KnowYourTrip.com

Crammed in like sardines

Does the title tell you how mad I am?  And I know the ins and outs of the game.  I got a call from a good friend of mine asking about his seat selection for a flight he’s taking next week.  I told him to go on line to his airline’s website, enter in his Flight Confirmation Code, and change his seat.  He couldn’t do it!  The airline wouldn’t let him do it.  Three reasons:

Capacity - When your flight has reached 80% capacity all seat assignments defer to the airport check-in.  Even if you arrive very early, chances are the highly desirable seats won’t be available.   So, it is crucial you book the seats you want immediately when you book your flight.

Status – Your status with the airline is not high enough to allow you to make the changes.  Yesterday, I booked a trip to the East Coast and because of my status with the airline and my membership in the Mileage Program; I was assigned my seat preferences as default.  I prefer aisle seats so I can mover about the cabin easily and without disturbing anyone.  My seat preferences are in my profile with the airlines mileage program.  If you are traveling with someone who has a higher status and you book your travel together, you can tether to their status for better seat selection.

Revenue - Your Airlines hold back prime seating to SELL to passengers at the airport.  It’s come to the point where you have to pay through the nose for 5 MORE measly inches!  But to someone who’s overweight that could be the difference between agony and comfort.  If I had higher status with my airline I’m flying, I would have been defaulted to these seats at no extra charge.

All of this is a reminder for you to select your seating carefully when you book your flight – otherwise you can expect an elbow in both your sides or someone sleeping on your shoulder.

Seat Configuration Websites – Consult the following websites to help you with the process:

Seat Guru

Seat Expert

For more on an iPhone App to use as resource for seating information on-the-go.  CLICK HERE

Happy Tripping,
Carter

Hey Trippers,

Having just returned from a good ole winter airline travel experience, I decided I needed to write about this subject again – Airline status.

Having status with an airline can be a big asset to negotiating all the peaks and valleys of a trip.  Without my airline status I would not have made it to our destination – period.  Because of my status I was offered another earlier flight when my original flight was delayed and threatened with cancellation.  Due to the horrendous weather I decided to arrive at the airport 4 hours early which opened up my opportunity.  The flight had a long list of standbys but because of my status, I was bumped ahead of most people.  I was able to get on the flight and out of town.

At my next connection, Chicago, O’Hare, always a nightmare during perfect weather, I had a long wait for my original connection.  I requested an earlier flight that was scheduled.  Due to my status, I was bumped to the top of the standby list.  Tragic thing is I still arrived at my final destination an hour and a half later than my original itinerary despite arriving at my first flight 4 hours early and leaving from my connection on an earlier “scheduled” flight.

The final flight ended up being delayed for two hours because their flight attendant couldn’t make it to the flight!  They threatened to cancel the flight outright because of this.

Also, these flights are all packed and overbooked.  So, with my status I’m allowed to board earlier than others.  Why is this important?  Because then I have overhead bin luggage storage space available – by my seat.  This helps me to efficiently depart the plane rather than wait for others to exit while I wait for access to my baggage in a bin above a seat down the aisle. also given preferential booking for seating.  My status enables me to access my exit row aisle seat (a must for me) with more leg room.

When I call the airline to book, I am given a separate phone number to call for assistance and don’t have to queue with the general public.

Airlines want your regular business and they value your repeat business.

In order to acquire enough miles to attain status, I would pick a major airline than have a wide variety of destinations and partnerships with other airlines to fill in the gap.  Here is a list of advantages you may have access to when joining a mileage program with an airline and gaining status:

(Note: it varies from airline to airline and may depend on the level of status you attain)

• When booking a flight you get a priority telephone number

• Access to additional award travel inventory

• Access to preferred seating; exit rows

• Priority Check In Service

• Waived Baggage Fees

• Streamlined Security Clearance

• Boarding priority

• Access to on board storage bins sooner

• Priority Stand By Wait listing

• If your flight is canceled or delayed you get priority clearance on another flight

• Free airline travel once you accrue enough miles

All of the above is why I encourage you to try to stick with a single airline for your travel.  I will even pay a few dollars more, over the cheapest fare I find, to book on my priority airline.  It pays off in the actual enjoyment of your air travel.  Vow to join at least two mileage programs in 2009 – it’s free!

Happy Tripping in 2009,

Carter