Seats Under Airport Control - Changing
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AAdvantage PLT, HHonors Silver, Pre✓
Posts: 146
Seats Under Airport Control - Changing
I tried searching for recent threads and not much luck with AA.
Wife and I booked trips on separate PNRs due to different origin airports. The second segment we join each other for the reminder of the journey. While booking online, AA asked for $30 to get a premium seat as all the other 'fee' seats were taken. So, we declined and booked tickets without seat.
Checked in to our respective flights and AA automatically assigned us a premium seat, free of course, to make sure we have a seat - 8A and 10F. I called to have one of us moved to sit next to each other. One agent said I must pay $29 even when moving premium seat to premium seat. Second agent said seats are under airport control.
Should I visit airport today (just 5 miles down road) for flight that departs in 26:30hours (more than 24hours), or deal with it at airport tomorrow? Or call a third time? Never had this happen before and now risk sitting apart from each other or politely asking pax to move for us.
Wife and I booked trips on separate PNRs due to different origin airports. The second segment we join each other for the reminder of the journey. While booking online, AA asked for $30 to get a premium seat as all the other 'fee' seats were taken. So, we declined and booked tickets without seat.
Checked in to our respective flights and AA automatically assigned us a premium seat, free of course, to make sure we have a seat - 8A and 10F. I called to have one of us moved to sit next to each other. One agent said I must pay $29 even when moving premium seat to premium seat. Second agent said seats are under airport control.
Should I visit airport today (just 5 miles down road) for flight that departs in 26:30hours (more than 24hours), or deal with it at airport tomorrow? Or call a third time? Never had this happen before and now risk sitting apart from each other or politely asking pax to move for us.
#2
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,606
This seems to be the most reasonable alternative. Don't sweat it out too much. No need going to airport. Alternatively, once you arrive the second segment airport, you could approach the gate agent and see if they could do the change there, if time permits, some agents page the passenger and ask them.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CUR
Posts: 2,170
I find it odd that they want to charge your wife for the seat. Every time that I've flown with friends on separate PNRs and itineraries, AA has always placed the other passengers in MCE with me for free on the segments that we fly together. In fact, afterwards, I can choose MCE online for all the other flights too.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AAdvantage PLT, HHonors Silver, Pre✓
Posts: 146
Gate agents were of no help at DFW. We asked 3 hours prior to departure and were told to come back one hour before. Came back one hour before and told no more seats to change with. What BS. Glad our loyalty has been slowly changing to another airline. We were both Platinum and Gold, but this service was horrible. They had a chance yesterday 26 hours out with PLENTY of seats open. No sense to charge $30 to switch from premium seat to premium seat.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Gold, Mariott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 307
Gate agents were of no help at DFW. We asked 3 hours prior to departure and were told to come back one hour before. Came back one hour before and told no more seats to change with. What BS. Glad our loyalty has been slowly changing to another airline. We were both Platinum and Gold, but this service was horrible. They had a chance yesterday 26 hours out with PLENTY of seats open. No sense to charge $30 to switch from premium seat to premium seat.
t good enough because you were not together? As I see it, the airline already went above and beyond for you.
If you choose to determine that other airlines will provide you more value, you go forward with that. But do not come to bash this airline when they already did you a solid.
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
No good deed goes unpunished. AA should have just left OP and his wife without seat assignments and told them to get seats at the gate. GA would have given them random seats and that would have been it.
Instead OP got a $60 freebie handout, but that wasn't good enough.
Instead OP got a $60 freebie handout, but that wasn't good enough.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,438
#11
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: CHS
Programs: Lots
Posts: 1,009
#12
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
It amazes me people blame airlines for not being seated next to each other when they have the option of picking seats next to each other, but choosing not to do so. Oh wait that's right, the OP didn't want to pay so its the airline's fault lol. Let the open mocking continue. I doubt the OP is still PLT because he would've been able to pick the seat for free, but even then his wife was on a different PNR and to the letter of the rules AA is not obliged to seat her in a premium seat for free.
Have fun at DL or UA, because they have the same exact policy regarding paid seats. If the airline picks a seat for you its free, if you want to pick a seat, it will cost money.
Have fun at DL or UA, because they have the same exact policy regarding paid seats. If the airline picks a seat for you its free, if you want to pick a seat, it will cost money.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
If it is an AA flight, and OP's profile is correct, then he should have gotten both MCE seats for free. Maybe the profile is not correct.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
Note: If this is an AA flight and your are Platinum, this should have been a non-issue as AA will give Platinum companions free preferred/MCE seating on the same flights as the Platinum, even if different PNRs and different overall itineraries. I have done this twice in the past 3 days.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,309