My friend is making a HUGE mistake......

[Nurse_Mommy4]

To make a long story short a friend of mine (who has never been to disney for more than a day visit) is heading to WDW the same week in June as me and my family. We both booked Airtran from Chicago to MCO. Since I am staying longer than her, we are not on the same return flight but we are on the same outbound flight.

Now here is the problem......she refused to pay for seat assignment! There are 5 of them (herself and 4 children under the age of 10). My family also consist of 5 and I purchased our seats because I wanted to all sit in a row. I tried to explain to her that there is no gaurantee that Airtran will sit them together (in fact they probably wont).

I know she is an adult and I cannot make select their seats but I fear that she is setting herself up for a bad start to a vacation.

 

[pixierella]

Well, you did warn her. I have to say after that it's all on her. And she's probably thinking that the flight attendants will figure it out for her. just go and enjoy the fact that you did your planning ahead.

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

I agree, I think she is probably thinking that since her kids are young that Airtran will put them together somewhere. I am just not a big gambler and I would have a hard time playing the wait and see game.

Oh well, I guess I tried so whatever happens it is "on her".

 

[dioxide45]

While I know alot of people gruble about the seat fees, I agree with them. The fact that they don't make everyone pick a seat leaves lots of open rows. Even if I some accross late in booking there are lots of rows with two seats together for us to select.

I do have a couple of complaints.

• I don't like how on the 3x3 planes they block out the middle seat on the left side of the plane. If that is all that is left it means someone who didn't select a seat ahead ends up between us.
• I don't like that they don't open up the first several rows in coach to those selecting and paying for seats. I feel if I am willing to pay for a seat I should be able to pick any seat on the aircraft, and those that didn't select get whatever is left.

 

[Cdn Gal]

Some people think they know everything- live and learn!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Can't help you with the second issue, dioxide45 - but on the first, you could offer to change seats with the person in the middle. Yes, I realize that puts one of YOU in the middle seat - but at least you're seated together.

That's actually something a lot* of travelers do on their own: two people flying together will book the window and aisle seats, and hope that nobody takes the middle seat - giving them more room . Sometimes they get lucky, sometimes not (and then, sometimes they're fighting by the time the plane boards, and they each keep their seats with the person in the middle seat as a 'buffer' ).

*Not many, not most, not a majority (although not necessarily NOT any of those things )

 

[arielmomma]

It is her call. I must admit that I haven't prepaid for my seats the last couple of times that we flew to and from Disney and we have always been seated together. Even when we weren't originally assigned near each other during the first flight, the airline put us together when we got to the airport. Maybe we were just lucky, but I must admit that I'll probably take the risk again. She is an adult. She knows the risk, its her choice to make.

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

While I know alot of people gruble about the seat fees, I agree with them. The fact that they don't make everyone pick a seat leaves lots of open rows. Even if I some accross late in booking there are lots of rows with two seats together for us to select.

I do have a couple of complaints.

• I don't like how on the 3x3 planes they block out the middle seat on the left side of the plane. If that is all that is left it means someone who didn't select a seat ahead ends up between us.
• I don't like that they don't open up the first several rows in coach to those selecting and paying for seats. I feel if I am willing to pay for a seat I should be able to pick any seat on the aircraft, and those that didn't select get whatever is left.

You know I forgot about the fact that they block the 1st few rows of coach.
I'm sitting here worrying about her trip and she could end up getting better seats then me!

 

[dioxide45]

Can't help you with the second issue, dioxide45 - but on the first, you could offer to change seats with the person in the middle. Yes, I realize that puts one of YOU in the middle seat - but at least you're seated together.

We have done this when booked in seats A and C with a B seat in the middle. We have started by just sitting in A and B and then asking the person when they come if they want C. Usually no argument.

Another thing that confuses a lot of people on the 2 x 3 planes is that the right side is actually seats A and C and I hear a lot of people asking if someone is in between them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, could I have fun with that question!

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

It is her call. I must admit that I haven't prepaid for my seats the last couple of times that we flew to and from Disney and we have always been seated together. Even when we weren't originally assigned near each other during the first flight, the airline put us together when we got to the airport. Maybe we were just lucky, but I must admit that I'll probably take the risk again. She is an adult. She knows the risk, its her choice to make.

Wow that's very interesting! Did the airline do this without you having to ask? That was pretty nice of them. What airline was it?

 

[HolliePoppins]

To make a long story short a friend of mine (who has never been to disney for more than a day visit) is heading to WDW the same week in June as me and my family. We both booked Airtran from Chicago to MCO. Since I am staying longer than her, we are not on the same return flight but we are on the same outbound flight.

