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

[Lewisc]

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.

Flights to Orlando are filled with famlies. I'm sure the airline/FA will do whatever it takes to make sure a 4 or 5 year old gets to sit next to at least one parent. Some posters want to be sure they can sit next to an 11 year old. Those parents should pay for seat assignments.

 

[cbrfan]

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.

1) You can pretty much always get the person in the middle row to swap for one of your aisle or window seats. As as mentioned by a PP, you can sometimes get the whole row to yourself if the flight's not full.
2) They don't open up the first few coach rows for advance purchase because those are the seats they're going to put passengers needing extra help, unaccompanied minors, etc. They WILL bump passengers who have selected those seats to seats further back if they need them for certain passengers. This just happened to some of my family members last week. They had their boarding passes for Row 11, Seats E&F and were moved to Row 29 when they got to the airport.

 

[BigTigger]

I was Airtran A+ Rewards Elite level for a period of time last year and one of the perks was the ability to pick advanced seats on any fare class and to pick those first few rows of coach. I'm not sure if that's still the case, but it was from April to September of last year. Other perks were very cheap or free upgrades to Business class and two free bags.

MCO non-stop flights can be very full except during September/October and January from my experience. If the flights connect through Atlanta they are usually less full. Midway is one of Airtran's busiest airports from my experiences flying in and out of there. Flights are usually full and if they aren't they cancel one to fill the rest.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

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.

I didn't realize it was only $6..... why in the world would anyone take the chance of having their kids split up for $6 per person. That is just ridiculous.

This is why I don't like flying Southwest... or AirTran (I didn't know they didn't really assign seats).

 

[kristenrice]

I think the airline's obligation to assist in seating familes together ends at them offering pre-assigned seats. If a family chooses not to pay the $6/person to secure seats together, then that is their choice. When the airline offers you the chance to pick your seats (at a fee) and you turn it down, you are effectively letting the airline choose where you sit. You have surrendered your right to choose and you are obligated to sit where they put you. If you choose to not take the responsibility of choosing your own seat, then you have no right to complain when someone else assumes that responsibility for you. (This is just a blanket statement and certainly not directed at anyone in particular )

I concede that airlines who do not offer pre-assigned seating fall into a different category. I think they do have a bit more of an "obligation" to sit groups together, when feasible.

 

[TaraPA]

I'm sitting here worrying about her trip and she could end up getting better seats then me!

OR her 4 kids could be seated all around you & she could be elsewhere....she might actually enjoy that....

Good luck & let us know how it turns out!

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

OMG, that's not EVEN funny!

But seriously I wouldn't have a problem if her kids were in the row in front of or behind me; as long as my kids are in the same row as me I'm happy!

 

[eliewriter]

We're flying AirTran and I too agonized over spending the extra money but in the end I couldn't in good conscience risk my young son possibly getting stuck sitting alone with some offender.

I don't know if the airline has a policy on separating children from their parents but with the way things are going in the not-so-friendly skies, I couldn't see ruining our vacation just to save the $6, even though we're traveling on a budget. If we were separated he could be sitting by the kindest person in the world and I'd still be sweating it. That's no fun. Besides I want to see his reaction when he looks out the window, etc.

My friend just flew AirTran and she and her husband also paid for assigned seats only to get to the airport and find they'd been switched. But she said AirTran was very nice and switched things around so they'd be sitting together, although on one leg of the flight I believe they were in aisle seats opposite each other.

Guess there's few guarantees but at least if you pay the $6 you have some recourse if things don't go as planned.

 

[finallygoingtoWDW]

I would have her look up the seat assignments and make a mental note of what's available. Then have her do it next week, and the next week to see how the seats are becoming less and less available. Maybe she'll change her mind then.

 

[CarolMN]

....My friend just flew AirTran and she and her husband also paid for assigned seats only to get to the airport and find they'd been switched. But she said AirTran was very nice and switched things around so they'd be sitting together, although on one leg of the flight I believe they were in aisle seats opposite each other........

Well then I hope Airtran refunded the $24 they paid to select their sets. If the airline wants to reserve certain seats for gate assignment, then they should not be available for selection ahead of time.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Airtran only blocks off the first few rows of coach seats if you're paying a discounted rate. If you click on the most expensive coach rate for a flight, you will see the front rows open up for you.

