American Airlines charging a seat assignment fee.

[JCH]

I've never heard of this. I bought super cheap American tickets home to Dallas during Christmas and have my seats assigned. No extra charge. I booked from the AA website.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

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.

It is legal. American (and some others) used to leave a block of seats unassigned and under the control of the gate agents day of flight. I guess they've decided to leave another block unassigned so they can get an extra $26 bucks out of people. Anyway, our seats ended up unassigned coming back from Hawaii. This happened to us on all 3 legs back from Kona. We were worried because we had to talk to the gate agent and someone said we were stand by. But we were genuinely on all 3 flights and the gate agent in Kona assigned us seats on all 3 of our legs right together.

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

So you've had the "experience" that is
Don't
Expect
Luggage
To
Arrive
Airlines.

Do share. Do share.

 

[Jacie]

This is why we fly Southwest. We know what to expect from them!

 

[olwyngdh]

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?

Deal!! Someone else's kid doesn't know where all my buttons are and don't tend to annoy me near as much as my own!! Can I bribe him with lollypops?

 

[Meriweather]

The only airline we have had to pay extra to pick our seats was AirTran...........hate it!!
And what really got me was on the return flight, they changed our seats and split us all up. I was on the phone as soon as our boarding passes showed up at WDW!!
Never flown with them again and won't.
DH flies about 3 weeks out a month and has never paid for a seat. He usually flies Delta, United, American, USAir, or Alaska.

 

[UtahsGoofy]

I think I would choose the plane ride for the comedic value.

But I must admit it sure is tough buying a ticket only to find out your only option is a middle seat unless you want to pay more. But I guess that is how the game is played now.

 

[ironz]

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...

To the OP...read the bolded part above.
AA does not charge for all seat assignments. I think this post is correct, that the "preferred" seats are all that are available for assignment at this particular time.

A) AA is not forcing you to pay $26 for each of those seats...you are choosing to do so to have a seat assigned right now. You do have the option of waiting until you are at the gate and get assigned. You have been told that there are plenty of seats on the plane.

B) You may also try to get seats at 72 hours out and at 24 hours out from your flight, as that is when the upgrades for the Elites will be processed.

C) You may be able to get seat assignments for the DFW flight at the time you check in at your originating airport.

D) another option is to call back and speak to a different agent (without the 'nickel and dimed' demeanor, please)....just like when DISers call WDW and the CM doesn't quite have the answer....sometimes another person may be able to help you better. Or at least confirm what the PP and I suspect about the preferred seats...

 

[Jey12]

So you've had the "experience" that is
Don't
Expect
Luggage
To
Arrive
Airlines.

Do share. Do share.

Haha oddly enough our luggage arrived home before we did! I flew Delta 15 years ago and they were so late I almost missed a connecting flight, they were rude and it was awful. So 15 years later I made the same mistake just to save $60. My fault. We left Orlando on time but somehow landed at Memphis 20 minutes late. We arrived at 110pm and had to make it across 2 terminals in Memphis by the departure of our connecting flight of 135pm. I ran and left DH with DD5 and DM who is in a wheelchair to catch up so I could let them know we were on our way. I arrived at the connecting flight's gate at 120pm and was asked if I was on that flight I said yes and explained the rest of my travel group was behind me, one of them in a wheelchair. 5 minutes later I see the entrance swing away from the plane and the lady comes up the ramp and snidely says "you're not getting on this flight, that's for sure.". It was still 10 mins before the departure time, there were also 8 other people from our plane waiting to get on. At this point I couldn't do anything but cry, I was exhausted from the run to the gate and now not knowing when I'd get home. I'm also not one to cry over much and so the simple act of crying ticked me off. Delta's response? "Take your boarding ticket to the red phone over there, scan it and call the number. Then you can figure something out." Gee thanks lady. By the way the rest of my party made it to the gate at 130pm, still 5 minutes before departure.

I call the number, and am met with the same rudeness. I think they must take classes in being rude, it cannot come that naturally for that many people at the same company. I'm told we have two choices, wait at the airport for 8 hours for the next direct flight home, or try to catch the 215 to Minneapolis and catch a direct flight home from there and be home by 615pm. Ha I laughed at the thought of trying to catch another connecting flight. The woman on the phone said I don't know what is so funny, what do you prefer? I rolled the dice with them again and took the 215, now mind you we had to make another mad dash back to where we'd started in order to make this flight. I asked about our luggage and she told me no way it's on the flight you were supposed to be on, no way it's going to make it to your new flight, but it will be on the flight 8 hours later and we'll bring it to you. Ok that was the best news I'd heard so far. At least I wouldn't have to drive back out to the airport to get my luggage. So we run back through both terminals to make the Minneapolis flight. I have to say how wonderful the Memphis employees pushing my mom in a wheelchair were, they were sympathetic and so kind! Of course they weren't Delta employees. We get to the new gate and they print us boarding passes. We get on the plane and there are people already assigned to our seats! Oh well we just take the back row, lick our wounds and hopefully head home.

