Airtran seating

[Hannathy]

I think we said the same thing more or less...

I'm not moving for a 5 year old, either. Not if I've paid for my seat.

Yeah I wasn't disagreeing I was agreeing! sorry if I wasn't clear.

Heck when my DS was 5 he picked to sit away from us because he wanted a window seat, so I have no qualms about separating a 5 yr old from someone.

 

[sweetdana]

If all the seats on the airplane were paid for I agree. Some people do not pay for seats, and they save seats specifically for families, and what every other reasons.
At the time I booked there were no seats available for purchase next to each other it was booked about 2 days before I left. I reserved seats for the way home, as they were available. I feel I am entiled for the option to sit next to my family. If they didn't have room, they should not have sold me the tickets up front. If they charged me 20$ or 40$ at the gate I would have paid it. I would have accepted across the row, or any reasonable option. Not having the option would have drove me crazy, good thing stopping at the MK 4 -5 hours later would have fixed the bad mood!

 

[crashbb]

If all the seats on the airplane were paid for I agree. Some people do not pay for seats, and they save seats specifically for families, and what every other reasons.
At the time I booked there were no seats available for purchase next to each other it was booked about 2 days before I left. I reserved seats for the way home, as they were available. I feel I am entiled for the option to sit next to my family. If they didn't have room, they should not have sold me the tickets up front. If they charged me 20$ or 40$ at the gate I would have paid it. I would have accepted across the row, or any reasonable option. Not having the option would have drove me crazy, good thing stopping at the MK 4 -5 hours later would have fixed the bad mood!

But they DID have space. You and your son each had a seat, so of course they should sell the tickets.

You are entitled to sit next to your son - by choosing a flight that still have two seats together and paying to pre-select them. You are not entitled to make people move so that you can sit together, when you chose a flight without seats together, which is definitely a risk when you only buy your ticket two days out.

I wouldn't have moved for you either. And any fit you choose to throw would have ended up with you (and your son) being escorted from the plane - it would not have ended up with me moving from my seat. I've seen it happen.

 

[TaraPA]

crashbb

 

[Missytara]

But they DID have space. You and your son each had a seat, so of course they should sell the tickets.

You are entitled to sit next to your son - by choosing a flight that still have two seats together and paying to pre-select them. You are not entitled to make people move so that you can sit together, when you chose a flight without seats together, which is definitely a risk when you only buy your ticket two days out.

I wouldn't have moved for you either. And any fit you choose to throw would have ended up with you (and your son) being escorted from the plane - it would not have ended up with me moving from my seat. I've seen it happen.

Ditto........if there weren't two seats together on that flight, then you are free to choose a flight that had two seats together. It wasn't the airlines fault that particular flight didn't have seats together.......That's what is great about multiple flights per day - you have the right to choose.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And if that airline doesn't have multiple flights on a given day, there are other airlines, or other airports - granted, possibly less convenient, but nobody is FORCED to fly a particular flight on a particular airline on a particular day... or even to fly at all. There are trains, buses, personal vehicles...

 

[Promomx2]

Thanks for making me feel better for paying the $6 for myself, dh and ds to have our seats assigned for our upcoming trip. This will be the first airplane ride for ds and only my 2nd and we didn't want to run any risk of being split up on the flight.

 

[crashbb]

Thanks for making me feel better for paying the $6 for myself, dh and ds to have our seats assigned for our upcoming trip. This will be the first airplane ride for ds and only my 2nd and we didn't want to run any risk of being split up on the flight.

I hope that your DS has a great first airplane ride!

 

[dkbayne]

My husband and I flew Air Tran in December - paid the exta fee for seat assignments and when I checked in our seats had been changed and we weren't sitting next to each other anymore. Not even close. It was a pain to get our seats next to each other again . I had seats near the front on the side with 2 seats and we wound up in the back on the three seat side. I was not happy since we paid the extra money to pick seats and then they were changed also with no notifiication. We booked about 8 months in advance also.

I don't think there is much that can be done anymore. Air tran seemed to be the only airline we didn't have issues with and then that happened.

 

[maxiesmom]

My husband and I flew Air Tran in December - paid the exta fee for seat assignments and when I checked in our seats had been changed and we weren't sitting next to each other anymore. Not even close. It was a pain to get our seats next to each other again . I had seats near the front on the side with 2 seats and we wound up in the back on the three seat side. I was not happy since we paid the extra money to pick seats and then they were changed also with no notifiication. We booked about 8 months in advance also.

I don't think there is much that can be done anymore. Air tran seemed to be the only airline we didn't have issues with and then that happened.

All airlines are flying as lean and mean as possbile. This means not only can your flight time change after purchase, but even the type of plane you are flying on can change. It is a good idea to check on your flights to make sure there haven't been any changes, and not wait for the airline to notify you.

Delta changed my flight time by 10 minutes, and now the seat I picked is gone. Instead I have a lovely note that I now have to get my seat assignment at the gate. So even airlines who don't charge for seat assignments sometimes move you around.

 

[Allison]

At the time I booked there were no seats available for purchase next to each other it was booked about 2 days before I left. I reserved seats for the way home, as they were available. I feel I am entiled for the option to sit next to my family. If they didn't have room, they should not have sold me the tickets up front. If they charged me 20$ or 40$ at the gate I would have paid it. I would have accepted across the row, or any reasonable option. Not having the option would have drove me crazy, good thing stopping at the MK 4 -5 hours later would have fixed the bad mood!

