Air Trans Seating Arrangements with Children

[cmac609]

Hi

I have always flew with Air Trans with purchasing seating arrangments with ticket. However, there is a flight that I need to book for December but there are only a few seats available scattered on the plane. We are a family of 4 (ds4, ds6) and at least one of us need to sit with the boys. If I purchase tickets now and then at online checkin there aren't 4 tickets or 3 tickets together, would they seat the boys that young by themselves?? I would definitely not do that and ds has a very hard time planining with his ears.

Any ideas?? Any advice??

Thanks

 

[DisneyDevilz]

Just flew them for our recent trip 8/28-9/05 and they will make sure (or at least the computer) will make sure a child is paired off with an adult.This has happened everytime we have flown Airtran and decided not to pay extra to pick the seats.....

 

[peacefrogdog]

On my last trip, I did not pay to reserve seats. When I checked in ~ 22 hours before, my party of 7 (me, wife, kids aged 6,5 and 5, and my parents) were split apart. There were two groups of 2, and 3 single seats.

I had heard this could happen, and was willing to accept this thinking that surely Air Tran would help and try and ensure a child was paired with an adult. I guessed the flight was full, so when I approached the gate agent I purposely used a passive tone and asked "is there any way you could look to see if each of my kids could be next to an adult, or should I ask other passengers once we're in the plane."

I was cut off and told "you didn't pay for advance seats, and are upset that you're not all together?" and "It's not rocket science - you have two pairs of seats. Just have 2 of your kids sit together by themselves".

Air Tran is not obligated to help you ensure the kids are matched with an adult. While you may luck out and get an agent more willing to help, they are not obligated to do so and the agents I've dealt with don't seem very willing to go the extra mile (more of an issue at MCO than other airports). If it is crucial that your kids sit with an adult, pay the extra bit to reserve your seats.

Or book with Southwest!

 

[Milobaby]

I was able to book through Kayak.com and get free seating choice on Airtran. You are booking on Airtrans site, just going through Kayak. Also make sure you get the $25 off certificates, just google it and then have it sent to your email. I opened several email accounts to have several certificates then I booked my trip one way and used a certificate each way for $50 off each person. Good luck!

 

[Hannathy]

If you can book 2 together I'd do that for the 4 yr old and look for single seats as close as you can for your DH and the 6 yr old. Just prepare the 6 yr old to be by themselves, make sure they have their own back pack with activities. My DD sat by herself many times from 4 on, but if your 4 yr old hasn't flown a lot I would concentrate on getting those 2 seats together.

Airlines can and do seat children apart. They will usually but not always try to get you together with kids under 5 but over 5 they usually don't try because that is the age kids can fly by themselves.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We booked with AirTran for our upcoming December flight (first time flying with them) we paid for our seats so we could make sure that my DH and I were sitting with each of our DDs, who are a bit nervous about flying to begin with. Well I decided to check out the plane to see how full it is getting and noticed that they moved my DH and I one seat over and someone was sitting in the middle of me and DD and the same thing happened to my DH and other DD. Now I know I probably could ask the person sitting between my DD and if they could move one seat over, but it it is the principle of the matter....I would expect that since we paid for seats ahead of time, no one could come in later and take one of them away. So I got on the phone with AirTran and told them my situation and concern, so the rep graciously got my family moved to seats where my DH and I were sitting with each of our DDs, she was also very apologetic that it happened to us.

 

[halld6479]

I have seen many times where some parents are trying to get someone to except that they want to set with there children but didn't want to pay the extra, and my stand is I PAY TO SET WHERE I WANT TO SET and I am not moving for someone who wants to save the money and thinks the airline will help them save the money and give them the seats they want. we have had a large group fly twice now to Disney and I have always paid the $6. so we could all set together. I look at it I spent $$$ to go to disney I can save the $6.00 a person to seat with them, if the $6.each is going to cause a hardship it isn't nothing compared to what you will drop in five minutes at disney. Pay the money or except the possibility of the split

 

[Hannathy]

I don't think the OP is trying to avoid the fee I think the problem is it is a full plane and there aren't 4 seats together. That is why I said if they need that flight I would grab the seats I can and try to book 2 together for the lilttlest one to be with a parent and then prepare the older child to sit alone. Actually I think (and did with my kids) the 4 yr old could sit by themselves but if the OP doesn't and wants this flight she should grab the 2 together now. If the seats are that limited you could wait trying to find 4 tog. and end up not even on the flight.

there is a limited number of seats accept being split up or look for another flight.

