Airline Changed Seat Assignments - GRRR!

[alnickandme]

Okay, I am trying to control my annoyance. We are about a month out and I received a flight change notice today - no big deal on the time change. BUT, they also changed the seat assignments so that the four of us are not together. I could get over it if they were two seats of two. But only two are together, the other two are in different areas of the plane - middle seats of course! Sorry, but I am not putting my 4 1/2 year old DD in between two strangers while I sit 20 rows away! And the two together does not include a window seat, which we need for 2 year old DS' carseat!

Now, of course I am going to make a phone call, but is there anyone who had ever had this happen? How did you handle it? My DH says that they wont care that I am annoyed, won't care that we made the reservation 8 months ago, and wont care that we chose American over Southwest and Spirit because of the advanced seat assignments (and paid more for the convenience!)

I have a feeling our options will be either to take a later flight or depend on the kindness of strangers.

Well, I might as well do the 30 day dance while I am here - I think it might make my mood better



Thanks -
Aimee

 

[zurgswife]

I bet if you tried to buckle your 4.5 yr old in the middle of 2 strangers...you'd have 2 volunteers really quickly to move....

I've always wondered what the reaction would be....

(mind you I'd never leave my child there if nobody offered to switch)....but I"ve always wondered.....

 

[CarolA]

It sounds like they changed equipment which is what messed you up.

First call them, what you see isnot always what is availalbe. Just explain what you need. However, at least start of nicely. Your DH is right they probably won't care that you bought very early. While I know this sounds cruel what they really care about is how much you paid.

If worse comes to worse, show up early at the airport. The gate agents have control of some seats, plus a LOT can change at the last minute. For example this early most of your frequent flyers have not gotten upgraded to First Class yet, that releases some seats right there.

 

[CAP Aircrew]

I would go ahead and make the phone call. More than likely you will be accomodated. Airlines are not in the business is splitting up families especially when there are youngsters involved.

When you book a good distance in advance of your flight, you stand a decent chance of the flight time changing. That's just the nature of the business but I'm sure the airline will make every effort to arrange seats that are together.

It's happened to me in the past (flying Song) and it was no problem getting it rectified.

Let us know how you make out and have a great trip.

 

[shelly3girls]

I had this happen with USAir a couple weeks ago. I called and nicely complained. The agent made a note on my reservation and told me that most likely they would move people around when we boarded. She assured me that my 3 and 5 year-old would not have to sit by themselves. I checked our seat assignments a week later and we were all together sitting 2 and 2. We did not have a window seat but a kind young man immediately offered to move. No one in a window seat wants to be blocked in by a carseat, besides it is not allowed.

 

[sif]

On our flight home from MCO, the only seats available for the 4 of us were three middle seats and an aisle (on the other side of the aisle). I spoke to the USAirways agent yesterday, who said she can't do anything now, but the agent(s) may be able to help out at the gate or on board. I'm not too worried -- all the seats are in the first 6 rows and with the 3 and 5 yr olds, we'll get to pre-board. If the agents are of no help to us, we'll simply camp out together and hope that other passengers will understand and switch with us. I expect that they will, with no problems.

 

[alnickandme]

Thanks for all of your help!

Yes, the issue was due to an equipment change - to a smaller plane.

On the order of what zurgswife suggested, I thought about putting my 2 YO "Dennis the Menace" DS in the middle seat by himself - he really knows how to clear a room (and probably a plane too). I would never actually do this, but it was fun to think about.

After I chilled out for a while (I tend to overreact, so I gave it a couple of hours) I called and we got our seats switched to 2 sets of window/middle in the back of the plane, which is fine. I am relieved, since I don't have the personality that deals well with the "wait and see" approach (and I envy those of you who can go with the flow, believe me!)

At first the agent said there was nothing she could do, but she put me on hold for a while and pulled some magic strings. Naturally, I thanked her over and over again.

I will admit to being irritated that the seat assignments that we had originally were thrown out the window, but I didnt share that thought with the agent since it certainly isnt her fault and is the nature of the business. But I'll still probably spend some time grumbling about it under my breath.

Thanks again -
Aimee

 

[Lexxiefern]

How annoying! I am always afraid of that happening as I have a 3 year old and we tend to book far in advance. Glad you were able to rectify the problem.

 

[sgtdisney]

American has a really great website too where you can view available seats on any flight at any time. They also allow you to switch your seats via the website if you purchased your tickets on their website.

 

[muntzfab4]

Last year, we did not have seats together. The 4 of us were all over the plane. It was a full flight due to Spring break. When we checked in they still could not put us together, but told us to try at the gate. The agent was wonderful - and got us 2 and 2, right behind each other. I was very nervous because my 7year old hates to fly - she would have freaked!

Try calling. If that doesn't work try again at the airport. It may work out.

 

[MelessaG]

This happened to us on our last trip. At the time, I too had a "Dennis the Menace" and I wasn't afraid to use him. <EG> I called and complained to no avail and so did DH. We were going to just hope for kindness at gate check-in or on the plane, when somehow (after a ton of complaints from me, DH, and my parents who were also going; they 'managed' to group us back together. We were always going to be split up a bit, we have three kids, but at least there was a parent with each 'set' of kids.
I"m sorry this happened to you, I remember how frustrated I was at the time. Of course that doesn't top my favorite plane seating story. The problem occurred when our original SW flight got to the connecting airport late and we barely boarded our second flight in time. Of course, there were no seats together even though the person I needed to sit with was my 6 month-old daughter for whom I had purchased a second ticket. The flight attendant said "You will have to put her in another empty seat or forfeit her ticket and hold her." I said I was willing to forfeit the ticket if they were willing to refund the $$ and that otherwise I was just going to stand in the aisle until someone somewhere gave us two seats together. It was amazing how quickly the passengers were willing to reshuffle. I promise I really am a nice person, but come on! Sit my 6 m.o. in a different part of the plane?! (BTW, I think that separate ticket was purchased out of first time mommy overprotectiveness because I've always taken my kids under 1 yr. as lap children since then.

