I’m ready for lousy treatment from airlines. I expect it. Even from U.S. Airways, a member of the Star Alliance, of which I’m a top-tier member (“gold”).
U.S. Airways doesn’t extend any special privilege to me when it comes to economy seating, since my Star Alliance allegiance is to United Airlines, where I am a 1K member.
So I expect rotten seats. I get the best I can early, then hope some improvement can be made at check-in. So much for being Star Alliance Gold, the valued frequent-flier.
I followed that practice on our most recent domestic flight. Our client booked Bob and me on separate reservations with seats together in the back. Online, I moved our seats forward to 17A and B.
Airline seat scam
Early to the airport for our red-eye, there was no crowd and a nice agent quickly volunteered to assist. At the passenger check-in terminal, he brought up the seat map on which we saw certain desirable seats marked with dollar signs. I won’t pay for those on principle. The agent pointed out 5A and B on the screen, which showed available, no extra charge. Great. He booked me into 5A, a window seat.
The agent then logged in for Bob’s reservation and clicked to the seat map. 5A showed occupied now—by me. But 5B, a middle seat, was now marked with a dollar sign. It suddenly required an extra charge!
“What happened?” I asked, “it was free just a moment ago. And who charges for middle seats?”
“They charge if you want to sit together,” the agent said. Another agent volunteered that “the system” charges for random seats. But what passenger would pay for a middle seat? Only one who wants to sit next to someone sitting in the adjacent seat, obviously. Not very random, it seems to me. Clearly, an airline seat scam by U.S. Airways.
“Forget it! Just put us back in 17A and B, then.”
The agent fiddled at his own terminal for a few minutes, then informed us that 17A and B were no longer available. He offered something in the 30s.
Bob and I balked, insisting that the agent put us into 5A and B, as he initially suggested, or restore the seats I had reserved online. I waved my printed reservation at him, and he bothered to scrutinize it. We used the words airline seat scam and requested a supervisor.
The agent sweated at his terminal. Magically, 17A and B became available once again. The agent said he “moved someone.” Who knows how these airline seat scams work. Did someone really grab 17A and B during the very few minutes we tried to switch to seats in row 5? Did the agent hit a red “pax balks” button?
So now I’m wondering what triggered the scam, given that Bob and I had separate booking numbers. Could it be that his and my profiles, or frequent flier numbers, show that we usually fly together? Could it be that we booked a window seat, and within two minutes attempted to book the adjacent seat from the same terminal? Could it have been triggered by the agent who volunteered to take over the process? Any of these are possible. Any other instigator I haven’t thought of?
One thing I do not believe is that the seat we wanted was suddenly a “random” charge.
We haven’t experienced everything as very frequent fliers, but we thought we’d at least read everything. This was a first. Charging to sit next to someone? Charging for a middle seat? This is an airline seat scam I hadn’t read of, heard of, or could imagine. Very creative, U.S. Airways!
Hey Bob. It IS disgusting. They pretty much have us over a barrel with no recourse. Let’s keep calling them out on their dirty tricks. Good to publicize their foul play.
I made a reservation for my partner and myself about two weeks ago. I requested and received two seats next to each other. Just a moment ago I went into the computer to print out the boarding passes and discovered that we had both been reassigned a middle seat in two different rows. There were other seats available adjacent to each other, but they would cost us another $49 each. I had decided I was too busy to mess with this now, and decided to pay the extra charge and to seek redress later. Fortunately, I couldn’t find my wallet immediately and after 10 minutes I sat down to pay the extra fee and discovered that I had been miraculously assigned two seats together at no extra cost. This is very sad that airlines are scamming for a few extra bucks. Disgusting.
Or eating us alive!
Pass the salt!
Wow. Those Morlocks won’t stop until they’re eating each other alive.
Here, here, Mike!
Agreed.
Nothing airlines do anymore surprise me. It is amazing when they change equipment for a flight that a computer magically reseats you in a different row and it always seems to be less desirable seating. We had this happen recently while traveling with our grandchildren and were reseated in four different rows of the aircraft. I simply asked if the airline would accept responsibility for a 10-year old and 8 year old child to be seated next to strangers on the flight. Our four seats together as originally reserved magically appeared available again – I have learned you have to stand your ground!
People have to care enough to complain. Mostly, apathy reigns.
Sounds like US Airways is nickel and dime-ing passengers. Truly a scam. Thank you for sharing.