Scattered Seats on Flight

[mom2prince&princess]

Hi,
I randomly checked my flight reservations yesterday and realized that American Airlines changed our flight number and times for our April trip. I made the reservations last June, and never really thought this would happen or realized they would do it without letting me know. Anyways, the flight from MCO home was changed to 7:30 in the morning. We tried a flight that early one year and it was a disaster getting my son up and ready. Now we have a two year old, who i am assuming will be exhausted after 10 days at Disney and will not want to be up at 4:30 in the morning...so i called my travel agent and she was able to get us on a 12:45 flight, but we are scattered throughout the plane. She called the airline and they said that all we need to do is go to guest services at the airport and they can get us into pairs, so at least my husgand and I can be with the kids.

Anyone experience that before? Scattered seats at first, and then you were able to sit next to someone else in your party?

Thanks!!!

 

[Devil_Dog99]

The only thing they will do is TRY to get you and your family together. Considering you have small children, it should not be a problem. They will just have to call the customers who have the seats next to where you want to sit and see if they will be willing to switch. Given the choice between switching and having to 'care' for someone else's small child many will make the switch. From what I have seen, passengers are most always willing to do that for fellow passengers.

 

[Disney Ella]

Don't count on that happening, especially if the flight is full. If the gate can't help you, hopefully someone will be willing to change seats with you. If it doesn't cost any more, I would try to get on another flight.

 

[mom2prince&princess]

Yikes!!! Now I am really getting worried. I wonder why my TA would tell me that it would be absolutely no problem.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

The airlines DO hold back some seats from assignment until the day of the flight. Also, they don't assign the seats in the exit row until they can verify that the passenger is able bodied and can speak English, so passengers will often switch to those seats (more leg room) when they can.

The airlines can "usually" find you seats together at the check-in counter. If the seats are still scattered AFTER you get your boarding passes, THEN I would worry.

Try, calling the airline 24 hours before the flight, seats may have opened up by then. I know that we can often check-in on-line 24 hours in advance and can still select new seat assignments, if available.

Hopefully, someone who has more knowledge of the process can help you.

Good luck.

 

[Devil_Dog99]

Yikes!!! Now I am really getting worried. I wonder why my TA would tell me that it would be absolutely no problem.

Don't be too worried. While an airline cannot automatically put you and your child together (theoretically they could be breaking up two other people who want to sit together), they will do everything they can to make sure you will sit together. Ther are many ways this can be done:

• Keep calling and checking your flights before you leave
• Ask when you check in on departure
• Ask when you check in for your return
• Talk to the gate agent. This is when she will look at the seat map and try to play musical chairs. There are plenty of people who fly solo and while some people have their favorite seats (as a business traveler I know which ones I like and which ones I don't) and won't budge, most will gladly switch so a little one can be with their mom/dad. Alluding to what I said earlier, I have seen another post on the boards where a woman was in a similar situation and when the guy wouldn't budge, she handed the guy the kid's toys, books and juice box and blurted a bunch of instructions on how to care for the child in flight. The guy moved.
• If the gate agent can't help, The FA will also try.
• Lastly, the kindness of strangers. Once on board, most people don't mind switching.

I will ride Small World 50 times in a row if you and your kids stay separated on that flight.

 

[dudspizza]

I agree with the PP. The one thing I would really recommend is to not waste time getting to the airport or to the counter. We had some friends flying with us on a flight to MCO one time where they could not get their seats until they physically checked in at the airport (Airtran, paper tickets). They chose to show up to the airport 1 hour before the flight and were appalled that they were not sitting together. They ended up having to ask people to change on the plane, which did happen, but they should have been to the airport much earlier to get some of the seats that are held back for this reason...

Best of luck, OP. All will work out.

Duds

 

[dis-happy]

Since the flight is for the return leg, I would get to the airport early on your flight OUT, and talk to the counter agent then. She may be able to get you shifted around and then you can relax the rest of your trip. Good luck!

 

[canwegosoon]

Everyone has posted the right things to do.
I wanted to tell you I have flown several times where I have had the same thing. It usually happens because my flight gets cancelled or moved to a horrible time, and then I ask to be put on another flight. Each time it has not been a problem-we arrive early and ask.

Good Luck

 

[Sandi]

This happens frequently and all the advice you've been getting is good. I just wanted to add that our personal experience has been that it has always turned out fine. One time, my DD and I were bumped up to first class by the counter agent. I wouldn't expect that, but it helps if you're reasonable in making your request. If you're just asking for two sets of two seats, you'll be in a much better position than if you ask for four seats together.

 

[bavaria]

If you're just asking for two sets of two seats, you'll be in a much better position than if you ask for four seats together.

