[nomad27]

We're leaving for Hawaii this weekend and in rechecking everything we noticed that AA switched our seats... We're a family of three, all with the same last name - sounds like a "no-brainer" to me... It was allegedly due to an equipment change... Is this the new excuse rather than weather???

So we have three 4 hour flights where we're split up as a family from the front of the aircraft all the way in the back... We;ve been flying AA for over 25 years and as far as I'm concerned, this is the last tiem...

Only problem is there probably isn't anyone else that's better - perhaps worse...

Nomad27

[Corbel]

keep checking online for seats to become open, especially the day before the flight. when you go and check in the day of your flight ask the agent if there is anyway at least 2 of you can sit together (especially if you have a young child). you can also ask people on the plane if they wouldn't mind switching with you. when i became 12 i always wanted to sit away from my family lol

[pattis]

if you read in terms and agreements / contract of carriage, the airline (any airline) has the right to change equip. Which means they went from a larger a/c to a smaller a/c. Or vice versa. Seating arrangements are different on different types of planes. Lets just say you had seats 11abc, now on a different plane 11abc are emergency exit rows. They will not preseat anyone in those seats. People, you need to remember, when you purchase airline tickets you are purchasing "a seat or seats" not a specific seat #! Get to the airport early enough, they all have blocked seating....first come first served. I work ticket counter and always preflight as much as possible. I block seats ahead of time when I know there are families not seated together. However, first come first served. If you show up 45 min prior with a family of 6 not seated together. Well, then I guess it sucks to be you. If I can accomodate you great, however no agent is going to start rearranging people at the gate at boarding time. If it is that important to you to be seated together, get there early.

[Corbel]

pattis, i know what you mean. i use to work as a customer service agent. and my favorite thing in the world is when its a full flight and that family of 6 comes 30 min. priort departure and is expecting to be seated together...well guess what..NOT HAPPENING, and i'm not going to delay a flight to figure out seating

[nomad27]

Thanks to all - yeah, we're going to do all that but the bottom line is we're not going to let this spoil our vacation... There are at least 2 of us sitting together and my wife and I can rotate during the trip if necessary...

I don't have a problem with the equipment or with the equipment change... We don't even have to sit right next to each other but at least put me across, or in front of, or in back of my family...Don't you think that 3 last names that are identical are at least a clue??? What I have a problem with is the original agent not linking the reservations together - that's not my function or responsibility to do that - heck - I didn't even know they did that... Do I have to do their job and mine too???

Just another "customer service" form a service orientated country (we don't do manufacturing anymore) that doesn't provide any service!!!

Ya know, I feel the need to tell you all that I used to travel many, many thousands of miles per year back a few decades ago when I field serviced all over the country and flying used to be fun... These days I equate flying to being an experience a little bit below riding a Chicago El train or CTA bus, which ladies and gentlemen is just about as far as you can sink!!!

Nomad

[ChrisH]

I agree! The airlines do not care. They don't seem to care about the customers, and they do not care about the employees. What most people do not understand, is that the people making your reservation, can probably make as much, or more, working the drive through at a fast food joint. There really is no incentive to care, for employees, and honestly, most do not; especially since the airlines treat the employees just as bad as customers, if not worse.

We had one of our agents fired, for upgrading someone to first class, for an inconvenience. The airline came in and said this agent cost the airline money by doing this. This certainly doesn't make me feel comfortable when a passenger walks up, and was inconvenienced, and wants me to help them. I could lose my job for helping them. This is why passengers are always now referred to the 1-800 numbers; because it seems nobody, other than them, is authorized to do anything, and even then, half of the time, the still will not help.

I just found out, I, along with the rest of my co-workers, are being laid off, at the airport, and for the airline I am working for. I couldn't be more happy. I am running far, far away from this industry, and not looking back.

The problem is; people keep flying, and people are still willing to do these jobs, and so the airlines will just keep on with the usual, until people stop flying altogether.

[sseider1]

The arbitrary seat switching is becoming a trend. I am booked on a flight Sept 23, 2008 from LA - London.... well over a month away. I booked early to ensure I could get the seating I wanted. In fact, I planned my trip around what seating was available. Today I was re-checking and noticed my seat assignments had been changed. The first customer service agent was so rude, she hung up on me! The second said (after about 15 mins on hold) that there was an equipment change. I said no there is not. Same aircraft, same schedule. She agreed but said she couldn't do anything. I then emailed customer relations and they told me my seat was reassigned as a routine security procedures and to maintain inflight security they could not provide more information! Absolute hogwash! Pulling the old security trick out of the hat now! My thoughts are; maybe there is an air marshal in which case, a seat should be reserved on every flight and not available for selection; maybe I am not good enough to sit in the seat I chose; or more likely, some AA employee switched the seats for themselves for a friend. I notice people state that seats are not guaranteed and the AA customer relations has the nerve to say choosing a seat is a "Perk". However, I can find no where on the AA site including under the terms of carriage that states they have the right to change seating assignments in this manner. Usually, when one purchases an item, they are required by law to meet the terms of the contract. I purchased a flight, selected a seat and should receive what I paid for unless there are some mitigating circumstances such as the plane breaks down and is replaced with a different aircraft. The airline industry seems to be forgetting who there customer is.