conquistador74

Hi friends, always enjoy reading the posts.

Trying to keep this short. - 4 paid tix in F, equipment change in October, assigned seats 2 A,B,E,F. Last night, checked as my outbound is tomorrow. All seats on the return dumped. Now only 3 of 4 seats remain in row two. I call Exec. accounts desk and am told that they don't know why all 4 dumped, but they needed 2B for "operational reasons". I suppose a marshall, or something. Who knows. Now no seat to assign in the F cabin (757-200) 16BF seats. Advised cabin not oversold, but no seat to assign my 7 year old.
Putting him in the back...alone...is not an option. I'll go sit there if need be, but i'm looking for input from anyone here as to how i should argue this, if i get to the point where there is no seat in F for one of us. - I received no intelligent answer to my question of "if you need one seat for ops reasons, why not bounce a single traveler?".
Thoughts? Advice appreciated.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

Why would you think it is fine to discriminate against a single traveler? Totally inappropriate. Are you and your party all Global Services passengers on full F fares who bought your tickets 330 days before the flight? Seems to me that would be the only way your party of 4 would have priority to stay.

conquistador74

As a matter of fact, not globals, but full fare and 330, yes. And i do believe it is entirely appropriate to pull one person, versus one out of a family of 4, and that one is clearly indicated as a minor.

laxmillenial

Just because a seat isn't available for picking doesn't mean there aren't any seats available....?
Just wait till closer to departure time and if the flight isn't oversold, a seat will open. You'll just have to play musical chairs to try and sit together.

mherdeg

I don't see an issue yet. What's the flight?

conquistador74

Thanks LAX. - Didn't need to be scolded before. Appreciate it. I fly enough to know musical chairs. Don't need to be together, just would like to be in the cabin, as paid. Exec. didn't make me feel more comfortable when I asked, "if the cabin is not oversold, I should assume that there will be a seat for him?" and the response received was "you can't assume anything!"

Just trying to be prepared as to what would be an appropriate request on my end if for some reason there isn't a seat.

Thanks

I wouldn't either, but didn't feel comforted by the agent at the Exec. desk.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

One of the other adults could be moved back. Solo business travelers should not be discriminated against just because they are travelling solo. Hopefully you eventually do get that seat, but demanding that you stay together as a family should work both ways. If the seat does not become available, would you demand all 4 be moved back to coach? Ah - I see - the "family together" only works one way...

conquistador74

Did you read my message entirely? I said I have no problem sitting back there alone. I have a problem when it is not what I paid for and was questioning what my rights are if it were to happen.

Relax a bit. Try decaf. This wasn't singling out the business traveler, rather, why a family of 4 was plucked from, particularly an indicated minor. I do know 5 others in the same cabin and they weren't as lucky as I. They all have their seats.

DawgmanOH

When you look at the reservation on line, are all four still in the same fare class? Or did they actually bump one of the four to a "Y" or below fare class? If all are still in some variation of F, you haven't yet been bumped. It may be a little stressful but should all work out in the end.

Kacee

On the 16J 752, they will open 4A/B for assignment approximately 2-3 days prior to the flight.

laxmillenial

It's good to prepare. I'd be asking the same questions if I was in your position. Yes, it's an inconvenience and I'd highlight that to the gate agent. But they often have little control as to when/how passengers seat assignments get removed. Although they should be able to tell you who did it, when, and why. (The why may just be "operational" if it's an air marshall, pilot rest seat, etc).

The Exec didn't give you the 'right' response I would've wanted to hear if I was a parent. Yes, there's a small chance that a downgrade could occur, but I'd just argue with the fact that if they downgrade the 7 year old minor, then they'd have to downgrade you too, because he's not sitting alone in economy. Given that information, UA 'should' ask another passenger to downgrade rather than downgrading 2.

But who knows how these things work! Let us know how things play out.

mahasamatman

This thread should answer all your questions:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...tc-2016-a.html

conquistador74

Dawgman, still in F. I appreciate your input! I'll enjoy, just didn't want to have to worry about it.

Kacee, good to know. Thanks so much.

LAX, for sure, I will! Thanks.

Thanks, mahasamatman. By reading those, i'm starting to rethink my decision to always select row two, straight across for my family of 4 on a narrow body. Seems that they are the first to be plucked from!

findark

This.

The explanation given is about the strongest acknowledgment of a bump for an air marshal possible (they are forbidden from explicitly acknowledging it). FAMs almost always sit in 2B or 2E, so it's not a question of targeting a single pax versus family of four.

Even if the flight is oversold, official policy is to solicit volunteers for the downgrade and then go by status and fare class, although lazy GAs will bump the F pax with no seat.

conquistador74

Ark, thanks. I do hope they'll open up row 4 and we can all be up front. Just would make life easier.