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Alaska Airlines Complaint - Seat Reservation
Complaint
Last August 26, 2009, I made reservations and purchased three tickets through Priceline for my grandson, daughter, and me for a trip to Washington DC in March of 2010. This is a special event, for my grandson was selected to represent his school at a national leadership conference. My daughter and I were going to enjoy DC together while my grandson spent the week at the conference, and then have a day together before we returned to Seattle. At the time of the reservation I thought I had made seat reservations, row 16 D, E and F. When I checked our reservation on January 21, 2010, the seats had been changed to Row 28, D, E, and F. Today, February 1, 2010, The seats had been changed to a seat for my daughter in 28E; no seats were listed for my grandson or for me. I checked the seating chart; no seats together were available. I called Alaska and was told that because I had used Priceline I was not guaranteed the seating I had initially selected. A seat for my grandson then was assigned then next to his mother, but I was seated separately.
I object to this treatment for three reasons:
1. I booked through Priceline because Priceline and Alaska have made a public advertisement stating the advantages of their booking connection.
2. At no time was I advised that the seats were not available because I used Priceline to book the fares. If treatment is different through Priceline then the public needs to be so advised.
3. The seats were booked together; we should be seated together.
I object to this treatment for three reasons:
1. I booked through Priceline because Priceline and Alaska have made a public advertisement stating the advantages of their booking connection.
2. At no time was I advised that the seats were not available because I used Priceline to book the fares. If treatment is different through Priceline then the public needs to be so advised.
3. The seats were booked together; we should be seated together.
Comments:
Posted by MDSasquatch on 2010-02-01:
maybe you should have called Alaska Airlines instead of going through a 3rd party for your reservations. I think the airline's priorities are going to be with the customers who pay a wee bit more, but make direct reservations.
When you buy scraps, you usually have to make some concessions.
For what it's worth -- when you are in DC, avoid all of the food vendors and have your lunches in the basement of the Ronald Reagan Building. It just off Constitution on the back side of the Natural History Museum (google it before you go). Their food court is very good and the prices are reasonable.
When you buy scraps, you usually have to make some concessions.
For what it's worth -- when you are in DC, avoid all of the food vendors and have your lunches in the basement of the Ronald Reagan Building. It just off Constitution on the back side of the Natural History Museum (google it before you go). Their food court is very good and the prices are reasonable.
Posted by dan gordon on 2010-02-01:
I know of no known joint advertising between Priceline and Alaska in fact the opposite is true. Alaska advertises a low price guarantee when booking on Alaskas site. You could have immediately gone to Alaskas website put in your frequent flyer # and checked your seat assignments. Its more likely that they changed equipt since you booked vs them punishing you for booking on priceline.
Posted by Ben There on 2010-02-01:
No airline will guarantee seat assignments regardless of how you book. If they need to move you for any reason they will.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2010-02-01:
The only "advantage" of booking with a third party is to attempt to get the cheapest price. I just can't understand why someone would not book with the business that they are dealing with ie hotel, airlines etc, direct. The 3rd party has to make money somehow, be it at the bookers expense or the airlines, hotel etc..expense....Guess who is going to win?
Posted by Gromit on 2010-07-08:
By buying through Priceline, you didn't buy it from Alaska. Therefor you are not Alaska's customer, just their passenger. Any problems have to be solved by Priceline (or Travelocity, Orbitz, etc), and there's the problem with buying your tickets through a third party.
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