United Airlines: blackmail for seating assignments? - Page 2

LakeWashington · 06-23-2008, 11:20 AM

Recently booked online a rountrip on AirTran (Atlanta). I was prompted to pay an extra 12 yankee dollars each way for the privilege of selecting my seat. Said no and got a window seat each way anyway upon check-in.

binx · 06-23-2008, 02:09 PM

I thought AirTran was only $6 each way, but whatever. It's worth it to me to get an aisle seat, as I am very claustrophic, and flying in and of itself is difficult for me. However, I think $120 to chose a seat is highway robbery - or, um, no - too much.

Ironically, my last Air Tran trip, where I paid for my seat - when I boarded, my seat and the two next to it were filled. I was prepared to argue, since I'd paid extra - It turned out that the folks who had been assigned seats on check-in had been assigned seats that were already taken. The flight attendants had to scramble to straighten it out, but they only moved the ones who'd been assigned at check-in, not those who'd chosen and paid online.

Lots of mess going on with air travel these days. Charge for bags. Charge for seats. Meals and extras taken away. Such a broad range of ticket prices for the same thing - depending upon where and when you buy. Hope things get streamlined soon. May the best airline win.

ebeeeee · 06-23-2008, 02:15 PM

I'm with barrons. It's part of the deal....my 74 year old mom sets off the detector all the time with her new knees. Even with a card from her ortho, they almost always extra screen her. She just laughs and allows extra time.

sevenhills · 06-23-2008, 02:42 PM

No #12. I was told by multiple employees who were involved in the search that I was "profiled". Their words, not mine. Definitely illegal search and seizure and violation of free speech. My husband was furious and didn't feel it had anything to do with random chance.

Perhaps you don't understand "profiling".

johnshade · 06-23-2008, 02:52 PM

Why is it a violation of free speech?

sevenhills · 06-23-2008, 02:59 PM

Violation of free speech, because when they were done, I thanked them for their kindness. Not because I felt anybody was kind, I thought they had a hell of a lot of nerve, but that is what you do in a terrorist state. And, my husband was even more furious that I thanked them, but that is what I felt was in my best interest and how they want the game played. I suppose if I was a Constitutional Law expert I could argue it better, but I'm not.

Elleneast · 06-23-2008, 02:59 PM

Forgive the stupid question but what is the definition of profiling in the legal sense?

Sort of on topic - My daughter usually wears her hair up in the messy bun style that so many girls of her age wear. When it is down it falls a bit below her shoulders and is very curly. When boarding at Heathrow she was pulled out of line, made to take her hair down and carefully run her fingers through it so the attendant could see that she wasn't hiding anything in there.

I am glad that they are taking such care but a hair examination was certainly something new in my book.

thumper1 · 06-23-2008, 03:04 PM

>>United is also returning to requiring minimum nights of stay, or a Saturday night stay for their cheaper fares.>>

Actually, DH read that United is charging more if you do NOT have the minimum stay. He is a frequent business traveler who does a lot of day trips. He will no longer fly United.

My kids both have reservations that were made WELL before the new baggage charging policies were made on United and American. I'm going to be hopping mad if they have to pay extra for baggage for tickets that were purchased MONTHS before that policy went into effect.

Sequoia · 06-23-2008, 03:05 PM

My D's shoes were actually sliced apart on one occassion, because they kept making the alarm go off. She was flying unaccompagnied at 12 years old at the time and actually boarded the plane in her socks!

notre dame AL · 06-23-2008, 03:11 PM

I'm with you binx--may the best airline win! And, right now, it seems that Southwest is leading the pack. They started their business with no pretense--everything has always been on the table should you decide to do business with them. My money is on them as one of the larger carriers that will survive this mess!

BunsenBurner · 06-23-2008, 03:15 PM

I'm rooting for Southwest and Alaska - they have been the most pleasant to deal with in the past (knocking on wood

). Even the infamous JetBlue delivered what they promised every time we flew them.

sevenhills · 06-23-2008, 03:23 PM

#22 profiling means they have a profile of a certain type of person who is likely to commit a crime, such as a person buying a one way ticket at the last moment is likely to be a suicide bomber(as if they can't figure out to buy a round trip ticket!) Or, people of color being stopped by police more frequently for suspected crimes. Or, anyone with an Arabic name, country of origin or wearing a scarf. I don't know all the things that are included, but those are a few.

binx · 06-23-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

My kids both have reservations that were made WELL before the new baggage charging policies were made on United and American. I'm going to be hopping mad if they have to pay extra for baggage for tickets that were purchased MONTHS before that policy went into effect.

When we bought our AirTran tickets to NYC, Delta was offering the same flight at the same fare. The only difference is that they were charging for the extra bag. Since we were moving our S home, we needed the extra bag allowance. We bought them in Feb or March or so. In June, when we flew, Air Tran had also begun charging, so we had to pay before we boarded. My H was mad, but knew better than to show too much anger while at an airport - too many ops for "them" to punish you.

papabear · 06-23-2008, 03:51 PM

Thumper1: We just returned from a trip to the midwest for DS's graduation. Of course we returned with lots more than we came (S's stuff and S) - no problem for baggage because we had bought the tickets before the change in policy was made. We each were allowed two bags in addition to our carry-on. So - don't worry about the tickets you already have. Now, the tickets you'll have to buy from here forward - that's different.....

ucsd_ucla_dad · 06-23-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

My kids both have reservations that were made WELL before the new baggage charging policies were made on United and American. I'm going to be hopping mad if they have to pay extra for baggage for tickets that were purchased MONTHS before that policy went into effect.

United is phasing in the checked bag charges depending on when the ticket was purchased. They have the timeline posted on their website so you can check.

Quote:

Actually, DH read that United is charging more if you do NOT have the minimum stay. He is a frequent business traveler who does a lot of day trips. He will no longer fly United.

True but they also said that it'll only be for certain flights depending on route and flight duration. This would obviously knock them completely out of some markets, ex: San Diego to San Franciso, if they strictly applied this universally. I guess they'll get to decide if they want to compete in that market space or not.

The airlines are still changing their policies and charges - just like they've done for the last 20 or so years since the good ole days for business travelers but expensive days for leisure travelers. It keeps moving in the direction of the bus ride.