Seats on Airtran: Buy now or wait until online check in

[dudspizza]

So if we pay the same airfare rate but I don't pay for advance seats I should get bumped before you? If I pay a higher fare than you but don't select advance seats, you should get first preference?

Please tell me this. Do you know someone who was actually bumped because they didn't pay for a seating assignment? If so, what were the circumstances? Did they check in online or at the airport and when? Where they at the airport and gate early? There are so many things that come into play when someone is involuntarily bumped.

The reason I ask is that airlines do oversell (nearly all of them) and if you indeed know someone who was bumped, I am wondering what the circumstances were that contributed to that bumping. Involuntary bumps, how rare they are, do happen, and I wonder if you know someone who was involved in this unfortunate situation.

I said it before, if you are arguing this strictly as a hypothetical situation, then this discussion is worthless.....

duds

 

[Lewisc]

IDB isn't that common. Hypothetical discussions have a lot of value. We can't base our information on posts. There aren't enough posters who've been IDB. Discussions have to center around rules (CoC) and airline policy.

There are times in which passengers are looking to accept bumping and offered compensation. Fly at peak times (holidays) or during bad weather and it could take days to find an open flight. Airlines like Southwest, AirTran Jet Blue etc will rarely accommodate passengers on other airlines.

I want to know what criteria the airline uses to bump passengers. Frequently passengers without a seat assignment and/or a BP are the first to be bumped. Sometimes the decision is based on the fare you paid. Sometimes the time you get to the gate.

I'm not going to take the time to search. A recent poster was either bumped from AT or a person on his flight was bumped. They didn't pay for a seat assignment.

I don't know if AirTran releases 100% of the seats at T-24 or if they hold back seats for gate assignment. I agree checking in at around T-24 should give you at least a middle seat but maybe not if seats are being held back.

Please tell me this. Do you know someone who was actually bumped because they didn't pay for a seating assignment? If so, what were the circumstances? Did they check in online or at the airport and when? Where they at the airport and gate early? There are so many things that come into play when someone is involuntarily bumped.

The reason I ask is that airlines do oversell (nearly all of them) and if you indeed know someone who was bumped, I am wondering what the circumstances were that contributed to that bumping. Involuntary bumps, how rare they are, do happen, and I wonder if you know someone who was involved in this unfortunate situation.

I said it before, if you are arguing this strictly as a hypothetical situation, then this discussion is worthless.....

duds

 

[Redarrow5150]

Yes happened to three people on my wife's flight and one was her. She didn't pay for advance seat and checked into AT one hour before flight at airport.

Please tell me this. Do you know someone who was actually bumped because they didn't pay for a seating assignment? If so, what were the circumstances? Did they check in online or at the airport and when? Where they at the airport and gate early? There are so many things that come into play when someone is involuntarily bumped.

The reason I ask is that airlines do oversell (nearly all of them) and if you indeed know someone who was bumped, I am wondering what the circumstances were that contributed to that bumping. Involuntary bumps, how rare they are, do happen, and I wonder if you know someone who was involved in this unfortunate situation.

I said it before, if you are arguing this strictly as a hypothetical situation, then this discussion is worthless.....

duds

 

[Redarrow5150]

I'm not going to comment any further as a few have indicated that I'm just trying to argue for argument sake...which isn't true. All I'm saying is...

1.) If I purchase (AT takes my money) I'm on the flight

2.) If I don't select advance seat selection it shouldn't mean I have to buy
this to guarantee a seat. (See above)

3.) If there are others on the plane who have NOT paid for the advance seat
selection, the airline should provide customer (as best as possible) to matchup
the passengers request of moving next to each other if it doesn't interfer with a paid seat selection.

4.) The airline shouldn't put other passengers (Non Advance Selections) in the awkward position of asking if they would move seats.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Yes happened to three people on my wife's flight and one was her. She didn't pay for advance seat and checked into AT one hour before flight at airport.

I have read all of the posts in this thread. At this point, many posters have given useful information that all of us can use.

