American Airlines charging a seat assignment fee.

[hookedonears]

It looks like the Airlines are going to chisel us out of as much money as they possibly can. We're going skiing over Christmas and booked our tickets today. One leg of our flight, (our connecting flight in Dallas) the flight is pretty full (though AA told me there were still seats available) AA said that seat assignments were not available for that flight and we'd have to get them at the gate when we arrived at DFW, HOWEVER, 12 hours before our 2PM flight (2AM), we can purchase for $26 per person, (4 people) our seat assignments. Highway robbery. They're selling us tickets without seats attached, and said you can take your chances to hopefully have a seat when we get to Dallas, or pay our extortion fee to get a seat attached to your ticket. It's hard to believe that this can even be legal, especially since they told me that there are still seats available for the flight.

 

[ppony]

Wow, I thought they were all doing this by now. A few carriers I've flown in the past 2 years have been doing this and it really chaps my hide. Chaps me especially because they WILL seperate a 2 year old from a parent unless you pay to be certain that won't happen. I even went n the news a few years ago about it when it was new here saying that it was a serious ethical fault in my eyes that a business would separate a very young child and it's parent. Sure, is it likely? Maybe not, but their official policy is that you won't be assured of seat together unless you pay for them and they do not differentiate between a traveler being a really young child and an adult. IMO, that's a huge ETHICAL problem. What ever happened to doing what is "right"?!? But as with all things airlines, bend over. They just don't care. And because I strongly desire to have my seats assigned ahead of time, I'll have to continue paying.

This thread is probably going to move to the transportation board.

 

[Missyrose]

They're not selling you a chance to GET a seat on that flight, they're selling you the chance to pick which seat you have on that flight. Your ticket ensures you bought a seat on the flight already.

 

[ppony]

They're not selling you a chance to GET a seat on that flight, they're selling you the chance to pick which seat you have on that flight. Your ticket ensures you bought a seat on the flight already.

Actually, it's kinda both. Unless you have a pre-assigned seat you may end up on an overbooked flight and thusly....

That happened to me earlier this year on Delta.

 

[GEB@okw]

Next time buy a ticket that includes a seat, you know, like first class. Don;t blame the airline because you bought a cheap ticket.....

 

[mlittig]

That is outrageous

 

[mom2rtk]

They're not selling you a chance to GET a seat on that flight, they're selling you the chance to pick which seat you have on that flight. Your ticket ensures you bought a seat on the flight already.

You sure about that? Aren't many flights oversold?

As for separating a 2 year old and their parent....... I would be the FIRST to give up my seat to that parent if I were to be seated next to said 2 year old.........

 

[mom2rtk]

Next time buy a ticket that includes a seat, you know, like first class. Don;t blame the airline because you bought a cheap ticket.....

Yeah.... cuz that's a realistic answer for most people.

 

[ppony]

As for separating a 2 year old and their parent....... I would be the FIRST to give up my seat to that parent if I were to be seated next to said 2 year old.........

That's because you are sweet! I had booked my trip that time through an agent. When I called the agent about the seating she said that they wouldn't separate us. Well, I wasn't so sure, so I called Sun Country and yep, they said they could and would unless we paid to be certain to be together. And since 2 of the 3 seats in their rows are seats you pay extra to have, I wasn't taking the chance! Boy was I angry and finding out after the fact.

Next time buy a ticket that includes a seat, you know, like first class. Don;t blame the airline because you bought a cheap ticket.....

 

[mom2rtk]

That's because you are sweet! I had booked my trip that time through an agent. When I called the agent about the seating she said that they wouldn't separate us. Well, I wasn't so sure, so I called Sun Country and yep, they said they could and would unless we paid to be certain to be together. And since 2 of the 3 seats in their rows are seats you pay extra to have, I wasn't taking the chance! Boy was I angry and finding out after the fact.

LOL, yeah. We'll go with the "sweet" story. I had nothing to do with me not wanting to sit next to a high maintenance child missing Mom!

FWIW....... regardless of policy, I agree this is wrong. Under a certain age shoudl require they sit by a parent, with no additional fee.

 

[ppony]

LOL, yeah. We'll go with the "sweet" story. I had nothing to do with me not wanting to sit next to a high maintenance child missing Mom!

It wouldn't have been pretty! The entire plane would have been treated to a solid 4 hours of SCREAMING.

FWIW....... regardless of policy, I agree this is wrong. Under a certain age shoudl require they sit by a parent, with no additional fee.

I agree, 110%!

 

[olwyngdh]

Wait a minute--if I don't pay extra, DD9 could be seated next to someone else and talk *their* ear off the whole trip? How do I arrange that!?!?!

 

[summermac]

Yeah in 2009, we paid $10 pp to pick our seats with Airtran. RIPOFF!

 

[ppony]

Wait a minute--if I don't pay extra, DD9 could be seated next to someone else and talk *their* ear off the whole trip? How do I arrange that!?!?!

