Changed seat assignments

[safetymom]

I am not sure about all the airlines but usually if you are a preferred frequent flyer they hold back seats for them. You can't request them online most times.

When it gets closer to the flight they can release those seats.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

We were preferred FF at one time, but are not anymore. In fact, we just cashed in our remaining miles to take our next trip to WDW in Sept. The agent didn't have to put us in the preferred section, but he did. Guess he was in a charitable mood that day.

 

[safetymom]

It's nice to know there is a little magic left with the airlines.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by DeeCeeSW
We were preferred FF at one time, but are not anymore. In fact, we just cashed in our remaining miles to take our next trip to WDW in Sept. The agent didn't have to put us in the preferred section, but he did. Guess he was in a charitable mood that day.

You definitly lucked out with the agent you got. I am Platinum on continental due to flying biweekly to Europe for work in Business Class and still get treated like cr*p by agents when calling with issues. Glad it worked out for you. They definitly didn't have to give you those seats, and if you haven't already flown they still may take them away, so be sure to check every couple of weeks or so on your seat assignments.

 

[Claudia1]

One airline gate agent actually told me that we would be better off to not get a seat assignment until we checked in. He said that the agents would put us together.

That did not sound like good advice and we have never done it. I think you would be dependent on a charitable gate agent on a flight that was not filled (or overbooked).

 

[safetymom]

In the case of an overbooked flight those without seat assignments are usually among the first to be bumped. Sometimes that is ok sometimes it isn't.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by Claudia1
One airline gate agent actually told me that we would be better off to not get a seat assignment until we checked in. He said that the agents would put us together.

That did not sound like good advice and we have never done it. I think you would be dependent on a charitable gate agent on a flight that was not filled (or overbooked).

Always take seat assignments even if they are scattered about the plane if that is all you can get. Worst case scenario is that you would have to look for kind hearted souls on the plane to switch with you. When asking people to switch you should take the "less desirable seats" so you can trade up. For example, person X in your group is assigned 6C(an aisle near the front) and Person Y is assigned 26B (a middle seat in the back). Person X&Y should sit try and sit in 26B&C, and offer the person in 26C your "better" seat in the front. People will generally will move forward but most people hate moving back. Don't try trading your middle seat in the back, nobody wants that. I can't tell you how many times I have been in the aisle at the front and someone is seated in the middle seat next to me and asks if I would move all the way to the back. I kindly say no thanks.

 

[chrisd596]

Flying usair.......... if you want to check if usair changed your seat assignments do you just go to their web site and look for the flight #, even if its months away?

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by chrisd596
Flying usair.......... if you want to check if usair changed your seat assignments do you just go to their web site and look for the flight #, even if its months away?

you need to have your confirmation number to see you ressie or you can always call.

 

[SueM in MN]

We usually fly Northwest (only two carriers at our airport) and as much as I complain about their stiff prices, I cannot remember them ever chanign seat assignments on us.

They changed ours when we flew to WDW in March. For our flight down, we originally had seat assignments in like rows 12 and 15 (2 seats together in each row). When we checked about a week before our flight, we found we were moved to rows 26 and 39 (but still 2 seats together in each row). Since we have a child who can't walk and won't use an aisle chair (a small, narrow wheelchair that can go down the aisle), we had dealt with the Special Needs Department for our seating assignments originally. DH called the airline and got 2 of the seats changed back to row 12, so at least we could get on the plane. We rechecked the seat assigments 24 hours before our flight and everything was OK.

Because we didn't know how long it would take to clear security with the wheelchair with the new security, we got to the airport almost 2 and 1/2 hours before our flight. At the e-ticket kiosk, we got a message to check in at the desk - we figured it might be because of the wheelchair (even though we had used the e-ticket kiosk before with the wheelchair). The agent at the desk told us that "the seat assignments are being made at the gate. Check with the gate agent."

The gate agent said we had no seats assigned in the computer and "since you're flying standby, we'll have to wait and see if anyone volunteers to give up their seats. If you don't get on this flight, we should be able to get you on the next flight." DH explained we had bought our tickets in October and had seats assigned when we bought them, and he showed her our printed airline itinerary. She said that didn't matter, we were not in the computer now, so we were "standby."

Luckily, we had the airline 800 number and a cell phone. DH explained the situation to the 800 number person. When she checked the computer, we were listed there in rows 12 and 39. The 800 number person asked to speak to the gate agent (who did not want to talk - she said "I don't care what they say about their computer, you are flying standby"). The 2 agents finally did talk to each other and we ended up in rows 12 and 39.
On our return trip, we got the seats that were originally assigned to us. I have been told that seat assignments are not "firm" until a few weeks before the flight (people with disabilities can get firm seat assignments 90 days before). Our seats should not have been moved because of the disability that was noted on our reservation, but they were. You can also be moved if someone needs the bulkhead or certain aisle seats with armrests that can be lifted up for easier access. These are supposed to be reserved at least 24 hours ahead, but we have seen people asking for them at the time they check in. Anyone who previously was assigned those seats would end up re-assigned.

 

[PatriciaH]

Wow! We have never had seats changed in all our years of flying. I always request emergency exit row because DH is 6'4. Some let us hold it (like Delta) others say check in early and ask for it. 98% of the time we get that row.

Once we were flying Continental to Las Vegas and a snow storm canceled the flight. Because we got to the airport early, they got us on a flight with Northwest leaving earlier and first class!