Good advice. Every week I see people trying to rearrange other passengers on the plane. Use the 'better' seat as a bargaining tool. For instance, do not expect me to give up 9A on a 757 for your middle seat in the back of the plane. But if you have an aisle or exit row seat, offer that up and take a middle seat in exchange. Don't expect to seat the entire family together - expect to break up into smaller groups

You would not believe how many people demand my seat so that two adults can sit together on a 1 hour flight, or because I have a seat with extra legroom or seat pitch (which they could have chosen to pay for, but didn't)

And you would definitely not believe how many people think that walking up to me and saying loudly 'MOVE I want to sit next to my husband/wife/girlfriend etc' is appropriate.

 

[safetymom]

I have the same experiences that you do Bavaria. It is amazing how many people come up demanding my seat. I have turned many people down when they offered a middle seat or figured it was expected of me to move. I really think a husband and wife can survive a short flight without sitting together.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

If your flight has been changed to an inconvenient time, call AA and they will switch your flights without penalty, and hopefully keep the gang together.

 

[seashoreCM]

When you get to the airport early to request seats together, do they hand out the held-back seats on a first come basis, even to infrequent discount fare fliers?

(copied from another post and modified slightly.)
Let me take you on a journey into your imagination.

Steve and his family got up from the bench in the waiting area and lined up to board the plane. Steve was still wearing his blue cartoon character adorned resort shirt and matching mid thigh shorts. Nine year old David was similarly attired. Laura still wore her muu muu of the same blue fabric.

Steve was only able to book two of their seats together. Laura and David took that pair of seats while Steve put their carry-ons in the overhead bins. Steve pointed to an empty middle seat, calmly excused himself, and the man in the adjacent aisle seat dutifully got up and stood in the aisle. Steve set 18 month George, in his little blue overalls and blue cap, in the aisle seat and arched his back over George while he started to put the car seat in the empty middle seat.

Steve looked up briefly. "I myself am sitting across the aisle," he reassured man who got up for him.

A flight attendant came up and tapped Steve on the shoulder. "The child seat must be at the window," the flight attendant said. The passenger, in dress shirt and tie, sitting at the window beyond Steve said nothing and did nothing. Steve lifted the car seat back out of the middle seat and balanced it on the armrest. Jerking his head, he looked about for a pair of empty seats together. The flight attendant also looked about. "Oops, one moment," the flight attendant said.

Next came an announcement, (Ding!) "We need to have someone in a window seat move to let a man sit with his infant son."

No one responded. Laura and David did not respond either.

(you finish the story)

 

[rojo]

Most airlines now allow you to check in 24 hours before flight, if you can do this try to check in online as soon as possible, there are usually changes in seating on flights, etc, people cancelling or changing flights so seats open up and you can change your seats. If that dosent work speak with the boarding attendent as soon as you get to your gate and they sometimes can work it out.

 

[CarolA]

If your flight has been changed to an inconvenient time, call AA and they will switch your flights without penalty, and hopefully keep the gang together.

OP already did that, that's how they wound up in this situation.

As everyone keeps pointing out ARRIVE EARLY. I can't tell you how many families I have seen at MCO waltz up to the gate just before the door closes and then discover that (A) thier seats were given away and they can't even GET on the plane or (B) thier seats were given away and they are scattered all over creation. And when it's time to close the door, the airline employees have no mercy! (Nor should they, failure to plan on your part is not a crisis on thiers LOL!)

(And as for Steve and his family considering his stunt and that's what it is, I hope he gets thrown off the plane)

 

[LSchrow]

(And as for Steve and his family considering his stunt and that's what it is, I hope he gets thrown off the plane)

personally, i think steve & his family should be thrown off the plane just for dressing like that.

but, that's just MHO

 

[CTPinkPrincess]

OP - that happened to us on our April flight too - USAir called Friday night to tell us that they've eliminated the flights to/from MCO I originally booked and rebook us (why they would eliminate a sold out flight during spring break is beyond me, but that's why I don't run an airline I guess! ). We're sitting together for 3 of the 4 legs of the trip but the last leg from Charlotte to BDL we're scattered across the plane. I figure if no one wants to change, my 6 yo DD can entertain her seat mates with all her questions.

Anyway, I think everyone here has given good advice. I'm checking for any additional flight changes, and will definitely arrive early to talk to the gate agent.

 

[bavaria]

Alluding to what I said earlier, I have seen another post on the boards where a woman was in a similar situation and when the guy wouldn't budge, she handed the guy the kid's toys, books and juice box and blurted a bunch of instructions on how to care for the child in flight. The guy moved.

Behaviour like this is actually why I am less likely to move. 'the guy wouldn't budge' - well, why did it become his problem?

As for Steve? I can't tell you how I feel as I haven't been able to understand the post (perhaps someone can explain it to me as English is not my first language)

But having children does not give one a free pass for such antisocial behaviour. Ultimately we are all responsible for our own destiny, and should not expect others to be inconvenienced for our own needs.

And yes, I have voluntarily deboarded an aircraft because I was not able to find someone to switch seats with me which met my needs. How many others have done that vs expecting or demanding that a stranger move seats?

 

[goofy4tink]

You know...it's times like this, and reports like this, that make SW look more and more appealing....no assigned seating but usually families are able to sit together as long as they don't 'have' to sit up front.