NorthWest Rant!!

[babyh200]

Hi everyone,
I feel like all I do is come on the disboards to moan lately but here goes!!

We are flying on 23/5/09- Heathrow-MCO via detroit
6/6/09 MCO-detroit Heathrow.

We knew we could prebook seats together on the flight so did this bang on the 90 day window. All was well until my husband went on to check how busy the plane was to find that NWA had moved us to different seats.
Trying to keep chilled (and not go into meltdown) I said to my DH who cares where we sit on the plane as long as we are together! Anyway you can guess whats coming next...........every time we go on line we found we had moved to a different part of the plane until yesterday when we discovered the 4 of us we were completely seperated into single seats dotted about the plane! We have phoned Northwest with no joy this morning the lady pointed out that she cannot give us seats together because she has not got them!!! (I really did try the nice approach..........practically begging and offered to pay) Her only suggestion was to ring customer services in the USA which we are going to do later as its only 5.30am at the mo.
I am disgusted with Northwests attitude, how can they expect a 3 and a 5 year old to sit alone?
The only saving grace is that the flight that appears to be a problem is one of the internal ones and is 2 hours 43 minutes but how long before the others get busy and they do the same again??
Any words of encouragement would be appreciated because ive got steam blowing out of my ears at the moment.
Mandy x

 

[orangetiggs]

i do not like internal flights within the usa, we had the same problem last year on AA, we were on honeymoon and they wanted to seperate us, ok maybe not children but still not the point.

We argued at check in and they managed to move someone travelling alone to give us two together but there was no way i was sitting on my own, I hate flying anyway so to sit on my own the whole flight

 

[gemmybear83]

Fingers crossed you can get it all sorted out - what a nightmare!

 

[babyh200]

i do not like internal flights within the usa, we had the same problem last year on AA, we were on honeymoon and they wanted to seperate us, ok maybe not children but still not the point.

We argued at check in and they managed to move someone travelling alone to give us two together but there was no way i was sitting on my own, I hate flying anyway so to sit on my own the whole flight

Maybe I should look on the brightside and let someone else deal with my boistrous 3 year old son. Thinking about it I should let him cause a bit of chaos and he would soon empty a few rows out. I could do what Wayne does and just sit with my ipod on

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

I think with children they will try & seat you together once you get to check-in

 

[Steve and Sarah]

As I understand it they are not legally allowed to seat a 3 or 5 yearold away from their parent/guardian.

I wouldn't worry as the have a large margin of seats that are only allocated at check in (They will not show as available on their website).

 

[Cochise]

Agreed with Steve n Sarah, plus Detroit ain't 2hr 45m flight time, on the ground in 1-45 to 2hrs as Chicago was 2hrs 20 mins
I wouldn't book with them for all the tea in China but that doesn't help you with this issue. Keep hassling them, pressure on at all times...

 

[kieras nana]

they also did this,with my stepson & his family,back in oct.the boys are 6 & 4 & they sat them all seperately.my stepson & his partner,adopted the 2 boys,last may,so this was their 1st trip together,as you don't get their passports straight away,so this was not a good start,to the holiday.once on the plane though,2 kind people offered to move,so they both managed to,have 1 boy each with them.
however when they got to new york,they were told they were too late,to board the connecting flight & 2 could fly,on the next flight,but the other 2,would have to wait,till the next day
they decided to stick together & all fly the next day,however they were then told,if they stayed at the airport,they maybe able to get the other 2,on the next flight,if there were a couple of no shows,which luckily there was,so they all flew on the next flight,landing at gone midnight!
on the return journey,they went to book in & were told they couldn't,because something had gone wrong,with the computers & they had lost everyones passport details
there was an indefinate delay
they will never fly with them again,as they were perfectly willing to have the boys,sitting on their own,which i personally,don't think is right.
just our experience,travelling this airline!
tracy

 

[babyh200]

Update

Thanks everyone for your support.

I have spent 2 days and god knows how much money on the phone trying to sort this out.

I would strongly urge anyone, families in particular not to book with this airline
I am one of the most laid back people you will ever meet and they have drove me insane.

Our last conversation with them has ended with us asking for the address to complain to the managing director!! (thinkin of the 'pressure on at all times' tip!!)

Mandy

PS Still cant wait to visit the mouse Im gonna need this holiday to combat the stress!!

 

[torsie24]

Now I'm really scared!!! I have this exact flight booked.....eeeeep.

