US Air changed our return flight!

[pvtsms]

We are departing from Pittsburgh on Nov. 20th and returning on Dec. 1st. US Air sent me an email stating they had changed our return flight. I called the 800 number and sure enough, we are on a different flight number (similar departure time), but they have separated our seats. We are a family of 4 with 2 young children. We like to fly TOGETHER! We currently have 2 seats together in 2 different rows. On our original flight our seats were all together. Help - what can I do? The customer rep I spoke with at US Air was not very informative - she stated we should ask at check-in, but there would be no guarantee. Any tips on this? I really appreciate your efforts to help. Thanks!

 

[cbrfan]

The best advice I could give you is to check in early and see what you can work out. If you don't have any luck with that maybe some other passengers would be willing to switch seats with you once you get on board. At least you got seats that allow one parent to sit by one child. I was on a flight last year where a family of 3 was completely separated. The child was a 4 year with Cerebral Palsy! When the family boarded and explained the situation to the flight attendant they were told to just sit down in the first group of 3 seats they could find. Then the attendant dealt with the passengers who were supposed to sit there.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

you can call and have whoever you speak with call seats(this is another department) and get you seats together or you can call consumer affairs and explain it to them and they can get you the seats together or at least closer together. let them know how unhappy you are, be firm yet nice about it. this will get you further.

 

[pvtsms]

Thank you for the quick replies. I will make the calls and ask at check-in. I really appreciate the tips and insights. Thanks again!

 

[jel0511]

I hate to be a downer and I hope everything will work out for you, but I will tell you of my experience, and this is the reason I will never fly US Air again!! WE had booked our flights and there was no schedule changes. I constantly checked with the airline and on their website everything remained the same. We had seat assignments together, just like you did. Upon arriving at the airport, we received 4 seat assignments ALL OVER the plane. I was travaeling with DH, myself, DD 3, and DS 4 months!!! I explained to the check in agent that this was unacceptable, and we had seat assignments together, I even showed my e-ticket confirmation. I was told that this was my "seat preferences" and not seat assignemts. My next recourse was to talk to the gate agent. Well, while waiting to talk to the gate agent, I caled US Air on the phone, and they couldn't help me with that flight, but were able to get me 2 and 2 so at least we were able to sit next to each child, but we were 10 rows apart. I kept asking the gate agent if she could help me out and to no avail, I kept getting the same answer, don't worry, we won't let your children sit alone!!! Well, they start boarding the flight!!! I get on line and as I'm on line, I ask the gate agent, now taking boarding passes if she was able to get us seats together. She then had the nerve to yell at me to say, I was holding up the boarding process!!! Well, I refused to move or board until we had seats together. We had to settle for 2 and 2 about 8 rows apart, but it was better than the alternative. I tried asking about our return flight at the airport at check-in and at the gate. Both times I was told that I should consider myself lucky that we were at least together a little, since some families were scattered around the plane probably like I was on my outbound flight. I should have gotten some names of the gate agents, to write a letter to US Air on the such poor customer service I received, but I was just so upset and concerned on getting my family somewhat together I didn't. I hope you will be able to work it out, but remember, according to US Air, you're much better off than others!!!!

 

[SNOWBOARDER]

USAir screwed us the same way. They had my family scattered all over the place. What are these people thinking?? Good Luck!

 

[seashoreCM]

No need to make a big fuss over it.

As you strap in the child safety seat, quietly and casually ask the adjacent passenger if he would like to switch!

Don't give up, change from, or surrender a nice nonstop flight at the time you like just because other pax don't want to sit next to your child.

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