OUTRAGED WITH EXPEDIA PLAIN TICKETS PURCHASE- what would You do?

[Anonymous]

What would you do if you bought 4 tickets via expedia for the family (parents and little children) and it turns out that your seats are not together to say least, they actually are all over the plane. As it is not enoght this happened to all flights (total of 4) with one connection each way.

This is outrageous. Called expedia and they said that they don't guarantee seats together??????????????????????????????????????????????????

I am talking parents and little children under 5 for God's sake! How this can be even called human? They asked me to call airlines, airlines told me that
they don't have any seats available at this time and Maybe and it is big maybe they can seat us together once we will be at the airport.

It is devastating. What if we arrive to the airport and then it turns that my little ones are still seated 10 rows away from me in each direction?
and my husband seats another five?

HELP!

[jsteele]

About a year ago I was flying with my two sons and we were separated. The two boys were together, but I was a couple of rows ahead. The airline wouldn't switch me. The plane had three seats in each row, so I asked the guy in the third seat if he would switch with me. He was a fairly young guy in his late teens. He refused. I was pretty upset and thought the guy was being a real jerk. But, once the flight got started, I noticed him doing a great job entertaining the kids. He kept their seatbelts fastened, talked to them almost the entire trip, and even referred a conflict or two. Meanwhile I was able to comfortably read a book. By the time the flight was over, I was almost willing to provide him free airfare if he would travel with us from then on. I've never seen my kids so well-behaved on an airplane.

You might have better luck getting passengers to switch with you -- especially if your children look predisposed to cry the entire trip (hint, hint). But, if not, I hope you have as good of luck as I did.

[Anonymous]

I'd show up to the airport a little early and see if they can move you around--they'll do their best to keep children near parents.

[Anonymous]

I agree with 16:38-most airlines will try to seat families with young children together, or at least with one of the parents. You could also try calling the airline directly to see if they can do anything for you.

[Anonymous]

Well I think most normal people would understand that a toddler or preschool child can't sit alone without their parent and would switch seats.

[Anonymous]

It has been our experience that airlines really do try their best to get families sitting together. Even if they can't do it for you now, try again closer to when you leave, try when you check in and again at the gate. Worst comes to worst most flyers will trade seats for families. We had a similar experience - plane was full, my husband, 4 DS and myself were rows apart for an 9 hour international flight. Even at the gate they couldn't change our seats. They ended up putting us in business class - all 3 of us. So don't worry a solution will work out and maybe it will be better than you expected!

[Anonymous]

Really this happens all the time, and actually more now because seats are allocated based on fares, etc. Expedia has nothing to do with it - you need to call the airline. It will probably work out at the airport but be prepared for it not to. There are some airlines (Air Canada comes to mind) that actually charge extra for reserved seats. If you've got single seats the key is to have aisle or window seats, preferably close together, because then you are more likely to be able to switch with someone. If you've got random center seats then you are out of luck.

[Anonymous]

I am devastated. The problem is that I called airlines directly and could have booked with them - all seats TOGETHER, to begin with
but then I decided to go with expedia and now we are in deep ^%&%*&

[Anonymous]

yes, of course our seats are middle random seats. and no I don't believe it does happen all the time, it did not happen to anybody I know ever and
there should be some law against allowing airlines do such unuman thing as puting a toddler or preschooler rows apart from a parent and put
parent in misery and mercy of people and last minute situations. It was supposed to be leasure trip, now it is a NIGHTMARE, courtesy expedia.

[Anonymous]

Devastated?

Oh my god.

[Anonymous]

OK, this has to be a joke. If not, yikes.

It really does happen all the time and it will be OK. Log off the computer and have a glass of wine or two.

[Anonymous]

It seems as if the OP just wants to be really upset about something, so let's just let her. She's already been told that the airline will fix it upon check in or even after boarding but is still devastated, so oh well.

[Anonymous]

well. dear 18:46 , you are either trying to be mean or you are working for Expedia.

Truth of the matter, I called yet again the airlines and they said that most likely they won't be able to do much as all flights that we are on are completly sold out booked and all, and btw.. just as one of the kind ones replied, we do have middle scattered seats, no window nor isle.
Therefore I guess fearing that we actually will be treated like some of the posters who also were NOT TAKEN CARE OF and could not travel next to their children
I think that I have rather legit reason to be upset.

I think Expedia just does lousy job. They charge as much as the airlines yet they have only avaliable individual left over crappy seats and they will sell you them online
before you can even know what is going on and then it is too late.

Again, I am not asking for the first class, nor any kind of upgrades here, I am asking for child to seat next to a PARENT.

If this is their rule then this should be posted LOUD and CLEAR that Mother might be seated separately from her child.
I wonder how many people would still do business with them.

[Anonymous]

You should cancel your trip and stay home. Clearly you are not emotionally ready to handle the annoyances of modern day travel.

[Anonymous]

OP - You might want to calm down a bit before you head to the airport. I am afraid we are going to see you on the 6 o'clock news for assulting airline personnel.