Where is this thread heading now, Redarrow? What more useful information remains to be said?

What I take away from the discussion so far is that if someone wants to sit in a certain seat on the airplane, they pay for that right. If they don't want to comply with the contract of carriage on any airline, they don't have to fly with that airline.

From this post, I learned that on one flight your wife took on AT she was bumped. Nobody knows why she was bumped. Whether the fact that she didn't purchase advanced seating entered into that decision is unknown to any of us. What else remains to be said?

 

[Lewisc]

What's learned from this thread is even passengers who don't care where they sit, and that includes SW passengers who don't care what number they get on their BP, shouldn't wait until they get to the airport to check in. You don't want to be at the top of the list of passengers who'll be selected for IDB.

It was posted on another thread that AT first bumps passengers without a seat assignment. Southwest bumps based on the sequence number on your BP, after first bumping passengers who were issued a security document instead of a BP.

I have read all of the posts in this thread. At this point, many posters have given useful information that all of us can use.

Where is this thread heading now, Redarrow? What more useful information remains to be said?

What I take away from the discussion so far is that if someone wants to sit in a certain seat on the airplane, they pay for that right. If they don't want to comply with the contract of carriage on any airline, they don't have to fly with that airline.

From this post, I learned that on one flight your wife took on AT she was bumped. Nobody knows why she was bumped. Whether the fact that she didn't purchase advanced seating entered into that decision is unknown to any of us. What else remains to be said?

 

[WDWisTheBest]

What's learned from this thread is even passengers who don't care where they sit, and that includes SW passengers who don't care what number they get on their BP, shouldn't wait until they get to the airport to check in. You don't want to be at the top of the list of passengers who'll be selected for IDB.

It was posted on another thread that AT first bumps passengers without a seat assignment. Southwest bumps based on the sequence number on your BP, after first bumping passengers who were issued a security document instead of a BP.

Thank you.

 

[TDC Nala]

Isn't it whether or not you have checked in for the flight, not whether or not you prepaid for seats? I check in at 24 hours, pick a seat and get the boarding pass. If you wait to check in until the last minute maybe then you're at a higher risk for bumping, whether you've paid for advance seating or not. I've never gotten bumped. Therefore I don't think that purchasing advanced seating guarantees you won't get bumped.

And once I have checked in and selected my seat I don't expect Airtran to move me from it involuntarily because some party who checked in later and couldn't be bothered to buy the advanced seating wants to sit together. They can ask me when I get there if I'll agree to move.

 

[Missytara]

And once I have checked in and selected my seat I don't expect Airtran to move me from it involuntarily because some party who checked in later and couldn't be bothered to buy the advanced seating wants to sit together. They can ask me when I get there if I'll agree to move.

I was on a round trip with Airtran last year; both times I chose the window seat A; both ways the left side was two seats. I watched for weeks and the seat next to me was never chosen.

Sure enough on the way back, a woman sat down next to me and asked if I would trade seats with her husband so they could sit together.

She pointed to the last row at her husband, he was sitting in the middle seat on the opposite side.

I just turned and looked at her, like are you kidding me??? I knew full well she hadn't picked her seat.

I stayed put.

 

[dudspizza]

I was on a round trip with Airtran last year; both times I chose the window seat A; both ways the left side was two seats. I watched for weeks and the seat next to me was never chosen.

Sure enough on the way back, a woman sat down next to me and asked if I would trade seats with her husband so they could sit together.

She pointed to the last row at her husband, he was sitting in the middle seat on the opposite side.

I just turned and looked at her, like are you kidding me??? I knew full well she hadn't picked her seat.

I stayed put.

Similar thing happened to me on American where seat assignment are not paid for. I was on an MD-80 with 2x3 seating. I had A and C was still open right up until the flight. I boarded and a dad was sitting in C with his 2 year old in A. He said, "the airline didn't put us together. Her seat is over there, you can have that one". It was an aisle directly across, so I did switch, but I didn't like how I was put in the position of the bad guy if I had complained and wanted the window seat. Maybe I needed that window, he didn't know. He just plopped his daughter down and "stole" my seat.