That's awesome!!!

My DS4 (then 2) is non-verbal...but that doesn't mean non-screaming. You can sit next to my son and I'll listen to your daughter. Deal?

 

[jennyl772003]

And this is exactly why we started driving at 5 this morning. Flying is getting nuts. Driving sucks too, but we've decided it's better then jumping through all those hoops and the associated fees to fly.

 

[Jey12]

After my experience with Delta this week I'd pay any amount just to not be on one of their planes!

Last year we flew Air Tran and you could check in online and pick your seats for no extra charge 24 hours in advance. You weren't promised a seat, but you had a better chance 24 hours ahead of time than at the gate. If you wanted to pick a seat prior to that 24 hours you could pay $6 per passenger each way (didn't matter how many connections) to have a specific seat. I agree it's another one of "those" fees that they should just add into the ticket price and not force upon you later. I know it's not really forced but for the majority of travelers it kinda is. Pretty much they make you feel like if you don't pay their fee you will either not get a seat on that particular plane or you will be sitting in the middle seat between two unknowns. Most people don't want to take that chance and will pay. They should just have a regular ticket charge that includes the seat assignment and then a cheaper I don't care ticket price for those that don't care where or when they travel on the plane. That way there is no surprises and no complaints if you go for the cheaper I don't care seats. IMO for Delta all of their tickets are I don't care when I travel because they don't care either.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Wait a minute--if I don't pay extra, DD9 could be seated next to someone else and talk *their* ear off the whole trip? How do I arrange that!?!?!

LOL!! When I had to fly to Germany with my 18 month old son, the military had booked me and my son across an aisle from each other!! My son's seat assignment was next to a stranger, and mine was in the middle aisle. When the flight attendant told the other passenger that she had to move (she had the window seat), the woman pitched a HUGE fit!!! I just calmly told her, "That's okay, will you please tell me if you smell anything, so I can change his diaper? Oh, and please don't mind him if he throws some food around, or crys when he gets tired." After sitting in the seat next to him crying "Mama" for 30 minutes (he was in a car seat), she asked if I wanted to switch seats.

Anyway, back to the OP....I'm getting so PO'd at being nickeled and dimed to death by the airlines!! Because of the baggage fees, we decided on our last trip to check only one piece of luggage, and then use carry-ons....when we got to the counter, the suitcase was 2 pounds over weight. They were going to charge us an extra $100 for being TWO STINKING POUNDS overweight!! I can see charging so much per pound over weight, but a flat $100?!! Ridiculous!! My DH ended up putting an extra pair of shoes in his carry-on from the suitcase to lighten it up by two pounds.

Now, unless you board first, it's hard to find compartments for your carry-ons, because nobody wants to pay luggage fees, so everyone's doing carry-on instead. It all comes out in the wash (weight wise) whether it's on top, or in the luggage area in the bottom. I'm just waiting for when they start charging for carry-ons too.

 

[book_junkie]

It looks like the Airlines are going to chisel us out of as much money as they possibly can. We're going skiing over Christmas and booked our tickets today. One leg of our flight, (our connecting flight in Dallas) the flight is pretty full (though AA told me there were still seats available) AA said that seat assignments were not available for that flight and we'd have to get them at the gate when we arrived at DFW, HOWEVER, 12 hours before our 2PM flight (2AM), we can purchase for $26 per person, (4 people) our seat assignments. Highway robbery. They're selling us tickets without seats attached, and said you can take your chances to hopefully have a seat when we get to Dallas, or pay our extortion fee to get a seat attached to your ticket. It's hard to believe that this can even be legal, especially since they told me that there are still seats available for the flight.

Are you part of their free frequent flier program, AAdvantage? I am, being in the DFW area they are usually the airline we have to fly on, and by using it I've never had an issue choosing seats. Recently, however, if I wanted the "preferred" seats (usually further forward in the plane) or "priority" boarding then they wanted to charge me. Maybe you could register if you're not already part of it, and see if that gets you the ability to pick your seats...

It may also be that since you booked your tickets today all the seat assignments that weren't the "preferred" seats were taken already, especially if it's a popular flight segment out of Dallas. On the local and national news they've been reporting that holiday flights are going to be packed this year...

Good luck! I wish we could travel anywhere for the holidays, but while I have vacation time, my husband used all his for medical reasons for the rest of the year, so we're staying home for the holidays while all our relatives are elsewhere...

 

[JBMC]

I was totally freaked out and rushed to check my flight reservations and my flight (Delta) has assigned seats. They were included in the price, not something I had to pay extra for. Maybe it's because I booked through a 3rd party?

I prefer paying a bit extra and just having all the fees included in the price quoted. Not tacked onto the end and thus surprising me when I go to pay. If I had a choice I'd just drive but driving from CA to FL with 7 people makes my skin crawl.

 

[mom2rtk]

On the local and national news they've been reporting that holiday flights are going to be packed this year...

I heard that today too. It's because they have reduced the number of flights.