 

[crisi]

Happened to us too. Two seats together - four more scattered throughout the plane. Tried getting the seats changed, no luck. No luck on the phone, no luck at the airport. So the flight attendant allowed us to board early. I sat down between my two children and waited for the "original" occupant of the seat to show up. My seat was just one row back. And I said "This is your seat. These are my children. My seat is right back there Would you mind switching?"

He took one look at the 4 and 5 year old I was about to strand him with and graciously gave up his bulkhead.

(I would have only stranded him with one child - I would have put the five year old in his own seat behind us)

 

[alnickandme]

Thanks for all of your tips!

I think that I will see about trying to change it when I do online check in. Although the current configuration is do-able, it could be better, so I'll give it a shot.

When we booked the tickets, I had the pick of the plane. My DH is laughing at how much time and energy I wasted deciding on the perfect seats for our 2.5 hour flight! He is one of those irritating types - nothing ever bothers him

Thanks again -
Aimee

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by alnickandme
Thanks for all of your tips!

I think that I will see about trying to change it when I do online check in. Although the current configuration is do-able, it could be better, so I'll give it a shot.

If you bought your tickets with American you don't even have to wait until you do your online checkin. American's website will let you look at the seating charts of any plane on any flight and if you are booked on that flight you can change your seats online at any time. You could check periodically, even, to see if any seats opened up or were released. Good Luck.

 

[JFrey4240]

This happened to us in January. The gate agent couldn't help either. So when we boarded the plane we said something to the flight attendant and she asked people to move around. I think people are really accomodating. I know when I fly alone I move quite often so other families can sit together.

 

[Dznypal]

we booked our HAwaii family reuin trip/sons wedding through a TA who put all 12 of us on one ressie she said that way our rooms and seats should be close.

It didn't work out that way.

there was no "rhyme or reason" to the seating.

passengers 1/3/6/12/ and whatever had seats although not with their own familes or together and the say 4,10,8,2 had to get seats at check in???

my sister and her family were al split up and they were they ones with little kids!!! my sister was one that was supposed to get her seat at check in while her hubby and kids had seats but not together!! ther kids were by themselves (not a good idea!!!!)

and our TA said there was nothing she could do (this is the last time we go to her!!!)

so I spend 45 minutes on the phone with United and got our seat all switched around with no problem!!! good luck you should be able to get your seats changed.

Im like you though I don't like to wait till the last to get something taken care of!!

have a great trip

 

[Esmerelda]

This happened to us a few years back w/Delta. I even specifically told the reservationist on the phone that I was a single mom traveling with 2 younger boys. (I think they were about 7 and 11 at the time). Would you believe they did NOT change me and the boys ended up at least 10 rows in front of me to my left! We were on an L1011 (I think thats right) where there are 3 seats in the middle and two on either side so there are 2 separate aisles. I actually had a flight attendant scold my boys while I sat waay back and watched. I was extrememly P***ed about the whole thing and I did complain but Delta didn't really care. This was just one of the many problems I have had with this airline and will never travel with them again.

Be firm about your seating arrangements! A child should not have to sit without a parent!

off her soapbox now,
Esmerelda

 

[mep319]

Had it happen to us 3xs w/ our DD (happen b4 w/ just dh & me but I can deal with that). The first time was from MCo to PHL and they reassigned us all to middles seats! The stewardess was horrible and was going to bump us from the flight.. I manged to talk my way on the flight (our luggage was on that flight!) and got someone to switch w/ DD and myself...DH had to sit in a middleseat and he is a big guy! Wasn't happy ...I think she was 3 at the time. It was very upsetting and stressful. The second time was from PHL to MCO....and when I checked in and found out (for whatever reason didn't realize it before we left) that we were split up again...even though our e-tickets had seats...I was told seats are never gaurnteed even if on a ticket! The person at check in had us take a "seat" until they figured out what to do...again stressful but we got bumped to First class which wasn't bad....but not sure it is worth the stress! The 3rd time was just this past week...I just got a credit due to a price drop this past Monday... so I recieved new confirmations and realized DH & myself had seats...DD didn't....I was right on the phone and you know what!!!??? They took away her seat, she didn't have an assignment and someone else had already been assigned the window seat! Soooo....they had to move us again! Just be sure to check frequently and stay on top of it.

 

[40plus]

This has happened to us on 'Us' a couple of times. Everytime we found out when we arrived at Phila airport. 1st time DD's were 2 &1 . four seats 4 corners of the plane. This was prior to 9/11 attendant at gate was rude. Apparently they had changed flight #'s but same equiptment. we were 3rd inline to ck in attendant told me tough but deal with it no joke my wife heard him say it. He told me if I objected to much he was going to call security. I told him if he called security to have me arrested better also send the ambulance because if I was to be carried out he was going to be also. After my comment he placed us to the side and then borded everyone else then they played musical seats till DW and DD's had 3 adjacent seats. I was next row up. While carring the 2 car seats onto the plane a nice man sitting on the end seat made the comment now he knew why we were late. He accidentaly slammed his face into one of the carseats and didn't say anything after that. Rest of the trip was great. Have a great time If you really have a problem the flight crews have always been willing top go the extra mile, so ask what's the worst they can say. But remember to repay the kindness you may be able to helpout someone else on a future flight.