Check the Boarding Passes that RAC hands you

[aubriee]

We just got back from WDW Saturday night (2/11). When we checked our bags at POFQ and got our boarding passes, I just put them in my bag and went off to the parks. Other than glancing at the top one to make sure the departure time hadn't changed, I didn't bother to look at them, until we were on the DME bus back to the airport that evening. When I finally looked at them, I found American Airlines had split our party up (placing my 3 y/o GS alone in row 18, me in row 22 and my husband in row 24). I had purposely booked us in Row 17 Seats A, B, and C, when I booked the flight several months ago. As soon as we got to the airport, I went to the American Airline desk to get it straightened out and they told me they would make a note of it in the computer, but I would have to have the gate agent straighten it out. The gate agent was able to get me seated next to my grandson, but said she couldn't move my husband, but not to worry about it and to just ask the person sitting next to me if they'd switch seats with my husband. She assured me that since my husband and the person next to me both had an aisle seat and the rows were only a few rows apart the other person would switch with him. I was not happy with that outcome. I was polite, but let her know that since I had paid for seats together, that I expected them to fix their mistake. She could not tell me why our seats were switched around. Thankfully a little while before boarding, we were called up to the desk and were moved to the first row in coach in seats D, E, and F. The gate agent informed me I should have checked the seats as soon as RAC handed them to me, to make sure they were correct. They never could explain why our seats were switched around though. I had checked them prior to leaving home the Sat before and they were fine. There was also another family there at the desk complaining that their seats had been switched around and they were no longer seated together either, even though like us they had chosen seats together.

 

[goofy4tink]

You should always check boarding passes, no matter where they are issued. And you should always check on flights to see if there have been any changes.
Here's the thing...you didn't pay for seats together. Yes, you chose seats together, but if you read the CoC (airline fine print), you will see that you are paying for transport, from point A to point B, on a specific day. While the airline allows you to choose a specific flight and sometimes specific seats, they can change those choices any time they wish.

If you find that your seats have been changed, and you are on the way to the airport or you have been told you have to wait to get them changed back (vs changing them online prior to departure) then it's always best to let the gate agent handle it.

 

[Best Aunt]

Okay, maybe this is a dumb question: If OP had looked at the boarding passes as soon as they were handed to her, and noticed that the seats had been changed to something unacceptable (like a three-year-old sitting alone), what should she have done?

The hotel employee who prints out the boarding passes doesn't work for the airline, so I would assume that he/she couldn't do anything about it.

 

[Tara]

Okay, maybe this is a dumb question: If OP had looked at the boarding passes as soon as they were handed to her, and noticed that the seats had been changed to something unacceptable (like a three-year-old sitting alone), what should she have done?

The hotel employee who prints out the boarding passes doesn't work for the airline, so I would assume that he/she couldn't do anything about it.

Several options:
1. Call the airline to see if they can get you seated together.
2. Go online and look at the seating options.
3. Arrive at the airport early to try to sort it out in person.

 

[Brian Noble]

You should always check boarding passes, no matter where they are issued.

Indeed. I checked in at the counter for a flight on DL from DCA->DTW in December. The counter agent handed me someone else's boarding pass for that flight. I just glanced at it, and noticed I was in a different seat, but still in the front of the plane, so I didn't think much of it. When I handed the boarding pass to the TSA agent, he was not terribly surprised...luckily I also had an e-boarding pass on my phone, and went through the line with that.

 

[DVC California]

You should always check boarding passes, no matter where they are issued. And you should always check on flights to see if there have been any changes.

+ 1 This.

Especially check online the night before. Airlines sometimes make last minute changes on flights (equipment/planes, flight numbers, gates, dep/arr times, etc) that necessitate rebooking ALL the passengers for a particular flight.

It's happened to me more than once and always on AA.

 

[dzorn]

Okay, maybe this is a dumb question: If OP had looked at the boarding passes as soon as they were handed to her, and noticed that the seats had been changed to something unacceptable (like a three-year-old sitting alone), what should she have done?

The hotel employee who prints out the boarding passes doesn't work for the airline, so I would assume that he/she couldn't do anything about it.

If she was checking bags then she used remote airline check in basically the same as curb side check in. They could probably have fixed it right there.

Denise in MI

 

[Jestocost]

If she was checking bags then she used remote airline check in basically the same as curb side check in. They could probably have fixed it right there.

Denise in MI

I don't know that RAC has the ability to change seat assignments. Even if they do, frequently the only people who can fix things on the day of travel are the gate agents unless there are lots of seats open.

 

[francie57]

I find it is just easier to keep checking your flight itineraries online to make sure your seat are still all together. The airlines change the type of planes for the flights and all seat are put back into the computer and reassigned (as told to me by a Delta agent). I had this happen once and it just made me start checking on the flights more often so I could make seating changes before checking in.