I am new to AirTran having only flown them 2x. I am willing to pay the $6 seats for the 4 of us as it's important to me that we all sit together. My kids are 8 and 12 and I still want us together.

To the pp who stated they won't fly Southwest b/c they don't pre assign seats I just want to say we've flown them for probably 15 vacations in the last 5 years and I've never worried that my kids would not sit with us. We simply check in at the 24 hr. mark and when we board, the plane is more than half empty and we can easily all sit together, usually in front of the wing. Not a big deal at all. I'm not trying to convert you, just saying don't close your eyes to the possibility.

To the op: dh and I realized a long time ago you can give other adults advice but you can't make them follow it. Try not to worry and just know that you are doing the right thing for your family.
Reminds me of the time we went with my bil and sil and kids. It was their 1st trip (prob. our 10th) and all of our kids ranging 5-8. They were excited to get there as early as possible and wanted a really early flight, like 6 or 7 am and go straight to MK. We learned that we didn't mind that pre-kids but as parents, that's hard on our kids. We learned this the hard way and explained that to them. We declined flying with them and took the noon flight and agreed to meet after dinner. By then they were all soooo tired, cranky and bickering over every little thing. OTOH, we had a very relaxing travel day and had time to swim and change clothes before dinner. Two very different starts to the same vacation...
I am all about minimizing stress rather than creating more of it!
I hope you still have a great time!

 

[S'sMom]

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.

We have flown Airtran many times, as a family of 3 and now of 4. When we traveled in December, I did pay extra for the seats, because I did not want any hassle trying to get my 6 year old to sit with us. Like some other posters, I would not give up my seat to a family that did not pay, because if I sacrifced the cost of a lunch (about $36 roundtrip), they could do the same.

Like some of the other posters, I would just let your friend find out for herself. And if it turns out the way she wants great, if not, she doesnt have to right to complain. Just deal with it, is what I think. You have told her and that is all you can do.

I would be interested in finding out what happend when you guys return.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I would be interested in finding out what happend when you guys return.

Me too! Let us know OP.

 

[annie1995]

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.

I agree 100%

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

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.

I think this is because some planes are 2x3, we had one in Jan, so if they have to change planes, no one has chosen seats that won't be there.
When there are only 2 seats on the left side of the plane, they are labled seats A and C. A is always window and C is always aisle.

 

[LauraAnn630]

Another reason not to go to Disney with other people...lol


We will never ask anyone to go with us again. Other families have always ruined our trip.

We know how we want to do things, pay a lot of money and we dont want to change...lol

We took our most expensive trip with other family members everything went wrong and when I accidently see the pictures on my pc, it still makes me sick.

Good Luck!

 

[TDC Nala]

I think they do have a bit more of an "obligation" to sit groups together, when feasible.

All groups? Or just families with young kids? Should Southwest have an obligation to make me move to accommodate, say, an adult couple who didn't check in early enough to make sure they got seats together? I would object to that if I did bother to check in early so I didn't get a middle seat.

 

[bavaria]

There is no obligation at all, and even in the UK where it is 'recommended' that airlines make this attempt, there is no enforcement for not doing so.

Whatever happened to parents being 'obliged' to take responsibility and paying for their seats in advance, or checking in early? Having children does not take precedence over every one else's rights and needs.

 

[redrosesix]

There is no obligation at all, and even in the UK where it is 'recommended' that airlines make this attempt, there is no enforcement for not doing so.

Whatever happened to parents being 'obliged' to take responsibility and paying for their seats in advance, or checking in early? Having children does not take precedence over every one else's rights and needs.

Stuff happens. We flew Air Canada in the fall and paid for advance seat selection ($17 each) But they changed planes the day before the flight and seated me and DD8 at opposite ends of the plane. Problem is, we couldn't change it even by checking in early even though I tried to do that right at the 24 hour mark. Even the reservations people couldn't change it.

And then they had the nerve to tell me I would have to pay extra so she could travel as an Unattended Minor, since she was under 12. The situation couldn't be resolved until the day of the flight (when the other department opened for the day), and I think they had to move somebody to seat us together.

Reservations told me that happens a lot when they change planes or consolidate the schedule, and recommended we rely on early check-in instead.

Just saying...

 

[robinb]

Your friend can select seat assignments 24-hours in advance without paying for it and I would recommend doing it online. IIRC, Airtran saves the back of the plane for last minute seat assignments. We flew Airtran twice last year and didn't pay for seat assignments either time.