ATA has changed my seats AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tycon07]

I recently booked my ATA flights to MCO and I selected my seats. Then the aircraft changed and we got pushed to the bakc of the plane! I called and we got it resolved with seats towards the front again. Then I just checked it agian and I have been kicked to the back of the plane. I am honestly at a huge loss right now. If I call ATA, then I don't know if I should be nice about it, be semi nice, or be a complete jerk to the Airline? I also would like to know when the best time to call them would be? I know during the day I would have more of a chance to contact a higher up than a CSA (Customer Service Agent). Please help becasue I am so PO'd right now. I am also starting to regret booking the cheapest airline.

TyCon

 

[safetymom]

Being a jerk won't get you very far. You could have this problem with any airline. When you bought a ticket you entered into a contract with the airline that they will get you from point A to point B. It is frustrating but just call and ask for your seats to be changed again.

 

[inkkognito]

Yes, call them during the day, as that is when Customer Service is there.
Before they bailed out of Chicago, I flew ATA at least twice a month. A lot of it is a matter of getting to someone who gives a darn, but that is much harder now that they are bankrupt and a shell of their former selves. As an Elite member, I know that they hold seats towards the front (right behind Business Class) for Elite status people. I know that quite well because I went through the seat routine many times myself. Still, they used to deny that until I got a supervisor or CS agent on the phone. Since they have been moving you around so much, perhaps they would release some of those seats for you. But a regular agent can't do it; it has to be CS.
Barb

 

[Lewisc]

The lack of assigned seats on SW isn't the big deal some people think.

 

[debster812]

The lack of assigned seats on SW isn't the big deal some people think.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

To the OP, call, be pleasant, but firm, and persistent, and you should be all set.

 

[Pinnie]

The lack of assigned seats on SW isn't the big deal some people think.

AMEN!!! I just flew SWA last night back from MCO - MDW-DTW and there wasn't one family that was separated. Preboarding was limited to those with special needs and IMMEDIATE family members with children under 5.

As a matter of fact, DH and I were in the C boarding group on Good Friday from DTW - BNA and got seats together with NO problem. We were in the B group from BNA - MCO and snagged EXIT ROW seats! Since it was mostly families in that A group, they couldn't sit in that exit row.

I have NEVER had a problem with seats on SWA. I have a ticket on SPIRIT in June and have to pick a seat. LOL My attitude is the whole plane gets there at the same time!

pinnie

 

[minkydog]

I'm just curious to know why your seating is so important. Do the seats in the front get to Orlando before the seats in the back? I can understand not wanting to be at an Emergency Exit if you have small children or a bad back. Otherwise,it's just transportation. Get over it.

 

[tycon07]

Yes, call them during the day, as that is when Customer Service is there.
Before they bailed out of Chicago, I flew ATA at least twice a month. A lot of it is a matter of getting to someone who gives a darn, but that is much harder now that they are bankrupt and a shell of their former selves. As an Elite member, I know that they hold seats towards the front (right behind Business Class) for Elite status people. I know that quite well because I went through the seat routine many times myself. Still, they used to deny that until I got a supervisor or CS agent on the phone. Since they have been moving you around so much, perhaps they would release some of those seats for you. But a regular agent can't do it; it has to be CS.
Barb

Who should I ask for when I call? Shiuld I just ask for a Supervisor since I have had so many problems or try to work it out once again with a regular agent?

 

[inkkognito]

Call and ask very specifically for Customer Service. Politely but firmly insist if they are reluctant to connect you.

As for seat selection, most seats are the same but some are the PITS. I know ATA's planes very, very well, and I would take a later flight rather than sit in the middle or window seat of the aisle in front of the forward lavatory. Those seats do not recline and have no leg room. That would be fine except when you get jerks in front of you who recline all the way down and refuse to move their seats up during drink service (they wouldn't even put the seats up for a minute so we could reach our underseat bags...we asked and they gave us a dirty look and ignored us). My husband and I are not tiny, but neither are we huge. Neither one of us could use our tray table for our drinks, and the flight attendant would not intervene. So all seats are NOT created equal.
Barb

 

[firetaz]

We had flown ATA several times. The first time we made reservations we got moved. EVEN when we called to have them place a DO NOT MOVE notation on our reservation, they STILL MOVED US to the back of the plane where ALL OTHER FAMILIES were seated. The second time we made reservations (online) we immediately called ATA and asked to talk to a supervisor. We asked them NOT TO MOVE US, and low and behold, they DIDN'T MOVE US. I'd call and ask to speak to a supervisor. But then again I did subscribe to the frequent flier program too before I made reservations, so maybe that was a factor?

 

[tycon07]

Could I subscribe to the frequent flier program even after we made reservations?

 

[firetaz]

Yes, I did. Go online and sign up (you must create an account for everyone who is flying). Then call ATA via the 1-800 number and have them apply the frequent flier information to your reservation. The were able to do it for us in Dec 04.

 

[tycon07]

so since there are 4 of us flying, we need to make 4 seperate accounts and ATA ID's????

 

[CarolA]

Well, I normally agree with Barb but I don't think calling and asking for Customer Service is going to do much for you. Yes, it worked for her but when they pull up her name they saw that she was a frequent flyer with a lot of trips. It doesn't sound like you have that pull.

I would start with nicely requesting new seats. If that doesn't work ask for Customer Service, but don't get your hopes up. As SafetyMom pointed out, all you are really guranteed is A seat not the seat of your choice.

 

[tycon07]

I am hopeful that if we get on the frequent flier program for ATA, maybe we can have even a little bit more pull. I know when i did this for Loews Hotels it did not do a whole lot.

 

[cdrn1]

UGH. Your post prompted me to go and look at my reservations for our upcoming May trip. My DD and I are under one reservation and my DGD 15 months is under another because we had a comp ticket for her. Well, three things. First is DGD's reservation ID came up as invalid with no reservation noted in the system. Second, they changed our flight times (this happened in December too and we lost half a day) and last but not least, they changed our seats too and we went from Row 9 to Row 27, all the way in the back. That is a MAJOR pain for us carting a baby and a carseat through the skinny aisle all the way to the back of the plane. I called ATA and they DO show Abby's reservation but the time change is for real and the agent said that Row 27 was the only row that showed three open seats together for us. Looks like this will be my last ATA flight.

 

[tycon07]

They changed the times for my return flight too!!! It went from leaving about 5 to leaving at 7:15!! I also went from row 9 to 27. Seems weird doen't it? I have called for the thrid time this morning and they gave me the sam speel that they are not authorized to move seats for other people once they have been placed. This is BS because they have moved my seats 2 times for other people! And they also told me that the seats aren't guaranteed until check in which is also BS. That is why I booked ATA instead of SWA....because I don't like suprises like that.

TyCon

 

[cdrn1]

That's wierd, our time was 5:55 and now it's 7 something! Yeah, they can't move other people...but it was okay to move us. And here I was telling everyone in the beginning to stick with ATA so they wouldn't go under.

 

[firetaz]

so since there are 4 of us flying, we need to make 4 seperate accounts and ATA ID's????

I would, as it will show them that you ALL want to be a frequent flier.

 

[tycon07]

Thanks for the info. I think I will try that and hopefully get somewhere with it.

GO ILLINI! GO ILLINI! GO ILLINI! GO ILLINI! GO ILLINI! GO ILLINI!