reserving seats on the plane

[iluvtot]

Hi All,
Just after some advice, please.
We have booked with US Airways, and for some unknown reason, the guy who took the booking seated us all separately all over the planes!(we are flying via Charlotte, so 4 different flights)
Anyway, I have been online to try to change it, but the seating plans are always unavailable to alter,( though we all have seat no's). I have phoned so many times, spoken to every single employee of US Airways (slight exageration, but it feels like it), and each time have been given seats together, only to go online after and find nothing has changed
Last time I spoke to a lovely dutch lady, who assured me she had changed all our seats to be together, (except the first flight which she said we would have to organise at the airport), but hey, guess what? No change, even though she gave me new seat no's!!!
Now what I would like to know is should I keep ringing untill something is done, or should I just wait untill we get to the airport? What are the chances of us not being seated together? My girls are really stressing about it!!

Thanks,

Jules x

 

[2Tiggies]

A few possible scenarios:

The staff have seated you together but it isn't reflecting on the online seating plan

How old are your girls? It is VERY unlikely that a family with children will be split up on a longhaul flight. Some of the US domestic flights do this, not deliberately, but it is a first come first served situation, however if you get there early at the boarding gate and your party is all together you have a good chance of being seated together. The general rule for international flights is to check in from 4 hours prior to departure, but the desks actually open earlier than this. How much earlier I don't know, but maybe someone on here has an idea.

This is likely to be sorted at check in anyway, for the longhaul flight so I would suggest getting to the airport early. Is there an online check in facility? You could then be online first thing when the flight opens to check in and select your seats.

In the meantime I would keep phoning anyway. You don't want to be worrying about this and you certainly don't want the children to be anxious when they should be enjoying their countdown.

 

[iluvtot]

A few possible scenarios:

The staff have seated you together but it isn't reflecting on the online seating plan

How old are your girls? It is VERY unlikely that a family with children will be split up on a longhaul flight. Some of the US domestic flights do this, not deliberately, but it is a first come first served situation, however if you get there early at the boarding gate and your party is all together you have a good chance of being seated together. The general rule for international flights is to check in from 4 hours prior to departure, but the desks actually open earlier than this. How much earlier I don't know, but maybe someone on here has an idea.

This is likely to be sorted at check in anyway, for the longhaul flight so I would suggest getting to the airport early. Is there an online check in facility? You could then be online first thing when the flight opens to check in and select your seats.

In the meantime I would keep phoning anyway. You don't want to be worrying about this and you certainly don't want the children to be anxious when they should be enjoying their countdown.

Hi
Yes there is an online check in, but after last year I don't really trust it!! We checked in online the eve before leaving, and luckily I printed off our reservation confirmations', as when we got to Gatwick the next morning, we weren't on their records!!!! That was the start of a nightmare journey that I won't bore you with; but that's why I'm a little bit stressy

The girls are 16, (twins, and seems really wierd saying they are 16 as they were 15 only 2 days ago!) They still don't want to be seated apart though.
I have just emailed them to see if I get anymore luck that way, but time just seems to be flying by so quickly atm, I want to get it sorted!!

Jules x

 

[2Tiggies]

Hi
Yes there is an online check in, but after last year I don't really trust it!! We checked in online the eve before leaving, and luckily I printed off our reservation confirmations', as when we got to Gatwick the next morning, we weren't on their records!!!! That was the start of a nightmare journey that I won't bore you with; but that's why I'm a little bit stressy

The girls are 16, (twins, and seems really wierd saying they are 16 as they were 15 only 2 days ago!) They still don't want to be seated apart though.
I have just emailed them to see if I get anymore luck that way, but time just seems to be flying by so quickly atm, I want to get it sorted!!

Jules x

When you have phoned and they have claimed to have seated you together, did they provide seating numbers?

 

[iluvtot]

When you have phoned and they have claimed to have seated you together, did they provide seating numbers?

Yes, but then when I check back online nothing has changed. In fact on one of the flights I have been given seat numbers that aren't even on the flight! (Unless we are flying alfresco on the wings maybe!!)

Jules x

 

[2Tiggies]

Yes, but then when I check back online nothing has changed. In fact on one of the flights I have been given seat numbers that aren't even on the flight! (Unless we are flying alfresco on the wings maybe!!)

Jules x

I just wondered if you tried phoning back and telling them you have had confirmation from an agent that you are seated as a group. Don't tell them you have seat numbers. If they say you are indeed grouped together, ask them what the seat numbers are. If they pull up ones that correspond with the ones you have, then you know it is just the online system not updated. I wonder if they have a different aircraft pulling up on the online system.

 

[iluvtot]

I just wondered if you tried phoning back and telling them you have had confirmation from an agent that you are seated as a group. Don't tell them you have seat numbers. If they say you are indeed grouped together, ask them what the seat numbers are. If they pull up ones that correspond with the ones you have, then you know it is just the online system not updated. I wonder if they have a different aircraft pulling up on the online system.

Thanks, but the only trouble with that is because of all the hassle last year, I complained and received discount vouchers' for our next flight, and the codes for the vouchers' are our confirmation no's, so it's obvious that we didn't book through an agent.
When I go on the US Airways site, I can click on 'manage reservations' and the details come up; then if I click on 'change seats',, I get:- We can't open that seat map. Pease try again later or we'll assign your seats at the airport.
That message has been there since I booked the flights at the begining of May!

Jules x

 

[millys]

Hi Jules,

When do you fly?

We are on the same route - Aug 14th and have the same problem - cant get onto the seat map to see what seat numbers we have.

I'm hoping that if we check in online 24 hrs before the flight that we might be able to select seats but dont like leaving it to the last minute really!

I havent tried phoning yet because I think I may just get 'fobbed off' with someone saying they have done it (very much like you I guess).

Milly

 

[iluvtot]

Hi Jules,

When do you fly?

We are on the same route - Aug 14th and have the same problem - cant get onto the seat map to see what seat numbers we have.

I'm hoping that if we check in online 24 hrs before the flight that we might be able to select seats but dont like leaving it to the last minute really!

I havent tried phoning yet because I think I may just get 'fobbed off' with someone saying they have done it (very much like you I guess).

Milly

Hi Milly,
We fly out the 22nd, so a week after you.
If you go into 'manage your reservations', even though you can't get into the seat map, you can see the seat no's you have been allocated, and then if you go on seatguru, you can bring up a seating plan and see where you are sitting.
Have you flown this route before? We flew US Airways last year, but into Philly.
We booked in online the night before, but I can't remember if the seats were allocated as shown in the booking (which for us is no good), or if you could choose them at that time; but then I don't know if you would need to access the seating plan, and atm I can't see that happening any time soon!!
I have just got a confirmation email to say they have received my query, so will let you know the reply when I get it!

Jules x