American ticked me off!!

[pozey]

I booked flights to Orlando back in February. Booked on-line at aa.com. Went through the entire process and got to pick our seats. The travelling party is me, DW, DS(10), DS(7), and DD(3). I always pick out seats where we have 3 in one row and 2 in another. That way, we have 2 window seats.

Well, I go on-line today to just check and make sure everything is still as it was. It isn't. On our return flight, leaving Orlando, it says our seats are unassigned. So, I call. They have 1 seat in row 9, 1 in row 10, 1 in row 29, 1 in 30, and 1 in 31. What?!? They expect 3 kids under the age of 10 to sit by themselves??

I was furious. She said that maybe they will change the seat assignment at the airport prior to the flight. Maybe?

Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[epcotitis]

This happened to us once, when my children were about your children's ages. We had been to WDW and were on our way back. We had been sick during the trip and it was not a great time. I went to check in and they said we didn't have 5 seats together, could I come back in 15 minutes. I shrugged and figured..figures for this vacation. When I went back to check in. The attendent handed me boading passes. We didn't know it until we boarded the plane that we had been upgraded to first class. Not saying this will happen for you, but then who knows. Take one of your adorable kids to check in with you and keep a good attitude. Too many people are looking for excuses to get upset about things. Relax. You are going to Disney!

 

[momrek06]

I saw this recently with Jet Blue. There was a family like yours all with seat assignments and when they got to the airport from what we all could gather is they JB had screwed up all their seats and now we go to board the plane and the JB Attendants had to spend a good 30 minutes AFTER we were all boarded and sitting to start to "rearrange" the plane as these little kids could not sit alone. It was really crazy as allot of the people who were asked to move said NO, they did not want to move and then when the Attendants did finally get people to move, they had to start moving all the luggage out of the over head compartments so the people moving had their items near them. It was quite the show as all this scrambling was going ON

SO, ya, I would also like to know why airlines give seat assignments and than take them away and not be able to tell you WHY!!! What is that all about???

 

[Alicnwondrln]

that would freak me out
we only like to fly carriers that let you assign a seat
i hate cattle call boarding

 

[delilah]

Yes, the same thing has happened to me, more than once, and on more than one airline. I forewarn you, however, that many of your fellow DISers have very little sympathy for people in your situation. Good luck to you.

My upcoming trip in June is like that. I bought tickets on NWA for June in January. They come out with seat assignments 90 days in advance. My family was scattered in window seats all over the plane, even though I specifically requested window seat for myself, aisle seat for DH and any seat for DS(8). On the way down, we weren't assigned the correct type of seat, but we were all in a row, in seats DEF. On the way back, we were all scattered, all in window seats. My son wouldn't do well in a window seat (it scares him to look out) and separated from us. When I called customer service the morning after seats had been assigned to request different seats, they told me that we were only promised seats on the plane, the computer can't read seat preferences, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, and that we could try to be reassigned when we arrive at the airport, yadda yadda yadda.

So, I have checked the airline website twice a day since then, and have reassigned our seats to two aisle seats, for DS and DH, and a window seat for me. One aisle seat is in the same row, across the aisle from the window seat, and the other is directly behind the other aisle seat. So, at least one of us will be able to keep an eye on DS, and we might be able to negotiate a switch with our row mates.

Now, I just can't for the life of me understand why somebody else's family is more important than mine, so that they can't be split up while mine can. The airline couldn't explain it to my satisfaction. Unless they have totally assigned everybody randomly, I am still rather peeved with the airline.

 

[zurgswife]

that would freak me out
we only like to fly carriers that let you assign a seat
i hate cattle call boarding

You do realize that the airlines they are talking about are the ones you are supposedly allowed to get an assigned seat. They are saying that the seat assignments were switched on them after they were made.

I'll stick with cattle call thank you and I've never had a problem getting seats together.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

I can really understand, my DFL was killed in a plane crash, & everytime I fly with DD11 my DH freaks.

Just keep calling until you find an agent to help out. I would also call & ask to speak to a manager. Just keep trying. I am sure, you will all sit together.

Patricia

 

[CarolA]

that would freak me out
we only like to fly carriers that let you assign a seat
i hate cattle call boarding

As Zurgswife pointed out this is NOT a cattle call boarding airline.

One of the myths that is common on this board is that booking your seat gurantees it. Nope, all you are buying is A seat on the plane NOT the seat of your choice.

In this case Cattle car would be better!

 

[safetymom]

I would also try to get to the airport real early because there are seats that can only be assigned on the day of travel by the gate agents.

Don't get there at the last minute and expect to get all the seats together. Also if you are trying to trade middle seats don't expect to find many people that will switch with you.

