Be very careful when calling for credits with AirTran

[01Sweetpea]

I had originally booked our flights for our Thanksgiving vacation in July. The fare allowed me to select my seats, which I did. In August I noticed a huge price decrease and called and received a credit. The representative I spoke to assured me that I would keep my original seats.

Fast forward to tonight, I'm checking in for tomorrow's flight and notice that my seats are different, we're back 12 rows! I called reservations and was told that when I called for the credit I gave up my seats and nothing could be done about it.

Even after speaking to a supervisor and a customer service manager I was told the same thing. I was also told that the row I originally selected, row 11, was usually reserved for people with disabilities and that had someone checked in at the gate and had a disability, our seats would have been taken from us, AND they couldn't guarantee that we would have been sitting together! There was nothing about this when I selected my seats on-line!

Now had I known this I would have checked in online exactly 24 hours before the flight. I would have never taken the chance that my kids and I might not be sitting next each other.

So, just an FYI, make sure you know what is happening when you call and get that credit!

 

[seashoreCM]

(for those eavesdropping)

What happens if you tried to reselect or reconfirm seats the day after you made the call for the credit?

OT: Whenever Delta (and some airlines) change the schedule without notice, your seat assignments are lost. Fortunately you can telephone (not use the web site) to reselect seats (and accept the schedule change).

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[CarolA]

(for those eavesdropping)

What happens if you tried to reselect or reconfirm seats the day after you made the call for the credit?

OT: Whenever Delta (and some airlines) change the schedule without notice, your seat assignments are lost. Fortunately you can telephone (not use the web site) to reselect seats (and accept the schedule change).

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

I think what really happened here is the new "cheaper" airfare OP got was one of the ones that AirTran does not allow you to book seats early on. A clue, those aren't the "cheap fares" So even if the OP had checked the next day she wouldn't have been able to book seats. However she would have known to do the 24 hour check in.

Howver, NO airline gurantees you the seat you pick. So if seating is important to you check often and deal with it. The myth on the DIS board is "I book 11 months in advance so that I am gurananteed my seats" that's just not true as poster after poster indicates.