vanessa

Can somebody please give me some advise. We were booked on an AA flight leaving maui to phila and we received a voicemail yesterday from AA saying that they had a flight schedule change and had to change our flight. The reason why they had to change our flight is b/c the flight they booked us on originally does not fly back to phila on sundays..The AA reservation system auotomatically took us off that flight and put us on another flight. Different times different flight, etc..Except on the flight now they didnt give us 2 seats together. (We were originally booked on the flight they cancelled w/ 2 seats together). Ive called and they said they dont have 2 seats together and that is the best we can do...We are also using frequent flyer miles for this trip-I dotn know if that has anything to do w/ their lack of help. They said the flight is totally sold out and they dont have 2 seats together but they suggested that when we check in at the airport to ask them to change our seats b/c the airport terminal has an additional allotment of seats. But they siad they cant guaruantee that this will get us two seats together on the plane. ANy suggestions on what we can do to get 2 seats together on the plane? Customer service is not helpful.Please help b/c its stressing me out

I hate flying and would like to sit next to my husband on this long fligt..Plus it is our honeymoom.

Jim Rosenberg

Yes, there will be a number of seats on any flight that are controlled at the airport. Actually, you might luck out because these often include exit row seats. Plan to check in early to get your best shot and chances are very good that it can be taken care of. The other alternative, if you can't get it taken care of at check-in, would be to simply swap seats with someone who is flying alone and is indifferent. Without know what type of equipment you are flying, I don't know how you're situated. If you are both assigned to middle seats, it's going to be tough to get somebody to trade. Aisle seats, on the other hand, make for easy negotiating.

If the flight is TOTALLY booked, it is likely OVERBOOKED. Can you take an extra day off? By giving up your lousy seats on the day of your flight, you could probably get assigned GREAT seats on the next day AND be compensated besides. Again, check in early for your best shot.

Good luck and I'm betting that you can get this taken care of before all is said and done.

p.

Vanessa, you don't say when this is to occur, imminent or a way in the future. If in the future then check with them every few days, things change & you might find someone more sympathetic. If it's close then Jim (previous poster) has it right; hope it's truly overbooked & take the 'prize' and/or check in early and be charming ! Flying on freebies leaves you low in the pecking order but the personal touch still can help. I was in a similar position a few years ago going to Paris, we could only get seperated seats; upon checkin at DFW the agent (a french woman in fact) looked at this and said it was ridiculous .. of course we should sit together etc etc and, in the end, a few keystrokes later, we did !
Have a lovely trip.

Robin

Jim's right.
This happened to us on our honeymoon.
Even if they won't give you new seats at check in you'll likely be able to find someone travelling alone who will switch with you in an adjacent seat, or a family willing to break into 2 groups etc.

BUT: you will get no advance seating together before you get to the airport.
They simply will not do this.
Must be taken care of at check in or on the plane.

And BTW, the airline owes you nothing if they fail to come thru. They are contracted to fly you from A to B. They do not owe anyone special seat requests, etc, though of course they try to honor these as much as possible.

Good luck.
The odds are in your favor on a large plane.

Andrew

Vanessa, the agent was correct - there really *is* nothing they can do ahead of time to get you seats together at this point. That's because they allow a certain number of seats to be booked on the day of checkin. It's unfortunate, but silly as it seems, that's just how their system works, whether you use frequent flyer miles or not.

However, as others have suggested, there's a good chance you can get your seats changed at checkin. I've almost always changed to a better seat at checkin. Getting there early may or may not help in this regard (but is helpful if you want to be bumped! Sounds like there's a great chance of that, if you can allow for it).

The important thing is to LET THEM KNOW at the gate you are on your honeymoon! The rumor is that sometimes the airline agents upgrade honeymooners to First Class. Don't ask for a First Class upgrade - just ask for two seats together as politely as you can, explaining why as you did here. You might get lucky and get upgraded for free. If not, I'm almost certain you'll be able to get two coach seats together. I'm sure someone in coach will switch with you if AA asks for a volunteer to do so, should it come to that.

Andrew

natalie

This happened to me once on an international flight. The flight attendant put us one row apart from each other. Both of the people next to us were traveling as a couple so we weren't able to change. I'm sorry to hear of your situation, I don't think there's much you can do but get to the airport really early to try to get those emergency row seats. Also mention at the airport it's your honeymoon. Good luck.

x

Everyone has given good advice here. Let me add that you can check the seat map for your flight on AA.com each day if you wish to see if something has freed up.