 

[NotUrsula]

Now, I just can't for the life of me understand why somebody else's family is more important than mine, so that they can't be split up while mine can. The airline couldn't explain it to my satisfaction.

Most of the time when this happens, you are getting the short end of the stick for one of two reasons: a) you paid less for your tickets than those other families did, or b) the members of those other families have more FF status than you do. Sometimes it is a combination thereof.

When the equipment or flight number changes, the computer reassigns seats using a priority matrix. Top priority goes to elite-level FF (and anyone travelling with them), followed by everyone else, in order of what fare class the tickets were sold in. The more you paid per seat, the higher the priority. When it gets down to to discount-fare levels, whole rows of seats are usually no longer available, so the seats are assigned as close together as possible, which in reality often means singles all over the plane, and often middles in succeeding rows. (Fares being equal, the re-assignment works backward from the front to the back, based on the original seat assignment.)

The best trade value in situations like this is an exit row seat, followed by aisle seats in the first 5 rows, followed by any aisle, then any window. Single middle seats have almost no trade value, except that lone middles toward the front may warrant a trade from someone who is already sitting in a lone middle that is behind the wing. For the OP, that means that she has a fair chance of getting someone else in row 29-31 to take her singles in rows 9 or 10. They will work hard to shuffle to get the 3 yr old with a parent, but probably not the older kids.

Open seating is one of the reasons I love SWA for family travel -- all I have to do is check in early, and where we sit is totally up to us. None of this bartering back and forth.

 

[momrek06]

Another comment about airlines/airport....we were heading to WDW LAST YEAR 2005 and had a huge snowstorm brewing. We were on SONG AIRLINES (5 people) and we called Song two days before this HUGE storm was due to hit and they had already heard of the storm coming and allowed us with NO fees/penalities to change the flight by ONE day. YIPPEE SKIPPEE (more on the storm to follow)!

We all arrived at LOGAN in Boston. YEAHHH!! We are going to WDW and too bad for anyone stuck in the snow....!!!! Snow flurries were just starting!!!

As we ALL (5) proceed through security (and Logan was PACKED due to the pending storm) we all got in like 3 different lines as security officers indicated "you go there, you there etc etc"! All of a sudden I am stopped by security to remove my jacket, hat, gloves,take absolutely everything out of my backpack etc all the usual stuff but to now step over here and they want to use that HUGE WAND on me....and as I turn around all over that security area is all my family: my 2 Sis', DH, and DS ALL BEING ESCORTED OVER TO DIFFERENT SECURITY AREAS TO ALSO BE "SCANNED"! What is up with that....that in this entire area of about 100 people, what are the chances that they picked everyone in my party to be SCANNED!!!!

We did a little investigation and was told by an airline official that WHEN at any time after you have purchased a ticket and you have an occasion to CHANGE the ticket/by time or date..it is NOTED on your boarding pass and YOU WILL BE SCANNED!!!!!!!!!!

DID EVERYONE KNOW THAT???? HAS THAT HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE WHO CHANGED THEIR TICKET???? HHhmmmm!

One more thing: Boston ended up getting 25 inches of snow JAN 2005!!!!
I was in the "WORLD" living and loving it all!!!

 

[CarolA]

We did a little investigation and was told by an airline official that WHEN at any time after you have purchased a ticket and you have an occasion to CHANGE the ticket/by time or date..it is NOTED on your boarding pass and YOU WILL BE SCANNED!!!!!!!!!!

DID EVERYONE KNOW THAT???? HAS THAT HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE WHO CHANGED THEIR TICKET???? HHhmmmm!

:

That's is not true. I change practically every ticket I fly on. I am rarely scanned. The truth is that most airline employees have as much idea as you or I as to what triggers the scan (that would little to no idea) It's all computer program UNLESS you do something at check in that either annoys and/or alarms the agents. (I know they can do it for alarms and I find it interesting that every now and then in Nashville I would see the man/woman who was "yelling" at the ticket agent selected for screening..... )

 

[momrek06]

That's is not true. I change practically every ticket I fly on. I am rarely scanned. The truth is that most airline employees have as much idea as you or I as to what triggers the scan (that would little to no idea) It's all computer program UNLESS you do something at check in that either annoys and/or alarms the agents. (I know they can do it for alarms and I find it interesting that every now and then in Nashville I would see the man/woman who was "yelling" at the ticket agent selected for screening..... )

BUT IF THAT IS NOT TRUE....how is it that LOGAN Security (of which before we actually went through the FIRST security "door" (if you will) had all of OUR tickets/boarding passes....and NOW my entire party(5) is ALL getting scanned and let me tell you there were over 100 people moving through this entire security area....and no one in my party was angry...quite the opposite, we were THRILLED to be leaving town BEFORE the snow and hitting the WORLD.....

