Choosing seats on the plane question

[newchic99]

I just realized that we cannot pick our seats for our flights until checkin. I am so afraid to fly anyway.Just the thought of the possibility of not sitting with DH is freaking me out.
We are flying Airtran. I can check in online up to 24 hours in advance. Going down should not be a problem.What about coming back? Not going to have internet access at POP.
Anyone have any ideas what I can do? The tickets are already paid for. I tried to call the airline a while ago but lines are tied up due to the snow storm.
We don't leave till May. Flying out of Pittsburgh.
Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, first, if you're not flying until May, relax. Wait until the weather clears on the east coast, then maybe another day or so, then call AirTran.
For an additional charge - I think $10 per person per leg - you can choose your seats in advance, but since I don't fly AirTran I don't know if you can pay this fee after you purchase your tickets.
Now, for your return flight - at a slow time, you can ask the front desk or concierge at Pop if they can print your boarding passes; or IF AirTran operates like other airlines (i.e. Southwest) you can have somebody at home check you in 24 hours in advance, then print your boarding passes when you get to the airport.

 

[KristinU]

I haven't flown Airtran, but I did want to add that if you find yourself sitting in different seats don't panic - when the person sits down next to you or DH simply ask if they'd be willing to swap seats - more than likely if they are an individual flying alone they will have no problem swapping. I have traveled a lot for business and have moved dozens of times to allow families or couples to sit together and I've seen tons of other people move too. I think I have only seen it happen once where an old codger wouldn't move to accomodate someone's request and they still figured out a solution with the flight attendant. Which brings me to the fact that the flight attendants may help you to figure out a way to sit together once you are on the plane too...so don't despair if you think you are out of options.

Good Luck!!!

 

[alicia68]

I just realized that we cannot pick our seats for our flights until checkin. I am so afraid to fly anyway.Just the thought of the possibility of not sitting with DH is freaking me out.
We are flying Airtran. I can check in online up to 24 hours in advance. Going down should not be a problem.What about coming back? Not going to have internet access at POP.
Anyone have any ideas what I can do? The tickets are already paid for. I tried to call the airline a while ago but lines are tied up due to the snow storm.
We don't leave till May. Flying out of Pittsburgh.
Thanks in advance for the help!

You usually have to be at the airport 90 minutes ahead. Go an extra half hour earlier and check in at the airport. At that time ask if their are any first class seats available. If there are then you can upgrade to first class for $35.00 each per leg. It is so worth it! But beware it is hard to go back to flying coach lol
Alicia

 

[maddhatir]

i flew aritran this past december-- with no problems.

you can choose your seat during your on-line check in. there is no charge with airtran. go to airtran.com and choose check in and then the help info tab to the left- it will tell you right there. or call them- it might make you feel better.

as kaytieeldr stated- just ask POP to help you out. even if they cant for some reason....i flew tons of times without pre-choosing my seat and i have ALWAYS sat with my DH. when you check-in at the airport to leave FL I dont see why they would not give you seats together.

it will be fine.

 

[DebbieB]

With Southwest having rock bottom fares, Air Tran will probably not be full. I flew them 2 weeks ago PIT/MCO and the back half of the plane was empty going down, I had the exit row to myself (Wednesday morning). Coming home on Friday night, it was about 3/4 full, I had a row of 2 to myself.

If it's just you and your husband - ask about exit row when you check-in at the airport (you can't reserve in advance). You must be 15 or older so that leaves out alot of families. There were exit row seats left empty on both my flights. You get much more legroom.

I have checked in on my laptop and then had the boarding passes printed at the airport, so the suggestion that someone at home do it for you will work.

Depending on the flight, it's more than $10 to get assigned seats when you purchase. You can check the chart on their site. I picked 5/13, it's $137 vs $69 to get an assigned seat at purchase rather than 24 hour check-in. I wouldn't pay it. I've never had a problem getting seats together on Air Tran.

 

[newchic99]

Thanks everyone! I think my main fear was that we have not flown Airtran before. We have always flown USair. I am used to it. (well, as used to flying as I can be ) By going with Airtran, we saved $275.
Thanks again!

 

[Gary M]

DW and I flew AirTran for the first time a week ago. We got our seat assignments 24 hours ahead of time. On the way to MCO I couldn't get the seat assignments on the computer, so I phoned their tool free# and was assigned seats. The plane we flew had two seats in one row and three seats in the other row. DW and I were given seats beside each other in the two seat row. At check-in time we got the exit row seats, which had very good leg room. The plane from IND to MCO was no more than 30% full. They offered up grades to business class for I believe $50 per person.

On our return flight I called the toll free # 24 hours ahead of time and got seats assigned. We changed to exit row seats at check in. They offered the $50 business class up grade with no takers. Business class was empty. The plane may have been 1/2 full.

Clean planes, friendly employees and got to our destinations early both ways. The R/T cost was $127 per person.