I'm not going to comment any further as a few have indicated that I'm just trying to argue for argument sake...which isn't true. All I'm saying is...

1.) If I purchase (AT takes my money) I'm on the flight

2.) If I don't select advance seat selection it shouldn't mean I have to buy
this to guarantee a seat. (See above)

3.) If there are others on the plane who have NOT paid for the advance seat
selection, the airline should provide customer (as best as possible) to matchup
the passengers request of moving next to each other if it doesn't interfer with a paid seat selection.

4.) The airline shouldn't put other passengers (Non Advance Selections) in the awkward position of asking if they would move seats.

Redarrow, I am sorry that happened to your wife. I am sure it was a uncommon occurance. I totally agree with you that NO ONE should be involuntarily bumped. Overselling is a practice that isn't illegal (though it should never be allowed) and happens on nearly every airline. Passengers know that IDB's could happen and should take every precaution to make sure they can get a seating assignment by checking in at the 24 hour mark and getting to the airport early. Did AT give your wife some decent compensation?

Best of luck to OP and travel safe everyone! I fly to Reno in less than 3 weeks.... I have advanced seating assignments and I will be checking in 24 hours in advance to ensure I am ready to fly.

Duds

 

[Jestocost]

I'm not going to comment any further as a few have indicated that I'm just trying to argue for argument sake...which isn't true. All I'm saying is...

1.) If I purchase (AT takes my money) I'm on the flight

2.) If I don't select advance seat selection it shouldn't mean I have to buy
this to guarantee a seat. (See above)

3.) If there are others on the plane who have NOT paid for the advance seat
selection, the airline should provide customer (as best as possible) to matchup
the passengers request of moving next to each other if it doesn't interfer with a paid seat selection.

4.) The airline shouldn't put other passengers (Non Advance Selections) in the awkward position of asking if they would move seats.

I understand your frustration with the involuntary bumping situation, but I'm not aware of any airline that doesn't overbook flights resulting in that happening sometimes. It stinks but it's an unfortunate reality of flying.

I'm not aware that the purchase of an advance seat assignment has any bearing on the determination of who is first selected to be bumped involuntarily. It's certainly not a factor cited in the AirTran contract of carriage as playing any role in the determination, so I'm not sure your point #2 is valid. Maybe someone with a more detailed understanding of how their decision tree works in practice can comment.

I'm pretty sure that #3 happens to the extent that the airline can do it, but I also have to say that being successful with putting passengers traveling together next to each other whenever possible is going to be very difficult without #4 coming into play.

 

[aubriee]

I'm not going to comment any further as a few have indicated that I'm just trying to argue for argument sake...which isn't true. All I'm saying is...

1.) If I purchase (AT takes my money) I'm on the flight

2.) If I don't select advance seat selection it shouldn't mean I have to buy
this to guarantee a seat. (See above)

3.) If there are others on the plane who have NOT paid for the advance seat
selection, the airline should provide customer (as best as possible) to matchup
the passengers request of moving next to each other if it doesn't interfer with a paid seat selection.

4.) The airline shouldn't put other passengers (Non Advance Selections) in the awkward position of asking if they would move seats.

Sorry, but I don't agree with #3. If I check in at T24 and pick an aisle seat close to the front of the plane and you and your wife choose not to check in until you get to the airport just an hour before the flight, why should I give up my nice aisle seat in the front of the plane for a middle seat in the back of the plane, just so you can sit together? Sorry, but if I choose the seat I want, I shouldn't have to give it up. If that was so, then all couples and families wouldn't even bother to check in until they get to the airport and all of us solo travelers would just be stuck in middle seats in the back of the plane, because we'd be forced to move to accommodate those people.