It actually made allot of sense to us when we were informed that it was our ticket that NOTED a schedule change and anyone with a schedule change gets the SCAN!!!!

 

[chipscinderelly]

To the OP - I am sorry this happened! I have a feeling that either the airline will be able to move you or other passengers will change with you as long as you ask them to move forward and not back in the plane. I would do this and I fly AA all the time.


momrek06 - every time I fly AA I change my seats at least 1 - 2 times for each flight and I haven't been selected for additional screening. I've also had flight schedule changes and not be selected. I think that TSA person told you a big fib. If your tickets print out with the lovely "S"s at the bottom you are going through more screening.

 

[pozey]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I feel a little better today.

I called the airlines yesterday and spoke with them twice. I was assured that we would end up somewhat together. They will "reassign" our seats when we arrive at the airport.

I guess my main issue is/was control. I like to be in control of where we sit. I booked the flights on-line and was able to pick which seats we wanted. Since we are a family of 5, I usually pick 2 separate rows so we have 2 window seats. And I usually book early, so we generally get seats toward the front of the plane. And I was afraid we are not going to get our "desired" seats.

But.....oh well......we'll just have to take a deep breath and relax.

 

[momrek06]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I feel a little better today.

I called the airlines yesterday and spoke with them twice. I was assured that we would end up somewhat together. They will "reassign" our seats when we arrive at the airport.

I guess my main issue is/was control. I like to be in control of where we sit. I booked the flights on-line and was able to pick which seats we wanted. Since we are a family of 5, I usually pick 2 separate rows so we have 2 window seats. And I usually book early, so we generally get seats toward the front of the plane. And I was afraid we are not going to get our "desired" seats.

But.....oh well......we'll just have to take a deep breath and relax.

POZEY: Get there EARLY, earlier than even you normally would...and make sure you tell them that you did HAVE seats together..YUP, you did and now after a random call to check on everything discovered the "together" seats were no longer together....
See this is what I think happened to this family I was speaking of, earlier in the Thread...and they had everyone AFTER they were all seated SCRAMBLING around, moving carry-ons etc...try to AVOID that and get your seats together BEFORE you even board.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

POZEY: Sorry about going "OFF TOPIC" as well when I brought up that issue with the SCANNING they do at airports!!!

 

[safetymom]

One of the first things you learn when you fly a lot is that you have no control over the situation. You can try and do it all right but in the end it is the airlines that determine your fate.

Until you get to the airport I wouldn't worry about the seat assignments. As someone else mentioned you book a ticket but aren't guaranteed the seat you request.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We did a little investigation and was told by an airline official that WHEN at any time after you have purchased a ticket and you have an occasion to CHANGE the ticket/by time or date..it is NOTED on your boarding pass and YOU WILL BE SCANNED!!!

Sorry, but this is absolute nonsense. Completely untrue.

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

We bought tickets on Delta back in December for our trip this October. I selected our seats at the time I purchased the tickets.

Today I went on Delta's website to check our itinerary and our seat assignments were marked as "not assigned". I saw that there was a schedule change - the Atlanta to Indianapolis leg of our return flight leaves 25 minutes later and there was an equipment change (to a larger plane thank goodness!) - so I figured that's why our seat assignments were gone. Although I don't understand why they ALL were gone since only 1 of the 4 legs of the trip changed. Anyway, I called a Delta rep and got my seat assignments back.

My trip is still 6 months away so I'll bet I'll be going through this again before my trip gets here.

Debbie

 

[momrek06]

Sorry, but this is absolute nonsense. Completely untrue.

Several replies to this "scanning" incident with my family seemed all to say it was NOT true at all that when a ticket is changed you will be scanned...that being said...WHY do you think in a Terminal/Security Area @Logan Airport in Boston with over 100 people attemtping to get thru security, MY entire family ALL FIVE OF US (all with different last names, so that name thing could not be it) were RANDOMLY pulled aside and told that they would need to SCAN US??

My fam did think it was QUITE ODD and after we got to the GATE we asked the Agent and that is what we were told...."did you and your family members change your tickets"..."yes"...and then the Agent proceeds to tell us it is NOTED on the Boarding Pass up in the corner some random #, (he pointed the number out to us on our actual boarding pass) and Security is then required to pull you aside and SCAN YOU!!! We actually were satisfied with that answer BUT if that is NOT true WHY DO YOU THINK ALL FIVE US WERE ASKED TO STEP OVER TO BE SCANNED?

I am open for all and any answers!

Sorry again to the OP as this is OFF TOPIC!!