Is it only Air Asia that does this?

[Wannabe Flyer]

Was recently on a flight from SIN - DPS and back. On the outbound when we checked in they split 3 of us up on different seats. One of the passengers was a child of 6 years of age and we were advised flight was sold out and we should have checked in online.

Once we boarded the flight the last 5 rows were empty..... there were at least 4 families that had been split up like us and naturally with children there was a lot of activity with us trying to relocate to have at least one parent sit with the child.

On the return Journey I decided to check in online. Sure enough they had split us up again, but thankfully the aircraft showed last 7 rows empty so I tried to change the seats and it would not allow me.

Once we reached the airport we were told the same story again. On the flight it was a repeat performance only this time there were even more families that were split up. Once again juggling around back and forth and most got what they wanted.

When I raised the issue with the cabin crew they told me that if we paid $3 extra at booking they would have seated us together.

I found this really weird as no low cost airline deliberately on an empty flight separates or does not allow you to block seats together.

Is this usual?

[PhineasC]

I think Easyjet leaves the first row of seats empty. I've heard various reasons for this usually to do with making the aircraft more balanced easier to fly. If heavy cargo is loaded in the rear of the hold the aircraft could become unstable

[wowzz]

PhineasC - Easyjet do NOT leave first row of seats free, and in any case do not carry cargo [apart from pax luggage obviously]

[PhineasC]

Why Are Ryanair's Front Rows Empty? — Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/1201754/)

If think the consensus was that only loading the front baggage hold reduced turnaround times compensating for £20/£30 they lose

I'd rather pay the £20 extra to fly BA to avoid the hell that is Ryanair so haven't travelled with them for a while

Why do Ryanair block off seats at the front and back of the? (http://www.ryanair.com/en/questions/why-do-ryanair-block-off-seats-at-the-front-and-back-of-the-aircraft)

This was one of the motivations for suggesting the FF should give their weights

[Espada III]

I had this problem with Lufthansa but there were no spare seats on the plane. Fortunately some kind passengers swapped for us. They gave the same excuse (You should have checked in online) but why?

We made a five person booking at the same time on the same reference, surely they can arrange the seats near to each other? Coming back I could not check in online as the system would not let me, but were fortunate that we got to the airport early and they found us seats next to each other.

[Hartington]

I can't help wondering if the airlines, particularly those who charge for specific seats aren't going to find themselves facing a law suit at some point. I can forsee a number of scenarios, all pretty distressing but coming down to the point that because the airline would not allow 2 people to sit together something bad happened.

[PAXboy]

Espada IIIWe made a five person booking at the same time on the same reference, surely they can arrange the seats near to each other? Ah yes, one of the wonders of the modern world. :confused:

A while back there was a thread on this subject that had some enlightening information from BA ground staff about the way that seat allocation is done MANUALLY and not at the time of booking, so families can get split up. This then gives them headaches at checkin and during loading.

Fortuantely, the airline's managers know best how to run their business ... :rolleyes:

[Wannabe Flyer]

I think all these gimmicks just revolve around how much more to charge customers for options. The cost differential between low cost and full service if all options are taken is not really that back breaking.

Food: About $18 per person extra which includes a snack, a soft beverage and water each way that is so $36

Baggage: $23 each way = $46

Blanket $18 each way = $36

Seat Assignment = $3.00 each way = $6.00

35mm more leg room seat = $20.00 each way

TKT cost: $250 round trip

All in US$

So actually a SIN -DPS-SIN cost me $ 414. SQ was charging $495 for this route, where the smile is also included.

It would also have avoided following conversations

ME: It is far too cold can we please turn down the aircon
FA: Would you like to buy a blanket

ME: Can I have chicken rice
FA: Sold out
ME: Can I have NAsi GOrang
FA: Sold Out
ME: Can I have a Sandwich
FA: Sold out
ME: What do you have
FA: Chips cookie and 7 up
ME: OK taking out my packed Mcdonalds burger
FA: Sorry sir outside food not allowed
ME: Sue me

(I have to admit that on the outbound flight same thing happened so the above conversation in all fairness was a setup to use the last dialogue as I had seen the no outside food signs.) FYI these were lunch time flights.

[Metro man]

Was recently on a flight from SIN - DPS and back. On the outbound when we checked in they split 3 of us up on different seats. One of the passengers was a child of 6 years of age and we were advised flight was sold out and we should have checked in online.

This has been commented about on another website.:hmm:
AirAsia Customer Reviews | SKYTRAX (http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/air_asia.htm)

Between SIN and DPS you have the choice of SQ, Garuda, Qatar and KLM for full service non stop, all widebody except Garuda. Usually one of them has a sale on with some good prices available. If travelling with children, child fares apply, unlike Air Asia where the price is per seat.

If you shop around it may be cheaper to go full service.

[Wannabe Flyer]

Agree Metro Man. Next time will do so. Air Asia was primary choice due to the very convenient timings they had for both segments. SQ was also same times but was sold out in economy on the days I wanted to travel.

[rmac]

Ryanairs system is to do with an approved simplified weight and balance calculation for quick turnaround. Don't remember the exact details, but it allows them to make faster turnarounds if the aircraft is not full.

[Load Toad]

Air Asia is cheap...if you make sure to uncheck all the options you don't want (a pain in the arse in itself) & check in online. You have to buy your seat selection.

You get what you pay for.

[lenhamlad]

Air Asia is cheap

Not always the case. I considered flying Air Asia to KL form Stansted. When you added in all the hidden extras, I could have got a similar deal flying with the regular carriers.

Last time I flew Air Asia was in January from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu. Did the online check for wife and I and we were seated two rows apart. Not a big issue for a one hour flight, but I believe Fernandes does this deliberately to increase revenue. I can afford the extra five Ringgit but Malaysian families might baulk at the extra costs.

[Load Toad]

I agree a lot of the 'options' are purely designed to increase revenue whereas if you accept the automatic selection it seems intent on inconveniencing you.

I used to work for a Big Company so I took flights mostly on my preferred airlines. Now I have to shop for the best deals - I often find by going direct to the airline, comparing with say Zuji or such - I can get good enough deals on the traditional carriers at least as good as the LCC - but without all the LCC hell. But - it means sitting at the 'puter - sometimes over several days & with my (little) knowledge of routes / times to get a nice deal - something a lot of people just can't or won't want to do.

What does surprise me is when flitting back & forth from site to site the prices can vary quite considerably with one airline. I'm sure there is a good reason ;-/