Show Preferred Seats to display preferred seats applicable to the passenger's frequent traveler account. Typically, seats are available at free or reduced prices for frequent travelers.

More Information

By default, only non-preferred seating is returned in the seat map, and the Show Preferred box is not selected.

1. Select Show Preferred Seats to include Preferred Seating options in the display.
2. Hover over a seat to see if it has Preferred: Qualified Passengers Only status.
3. Preferred Seat selected is indicated in the traveler's selected seats.

4. In the seat map, hover over either:

• An available seat as a blue seat icon .
• An available handicapped seat, which displays as a blue seat icon with an asterisk.

Note:  Blocked seats display as a red seat icon. Airlines may block some seats for airport check-in only or for frequent fliers.

5. Hover over an available seat to see a pop-up description of the seat.

6. If applicable, click any additional flights in the Segments section to view seat maps.
7. Click CLOSE to exit the seat map window.
8. After you complete your itinerary selections and end transact the PNR/Booking File, you can display a seat map to:

• Assign free seats.
  Tip! In Smartpoint 9.0 and later, you may be able to assign free seats on Network carriers before booking.
• Assign paid seats.
• Request airline-assigned seats.