"Equipment change" moved me from first class (for which I paid extra, naturally) to the back of the plane. Luckily I was notified and I called to protest. I was moved back to first class, same seat.
So much for AI running the show. My original seat was obviously empty as were the two seats across the aisle. So how the heck did I end up in the tail?
A few years ago I booked a flight for my husband and myself from LA to Frankfurt in business class on American Airlines. At 5 am on the day of the flight I was notified via text from American that my flight had been canceled and we were rebooked by them on a flight with middle seats in coach. I was livid and when I contacted American the rep’s response was that the flight was full and those were the only seats available. Fortunately I had booked the flight with a travel agent which I usually don’t do and they were able to get us on a flight on British Airways in Business Class.
We routinely pick very specific seats in economy plus (now “premium plus”) on United. We don’t want the last row because the seat doesn’t lean back nearly as much. We don’t want the bulkhead because you can’t have anything at your feet. On three separate occasions in the last three years, When we have gotten on the plane, our seats were bulkhead. When we asked, they said the plane had been changed. There was no apology, no offer of a refund, and we didn’t actually think we got to make a fuss. Lufthansa does this as well, but because we pay a reservation fee for the seat on Lufthansa, next time I will definitely request a refund for the seat reservation.
So what happens if I pay extra for a certain class and they downgrade me and I refuse the move?
What if I would rather wait for another flight than to give up my first class ticket and sit in the back of the plane in the middle seat (claustrophobic)?
Just yesterday I received an email from Delta notifying me of a schedule change. It's a good thing that I read it carefully because they had actually booked the return flight from HNL to MSP a day later. I called immediately. It took the agent 30 minutes to get us back on the correct flight on the correct day. However my Confirmed Premium Select seats were gone. She said I would see them in 24 hours but I don't believe it.
We have a flight on AA in January, roundtrip SFO-Miami. We had seats 10A&C on the return.
The flight time changed, but it's the same plane & flight number. Now we are in 9A & F.
What? Our seats did not need to be changed. Now AA says there are no seats to sit together. No one is going to switch with us on the plane. This doesn't make any sense.
Yes, I hope someone will switch, but it's going to be a hard sell. We certainly won't get an aisle seat. Maybe window & middle, if the middle person on either side isn't with someone else.
Airlines in the USA have unconscionable rights to do whatever they darn please. Their contract of carriage is a one-sided document. And sadly, the US government seems unwilling to pass laws similar to the EU and other countries to protect it citizens, despite giving millions of dollars to them during the pandemic.
My wife, daughter and I were flying from Hawaii to California. I had selected 3 seats together. When we got to the airport United had screwed up the seat assignments and had us sitting in random seats many rows apart. I complained loudly but to no avail. The flight attendant had me sitting in an emergency exit row. She asked me if I was willing to carry out the duties of that row. I asked her where I would be seated if I were not willing to carry out the duties of that row. Boom, security came and we were thrown off the plane, while all our luggage was on it's way to California. Last time I flew United.
Flying from HNL to SEA on Alaska. Had a purchased seat in 1st. This was during the week after the door blew off the Alaska flight. At the airport, my boarding pass was showing row 17. I stood in front of the gate kiosk for an hour until an agent arrived. I politely asked about my seat, and the agent quickly switched me back to my original seat.
I later saw a crew member in the seat in row 17 that they tried to give me. I guess they are going to try and deadhead a crew member in my first class seat.
That reminds me of the flight I took last year. I bought a first class seat to HNL on Delta. Right before I left for the airport, Delta notified me of a delay and I would not make my connection in LAX. I quickly got online to protect myself the next day and grabbed the last first class seat on the first leg of my flight . When I got to the airport, I was told to check at the gate for my first class seat on leg one. When I got to the gate, I was downgraded to economy. I asked how this could be when I booked the seat myself . Delta gate agent shrugged his shoulders. When I got on board and looked over at the seat I know I booked--some pretty petite blonde. Hmmmm..either a FA..or the wife of a DL executive. I know I was bumped out of first since I was the last person to book my seat. No one would ever admit it, but I know how these things work *frowning* . I did get an over the water seat in Delta First--pretty nice laying flat!
"Equipment change" moved me from first class (for which I paid extra, naturally) to the back of the plane. Luckily I was notified and I called to protest. I was moved back to first class, same seat.
