Airline Can Switch Seats Already Reserved? Why?

[Epcotgal]

I have friends who are in mid-air right now. They flew United Airlines and booked 2 or 3 months ago and reserved their seating so there would be an adult sitting next to a child and all on same row across the aisle from one another. I printed out their confirmation yesterday and the seats were all what they booked. They called me after they checked in at the airport and their seats are TOTALLY screwed up. All sitting in different areas of the plane. I told them the flight attendants should be able to help them since their 5 year old has been issued a seat nowhere near her parents. I have NEVER had this happen after I picked available seats and had confirmation. Does anyone have any insight on why this could happen so this doesn't happen on the way home. Not a magical way to start their trip. Kids have never flown before.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I usually fly SW so I don't have to worry about this, but it happened to me this past summer when we were flying Delta to Honolulu. There were 5 flights in total: 2 legs out there and 3 back. DD and I were separated on every single flight even though we'd purchased our tickets and selected our seats 6 months before. I found out our seats had been switched when I checked us in online the day before. I called Delta and the agent there was able to fix it but it took a 1/2 hour on the phone.

I don't know why they do this. Once you select your seat, that should be it.

 

[Mousemom234]

We've had it happen twice. Both times they had made a change to the type of plane we were in.
Maybe this was what happen to your friends ? The plane was changed, then changed back again, but by then their seating had already been re-arranged to fit the original change.

 

[Epcotgal]

Thank you for your replies. That makes sense except they didn't just move them, they scattered them everywhere. Not even close!

 

[Gracie09]

I usually fly SW so I don't have to worry about this, but it happened to me this past summer when we were flying Delta to Honolulu. There were 5 flights in total: 2 legs out there and 3 back. DD and I were separated on every single flight even though we'd purchased our tickets and selected our seats 6 months before. I found out our seats had been switched when I checked us in online the day before. I called Delta and the agent there was able to fix it but it took a 1/2 hour on the phone.

I don't know why they do this. Once you select your seat, that should be it.

It could happen due to equipment change. Or someone with a disability needs your seat (like if they have a service dog they may need a bulk head). It could be they change the time of the flight a bit and the computer though they changed equipment and scrambled everything.
Generally if you notice it before the airport call and see if they can change it. If not when you get there talk to the gate agent as soon as you get to the terminal. I would get there early to give hem enough time to change things around.

 

[DebbieB]

I have friends who are in mid-air right now. They flew United Airlines and booked 2 or 3 months ago and reserved their seating so there would be an adult sitting next to a child and all on same row across the aisle from one another. I printed out their confirmation yesterday and the seats were all what they booked. They called me after they checked in at the airport and their seats are TOTALLY screwed up. All sitting in different areas of the plane. I told them the flight attendants should be able to help them since their 5 year old has been issued a seat nowhere near her parents. I have NEVER had this happen after I picked available seats and had confirmation. Does anyone have any insight on why this could happen so this doesn't happen on the way home. Not a magical way to start their trip. Kids have never flown before.

I've had it happen but usually I was alone (business trip). One time I got moved from the front of coach all the way to the back. Apparently another flight was cancelled and they accommodated the displaced first class passengers in the first rows of coach.

Did they print out their boarding passes at home? I always do that. One time I was on a Continental flight where 2 people were bumped off for weight & balance when we were sitting at the gate ready to leave. No one volunteered so the gate agent chose the last 2 people to check-in.

 

[Disworldluv]

Twice in all the times we have flown, have our appointed seats been changed. In both instances the change was the result of a different plane assigned to
handle the flight. It is maddening when you book your flight well in advance of the actual flight to find, at the last minute, your seats have radically change from your original assigned seats. I sympathize.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The most likely reason for the seat changes was an equipment swap, although there could be other reasons. No, this is not unusual at all. Your friends should have been able to swap seats so one of them could sit with the 5 year old.

 

[dis_guy]

The most likely reason for the seat changes was an equipment swap, although there could be other reasons. No, this is not unusual at all. Your friends should have been able to swap seats so one of them could sit with the 5 year old.

Yup, happens all the time, which is why you need to regularly check your flights for any changes and fix it online right away or phone the airline. Airline travel is not a "set it and forget it" kind of thing anymore. The sand is constantly shifting under an air traveller's feet! I hope your friends found an acceptable solution for their problem.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Yup, happens all the time, which is why you need to regularly check your flights for any changes and fix it online right away or phone the airline. Airline travel is not a "set it and forget it" kind of thing anymore. The sand is constantly shifting under an air traveller's feet! I hope your friends found an acceptable solution for their problem.

Absolutely. It's so annoying to book months in advance, chose your flight partly based on the aircraft (like booking in a certain aircraft because of lie flat seats), then having an equipment swap to an older plane with no entertainment system and no lie flat seats. I check my reservations once a week.

 

[Epcotgal]

I got a text. They've landed and I don't know who sat where yet but I know they're not happy. They didn't print boarding passes in advance because when they asked the airline when they booked if they needed to do online check in in advance, they were told that it would save time if they weren't checking bags but if they were it wasn't necessary. They double checked the flight info including the seats last night so it changed since then. Sometimes we do online check in and sometimes not. After hearing this I'll do it.

 

[Maliki2]

They did this for my April trip!

I just looked and they moved me away from my wife and 7 year old son! ***!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Was at least one of the parents able to sit with the five-year old?

I have a five-year old DGD. I love her dearly. She's flown once as a lap baby, so I'm sure she doesn't remember it. That said, I don't think she'd be able to handle being separated on an airplane. I pity anyone who would have to sit next to a five-year old strange boy making his first airplane flight. Would they even allow that?

 

[sam_gordon]

I got a text. They've landed and I don't know who sat where yet but I know they're not happy. They didn't print boarding passes in advance because when they asked the airline when they booked if they needed to do online check in in advance, they were told that it would save time if they weren't checking bags but if they were it wasn't necessary. They double checked the flight info including the seats last night so it changed since then. Sometimes we do online check in and sometimes not. After hearing this I'll do it.

Online check in wouldn't have really made a difference. I've seen seats be reassigned AS THEY'RE BOARDING. Really all online check in is going to do is tell that, at that time, they're still in the seats they picked. I'd be surprised if the airline didn't attempt to make some kind of accommodation for the 5yo. Yes, I know they don't have to. It would still surprise me if they didn't.

 

[mickeynut1]

We had our seats switched one time when we flew American. I just happened to check our flight and found the seat assignments were different and then realized they had changed the plane. I was able to choose different seats that were more to our liking since I caught it early enough, but it is frustrating to think you are all set, only to find out (when it's too late) that your seats have been changed.

 

[Epcotgal]

I'm going to find out but I want them to get settled before I touch base with them. I know they are not happy with United Airlines.

Was at least one of the parents able to sit with the five-year old?

I have a five-year old DGD. I love her dearly. She's flown once as a lap baby, so I'm sure she doesn't remember it. That said, I don't think she'd be able to handle being separated on an airplane. I pity anyone who would have to sit next to a five-year old strange boy making his first airplane flight. Would they even allow that?