Airtran...paid for my seats, but so did someone else!

[greenclan67]

We checked in online for our flight home at the 24 hour mark. The flight was from Orlando to Buffalo! We checked our bags at the airport, at 12:45 pm, the flight was to take off at 2:14. We were through security very quickly, probably not 10 mins tops. So at 1:05 we went and got some lunch, at 1:40 we headed down to the boarding area for our flight, which was already boarding. I let the kids run to go to the bathroom as well as me. We were back in line at 1:45 and they were rushing us through, saying to hurry up, they had already called last boarding call, and I looked at them and said, the flight isn't scheduled to leave until 2:14 is everyone boarded, and they said NO, we have 2 other people that have checked in for this flight, but have not boarded. I only asked, because this happened to us last year, hence why we were there earlier this year!
Anyhow, we get on the plane, and get to our 4 seats, and there is someone else sitting in them, one with a baby sleeping in their arms. They ask to see their boarding passes, they show them,, and they had paid for the same seats as us, so we had no SEATS, and the plane was pretty much sold out!
We ended up with 4 seats in "business class" which in itself isn't a bad thing, but all 4 of us were split up!!!!!! My kids weren't sitting with me, one of them doesn't like take off or landing, she is 8. On top of that, all I could think, if I paid for business class, I would be really pissed if I had to sit with someone elses kid, wouldn't you?
We have flown Airtran 7 of the last 8 flights, and the other was just recently with Jetblue, I will be paying the extra (or in my case the same) with Jetblue. The stewardess was telling one of her co-workers as we were trying to get into seats, "why do they keep doing this, they have over sold every flight in the last week or so, and it is starting to tick me off" So just be warned, paying for seats didn't allow me to sit with my kids, and I was super ticked about it! I have written a formal complaint to airtran, because I don't know if I will get my 8 year old back on a plane again, cause she was terrified while sitting by herself!
Sorry for the rant!

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Sounds to me like there was a definite error made somewhere. I'd be interested to see if the Gate Agent assigned away your seats after announcing last call (unlikely but could have happened).

Regarding your point on a business class customer sitting next to someone else's child - I don't think that holds any water. Many children fly alone as they travel from parent to parents or to grandparents. I see no reason why that child shouldn't be permitted the same luxuries as any other ticketed passenger.

 

[demarcilla]

I just purchased airfare on AirTran and am very unsettled after reading your post. We have a group of 7 going and 2 are children. I have paid extra to purchase the seats when booking. The point of paying extra for seats in advance is to have the peace of mind you will be sitting together especially if you have children with you. I would be very upset. I even called AirTran before booking to inquire about the xtra price for seats as opposed to showing up and being assigned a seat. She said it is possible not to sit with your children if you don't pay the extra fee for seats. That is why I paid!
Getting seating 30 minutes or more before take-off is common and would expect that.

 

[DebbieB]

We checked in online for our flight home at the 24 hour mark. The flight was from Orlando to Buffalo! We checked our bags at the airport, at 12:45 pm, the flight was to take off at 2:14. We were through security very quickly, probably not 10 mins tops. So at 1:05 we went and got some lunch, at 1:40 we headed down to the boarding area for our flight, which was already boarding. I let the kids run to go to the bathroom as well as me. We were back in line at 1:45 and they were rushing us through, saying to hurry up, they had already called last boarding call, and I looked at them and said, the flight isn't scheduled to leave until 2:14 is everyone boarded, and they said NO, we have 2 other people that have checked in for this flight, but have not boarded. I only asked, because this happened to us last year, hence why we were there earlier this year!

Something doesn't sound right. They already called last call at 1:45 for a 2:14 flight? Are you sure they did not change the departure time? Or maybe your watch was off? They typically only start to board at 30 minutes.

 

[bumbershoot]

Regarding your point on a business class customer sitting next to someone else's child - I don't think that holds any water. Many children fly alone as they travel from parent to parents or to grandparents. I see no reason why that child shouldn't be permitted the same luxuries as any other ticketed passenger.

