Reserving seats on a flight

[minniecarousel]

What 's up with getting a reservation & not being able to reserve seats? We booked our reservation through Expedia & were able to reserve seats. One leg of our trip (out of 4) got changed. Expedia did not notify us of the change (flight # changed - time only changed by a few minutes). We were able to call American Airlines & book the last TWO available seats for the DFW - MCO leg of the trip. But we have FOUR tickets on this flight. I'm worried that there won't be seats available for our other 2 tickets. Anyone have experince with this?

 

[TammyC]

You never know with the airlines... They say they hold some seats for "airport assignment" such as the bulkheads in case a disabled passenger would need them, etc. It has been my experience that no seat assignment means that all seats have been assigned to others. You can call the airlines and ask if the flight is overbooked. I suggest arriving and checking in at the airport VERY early if the flight is overbooked, so you have the best chance at getting seat. Or you could maybe be bumped and get vouchers for a free trip. Good luck!!

 

[buzzlady]

In Jan. we booked our flights for June 30th and got our seat assignments. I was watching the flight on Delta's web page and noticed that the seats that we had didn't exist on this plane. I called and they had changed our seat assignments from good seats up front (row 4 & 5) to row 34 and put my mother in row 39.
Who knows what it will be when we show up.

 

[safetymom]

The airlines hold back seats that can only be assigned at the airport. They can't assign them on the phone or through the internet. Just get to the airport early and you will have a better chance of all sitting together. In an overbook situation those not having seat assignments will be the first to get bumped.

 

[inkkognito]

Sometimes some seats will open up for booking via phone at a certain time before the flight (for example, 48 hours or 24 hours). I was told this by an airline once when we didn't have assignents...I think it was American, but I'm not sure. I kept calling at other times anyway, and there were always no seats available. I called at the designated time, and sure enough, they were able to give me an assignment. Ask the airline if and when seats will be released, and be persistant with your phone calls. After all, it's their nickle!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[mcnuss]

It has been my experience that no seat assignment means that all seats have been assigned to others.

My experience, and I fly about every week these days, is that they hold back about 25% of the seats for airport assignment. And Barb (inkcognito) is right that sometimes calling a day or so in advance will get you your seat assignments. Those are seats that have generally been held for elite level flyers who tend to book at the last minute.

 

[cruzindisney]

The same thing happened to me. We have 6 people flying out of Bradley International in CT very early the morning after Thanksgiving. We were originally given seat assignments, but with the last check on the flight, I found that we have seat assignments on the first leg of the trip, but the connection says seats will be assigned at check in. I have never had this happen and with some of your remarks, I now wonder if I need to be worried that all of us will not have seats on the connecting flight. The flights are paid in full, so if we check in early in CT, will they assign the seats there for the connecting flight? Thanks for any help you can give me. I am not concerned about the 6 of us sitting together, except we have one person who does not really enjoy flying (read as scared to death to fly) and we really need to make sure that she is seated with at least one of us.

 

[Lewisc]

I read one of the reasons they hold back seats is so people can sit together. People tend to book aisle and window seats first. Even couples book that way, hoping that the middle seat goes empty.

Originally posted by cruzindisney
, except we have one person who does not really enjoy flying (read as scared to death to fly) and we really need to make sure that she is seated with at least one of us.

 

[mcnuss]

The flights are paid in full, so if we check in early in CT, will they assign the seats there for the connecting flight?

Yes, they should. And call the day before, just in case they open up some seats.

 

[cruzindisney]

Thanks for your answers. I read these boards all the time, but for some reason I don't post very often. But I knew I would get answers and suggestions, so I do appreciate the help.

 

[seashoreCM]

In my experience the airline has given me both boarding passes when checking in for the first of connecting flights.

This was with advance seat selections made. There really should not be a greater chance of being bumped simply for not having an advance seat selection, that is contrary to bump rules. So I should expect that you would get boarding passes for both flights even though you didn't get or didn't succeed in getting advance seat selections for it.

Some airlins are more likely to bump passengers who paid lower fares, but all other things except seat selection beig equal, earlier check in means less likely to be bumped and your check in time for thes second flight should be the same as for the first.

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

 

[minniecarousel]

Whew! We got the last of our seats reserved! We were able to get the boys each an aisle seat a few rows back from us. If they'd prefer to sit together, we can check when we check in to see if there is anything better. (they're big boys - they don't need to sit with us! I'm the white-knuckle flyer!)

 

[mcnuss]

I assure you that if they want to sit together, they will be able to very easily trade one of their aisle seats for the middle seat in one of their rows! Unless someone is very attached to their seat, they will be getting the better end of the trade!