J T Kirk

The important thing to remember: Have a great honeymoon.

Don't let this put a damper on your mood.

Chances are pretty good it'll be taken care of when you get to the airport on the day of departure.

Linda

That honeymoon excuse is way over used. Airlines, hotels, etc. hear it about 20 times a day. You are better off just asking nicely, in a polite manner, no doubt you will get seats together as the a/p people have control of a lot of seat assignments.
Don't count on first class because you are on your honeymoon, as I said it is a way over used excuse by everyone from 16 year olds to 80 year olds (sure some may be on a honeymoon,but most are just whining about seats). A friend works for AA and said they get sick of hearing this.

dutch

While it is nice to be able to sit together this is not the end of the world. In fact it might open new doors for you and break the co-dependence of always having to be with each other. Sooner or later you will spend time away from each other, such as a business trip, or illness in one of your families, or even a death. I could understand complaining if you were put on two different flights, but please know that the world will still be spinning the next morning if you are not seated together for a few hours.

Try to do as jim suggests and get a free trip, maybe paid lodging, whatever you can do.

CMellon

The best thing you can do is get to the airport early.Most of the eastbound Maui flights leave 6p-11p so you would have already checked out of your hotel/resort/etc.Evereyone working for AmericanAirlines is as stressed for their jobs as you are for togetherness with your new hubster.Nix the upgrade to FirstClass idea.I agree it is WAY too much for "one more Honeymoon" at any airline on the planet.Gotta remember--this is the END of your honeymoon not the beginning.Many of AA's workers feel that their airline will be next to go.Regardless of the reality of the situation, the fear is there.

Susan

Vanessa, relaaaaax! Over the Holiday season we flew on 8 planes & guess what?
Only twice were my husband & I assigned seats together. 2/6 we were able to get seats together @ check-in. The other 4 times we asked the Flight Attendant if she cld. get sombody to switch so we cld. sit together. Every time someone switched! So stop worrying. And, worst case scenario Is that you are apart for a few hours. Don't sweat the small stuff!

joan

Susan's right. Recently traveled with 7 girlfriends - two flights each way. We were able to finagle rows together every time, people are more than willing to move FORWARD, so be sure to offer whichever aisle is further ahead as your trade. Offer to buy them a drink too - no prob!

Ryan

Call back and ask to speak with a Supervisor. Some agents are more helpful than others and maybe you just got someone who was having a bad day.

Tell them your situation and ask them if there is anyway they can help you out, given that it is your honeymoon and that the problem occurred through no fault of your own. There are always ways to make exceptions, expecially if they are telling you that seats are blocked for the airport

If that still doesn't work, you probably will have no problem having someone on the plane switch seats, especially if either of you are willing to trade an aisle/window for the center seat next to the other.

Blenroth

Won't let you sit together, then schedule a lavatory rendevous at a designated time? This sounds like a golden opportunity for you two to join the mile high club. Not sitting together reduces the likelihood of looking suspicious when you both enter the lavatory at the same time.

amy

unfortunately, it happens. the exact same thing happened to us recently on a frequent flier flight from miami to lax on american. we were booked for exit row seats and when the rebooked us, they weren't able to put us together. then a father who wanted to sit next to his daughter asked to change seats with my husband, which put us even further apart.

the other posters' recommendations sounded good, but if you guys hold gold or platinum membership, i would also politely ask if they could put you at the head of the list to bump you up to first class since it's your honeymoon AND you are gold/platinum.

good luck!

suzanne

Get to the airport early and request exit row seats. They don't assign these ahead of time. We always do this for long flights because we like the extra legroom, and we've never had a problem.

BeachBoi

Did you book these thru an agent?If so they shud hav access to the SalesSupportCenter which can unblock any seat including the exit row.And no you dont hav to be Gold or Platinum either.My TA does this all the time for compatriots travelling with me.

Manager

wanna stay together? Swim! damn breeder pushing her sexuality on us. it is always women too - insecure women. a man would never be distressed over something like this. but then men do not have to get up from a table & go to the bathroom together. don't be so insecure.

Maxie

Suzanne: Well, you'll never get those seats again! Some insider tips just should not be shared on the www!