I guess the difference would be in the preparation of the child. A child going on a journey on their own KNOWS this, and is mentally prepared. S/he might have done it many times or it could be their first time, but they will know what's going on. The OP's 8 year old was NOT prepared for this, and from how it's described, the OP wouldn't have put her kid on the plane alone at all, no matter what the reason.

************

I do have to say....

at 1:40 we headed down to the boarding area for our flight, which was already boarding. I let the kids run to go to the bathroom as well as me. We were back in line at 1:45 and they were rushing us through, saying to hurry up, they had already called last boarding call, and I looked at them and said, the flight isn't scheduled to leave until 2:14 is everyone boarded

At 1:40 I'm getting very very nervous if I'm not AT the gate for a 2:14 flight (that means LEAVING the gate!), and there's absolutely NO chance I'm going to the bathroom at 1:45! You cut it waaaaay too close; if you'd been at the airport (walking in the doors with everything ready) 2 hours before you would have been 30 minutes of yourself, and this problem almost certainly wouldn't have happened.

 

[disneychic2]

My BIL is a captain for AA and my sister was a flight attendant for years. Almost every airline oversells most flights if they can. They base it on the probability of "no shows". Every once in a while, this causes a problem when people actually all show up. No kidding!

OP, I have flown Airtran many many times and have never had this happen, but I sure can see the problem and feel for your little daughter. I guess getting there earlier for boarding is the answer, but I think you have a legitimate complaint. Good luck with that.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

This happened to us several years ago on United. I was flying for the first time and only time without DH with my 3 kids who were 7, 4, and 2 (?)(approximately, can't remember exactly now). We got on the second half of our flight and found someone in our seats. I found a stewardess who told me that our flight was overbooked and that she could seat us but we would all be separated all over the plane. If we wanted to sit together, it was up to me to ask people if they would move, she couldn't help me. My 2 year old was sick and my 4 year old was extremely shy. I was able to get one person to switch so my DS who was 2 could sit next to me but the man sitting in the window seat refused to move and let my 4 year old sit next to us. My 4 year old was freaked out and cried the whole flight. Luckily the people next to her were really nice about it. In hindsight, I should have just gotten off the plane. My 7 year old was fine though. I feel for you because my DD was also extremely upset but luckily she got over it and I promised her I would refuse to fly if that ever happened again. I also told DH I would never fly again without him!

 

[greenclan67]

This happened to us several years ago on United. I was flying for the first time and only time without DH with my 3 kids who were 7, 4, and 2 (?)(approximately, can't remember exactly now). We got on the second half of our flight and found someone in our seats. I found a stewardess who told me that our flight was overbooked and that she could seat us but we would all be separated all over the plane. If we wanted to sit together, it was up to me to ask people if they would move, she couldn't help me. My 2 year old was sick and my 4 year old was extremely shy. I was able to get one person to switch so my DS who was 2 could sit next to me but the man sitting in the window seat refused to move and let my 4 year old sit next to us. My 4 year old was freaked out and cried the whole flight. Luckily the people next to her were really nice about it. In hindsight, I should have just gotten off the plane. My 7 year old was fine though. I feel for you because my DD was also extremely upset but luckily she got over it and I promised her I would refuse to fly if that ever happened again. I also told DH I would never fly again without him!