Again this flight arrives 15 minutes late. My eye is starting to twitch at the thought of being stuck somewhere overnight because it's getting late in the day. Just after landing we're told we've been rerouted to another gate. Great. We get off the flight and I ask where the gate for the flight to KC is, because we don't have boarding passes for that flight. They had only printed us ones for the flight to Minneapolis. I'm told it's the same plane. YAY! We will make it home! I go to the counter, ask for our boarding passes and explain we've been rerouted due to missing a connecting flight in Memphis and that's why we don't have any. I also ask the man to please make sure the seats we're assigned aren't already assigned. My mother cannot stand for long periods and I wanted to avoid the problem if possible. He puts the boarding passes on the counter and asks me "do you want to use these today or not?!?" OMG really? At this point I'm a wimp and at the mercy of their rudeness and inability to land a plane on time. I just hang my head and take the boarding passes. Of course there's people in our seats and we don't even ask we just walk to the back of the plane. Finally we land in Kansas City. It's 645pm (late again) and I call our ride because no way I was counting on actually getting to our home airport that night, so my ride had to be on standby as well. I go over to baggage claim to find out how to go about getting our bags when they finally arrived and there they were! Also there was an 8 inch rip in the back of my big bag. Of course. I have to say the Delta employees there were very nice, filled out a form and took care of the problem. This wasn't a big deal for me, things like this happen and I will be reimbursed for the bag. It was just another thing at the end of a long day.

So the next day I sit and contemplate calling Delta to complain. I know I won't be reimbursed, I know I will probably just get irritated by their response, so why bother? OK I'm a gluten for punishment I call. Also want to point out I've worked customer service so I always keep in mind that the person that answers is not the one I'm upset with and I am always polite and nice until I'm given reason not to by that particular person. Being Delta it wasn't long into the conversation before I was given reason. At first she tells me the connecting flight in Memphis didn't leave until 151pm and no way we were at the gate by 120pm and denied. I told her to check her records we were booked on the Minneapolis plane by 151pm and on our way to that gate at that time. She said the phone records aren't accurate on times and that doesn't prove a thing. I again restated what I'd said. That the connecting flight might have been at the gate until 151pm but the doors closed 10 minutes early. She said that never would happen. OK fine I imagined it, along with the other people that missed that flight. She said it was illegal for them to hold a plane for less than 10 people without FFA approval so that's why it wasn't held for us. (I don't know a thing about FFA flight regulations so I had no argument for that except we were a group of 4, plus the other 8 people in the same situation.) But anyway I thought we weren't late, now she's telling me the plane wasn't held for us because my group of 4 plus the other 8 people couldn't possibly equal more than 10 either? But she'd like to offer us a $25 voucher for each person on a future flight. Are you kidding me? A free checked bag. Whoopie. I not so politely declined at this point explaining I'd rather ride bareback, cross country on a porcupine than fly with them again. Needless to say I'm not getting my vouchers and that's OK with me!

Sorry so long. You asked. LOL. Sadly this is the condensed version, the rudeness of the flight attendants is a whole other story. To the PP who booked with Delta, good luck to you! I'd take the loss and drive with 7 people. It would be more enjoyable than flying with Delta and you'd get there quicker.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

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.

Fire your agent! Honestly if she said that she should be fired! The TA is suppose to know what is going on not be CLUELESS! Why pay for clueless? you did all thw work here and she gets paid? REALLY?

And the Delta horror story posted above...

Umm.. I can top that on Delta, USAir, American (My all time favorite the agent started standing at the counter CURSING like a sailor at passengers while her manager helped), AirTran etc... Not even worth worrying abou IMHO. If my takeoffs and landings are equal I am doing good.

Folks for what we pay something gives. WOuld you rather it be service or safety? Would you like to pay what it REALLY costs to fly you? (hint most of you would just have hysterical fits about "greed" on this board.)

If you only fly airlines that are prefect, I expect that most of you need to plan to stay home from now on.

 

[Jey12]

And the Delta horror story posted above...

Umm.. I can top that on Delta, USAir, American (My all time favorite the agent started standing at the counter CURSING like a sailor at passengers while her manager helped), AirTran etc...

Folks for what we pay something gives. WOuld you rather it be service or safety? Would you like to pay what it REALLY costs to fly you? (hint most of you would just have hysterical fits about "greed" on this board.)

If you only fly airlines that are prefect, I expect that most of you need to plan to stay home from now on.

And the people that accept that is why customer service is pretty much dead. So are you saying that people should just accept being treated poorly because they are getting a deal? If that's the case I weep for society.

For me personally I have flown Delta twice, had two bad experiences. I've flown Air Tran twice, Southwest and American (and even TWA before they became American) too many times to count, and never once have I had the so called service Delta provides. I'm sure there are equal and worse horror stories than what I've experienced. I don't believe anyone should have to just suck it up because they paid less than what it cost. I also don't believe it costs tons more than we pay for a flight. They wouldn't still be in business if that were the case. I do know of at least 5 Delta employees that could find employment elsewhere, that could save some money. I also don't expect perfection, but I do expect a service agent to provide service. I find it funny you suggest firing a TA for making a mistake and not knowing their job, but in the same post totally excuse unacceptable behavior from airline employees.

