Airline seating

[nancyr84]

I booked our flights for our trip next week about 8 months ago through Orbitz and picked our seats. They said confirmed pending airline approval. Well I guess they did not approve since when I check now we are not sitting beside each other in 3 out of 4 of our flights. I called Orbitz and they told me to wait until 24 hours out and the airline will open up seats and try then to move them.Why in the world would the airline do such a thing?
Nancy

[strat62]

i've had that happen with orbitz also. picked my seats and all of a sudden they get switched. ended up just swapping when we got onboard...

[dc3group]

Yup. I booked through orbitz and then checked with usair and found the same problem. I allegedly had 4th row seats thru orbitz, but then checked the usair website and they had me in the 23rd row. I called usair and they said orbitz cannot hold seating. I ended up paying approx 45 bucks to get back up front.

[surfnh]

Really, once you locate a low fare on orbitz, expedia, or whatever, isn't it just easier to go directly to the airline's own web site to make the reservation. Then, you aren't dealing through a third party?

Also, on orbitz once you have the airlines confirmation code, you can go on the airline's web site and edit your seat selection, it's really easy.

One other thing to look out for, when booking far in advance, the airlines often change the plane type and alter all the seat assignments. It's best to check them every few weeks.

Sorry you had the issues, I guess it's just a matter of understanding their ways of doing business, then how to win within their systems.

[nancyr84]

Unfortunately when I go to the US air site there are no seats available to change into.
Nancy

[surfnh]

Unfortunately when I go to the US air site there are no seats available to change into.
Nancy

Bummer.

[surfnh]

Unfortunately when I go to the US air site there are no seats available to change into.
Nancy

By the way, I fly us air almost every week, and they do hold certain premium seats open for people willing to pay more, and if those are free at the gate you might be able to grab one for free. United drives me nuts, they often block out large sections of the planes and make you get seats at the gate.

Best of luck, you're going to STJ, there could be worse things that happen like a rainy week, but let's not start that conversation again!

[nancyr84]

I ended up paying $78 to get our seats together on 2 of the flights, still apart on one nothing left. Since I booked October 16th I would have thought US air would have been able to put my seats together the plane was empty then. Oh well I sent them a nasty complaint and I will forget about it. Time to pack.
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[lazylane]

I've always been leery of booking on Orbitz, Expedia etc because the airlines sell them so many seats and I'm always afraid they don't/won't keep track somehow, so I go directly to the airlines' site to book. And really, the last few years Delta or US Air has been cheaper than the travel sites.

[Coden]

We booked thru Amex using points. When I go on the US Airways website and log in my booking #, the seats I picked show correctly for each segment. Should I worry that they may change?

If Hubs and I get separated that is ok. If I had my way we would fly different planes so if one goes down our son would always have one parent. I've tried this since the 80's...he never would go for it. Ha!

[needmesomesun]

I inquired about this recently, concerned that we needed a minimum three seats together, preferably four (out of nine) so my niece an nephew could sit with their parents. I was told that the airlines hold back groups of seat specifically for this reason, so families or adults that require companionship will be able to sit together. Unfortunately, if there isn't a special need or requirement you don't get any guarantee. It stinks, but now I understand why for the first time.

[mit43]

Don't blame US Air. Blame Orbitz!

I also agree about going directly to the Airline website. You are not going to get a better deal on your flight through a third party website.

What I do is go to Expedia to find the cheapest flights for my route and then go directly to the airline's website to book. It's always the same price or cheaper.

The only time I book through an online travel site is when we are looking for an all inclusive to Mexico, etc... .

[surfnh]

We booked thru Amex using points. When I go on the US Airways website and log in my booking #, the seats I picked show correctly for each segment. Should I worry that they may change?

If Hubs and I get separated that is ok. If I had my way we would fly different planes so if one goes down our son would always have one parent. I've tried this since the 80's...he never would go for it. Ha!

US Air for sure changes planes periodically to the Caribbean. I think mainly because its a seasonal business, and things change that affect how many flights they think they need.

Since most of us book trips to STJ really early (I just booked US Air for March), its almost guaranteed that the planes and seat assignments will change. I would say, if you're like a month out to your trip, you're probably safe, but if you're 3 months or more out, yeah keep checking. Most of the time if your seats are together on the US Air web site, they'll stay together through a change, but if you have exit row seats sometimes you'll lose that which is a bummer for sure if you're not checking.

[Coden]

Thnx Surfnh - I check about every other day, and we are now less than 2 months out. Hopefully all will stay as is. US Air did change our return flight home departure time by 20 mins. Hope nothing else changes.

[rpplano]

I long to go back to the days when flying was a POSITIVE adventure, now its a contest of wits.