As the OP of this post, this is pretty much what happened to us! The plane also took off 10 mins earlier then it was supposed to! We maybe shouldn't have went to the bathroom and they called last boarding call when we were in the bathroom, when we came out, my hubby said they just called last boarding for our flight, why we never heard anything while we were walking around the airport is beyond me.
The people that were in our seats said they had paid for seat assignments when they booked their flights in January, I also paid for those same seats in September when I booked my flight, so how the hell does that happen???? I was frustrated because I had paid for the seats, and we had to seperate. I was angry because my daughter was sitting in a seat in front of me and over a row, and I couldn't do anything to comfort her, it made me sick as a mother to not be able to do anything.
The over-selling issue ticks me off as well. We had friends that flew back the day after us (yesterday) on the exact same flight, I just got off the phone with her, they didn't personally have the problem, but they were over sold by 6 tickets, and were asking people to give up their tickets. They were at the airport for almost 3.5 hours, and the two flights of Airtrans that went out before theirs, they were asking people to give up their seats! It's ridiculous really! I won't vent again, I just wanted to make a few things clear. Next year we will be doing the 24 hour drive instead, I am done flying for awhile!

 

[momof3poohlovers]

As the OP of this post, this is pretty much what happened to us! The plane also took off 10 mins earlier then it was supposed to! We maybe shouldn't have went to the bathroom and they called last boarding call when we were in the bathroom, when we came out, my hubby said they just called last boarding for our flight, why we never heard anything while we were walking around the airport is beyond me.
The people that were in our seats said they had paid for seat assignments when they booked their flights in January, I also paid for those same seats in September when I booked my flight, so how the hell does that happen???? I was frustrated because I had paid for the seats, and we had to seperate. I was angry because my daughter was sitting in a seat in front of me and over a row, and I couldn't do anything to comfort her, it made me sick as a mother to not be able to do anything.
The over-selling issue ticks me off as well. We had friends that flew back the day after us (yesterday) on the exact same flight, I just got off the phone with her, they didn't personally have the problem, but they were over sold by 6 tickets, and were asking people to give up their tickets. They were at the airport for almost 3.5 hours, and the two flights of Airtrans that went out before theirs, they were asking people to give up their seats! It's ridiculous really! I won't vent again, I just wanted to make a few things clear. Next year we will be doing the 24 hour drive instead, I am done flying for awhile!

In our case, I was definitely not one of the last to get on but the people in our seats just happened to board before us. Honestly, I would get off the airplane before I would allow this to ever happen again. I had also booked way in advance, as soon as the reservation window opened so there was no way that all of those people on that plane booked before we did. If they are going to bump people from their seats, then they should just not assign seats for those who reserve last and when they show up at the airport and everyone shows up and there are no more seats then they are the ones who shouldn't be allowed to fly. It is wrong to book 2 people for the same seat.

BTW, the guy in the window seat who wouldn't move I'm sure totally regretted his decision as not only was DD crying the whole flight but my DS who was sick was coughing all over the whole entire time as I had to put him in the middle seat so I could at least try and keep a visual on DD's who were sitting away from me. I realize he didn't have to move as it wasn't his fault but it would have been nice if he had shown some compassion. I am sure he probably ended up with the flu a few days later.

 

[maxiesmom]

Honestly, if you waited until 30 minutes before your flight to use the restroom, you cut it too close. Most flights start boarding at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time, and some start as much as 45 minutes prior. You need to be at the gate, ready to board 30 minutes before your flight. At minimum.

As far as oversold flights go, I think it happens more than it doesn't happen. I find that a huge incentive to do on line check in and purchase my seats. They bump unseated cusotmers first.

I do wonder though if maybe the flight time had been changed by just a few minutes. That would explain why other people were able to purchase the same seats. Could be that the OP didn't notice the time change, didn't notice they had lost their assigned seats, and therefore new people purchased them.

 

[greenclan67]

Oh believe me I noticed they changed the times about 3 times, the last time about 3 weeks before that flight! Which on all of them I confirmed the times and accepted the changes! Yes a half hour does seem like it was cutting it close, but we were walking down the hallway, about 2 minutes from our gate, and that how close it was! So I guess next time we will sit at the gate an hour before we leave. I don't know!

