Flying DC to Orlando-help!

[trailmix71]

Hi,
We are a family of four flying to WDW the weekend of 3/31 (peak season). It looks like USAir is the only option from Reagan International (we want non-stop). They charge an extra $75 per seat for 'preferred seating' though, meaning a guaranteed seating arrangement where we all four can sit together.

Is this 'preferred seating' purchase worth it during peak season, or are we ok just purchasing tickets, whether it be regular USAir seats/Hotwire/Orbitz and then just later requesting seating through USAir, or checking in early the day-of? In other words is there a risk of each of us sitting separated?

Thanks!

 

[backyardponder]

Looking at the US Air web site, it looks like flights are pretty well booked in that timeframe. The only seats which appear to be available for assignment are their prefered seats.

If you buy tickets on a flight which does not have seats available on the seat map, you will be assigned seats at the airport. Chances of sitting together are pretty slim. Could you check other airports, BWI, PHL, IAD? Make sure you also check southwest at www.southwest.com.

 

[Doofenshmirtz513]

I may be mis-remembering this, but I think when 7 of us flew US Air DCA to MCO in August 2010 that immediately after booking the tickets, I could go online and select seat assignments (i.e. I didn't have to wait until the check-in window). I booked the flight knowing there were whole rows empty on the plane, so I could immediately take each person's assigned seat and shift them to where I wanted us to be. And I was booking using a combination of two different types of credit card rewards plus cash for tickets.

Still, things could have changed, and I don't recall ever seeing preferred seating as an option.

 

[TDC Nala]

There are several airlines that fly nonstop to Orlando from DCA. Including Airtran, Delta and JetBlue. This late in the game for peak spring travel, it's possible there might be only one with affordable seats, though.

"Preferred seating" on USAir likely means in the front of the plane or aisle seats or exit row. They do not charge for all seating. You may have to select something closer to the back of the plane though. And even with preassigned seats, there is always the option that there could be an equipment change or something and you would be reassigned to other seats. You can select seats at the time you book if there are seats available, you don't have to wait until 24 hours or anything.

If the preferred seats are the only seats available at this time, then you will either have to select them, or take the chances that the airline will make people move out of their preassigned seats to accommodate your family's wish to sit together (or someone will volunteer).

 

[trailmix71]

The thing I don't understand is USAir says a flight is all booked except for a a row of preferred seating; yet the travel sites say there are seats available, they just can't tell me what seats are available. Is USAir holding onto seats that are not really booked?

 

[bookwormde]

Southwest has 6pm flights out of BWI for 180 and Air tran has 7pm flight out of reagan for 180 and if you do not mind a little drive airtran has a 7am flight out of richmond for 170.

 

[nordkin]

The only nonstops are on USAirways and Jet Blue out of DCA. United and Jet Blue are out of IAD. Traveling with children I am not sure I would risk not having assigned seats.