 

[cmac609]

I have seen many times where some parents are trying to get someone to except that they want to set with there children but didn't want to pay the extra, and my stand is I PAY TO SET WHERE I WANT TO SET and I am not moving for someone who wants to save the money and thinks the airline will help them save the money and give them the seats they want. we have had a large group fly twice now to Disney and I have always paid the $6. so we could all set together. I look at it I spent $$$ to go to disney I can save the $6.00 a person to seat with them, if the $6.each is going to cause a hardship it isn't nothing compared to what you will drop in five minutes at disney. Pay the money or except the possibility of the split

This is my 4th time I will be flying with AirTrans and HAVE ALWAYS PAY THE $6 fee. The only reason why I wasn' going to now is because the available seats are not together (SO WHY WOULD I --- DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF ASSIGNED SEATS). There are only single seats available so NONE of us would sit together. SW's prices are double AirTrans. Any ideas?

 

[Hannathy]

This is my 4th time I will be flying with AirTrans and HAVE ALWAYS PAY THE $6 fee. The only reason why I wasn' going to now is because the available seats are not together (SO WHY WOULD I --- DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF ASSIGNED SEATS). There are only single seats available so NONE of us would sit together. SW's prices are double AirTrans. Any ideas?

Yes either accept you will be sitting apart or pick another flight or another airline. Sometimes we don't get our first choice/best price.

 

[mrscoobs]

If you call airtran and request seats then they will more than likely be able to seat your family together as there are a few rows that can only be booked by reservation agents.

 

[bavaria]

I was cut off and told "you didn't pay for advance seats, and are upset that you're not all together?" and "It's not rocket science - you have two pairs of seats. Just have 2 of your kids sit together by themselves".

I'm sorry that happened to you, but can I request that you PLEASE post this story more frequently? there are people here who insist that this will never happen to them and we are just inventing things to upset parents.

Posts like the one above yours do no service; actual fact and reality are what is needed here, and it is sorely lacking these days.

 

[n2mm]

Absolutely they will separate them. My daughter's BFF flew with her DH and 2 kids ages 4yo and 7 yo. The FA did ask if anyone would be willing to move. No one did and both her kids sat alone. This was about 3 years ago before AT started charging for assigned seating.

 

[clanmcculloch]

This is my 4th time I will be flying with AirTrans and HAVE ALWAYS PAY THE $6 fee. The only reason why I wasn' going to now is because the available seats are not together (SO WHY WOULD I --- DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF ASSIGNED SEATS). There are only single seats available so NONE of us would sit together. SW's prices are double AirTrans. Any ideas?

When my kids were younger, I made a point of NOT booking flights because of this type of situation. It is unfortunate, but there were several times where I couldn't book the flight that I really wanted because it was important to me that each young child had an adult next to her. You have a decision to make; do you want this flight or do you want your young children to have a parent beside them?

Like a pp said, it is worth calling the airline to find out if they do have any seats blocked. Make it clear that you'll pay the $6 per person fee and that the situation is that online the system shows there are currently no seats together and you're hoping that there are other options available. The worst that they can say is that there's nothing else available.

 

[cbrfan]

Definately call AirTran. They do keeps blocks of seats open that can only be booked by the agent. You may be sitting near the back of the plane, but at least you'd be together.

 

[maxiesmom]

We flew Air Tran in July, and there were 2 younger kiddies who were seated away from their mom. She helped them to their seat, and then told the older one to buckle the younger one in and look out for her. Mom then walked to her seat further up in the plane. The oldest of the 2 kids looked maybe 8. So Air Tran will seperate kids from their parents.

 

[dudspizza]

I'm sorry that happened to you, but can I request that you PLEASE post this story more frequently? there are people here who insist that this will never happen to them and we are just inventing things to upset parents.

