Tutti
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Are airlines withholding seats so you'll pay a premium?
A few months ago I booked a flight for two and then went to select seats on the airline's site. Based on the destination and time of year, I was surprised to find only two adjacent seats were available without paying a premium. But I was even more surprised a few weeks later, when we boarded the aircraft and a flight attendant announced that only 30% of seats were occupied, so we should all feel free to stretch out. (travel.usatoday.com) Altro...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
boohoo, don't like, fly private.
Like checked bag fees: wait until go time and these so called upgrades are free. Ive had gate agents ask me to check a bag at the gate or assign me an exit row row seat at the gate. Never had to pay for it, never will.
On a recent UA flight DCA/ORD/LAX, I had purchased Econ Plus seats. Checking in online the day before, shazam!, I'm back in economy. The guy sitting in the seat I had purchased bought his ticket one month after I did. I'm waiting for my refund...
UA does it all the time, and so it now goes with CO also. I am booked EWR/BNA this weekend. When I bought the ticket on the web last week only premium seats at + $39 were available so I did not take an assignment. Today when I pre-checked in on the web...shazaam, the aircraft is only about 30% full. Since it is an RJ with 2x2 seating anyway, what difference does it make? Just pure greed
If you by a ticket you theoretically have a seat. You just don't know which one.
Overbooking & cancelations are mostly separate issues from this.
When I last traveled by commercial airline (Goes back to the days of Northwest, I have successfully avoided the ordeal for some time now) I learned that if I didn't select a seat early I always got a premium seat as those were the only ones left at go time. They don't charge extra at that point. As for overbooked flights, generally airlines will start with compensating volunteers first before denying boarding to non-volunteers. I have never been actually been denied boarding although years ago as a customer service agent I occasionally had to do it to someone else. So i understand it dose happen. My alternatives to airlines will not allow me to avoid taking a commercial flight to England next May unless i just don't go at all, so I will have a chance to test my practice once again, as I didn't bite on paying again for an early assigned seat.
It is a shame i used to try to get an opportunity to fly commercially, now i haven't even used my frequent flier miles to get a "free" ticket as I can fly myself anywhere I want go in the lower 48 states.
Overbooking & cancelations are mostly separate issues from this.
When I last traveled by commercial airline (Goes back to the days of Northwest, I have successfully avoided the ordeal for some time now) I learned that if I didn't select a seat early I always got a premium seat as those were the only ones left at go time. They don't charge extra at that point. As for overbooked flights, generally airlines will start with compensating volunteers first before denying boarding to non-volunteers. I have never been actually been denied boarding although years ago as a customer service agent I occasionally had to do it to someone else. So i understand it dose happen. My alternatives to airlines will not allow me to avoid taking a commercial flight to England next May unless i just don't go at all, so I will have a chance to test my practice once again, as I didn't bite on paying again for an early assigned seat.
It is a shame i used to try to get an opportunity to fly commercially, now i haven't even used my frequent flier miles to get a "free" ticket as I can fly myself anywhere I want go in the lower 48 states.
This is business!!! You got something lots of people want, jack the price until people don't want it any more. Cars, houses, land, food, anything - it always is supply and demand. Don't like it - ride the train/bus/car/walk.