Now here is the problem......she refused to pay for seat assignment! There are 5 of them (herself and 4 children under the age of 10). My family also consist of 5 and I purchased our seats because I wanted to all sit in a row. I tried to explain to her that there is no gaurantee that Airtran will sit them together (in fact they probably wont).

I know she is an adult and I cannot make select their seats but I fear that she is setting herself up for a bad start to a vacation.

Guess who she is going to look to if the airline cant help her. I have a feeling she will want you to split up your family to accomidate hers. Hopefully I am wrong. Have a great trip. I hope all goes well.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Some people think they know everything- live and learn!

Whereas DIS Board members KNOW we know everything

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

Guess who she is going to look to if the airline cant help her. I have a feeling she will want you to split up your family to accomidate hers. Hopefully I am wrong. Have a great trip. I hope all goes well.

I too hope everything turns out alright because I would not be willing to split my kids up. I'm letting this go (as much as a worry-type can ), my friend is an adult and has made her own decision.

Thanks everyone for your kind words!

Tasha

 

[aubriee]

This past Sept (slow time of year) we saw people at the AirTran desk raising holy heck yelling that they couldn't believe Air Tran would separate their families and when told the flights were completely full, were demanding that other people be moved. They were told in no uncertain terms by AirTran, that since they had had the chance to pay for their seats and chose not to, there was no way AirTran was moving people who did choose to pay the money to pick their seats. They were also asked why if it was so important for them to sit together, why didn't they choose to pay the $6.00. However, they were then told that once they got on the plane perhaps other passengers might choose to give up their seats, if they were asked nicely and if not, the FA might be willing to ask for assistance for them, but they were told that if people refused to give up their paid seats, that they would not be forced to.

Your friend is going in June, during a time that plane will be full of vacationing families with kids. I would not be expecting those families who paid to sit together to give up their seats for a family who chose not to pay. Sorry. Also flights seem to be flying completely full these days. I know my flights in Sept and also in Jan were completely full and they were asking for volunteers to fly on later flights. With all the kids out of school, and everyone vacationing, that situation is only going to get worse in the summer. I'd be afraid that if I didn't have an assigned seat I'd be the one involuntarily bumped.

Even people who are not with big families often choose to pay for their seats, because they like to be in a certain part of the plane. I know I travel down there solo several times a year and usually choose to pay for my seat, because I don't like flying and want to be as close as possible to the front, and will not sit in a middle seat, and don't particularly like window seats. I have no problem paying to get my favorite row 13 aisle seat and have no intention of giving it up. As soon as my neighbors (in the middle and window seats) get seated, I put my eye mask on and try my best to get to sleep to avoid thinking about how high up I am . I have flights booked on Air Tran for both my upcoming May and my Sept trips. This time I have decided to pay for seats only on the flights back. For the flights down there I am hoping to get a seat in those first few rows that they open up at 24 hours. I know it's a gamble, but one that as a solo I am willing to take. If was going with family (even adult family) I would not be willing to take that chance. For my flights home, I will not have access to a computer 24 hours from my flight times, so chose to pay for my seats and got an aisle seat as close to the front as I could. Sorry, but unless I get a comparable seat (an aisle close to the front) I am not moving. My feeling is that family had a chance to purchase seats just like I did and chose not to. If it wasn't important enough for them to pay the $6.00 to assure they were sitting together, why should it suddenly become important to others.

 

[Laurabearz]

I think your friend is quite smart.

I would prefer my kids sitting next to others so I can sleep!!!

 

[Lewisc]

The airline is going to try and make sure a young child (under 5?) can sit next to one parent. Your friend may not care if the 10 year old has to sit a few rows away.

 

[Edd]

I had one passenger DH tell me, he was flying Allegiant, "if the airlines want someone else to babysit my kids, I don't mind that and will get some rest on the flight." He did not pay the extra $12.00 per leg for each seat.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Just reread and I see it is just one parent. I personally wouldn't worry about it. AirTran will do their best to put them together. She will get seats assigned 24 hours prior, so she needs to be on top of that and call and see what they can do if the seats are far apart.

 

[MEK]

It's only $6 to assign a seat. That's reasonable.

I would just tell your friend to log on exactly 24 hours before boarding time so she can select her seats. I did this the last time I flew air tran and everything was wide open. I sat in row 11. There did not appear to be too many preselected seats and the flight was completely full when we boarded.

Hopefully all will go well.