 

[hookedonears]

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...

Yes, we are members of their FF program.

 

[hookedonears]

It is legal. American (and some others) used to leave a block of seats unassigned and under the control of the gate agents day of flight. I guess they've decided to leave another block unassigned so they can get an extra $26 bucks out of people. Anyway, our seats ended up unassigned coming back from Hawaii. This happened to us on all 3 legs back from Kona. We were worried because we had to talk to the gate agent and someone said we were stand by. But we were genuinely on all 3 flights and the gate agent in Kona assigned us seats on all 3 of our legs right together.


So you've had the "experience" that is
Don't
Expect
Luggage
To
Arrive
Airlines.

Do share. Do share.

Charging $26 per person 12 hours ahead of time for a seat that you have already booked a ticket for just seems criminal to me.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Long quote deleted.

OMG!!! BTW I'm with you on Delta. We'll not fly them again unless there is a major change in attitude. This happened to us on one trip.

On the way there.

1. Bumped to an itinerary where we were taking off from our transfer airport before we were scheduled to land. Had to fly out at the crack of dawn to fix it.
2. We arrived 3 hours earlier, but...Our luggage took so long that the bags for the flight we would have been on came down before our plane's luggage.

On the way back.
1. Flight cancelled. We get the hotel. When we asked their guy in charge how to get to the hotel they put us in, we got yelled at. Meal vouchers we got wouldn't even buy an appetizer at the place they were good at.
2. Try again the next day. Took 4 times to the counter to get the boarding passes right. When I complained, I got threatened with not flying. Yeah right. That clown was 3 steps beyond his pay grade.
3. Connecting flight delayed because somebody got the count wrong. Turned out the passengers were all there and there weren't any extra. But much to my surprise, our luggage arrived.

Just rudeness and incompetence all the way around any time we dealt with their ground employees. The flight crews were fine though. And like you I saved...... $60. Long story short. We won't be flying them unless there is a major change in their attitude.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Charging $26 per person 12 hours ahead of time for a seat that you have already booked a ticket for just seems criminal to me.

If I understand things correctly, they're asking 26 more if the customer wants a specific seat. That option has been added since I flew American. We didn't have that option. We were stuck getting our seat assignments at check in for the first flight. Personally, I don't agree with the extra 26. But it's not all that much different than Southwest adding a fee if you want to check in earlier than their non fee added check in time. And you have to do that if you want to be A cattle rather than B or C cattle.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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.

None of that sounds accurate according to AA's own policy on seat assignments - the cost, that there is a cost, the timing... http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/seats.jsp

I'd call back and try again.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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.

That's exactly what this is - unbundled pricing. It's comparable to Magic Your Way ticket pricing. Don't plan to park hop? Don't pay WDW for that feature. Likewise, don't care where You sit on a plane? Don't pay the airline for that feature.

But if you do care where or with whom you sit, don't leave it to fate. Ante up.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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.

Interesting that you're laughing because a passenger with a window seat was forced to move because the military messed upon your seat assignment and you didn't try to resolve it before boarding; and that you so easily burdened her with a list of directions

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.

The plane's overall weight does, sure. But baggage handlers risk injury over a certain weight limit, so bags exceeding that limit need to be handled by two ramp agents (plus, probably, some of the overweight fee goes toward paying workers comp insurance. Anyway, overweight is overweight whether it's a pound or ten or 25. No airline is going to charge by the pound. It's too complicated. They have a set fee; exceed the limit, pay the fee. Simple.

 

[deegack]

Sounds like the only seats left on the flight are preferred seats. That's what happens when you book six weeks or so before Christmas. If you wanted to choose your seats for free you should have booked earlier.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Hey MODS,,,shouldnt this thread be in the "Transportation" area of the board?

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Hey MODS,,,shouldnt this thread be in the "Transportation" area of the board?

Thank YOU... I didn't want to say it because I would be flamed as I have been when suggesting it to posters.. I was accused of being on a "campaign" yesterday for suggesting posters post where topics should be... seems lately some feel it is perfectly fine to put any thread they feel like on this forum. It is one of the first forum's on the DIS, it is also the most frequented... therefore some feel they will get the most responses.. If we take the time to point it out, we get jumped on. I am wondering if maybe there should be a sticky reminding posters what really belongs on this forum.. or maybe even move this forum down the food chain a bit.. maybe then posters will have to scroll past the one they really need prior to getting to this one.. This thread for sure has nothing to do with the parks or the attractions in the parks...

I have to get to work now, but I am thinking maybe when I get home to go thru here, copy and paste all that don't belong on this fourm and stick them into one thread and head it.. OT thread that need to be moved... then post them in a thread here....