Seating together
 

I am posting for the first time here, but have been dismayed at how LAN offers pricing for seats. For Base, you get no seat assignment nor the ability to do so, but with Base+, one gets that (privilege?). I get it.

However, I will be traveling with my two kids age 10 & 11 and we want to purchase Base. I called LAN and the rep on the phone said they could not guarantee we would be able to sit together. I do not want my children sitting in the middle seat between strangers they don't know regardless if I'm a few or several rows away, and I feel I shouldn't have to purchase Base+ to do so. When I asked to be transferred to a Supervisor, the rep stated they don't transfer calls to supervisors.

Does LAN care about serving customers? Does anybody know who I can call to get the smallest modicum of assurance that if we purchase Base, that they will get us seats together so my kids aren't next to strangers? Please help. Thank you.

Welcome to the LANPASS forum pdxasflyer

First time on LAN?

Which LAN are you flying? Are you saying you cannot get the chance to purchase a seat or you cannot select a seat for free? I didn't follow that.

I cannot remember a time when I couldn't choose a seat, even when I was without status but that was before they sold seats too.

Really you need to say which LAN you are on and your route. For example Peru domestic I don't think you can even fly base unless you are Peruvian.

I also don't want to sit next to your children so the wise thing to do would be to get to check in nice and early and grab seats together, if you cannot choose a seat in base then probably 1/3 of the airplane can also not choose a seat.

Oh BTW, not much no

Thanks for the reply!

I'm not certain, but believe it's Lan Peru as the flight is from Miami to Lima. And, the fare I want to purchase is Base (cheapest), which is offered on the flights I want. As you know, Base doesn't allow me to select seats. If I want to pay for Base+ (which is also available on the flights), I could.

It sounds like Lan could care less about the safety of my kids on their flights. It's not my kids I'm worried about (they've flown all over the world with great behavior), but mores the strangers Lan would choose to plop next to them.

We tried the whole 'checking in nice and early' bit with another airline in South Africa recently, only to find out that they didn't follow through on what they represented - we couldn't select seats at the check-in window (online or over the phone), so had to plea with the gate agent at the airport. So, my confidence in that practice based on experience is nil.

I do appreciate your candid response, though!

Edited to add that yes, it is my first time on Lan - if we even get on the plane!

Well no I didn't know that. I actually think you might have been misinformed by the LAN agent. Await someone to back me up on this but you cannot even check in online for LAN flights from or to the USA. I suspect nobody can select seats.

I have flown BOG MIA BOG dozens of times and I am fairly certain that you can only pre check in, and there is no seat selection for anyone. Last time I flew MIA-BOG I looked at the seat map a couple of days before and the plane looked empty. People got bumped off that flight, it looked empty because no seats had been assigned.

My guess is you can select seats at T-48 and wont have a problem

The fare rules are on Lan.com. When I get the fare matrix after selecting city pairs and dates, the matrix starts with Base on the left, then Base Plus, then Flex, Full Flex, and so on.

When I roll my mouse over 'Base' it states:When I roll my mouse over 'Base Plus' the pop up window states:I could not locate any exceptions to those rules (such as no seat assignments to/from the USA) on their website.

So, unless everyone purchased 'Base' and nobody purchased any higher fares, then you're correct. However, for anyone that purchases Base Plus, their website states that advance seat selection is available.

Your experience is intriguing, however. If you are seeing blank seat maps with wide-open availability, then I'm not sure what to make of that.

Website normally isn't right, ignore it.

Sign up for an expertflyer trial account and check tomorrow's, sunday's and monday's flights from MIA to LIM. My guess is that Monday's will look empty because no seats have been assigned.

Wow. This airline is far worse than I thought. If their website provides blatantly false information, then they rank far below any of the Chinese mainland carriers.

I'll check EF, but may just bag Lan altogether. Far too much of a headache for my money.

Again, appreciate your responses, JohnnyColombia!

LAN is a great airline, sadly they subcontract their web development to somewhere in the 1950's and their telephone agents would rather lie than promise something that they don't know anything about.

If you want service OUTSIDE of an aircraft then fly AA.

Johnny is correct. But be advised OP that once you board the aircraft (for me the actual trip is still 95% of the total experience) then the situation is reversed: AA becomes the third world carrier and LAN seems decades ahead. In other words, for me the hassle is worth the eventual reward -- YMMV

Does Lan care about your children? Of course, and I find the South American culture to value children more than in North America, or at least coddle them more, so you will find the staff of Lan quite considerate of your kids.

You state the rules are that Base Plus fares can preselect seats, and not Base fares. If this is true, you will have a hard time finding a Lan employee who will break the rules, for you or anyone. If you care about your children, and you obviously do, then why not buy a Base Plus fare? Problem solved. Why do you think that because you have kids Lan staff should threaten their jobs by breaking the publicized and clear rules?

All that aside, if you check in right at the 48 hour mark and get to the airport early you'll likely get seats togther. If not, I have found people on the Lan planes to be more than accomodating in swiching seats, especially to have children beside their parents because they care about children... and I've seen FAs assisting in this.

I wouldn't think of asking anyone at LAN, or any other airline, to break the rules, nor am I doing so. My previous posts were fueled by the rep's apparent lack of concern that when we check in they would be reasonably able to seat us together. And, when I asked to speak to a supervisor, their lack of care went to the abyss. I was merely seeking some reasonable assurance they would be able to seat us together if we purchased a Base fare. Which is one reason why I turned to FT- you all have provided me that relative assurance.

Fundamentally, I understand the economics of running an airline. However, when those breach child safety (i.e. creating a situation where children sit next to strangers)mthen there is a problem. Nobody should have to pay extra for safety. It brings to mind some satirical sketches here in the US where passengers have to pay extra for seat belts. Thus, I shouldn't have to pay for Base Plus for the reassurance I could sit with my children.


This is great to hear, and illustrates precisely why I turn to FT for those with experience and 'in-the-know'. This provides much reassurance.

Thanks everyone - this has been very helpful!

I understand why you'd want to sit next to your own children on a family trip, I also understand why other passengers might not want to be sat next to your children. What I don't understand is what safety concerns you have should your children be sat next to other unknown passengers on a fully loaded aircraft. I simply don't see it. What is the safety concern?

I quite agree. But correct me if I am wrong but the Base fare is a cheap fare that offers no "frills" such as pre-selected seating. To buy that "frill" you need to buy Base Plus. I do not believe Lan makes that difference based on safety, but rather offering you more options for more expensive fare. But if believe it to be, they do offer you that option. A few dollars more for your peace of mind, and safety of your child, may well be worth it.

Sitting beside a stranger is not a breach of child safety, unless there is some extenuating circumstance I am missing. I wonder too about your concern... maybe there is some other way to mitigate it whatever it is?