 

[maxiesmom]

Oh believe me I noticed they changed the times about 3 times, the last time about 3 weeks before that flight! Which on all of them I confirmed the times and accepted the changes! Yes a half hour does seem like it was cutting it close, but we were walking down the hallway, about 2 minutes from our gate, and that how close it was! So I guess next time we will sit at the gate an hour before we leave. I don't know!

Did you reconfirm you seat assignments each time? Just asking, because I am trying to figure out what the heck happened.

 

[n2mm]

The same thing happened to my on United. I got to my seat and there was a mom and dd sitting there. She produced her ticket stub which had the same seat number as mine and my DH. The FA came by and compared and put us in the exit row (since we were 2 adults). I'm not sure what would've happened had it not been available. It gave me an uneasy feeling for all of my flights afterwards. Even to this day, and now flying Jetblue exclusively, I still get on the plane expecting someone to be sitting in the seat I think I'm sitting in.

 

[seashoreCM]

if I paid for business class, I would be really pissed if I had to sit with someone elses kid, wouldn't you?

If the kid also paid for business class then you would not have a leg to stand on.
If not then all is not lost. You could get up and ask around if two persons sitting together in coach would like to take the seat next to you and the scattered business class seat occupied by the mother respectively and then mother and child get the two adjacent seats back in coach.

If we wanted to sit together, it was up to me to ask people if they would move, she (the FA) could not help me.

Hmmm. If I wanted the seats together that badly, I would go about it methodically, asking, one row at a time.

I was angry because my daughter was sitting in a seat in front of me and over a row, and I couldn't do anything to comfort her

You could have gotten up and looked after her every now and then.

 

[carebee21]

I'm sorry this happened! We flew Airtran and didn't have any problems with the reserved seats. But I also wanted to point out that all of our flights boarded early and then once full, left. All of our flights left early, one took off 15 minutes early. I think they take advantage of the fact that people know to be at the airport early and try to get people on the plane and out as soon as possible. If we ever fly airtran again, we'll allow more time for ourselves, knowing that this happens with this airline.

But I also wanted to vent a second because this is a pet peeve of mine. I can't see how this practice of seperating children from parents is even legal. In the event of an emergency, a stranger is not going to put the air mask on my child, have them duck and brace, get a barf bag for them, etc, etc. It's ridiculous and a safety hazard. Unfortunately, it's going to take a child getting hurt, touched inappropriately, etc. and a huge lawsuit for the airlines to open up their eyes.

Not to mention, if I'm on a flight, I certainly don't want to be babysitting anyone elses child. However, if the child was small and their mother was so far away she couldn't help the child, I would have no choice but to help, comfort, etc an upset child or child in need of something. That's not fair to anyone!

 

[momof3poohlovers]

Hmmm. If I wanted the seats together that badly, I would go about it methodically, asking, one row at a time.

I am not the OP but was also in a similar situation and it is definitely not as easy as it sounds. Once people are settled in a row, they don't want to get up. I don't blame them, they paid for a ticket, just like you did and they shouldn't have to move. They have their luggage, etc. already stowed and they may be sitting with their own family and don't want to move or they may simply just don't want to, but whatever the reason I know in our situation, it wasn't that easy. Plus, people are still getting on the airplane, you can't be blocking the aisle holding up the airplane. Also, in our case the stewardess told us we needed to find a seat now. It really is embarrassing and stressful.

You could have gotten up and looked after her every now and then.

You are not allowed to get out of your seat during take off and landing. Yes, when the seat belt sign is turned off, you can check on them but it doesn't help if they are nervous about the taking off or even sitting by themselves.

My kids weren't sitting with me, one of them doesn't like take off or landing, she is 8.

Saying you should have done this or that isn't really helpful. If a person purchases a ticket and has a seat, they shouldn't have to have their small children spread all over the plane forcing others to deal with them because an airline is trying to make sure they don't lose a few bucks.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

But I also wanted to vent a second because this is a pet peeve of mine. I can't see how this practice of seperating children from parents is even legal. In the event of an emergency, a stranger is not going to put the air mask on my child, have them duck and brace, get a barf bag for them, etc, etc. It's ridiculous and a safety hazard. Unfortunately, it's going to take a child getting hurt, touched inappropriately, etc. and a huge lawsuit for the airlines to open up their eyes.

