Question about Flights/choosing seats/being bumped

[MichDISer]

Hi. I was just thinking about things (having to do with travel) and I wondered.......

If you buy your airline tickets right from the airline and then choose your seat assignment.......
Does that mean that you will definitely NOT be bumped if the flight is overbooked?

If that is the case, then that would be a good reason to buy airline tix right from the airline (rather than orbitz, priceline, hotwire, etc.....).
The last time I flew, I had bought my tickets from Orbitz and I was NOT able to choose my seat on the Spirit website, but my cousin WAS able to do so because she bought her tix (same flight) right from Spirit.

 

[inkkognito]

Did you try calling the airline's toll free line to see if they would give you an assignment? We did that when we got air through Disney Cruise Line on both Delta and American and were able to get assignments (actually, on American we discovered that we did have an assignment, but nowhere near each other, because all of the cruise flyers are considered a "group" and the individual parties were not broken down).
Barb

 

[MichDISer]

inkkognito:
Yes, I called Spirit because I tried to choose my seat online and it wouldn't accept my orbitz reservation number.......
The lady on the phone (at Spirit) said that I could NOT choose seats because I didn't buy the tix from Spirit.

 

[CarolA]

No you are not any "safer" booking via the airline.

The best way NOT to get bumped is to check in on time. I have never had an involuntary bump and I travel weekly.

 

[DebbieB]

I've seen them "unassign" seats on reservations. Just because you choose seats with your reservation doesn't mean they will stay that way, especially if there is a change in the model of the plane.

 

[safetymom]

Spirit won't let you choose seats on the web site. They want you to call.

You are always better to have a seat assignment when the flight is overbooked. Those without seat assignments are usually the first not to get on the flight.

You can always get to the airport early because they hold some seats back to be assigned by the gate agent in the event of families traveling together, handicapped travelers, etc.

 

[Pooh93]

I booked our airline tickets through the American Airlines website and picked our seats. I kept checking back every so often to make sure they were still there and the model of the plane changed and so our seat assignments were all over the place. Luckily, I kept checking and was able to move us closer together. I continued to check until the day before our flight and nothing changed. So, even if you pick online, I would continue to check your reservation every so often and make sure nothing has changed.

 

[AllyBri]

Originally posted by safetymom
Spirit won't let you choose seats on the web site. They want you to call

Do you mean when you book Spirit online? I booked a Spirit flight online and was able to choose my seats right away.

 

[Cruisin]

I also booked Spirit flights on line and picked out my seat assignments right away and also printed my boarding passes since we are leaving within the time frame for printing boarding passes.

CarolA, if you have a boarding pass printed from the internet then I understand that you don't need to check in at all, just show up at the gate? Is this true?

 

[safetymom]

My seats were booked by corporate travel. In that case you have to call.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Cruisin'Kroezes
I also booked Spirit flights on line and picked out my seat assignments right away and also printed my boarding passes since we are leaving within the time frame for printing boarding passes.

CarolA, if you have a boarding pass printed from the internet then I understand that you don't need to check in at all, just show up at the gate? Is this true?

I am not CarolA, but I am a Carol - will that do?

Yes, it's true. I never stop at the check in desks when I print my boarding pass at home. I am very glad I printed at home when the lines are long!

If I have luggage to check, I use curbside (just told the skycab I already had a boarding pass). I do check with the gate agent, though, just to make sure the online check in worked OK and that they have me as checked in.

Best wishes -

 

[CarolA]

Carol is nicer to the airlines then I am.

If I print out the boarding pass I just go to the gate and get on the plane. I don't bother to check in anyplace.

I only print boarding passes when I am doing carry on only or flying SW. Otherwise I either use the kiosk or skycap. (Don't forget to tip your friendly skycap!)

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Here is a little something I am worried about concerning getting bumped. We are flying ATA in March 2005. When I booked online, I chose two seats in row 5. Then I read that ATA is changing a couple front rows from coach to business class, which will have two seats across, instead of three, and more leg room. They say this change should be completed by Oct or Nov (?). I am now wondering if row 5 will be affected by this. I would hate to think I chose seat assignments 7 months in advance, only to find out row 5 may not exist after business class sets in. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,
Tink

 

[macraven]

call ata to find out.
ata is having serious money trouble now and flights could possibly be changed soon. not sure if they are headed to bankrupcy yet.

 

[safetymom]

I would keep your eyes on your seat assignment.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Great ideas, thanks. I will call and keep checking my seats also.

Tink

 

[seashoreCM]

Get seat assignments as quickly as possible, even if they are scattered all around the plane. Then try to change to seats more to your liking.

Some airlines, I think American is one, are more likely to bump passengers who did not succeed in getting advance seat assignments. This is probably because it is too hard for them to decide whose seats to give away first when there were volunteers on the list and late running up connecting passengers and also passengers who checked in on line the night before but were hung up in security.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[TiggerInNY]

I am wondering HOW do you get bumped and do they still offer free RT tickets in exchange? I remember this happened to us 11 years ago when AA were on strike. We voluntarily asked to be bumped. They put us up in a hotel overnight, food voucher and got us out on the next flight in the morning.

Do they still do this? I would love to try when we go to WDW in October. We leave FLA on a Saturday and have an extra day to get home by Monday. We are flying JetBlue.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
Maria

 

[ladydancer]

Originally posted by safetymom
Spirit won't let you choose seats on the web site. They want you to call.

You are always better to have a seat assignment when the flight is overbooked. Those without seat assignments are usually the first not to get on the flight.

You can always get to the airport early because they hold some seats back to be assigned by the gate agent in the event of families traveling together, handicapped travelers, etc.

I booked with Spirit online and was able to chose my seats online. I did notice there weren't many seats left on the return and am a little concerned about the flight being overbooked. As this was a month ago and they are still selling seats for that flight.

 

[safetymom]

The airlines hold back seats for the gate agents to assign at the airport. So you might not be looking at an overbooked flight.