If you want to sit together then pay for the seats you want/need. Again Air Tran charges for what you use. If you don't need to check a bag you are not charged. If you don't care where you sit, you are not charged a seat fee. If you do want to a particular seat or want to sit next to your traveling party, then pay the lousy $6.00 for the seat and don't leave it up to chance or the possible good will of your fellow travelers. It's really very simple! If it wasn't important enough to you to pay the $6.00 why should it be important to me to accommodate you. Sorry, I'm not! I pay for the seat I want/need and think everyone else should too.

 

[ccgirl]

Another example of knowing what you pay for. Your wife did not check in until 1 hour before the flight - you can check in up to 24 hours before the flight. People need to read the Contract of Carriage to know the rules.

2) Volunteers and Boarding Priorities
If a flight is oversold (more passengers hold confirmed reservations than there are seats available), no one may be denied boarding against his or her will until airline personnel first ask for volunteers who will give up their reservation willingly in exchange for a payment of the airline's choosing. If there are not enough volunteers, other passengers may be denied boarding involuntarily in accordance with the following boarding priority of AirTran Airways:
1. The last passenger to present him/herself at the boarding gate.
2. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate disabled, elderly, or infirmed passengers needing assistance, unaccompanied children under 12 years of age and connecting passengers.
3) Compensation of Involuntary Denied Boarding
If a passenger is denied boarding involuntarily, the passenger is entitled to a payment of "denied boarding compensation" from the airline unless:
1. The passenger has not fully complied with the airline's ticketing, check-in, and reconfirmation requirements; or, the passenger is not acceptable for transportation under the airline's usual rules and practices.
2. The passenger is denied boarding because the flight is canceled.
3. The passenger is denied boarding because a smaller capacity aircraft was substituted for safety or operational reasons.
4. The airline offered accommodations in a section of the aircraft other than specified in the passenger’s ticket at no extra charge (a passenger seated in a section for which a lower fare is charged must be given an appropriate refund).
5. The airline is able to place the passenger on another flight or flights that are planned to reach the passenger’s final destination within one (1) hour of the scheduled arrival of his/her original flight.
4) Amount of Denied Boarding Compensation
August 17, 2010
Page 15 of 17
Passengers who are eligible for denied boarding compensation must be offered a payment equal to the sum of the face values or their itinerary, with a $400 maximum. However, if the airline cannot arrange "alternate transportation" (see below) for the passenger, the compensation is doubled ($800 maximum). The "value" of the ticket coupon is the one-way fare for the flight shown on the coupon including any surcharge and air transportation tax, minus any applicable discount. All flight coupons including connecting flights to the passenger's final destination or first 4-hour stopover are used to compute the compensation.
"Alternate transportation" is air transportation (by an airline licensed by the DOT) or other transportation used by the passenger which, at the time the arrangement is made, arrives at the passenger’s next scheduled stopover (of 4 hours or longer) or final destination no later than 2 hours (for flights within U.S. points, including territories and possessions) or 4 hours (for international flights) after the passenger’s originally scheduled arrival time.

#1 is what pertains to Red's wife. By not checking in until 1 hour before she placed herself in the precarious position of being one of the last to check in. Lesson learned, I hope, as many airlines use this same policy.

 

[dudspizza]

Another example of knowing what you pay for. Your wife did not check in until 1 hour before the flight - you can check in up to 24 hours before the flight. People need to read the Contract of Carriage to know the rules.