You aren't entitled to the option to sit next to your family. You are entitled to have a seat on the plane if you purchased a ticket.

 

[Pinnie]

You aren't entitled to the option to sit next to your family. You are entitled to have a seat on the plane if you purchased a ticket.

Exactly!

pinnie

 

[SiAmCrAzY]

It wouldn't do any good to "blow your lid". If you don't pay for seats, they put you wherever there is one open. It would be your own fault if your dd had to sit away from you. The FAs will not make anyone move to accommodate your lack of planning.

I really wish that were true, I fly Airtran all the time and on 3 separate fights i have been hustled out of the seat i reserved in advance (window seat)
twice by passengers for a child. And once by an AS! I had reserved a window seat and when I got on a child was sitting in my seat and his mother and aunt completed the aisle they and the flight attendant pointed to the middle seat of the row in front of them! i found out later it was the aunt who wanted to sit with her sister that caused me to have to relinquish my seat! i have never been reimbursed for the reservation fee, it was never offered, worse though is that not once has anyone said thank you. I would have stood my ground had i not wanted to be "the mean lady " who wouldn't move for the kid.
I have chalked this up to being a SOLO traveler. This has never happened to me when I fly with someone else.

 

[crashbb]

I really wish that were true, I fly Airtran all the time and on 3 separate fights i have been hustled out of the seat i reserved in advance (window seat)
twice by passengers for a child. And once by an AS! I had reserved a window seat and when I got on a child was sitting in my seat and his mother and aunt completed the aisle they and the flight attendant pointed to the middle seat of the row in front of them! i found out later it was the aunt who wanted to sit with her sister that caused me to have to relinquish my seat! i have never been reimbursed for the reservation fee, it was never offered, worse though is that not once has anyone said thank you. I would have stood my ground had i not wanted to be "the mean lady " who wouldn't move for the kid.
I have chalked this up to being a SOLO traveler. This has never happened to me when I fly with someone else.

Whereas I have no problem being the mean lady. ESPECIALLY, if someone has just taken my seat without asking! Admittedly, it has never come down to it. I've only had someone in my seat once or twice, and they moved (or were told to move) once I produced my boarding pass.

 

[Inkmahm]

Whereas I have no problem being the mean lady. ESPECIALLY, if someone has just taken my seat without asking! Admittedly, it has never come down to it. I've only had someone in my seat once or twice, and they moved (or were told to move) once I produced my boarding pass.

Ditto.

 

[Anal Annie]

My husband and I flew Air Tran in December - paid the exta fee for seat assignments and when I checked in our seats had been changed and we weren't sitting next to each other anymore. Not even close. It was a pain to get our seats next to each other again . I had seats near the front on the side with 2 seats and we wound up in the back on the three seat side. I was not happy since we paid the extra money to pick seats and then they were changed also with no notifiication. We booked about 8 months in advance also.

I don't think there is much that can be done anymore. Air tran seemed to be the only airline we didn't have issues with and then that happened.

This has happened to us before with Air Tran - you have to check your flight status frequently with them - especially when booking really far in advance. They have some sort of a glitch in their computers so that if they change the flight number or the type of plane they're using the assigned seat number you selected doesn't transfer with the new plane / flight!! They will give it back to you without a hassle but you have to call & tell them it disappeared.

FWIW I definitely think paying $6 per seat for an actual seat number is a better deal than the $10 per seat that SW charges just for a shot at a better boarding number!! For $10 you still don't even get an assigned seat with them!!

 

[crashbb]

Whereas I have no problem being the mean lady. ESPECIALLY, if someone has just taken my seat without asking! Admittedly, it has never come down to it. I've only had someone in my seat once or twice, and they moved (or were told to move) once I produced my boarding pass.

Yes, I know I'm quoting myself.

However, I should add that I've been the "nice" lady far more often than the "mean" lady. When asked nicely, I'll consider the request and, as long as changing seats leaves my in an acceptable (to me) seat, I'll move.

Seeing families separated doesn't really happen all that often in my experience. Perhaps because the airline I tend to fly only charges for seat assignments for the very cheapest fares and these are not offered on all flights and, as a frequent flyer, I can select seats not open to others until the 24 hour mark, so I tend to be sitting near other frequent flyers and their families.

 

[Native NYer]

After reading this thread, I'm so happy we paid for our seat assignments on our August flights. I'm traveling with 2 children (2 and 6) and wanted to make sure we are all sitting together.

 

[clarkfamily]

Hmmm. Glad I read this thread. I have never flown AirTran before, and will be using them for the first time for our upcoming trip. I was not aware that this type of seating policy existed. I made my reservations directly through the Disney website. I am assuming that the price I was quoted, and have already paid, DID NOT include the assigned seating. Anyone know?

Thanks!

 

[snorkelyn]

We are a family of 5 (kids 24mo., barely 4 and 6). I paid the $6 to get assigned seats. But- there were not 5 seats together available to choose. The best I could get was 3 on 1 side, and 2 on the other(with a person sitting between us). I can only hope that the person seated between us will be willing to take either the window or the aisle- I think everyone (including the poor guy between us) will be happier.