airline seat assignments

[abk96]

We just picked up our vacation materials from our TA and now our flight # for the trip home has changed and so did our seats. We booked in Sept. and had 5 seats straight across row 16. Now we have seats scattered all over the aircraft. We aren't happy about this because we have 3 small children who will not sit next to a stranger and we aren't too happy about it either. Our TA says there's nothing she can do and we have to wait until we check-in at the airport to see if we can be reassigned.

Has anyone ever had this happen to them? How was it handled? Should my TA be doing more for me to correct this problem or is it out of her hands now? (Now that they got my money...lol)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. TIA

 

[deedeetoo]

This is why I don't like TAs. They don't care about your vacation as much as you do.

I made my own flight plans. I periodically check my itinerary on the Delta Website. My flight numbers have changed twice. Each time the departure time also changes a bit (not much in my case) and they lose my seat assignments. I call the airline customer service line as soon as I catch this and they reset my seat assignments. So far I have managed to keep all five of our seats together. I'm sure if I had just let this go til the end (as your TA has apparently done) we would be scattered across the plane.

 

[safetymom]

TA's don't make anything when they book your tickets. Has the flight time changed? She may be able to get you another flight and seat assignments if the times changed by an hour or two.

 

[kycat]

We periodically fly stand-by and are assigned all over the plane. They even had our 4 month old assigned five rows back from me once…all by herself! But we’ve always found other passengers are more than willing to move around for us. Some times the flight attendant takes care of it…sometimes we do. We have very well behaved children…but the other passengers don’t that! And they are more than willing to switch.
But since you’re not flying stand-by…I’d bet that it will all be straightened out at check-in. I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[CarolA]

TA's don't make anything when they book your tickets. Has the flight time changed? She may be able to get you another flight and seat assignments if the times changed by an hour or two.

No they don't, but if they are going to give lousy service they shouldn't do it at all. I have always used a TA for work and they don't give responses like that... What probably happened was there was a time change and your TA just took what they gave her....

I would call the airline and start working with them. Then next time you book a vacation I would either do it myself or find a new TA.

(Have you tried just going on line to the airline site and changing the seats?) Unless it's labor day weekend most Sept flights are not near full yet!

 

[Pdowning98]

I too have had problems with the airline we are using changing our flights and seats. We are traveling with a group and made the reservations ourself, not through an agency. We have been put on different flights than our group, even though our reservations stated we are flying together. Now, our 7 year old son and my friend's daughter are separated from us and the airline has just told us ask the person next to you to move. We just keep checking online to try and make changes to our seat assignments!

I hope everything works out for you!

 

[sixcats]

If you aren't able to change them because all seats for assignment are gone get to the airport early. There are rows that are left unassigned until check in. We were unable to get seats on a fairly full flight one year but had no problem getting seats together once we got to the airport. I checked in at least 2 hours ahead.

 

[abk96]

Just the flight # changed. The time is the same as it was when we booked it back in Sept '05. She didn't even notice it until I pointed it out for her. (or maybe she did and was hoping I didn't notice)

This flight is for our upcoming trip this month for the ride home. I know if I have to wait until check-in at the airline, I'm going to be worrying about it while I'm trying to have a good time at Disney. That's what I do best, worry.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[bicker]

The problem is that you cannot tell which TAs can afford to and are inclined to give good service until after it is too late. For me, if you don't have a personal recommendation to a TA, from someone who is friends with you moreso than they're friends with the TA, then don't use a TA.

 

[LuvTigger]

Ditto the poster who said to call the airline directly to check on the seating arrangements. I have done this in the past where I had a TA book the flight, but I called the airline directly to change the seats. (TA had a good deal on the price, but poor service.)

It shouldn't be a problem to call the airline directly. All they need is your name to look up your flight info. Because of your situation with the children, I would do this now rather than waiting until you check in at the airport.

 

[safetymom]

CarolA, I was just pointing out that TA's don't make anything when they sell you a ticket. That is not an excuse for poor service though.

 

[abk96]

I called the airline myself and the person told me that the flight is full and I will have to wait until we check-in for our flight to see if we can change our seats around.

I am so annoyed.

 

[owtrbnks]

All the people over on the other thread worrying about getting an "A" on Southwest should be reading this! With Southwest you don't have to worry about using a TA or getting your seat assignment changed because you don't have either one.

 

[Dznypal]

on our last family trip to Hawaii 2 years ago there were 20 of us!!

AAA had us all over the plane also by some names it said to get seat assignments on day of travel!!!

there was no rhymne or reason---BIL and 2 nephews 4 and 6 had seats althought all over the plane--and sis was supossed to wait till day of travel!!!

well I called United and got a terrific agent!!!

it took him over 45 minutes but he got us so at least we were sitting as families--we didnt have to sit as one big group but at least as families!!!

I would call the airlines on my own as just tell them you need 5 seat together

good luck--everything will work out

have a great trip

 

[kda]

Keep calling the airline to check if something has opened up.

Do whatever you can to access the seatmap on line so you can monitor this yourself (ie, can you check your reservations on line, or put in a pretend ticket request just to be able to get to the screen where you can see available seats or select seats). If you find 2-3 seats together open up, call the airline and request that some of you be moved so that you're sitting together. You might not get all of you together or near each other, but at least each parent can be with some of your children.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Has anyone ever had this happen to them?

Of course; it happens all the time.

I have been on plenty of crowded flights where I have seen families split up.

 

[abk96]

Of course; it happens all the time.

I have been on plenty of crowded flights where I have seen families split up.

Families with little kids under 10 sitting by themselves? I was told that I would have priority when we get to the airport since we have small children.

We had seats in the same row when we booked and now because the flight # is changed we don't have those seats anymore. It's driving me crazy! It just doesn't make sense to me that we are being told it won't be a problem when we get to the airport. How can that be? Why can't they do it now then? It just doesn't make sense to me!

 

[bicker]

Why can't they do it now then?

There either may not be any seats left not-yet-assigned, or the seats left are in the exit row. If there are no seats left, they're counting on some people to cancel. If the seats left are in the exit row, they're waiting for the first few adults to check-in, who will gladly switch to the exit row with more leg-room, thereby opening their previous seat assignments.

 

[abk96]

I just thought of something too. Doesn't it mean something when they change your flight and you're not notified? What I mean is, we were originally booked on a different flight # and now that # is leaving 2 hrs. earlier than we originally booked. I was never notified of that change until we picked up our materials and the paperwork says a different flight # with the same departure time.

That's probably a little confusing. Here's an example.

In Sept. booked flight #111 at 2PM with seats 15 ABCDE. Now in April flight #111 is leaving at 11AM. We are now on flight #222 at 2PM with seats that are scattered.

Do you think I have any recourse to change the flight entirely and get another one with seats together for the same day?

Maybe I'm just grasping at straws here.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Families with little kids under 10 sitting by themselves?

Yes, I have seen this happen. It's not the end of the world. Lots of kids under the age of 10 fly all by themselves all the time.

However, you should not spend too much time worrying about this. Usually the flight attendants will try and get people to switch seats so family members can sit together.

Doesn't it mean something when they change your flight and you're not notified?

Not really. Unfortunately, this happens all the time. If I were you, I'd call the airline directly and hope you get a sympathetic agent who will allow you to change flights without penalty. Never hurts to try.