2) Volunteers and Boarding Priorities
If a flight is oversold (more passengers hold confirmed reservations than there are seats available), no one may be denied boarding against his or her will until airline personnel first ask for volunteers who will give up their reservation willingly in exchange for a payment of the airline's choosing. If there are not enough volunteers, other passengers may be denied boarding involuntarily in accordance with the following boarding priority of AirTran Airways:
1. The last passenger to present him/herself at the boarding gate.
2. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate disabled, elderly, or infirmed passengers needing assistance, unaccompanied children under 12 years of age and connecting passengers.
3) Compensation of Involuntary Denied Boarding
If a passenger is denied boarding involuntarily, the passenger is entitled to a payment of "denied boarding compensation" from the airline unless:
1. The passenger has not fully complied with the airline's ticketing, check-in, and reconfirmation requirements; or, the passenger is not acceptable for transportation under the airline's usual rules and practices.
2. The passenger is denied boarding because the flight is canceled.
3. The passenger is denied boarding because a smaller capacity aircraft was substituted for safety or operational reasons.
4. The airline offered accommodations in a section of the aircraft other than specified in the passenger’s ticket at no extra charge (a passenger seated in a section for which a lower fare is charged must be given an appropriate refund).
5. The airline is able to place the passenger on another flight or flights that are planned to reach the passenger’s final destination within one (1) hour of the scheduled arrival of his/her original flight.
4) Amount of Denied Boarding Compensation
August 17, 2010
Page 15 of 17
Passengers who are eligible for denied boarding compensation must be offered a payment equal to the sum of the face values or their itinerary, with a $400 maximum. However, if the airline cannot arrange "alternate transportation" (see below) for the passenger, the compensation is doubled ($800 maximum). The "value" of the ticket coupon is the one-way fare for the flight shown on the coupon including any surcharge and air transportation tax, minus any applicable discount. All flight coupons including connecting flights to the passenger's final destination or first 4-hour stopover are used to compute the compensation.
"Alternate transportation" is air transportation (by an airline licensed by the DOT) or other transportation used by the passenger which, at the time the arrangement is made, arrives at the passenger’s next scheduled stopover (of 4 hours or longer) or final destination no later than 2 hours (for flights within U.S. points, including territories and possessions) or 4 hours (for international flights) after the passenger’s originally scheduled arrival time.

#1 is what pertains to Red's wife. By not checking in until 1 hour before she placed herself in the precarious position of being one of the last to check in. Lesson learned, I hope, as many airlines use this same policy.

No fair! I just spent the time to find the CoC, I then copied what you have above and came her to post it. Low and behold, it is already posted by you! LOL

Here is the link to the entire CoC.

http://www.airtran.com/common/pdf/AirTran_Contract_of_Carriage.pdf

Duds

 

[Redarrow5150]

You haven't a clue as to my wife's situation. I didn't want to comment anymore and didn't want to hijack this thread but your statements are off base. She checked one-hour before her flight and as a matter of fact they wrote down her gate number wrong! So when they went to the gate when they were boarding they weren't allowed on. They showed the attendant the incorrect gate number on THE AIRTRAN ticket but were not allowed on even though they were paid for that flight. They offered not only no apologies but didn't even offer a reimbursement. My wife's friend missed an event for a fundraiser that cost her personally $200 and they later gave her a $50 voucher.

Another example of knowing what you pay for. Your wife did not check in until 1 hour before the flight - you can check in up to 24 hours before the flight. People need to read the Contract of Carriage to know the rules.