Posts like the one above yours do no service; actual fact and reality are what is needed here, and it is sorely lacking these days.

I guarantee the shortness that was displayed was out of frustration from the gate agents who hear it over and over that THEY NEED TO SEAT the family together. The response is basically saying you should have paid for seats.... albeit it could have been said nicer.

The fact out there is more and more people are being proactive and paying for seating. Those that choose to not to pay have to accept that they could be seated apart.

Now, in the case of the OP, no seats are together. It doesn't hurt to call Airtran and explain the situation. They do block out seats together. If they can't help, get to the airport VERY EARLY! They typically start accepting luggage for flights 4 hours in advance. Get there then and ask to see if you can be seated together. Be proactive.

I have told this story before, but here it is. We were on the same flight as some friends (MSP-MCO). We booked our seats ahead of time but they did not. They had booked through Disney and at that time had to wait until airport check in for seating. I told them to get to the airport early. In fact, we had assigned seats but wanted exit rows (they were only assigned at the airport then). We got there at the 4 hour mark, got our exit row seats and headed to the Mall of America for some fun. The seats we had originally booked were now released. There were open seats together! Our friends didn't take my advice and they showed up at the airport about 1.5 hours before the flight. Guess what, there were no seats together. They asked again at the gate and still could not be seated together. They had to ask on the plane for people to move around so they could be seated with their kids. They ended up getting 1A with 1C together in two different rows. Now, this was before PAYING for seating, so people were more willing to work with them. Now that people pay for their seating, the game has changed.

The moral of the story, be proactive. Pay for your seats (if you can) or be ready to deal with whatever happens. Choosing not to pay and then spazing at the airport will do no good.

Best of luck OP. I know your situation is a bit different than my scenerio, I hope it all works out.

Duds

 

[VAN]

We also pay in advance for seats. I do not want to be stuck in the middle seat, so both my DH and I pay for aisle seats (across from each other).

If asked to accomodate a family after I had planned in advance and paid for my seat ... my answer would be NO. The only exception would be if the trade was aisle for aisle in a nearby row.

Now for the Orlando flights, my experience is that there are LOTS of families with small children on them. Many airlines DO NOT allow early boarding for families with small children for their Orlando flights. Be prepared for that as well as the seat assignment issues.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I keep reading people say that they pay for their seats. If you are flying Air Tran, you are throwing your money away.

Please save yourself some money and just go to kayak.com first and search for your flight that way. You click on the link that will open up a new window for Air Tran's website. When you select your seats, there will be NO CHARGE!

We are a family of 5 and save $60 one each round trip by not having to pay for the seat assignments.

I booked a flight on Air Tran for my daughter yesterday. Only $39.60 each way from Dulles to MCO including the $25 coupon and free seat through kayak.com.

 

[Missytara]

That reminds me of my first trip to Disney; back then I let them book my airfare (till I got the hang of it) and US Air was the preferred airline at the time. You always had to connect in Charlotte, NC from BWI.

Well, we got to Charlotte and there were tons of people. Come to find out it had started snowing north of us, and several flights that were supposed to arrive in Atlanta (I think) were diverted to Charlotte. A great deal of people were flying stand-by.

We ended up with a family of nine on our flight, including two adults and seven children aging from 3 to 15. They were all seasoned fliers and their parents reassured everyone they fly down to Disney at least twice a year to meet their family. They were the most well-behaved children and they were able to get paired off through out the plane - with the two adults strolling around to check on them. Many of us offered to start switching around, especially me, since I was alone, but they insisted all was well.

I ended up sitting next to the five year old and had an absolutely delightful flight!

That being said, now that airlines are charging a "seat fee" - which I didn't pay through kayak.com for Airtran - you are going to see a bit more of a problem with people switching seats to assist other passengers to sit next to their children. I mean really, what is the big difference between a $59.00 dollar flight and a $65.00 flight, even if you did pay the seat fee.

If I were on the plane, and knowing your dilemma of not being able to get seats ahead of time seated together due to the capacity of the flight, I would gladly switch in order for one of you to sit with your children.