I'm already stressing about making the connection!! 90 minutes.

 

[Corky Morris]

I had a similar situation with US Air last year flying from Philly to Manc. My wife & youngest had to stay an extra week as he had chicken pox & was forbidden from flying. Our seats had been booked together, but they switched us at the gate!
They split my oldest boy who was 7 & myself & the middle lad who is 6. The chief steward said she could do nothing so I simply held her gaze, firmly instrusted her that under no circumstances was I prepared to tolerate what they had done & she should ammend the seats immediately. She huffed & puffed & said she couldnt & I simply did not give in. I was holding everyone up. I was not loud or aggressive - simply firm & uncomprimising. Eventually she asked for someone to switch at my suggestion & they did.
I worked in the US for 18 months & travelled on internal & external flights at least 6 times a month. As a single traveller & a parent I would & did offer to move on a number of occasions. When I asked the steward why she wouldnt do that she simply said Americans would not move (which is complete rhubarb!)
My point - dont give up & insist you are together. Explain the amount of disturbance that will be caused by a 3 & a 5 year old who need to go to the loo at least 5 times each on the flight, drinks spilt, screaming & how there will be tears & lots of general unhappiness & i think you will be OK.

 

[babyh200]

Now I'm really scared!!! I have this exact flight booked.....eeeeep.

I'm already stressing about making the connection!! 90 minutes.

Hi Torsie,
I dont think they are the exact same connection ours is this:

23/5/09
London Heathrow-Detroit
9.15am Or possibly 8.50am (they keep changing it)-12.40PM
Detroit MCO-MCO 3.19PM-5.55PM

6/6/09
MCO-Detroit
3.30pm-6.13pm
Detroit Heathrow
8.00pm-9.00am


The problem flight is the MCO Detroit portion on 6/6/09!

Hopefully you wont have any problems. I wasnt brave enough to do a 90 minute connection with the 2 little ones!

Fingers crossed everything goes ok for you!!

 

[torsie24]

Thanks babyh!

I was worried but I actually asked this over on a flying forum,

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/nort...ranoid-about-nw-intl-connection-dtw-help.html

and it's really calmed my nerves, but I figure if I miss my connection then there are plenty more flights to MCO that day, so we'll get there eventually, and our first day wont be a park day anyway.

 

[babyh200]

As a single traveller & a parent I would & did offer to move on a number of occasions. When I asked the steward why she wouldnt do that she simply said Americans would not move (which is complete rhubarb!)
My point - dont give up & insist you are together. Explain the amount of disturbance that will be caused by a 3 & a 5 year old who need to go to the loo at least 5 times each on the flight, drinks spilt, screaming & how there will be tears & lots of general unhappiness & i think you will be OK.

Hi Corky Morris,
its nice to see there are still some decent people left who would be willing to move to help others. Im glad you stood your ground for your sons, I couldnt believe how sarcastic they were with me when I phoned the US. Its like you dont have the right to challenge them.
I was baffled as to why Northwest kept moving our seats and they said it is because they keep changing the plane.
My battle plan is to keep checking every day to see if this happens again. Also 24 hours before departure they release exit row seats so some passengers may move to them. (We cant because children are not allowed to sit in them!)
Hopefully we will resolve the situation before then. Thank you!

Ps : My two spend half the flight in loo its like a day out to them!

 

[pktbMouse]

I actualy live in the states now and I can tell you all the US airlines do it...we have had it done to us by northwest, continental and us airways. They always either fix it at the gate for us or on the plane though so doo ask when your checking in at the gate or the min you get on board. I dont know what number you were calling but its hopeless to call reservations, they contract out those jobs and its generally people that dont have the power to change a thing and they have no customer service experience (or no manners either for that fact) try calling this number 001 701-420-6282
mon-fri 730am to 7pm central time here in the states ... UK time 1.30pm - 1am. This number goes straight to the main office where there are employees who know what they are talking about...another thing...you will always always find someone on a plane that will switch seats with you so dont worry. People are generally very understanding..especially the Americans (speaking from experience). I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[tezza_init]

Just return today flying NWA out via Detroit (that same 9am flight) and back via the Twin Cities. Transfers both out and back was a doddle. We did notice a number of split families boarding but the desk and crew worked really hard to get everything sorted on the plane. Guess this can be stressful, but I'd bet they get you sitting together.

Anyway good luck and here's a pic taken just last week to get you looking forward....

Wet'n Wild

Cheers