2) Volunteers and Boarding Priorities
If a flight is oversold (more passengers hold confirmed reservations than there are seats available), no one may be denied boarding against his or her will until airline personnel first ask for volunteers who will give up their reservation willingly in exchange for a payment of the airline's choosing. If there are not enough volunteers, other passengers may be denied boarding involuntarily in accordance with the following boarding priority of AirTran Airways:
1. The last passenger to present him/herself at the boarding gate.
2. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate disabled, elderly, or infirmed passengers needing assistance, unaccompanied children under 12 years of age and connecting passengers.
3) Compensation of Involuntary Denied Boarding
If a passenger is denied boarding involuntarily, the passenger is entitled to a payment of "denied boarding compensation" from the airline unless:
1. The passenger has not fully complied with the airline's ticketing, check-in, and reconfirmation requirements; or, the passenger is not acceptable for transportation under the airline's usual rules and practices.
2. The passenger is denied boarding because the flight is canceled.
3. The passenger is denied boarding because a smaller capacity aircraft was substituted for safety or operational reasons.
4. The airline offered accommodations in a section of the aircraft other than specified in the passenger’s ticket at no extra charge (a passenger seated in a section for which a lower fare is charged must be given an appropriate refund).
5. The airline is able to place the passenger on another flight or flights that are planned to reach the passenger’s final destination within one (1) hour of the scheduled arrival of his/her original flight.
4) Amount of Denied Boarding Compensation
August 17, 2010
Page 15 of 17
Passengers who are eligible for denied boarding compensation must be offered a payment equal to the sum of the face values or their itinerary, with a $400 maximum. However, if the airline cannot arrange "alternate transportation" (see below) for the passenger, the compensation is doubled ($800 maximum). The "value" of the ticket coupon is the one-way fare for the flight shown on the coupon including any surcharge and air transportation tax, minus any applicable discount. All flight coupons including connecting flights to the passenger's final destination or first 4-hour stopover are used to compute the compensation.
"Alternate transportation" is air transportation (by an airline licensed by the DOT) or other transportation used by the passenger which, at the time the arrangement is made, arrives at the passenger’s next scheduled stopover (of 4 hours or longer) or final destination no later than 2 hours (for flights within U.S. points, including territories and possessions) or 4 hours (for international flights) after the passenger’s originally scheduled arrival time.

#1 is what pertains to Red's wife. By not checking in until 1 hour before she placed herself in the precarious position of being one of the last to check in. Lesson learned, I hope, as many airlines use this same policy.

 

[ccgirl]

You haven't a clue as to my wife's situation. I didn't want to comment anymore and don't want to hijack this thread but your statements are off base. She checked one-hour before her flight.

I'm confused. You are absolutely right that I have no clue as to your wife's situation. I only know you admitted that she checked in 1 hour before her flight. Most people check in 24 hours in advance so she was one of the last to check in; making her one of the first to get get bumped, regardless if she paid more for her ticket or not.

Again, this is what is commonly used by most airlines that need to bump passengers.

 

[ccgirl]

No fair! I just spent the time to find the CoC, I then copied what you have above and came her to post it. Low and behold, it is already posted by you! LOL

Here is the link to the entire CoC.

http://www.airtran.com/common/pdf/AirTran_Contract_of_Carriage.pdf

Duds

Sorry. Thanks for the link.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Having worked in media sales for over 20 years, I know more than you can imagine about bumping clients or customers. Do you know how many people check-in-line versus when they come to the airport...or are you just using generalizations in making a point? Heck they didn't even page them knowing the flight was boarding which other airlines do. Again It's about customer service and it was severely lacking that day from several areas.

I'm confused. You are absolutely right that I have no clue as to your wife's situation. I only know you admitted that she checked in 1 hour before her flight. Most people check in 24 hours in advance so she was one of the last to check in; making her one of the first to get get bumped, regardless if she paid more for her ticket or not.

Again, this is what is commonly used by most airlines that need to bump passengers.

 

[Lewisc]

Jet Blue, as a matter of policy, doesn't overbook. A few small, charter like, airlines don't overbook.

Overselling is a practice that isn't illegal (though it should never be allowed) and happens on nearly every airline. Passengers know that IDB's could happen and should take every precaution to make sure they can get a seating assignment by checking in at the 24 hour mark and getting to the airport early. Did AT give your wife some decent compensation?

Best of luck to OP and travel safe everyone! I fly to Reno in less than 3 weeks.... I have advanced seating assignments and I will be checking in 24 hours in advance to ensure I am ready to fly.

Duds

 

[grandmadebby2]

As far as the original question to buy now or wait, IMO peace of mind is worth it. It cost me $48 round trip total for seat assingments for my daughter and her 3 children to sit together. They fly from KC to At then At to Orlando and then back 10 days later. With the cost savings on the tickets an extra $12 per person seems like a small amont to me. Starting vacation off on a good note will sit the tone, if I have stressed out kids because they were sitting with strangers, or my daughter was stressed because she couldn't see her kids the entire trip would have the potential to be ruined.