So much for AI running the show. My original seat was obviously empty as were the two seats across the aisle. So how the heck did I end up in the tail?
A few years ago I booked a flight for my husband and myself from LA to Frankfurt in business class on American Airlines. At 5 am on the day of the flight I was notified via text from American that my flight had been canceled and we were rebooked by them on a flight with middle seats in coach. I was livid and when I contacted American the rep’s response was that the flight was full and those were the only seats available. Fortunately I had booked the flight with a travel agent which I usually don’t do and they were able to get us on a flight on British Airways in Business Class.
We routinely pick very specific seats in economy plus (now “premium plus”) on United. We don’t want the last row because the seat doesn’t lean back nearly as much. We don’t want the bulkhead because you can’t have anything at your feet. On three separate occasions in the last three years, When we have gotten on the plane, our seats were bulkhead. When we asked, they said the plane had been changed. There was no apology, no offer of a refund, and we didn’t actually think we got to make a fuss. Lufthansa does this as well, but because we pay a reservation fee for the seat on Lufthansa, next time I will definitely request a refund for the seat reservation.
So what happens if I pay extra for a certain class and they downgrade me and I refuse the move?
What if I would rather wait for another flight than to give up my first class ticket and sit in the back of the plane in the middle seat (claustrophobic)?
If you refuse, you could become the next Dr. Dao video. I wouldn't want that.
Just yesterday I received an email from Delta notifying me of a schedule change. It's a good thing that I read it carefully because they had actually booked the return flight from HNL to MSP a day later. I called immediately. It took the agent 30 minutes to get us back on the correct flight on the correct day. However my Confirmed Premium Select seats were gone. She said I would see them in 24 hours but I don't believe it.
Let us know the outcome!
We have a flight on AA in January, roundtrip SFO-Miami. We had seats 10A&C on the return.
The flight time changed, but it's the same plane & flight number. Now we are in 9A & F.
What? Our seats did not need to be changed. Now AA says there are no seats to sit together. No one is going to switch with us on the plane. This doesn't make any sense.
That shouldn't be happening. But I would ask when you board; someone may switch seats with you.
Yes, I hope someone will switch, but it's going to be a hard sell. We certainly won't get an aisle seat. Maybe window & middle, if the middle person on either side isn't with someone else.
Airlines in the USA have unconscionable rights to do whatever they darn please. Their contract of carriage is a one-sided document. And sadly, the US government seems unwilling to pass laws similar to the EU and other countries to protect it citizens, despite giving millions of dollars to them during the pandemic.
You're right. It's not a good contract for us. It's a great contract for them.
My wife, daughter and I were flying from Hawaii to California. I had selected 3 seats together. When we got to the airport United had screwed up the seat assignments and had us sitting in random seats many rows apart. I complained loudly but to no avail. The flight attendant had me sitting in an emergency exit row. She asked me if I was willing to carry out the duties of that row. I asked her where I would be seated if I were not willing to carry out the duties of that row. Boom, security came and we were thrown off the plane, while all our luggage was on it's way to California. Last time I flew United.
Flying from HNL to SEA on Alaska. Had a purchased seat in 1st. This was during the week after the door blew off the Alaska flight. At the airport, my boarding pass was showing row 17. I stood in front of the gate kiosk for an hour until an agent arrived. I politely asked about my seat, and the agent quickly switched me back to my original seat.
I later saw a crew member in the seat in row 17 that they tried to give me. I guess they are going to try and deadhead a crew member in my first class seat.
That reminds me of the flight I took last year. I bought a first class seat to HNL on Delta. Right before I left for the airport, Delta notified me of a delay and I would not make my connection in LAX. I quickly got online to protect myself the next day and grabbed the last first class seat on the first leg of my flight . When I got to the airport, I was told to check at the gate for my first class seat on leg one. When I got to the gate, I was downgraded to economy. I asked how this could be when I booked the seat myself . Delta gate agent shrugged his shoulders. When I got on board and looked over at the seat I know I booked--some pretty petite blonde. Hmmmm..either a FA..or the wife of a DL executive. I know I was bumped out of first since I was the last person to book my seat. No one would ever admit it, but I know how these things work *frowning* . I did get an over the water seat in Delta First--pretty nice laying flat!