Not to mention, if I'm on a flight, I certainly don't want to be babysitting anyone elses child. However, if the child was small and their mother was so far away she couldn't help the child, I would have no choice but to help, comfort, etc an upset child or child in need of something. That's not fair to anyone!

I totally agree!

 

[greenclan67]

You could have gotten up and looked after her every now and then.

Yes I could have, but if you would have read above, it is during take off and landing that she has a hard time, and her ears pop, she gets nervous, and I can't get up to help her at those times, this is why she sits with me, and we typically hold hands and talk at the same time! I wasn't trying to start a war at all, I was just stating that this is what happened to me, and I wasn't happy about it. Also, I was standing right there when the airline stewardess, looked at my tickets and looked at their tickets and said, " you have both paid for the same seats!" " NO worry we will find you some seats!" So how am I to blame for that!!!!
And yes, they changed our times on 3 different occasions, and all 3 occasions I clicked that I accepted the changes! It was plain and simple the flight is overbooked, there was 2 other people that came on after us, and they were just flipping mad because it was so early that they were departing. They were grown adults and the wife had already boarded, and it was a teenage daughter and the women's hubby, I guess the 2 had went looking around the airport, when they boarded, the wife called them on their cell phone and said to hurry they had already boarded to hurry up, she had to ask them to stop because 2 of her party was in the airport!

 

[Lewisc]

A child can fly as an unaccompanied minor, without a parent even being on the plane. That wouldn't be allowed if it was ridiculous or a safety hazard etc. This isn't a lawsuit waiting to happen.

I'm not sure what happened to the OP. They checked luggage. Absolutely no reason for a GA releasing their seats to standby passengers. I don't agree with some of the pp. They key is getting through security. Once through security a family can grab a bite to eat or use the restrooms. They were at the gate almost 30 minutes before their scheduled flight. NOTHING WRONG.

Is it possible the other family altered their BPs?

The family could have requested the FA ask for volunteers to get moved up to first class. I suspect some people would accept the upgrade even if it meant being split.

IBut I also wanted to vent a second because this is a pet peeve of mine. I can't see how this practice of seperating children from parents is even legal. In the event of an emergency, a stranger is not going to put the air mask on my child, have them duck and brace, get a barf bag for them, etc, etc. It's ridiculous and a safety hazard. Unfortunately, it's going to take a child getting hurt, touched inappropriately, etc. and a huge lawsuit for the airlines to open up their eyes.

Not to mention, if I'm on a flight, I certainly don't want to be babysitting anyone elses child. However, if the child was small and their mother was so far away she couldn't help the child, I would have no choice but to help, comfort, etc an upset child or child in need of something. That's not fair to anyone!

 

[greenclan67]

They were actually very rude about it, we were standing blocking the aisle because they were trying to find us seats. The other 2 that I mentioned about came in, and couldn't get to their seats because we couldn't and didn't know where we were supposed to go! Then the attendants decided to put us up front, in business class, (yes most people would like this) they never asked if anyone else wanted to move, and take the business class, cause if someone else would have moved, I would have gladly taken a regular seat to sit with my daughter. Then the airline staff kept telling us to hurry up and stow our baggage, they wanted to take off. Give me a break. We again were not the last to board eithier, so it wasn't like it was all my fault!
Bottom line, we got back home safely, and thankfully my daughter made it through the trip, but I will never do that again, I will get off the plane if it ever happens again, and I will wait til the next plane, or something, I will not terrorize my child again!!!!! She has accepted flying as a way to get to vacations, but is never going to "love" flying! I can't blame her, cause eithier do I.