Singapore Airlines Keeps Changing My Seat Selection

Lticket65 on 05/09/2015 - 14:53

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice or suggestions…

My wife and I made a booking from Perth to Paris with two other family members (brother and sister in law) around 11 months ago. The bookings were made separately but within 10 mins of each other. We chose two sets of window seats located next to each other 48A, 48B and 49A, 49B. All was good for 3 months, then both families received an email that our seats had been moved near the rear of the plane in the middle seats. We were now located 7 rows apart from the other family members.

I contacted the airline and explained the situation…..I don't travel too well, and I like to see outside the plane. After 30 mins on the phone she fixed the situation by putting all 4 back together again, with window seats, but at the very back of the plane. Not ideal, but I was content with the outcome. She said she would link the bookings together.

Around 3 months after this, another email tell us we had been moved again. Some random seats in the middle rows and not next to each other. This time I penned a letter to the head office highlighting my disappointment. Got a call back, and after some discussions, we got our window seats and were located next to the other family members again. Things were good for 4 months.

With two weeks to go, they've moved us again.

I'm now at a loss. We booked with Singapore Airlines as they were reputable and had seat selection available. I know it probably says somewhere in the fine print that seats can be moved, but I've never has this problem with any other airline ever. I'm not sure why we have to be moved, and why they can't stick the new passengers into other seats - they're obviously way more important than we are…

Can anyone give me some strategies that might work. Is there any recourse available? I did look up other airlines but given we travel in two weeks they are all fairly expensive.

Thanks in advance.

Travel

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Comments

  • Dennis3003 on 05/09/2015 - 15:49

    Traveled with them before. They once cancelled a flight a couple of months in advance. I told them that I would have to arrange other flights with other companies because of them, and they organised it all for me, they even paid for the tickets for me. So I can say that they are reputable and happy to help. You personally might be out of luck or maybe they changed after 4 years.

  • try2bhelpful on 05/09/2015 - 16:16

    From their UK website

    http://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/travel-information/seat-me…

    "We will do our best to meet your seat request. However, we may occasionally need to reassign seats, due to operational constraints and rescheduling. We appreciate your understanding in these special circumstances."

    It might be that larger groups are now booking which is moving your 2 * 2 around the plane. All I can suggest is a)you just keep ringing them up every time they move you and ask what the "special circumstances" are and can you get your window seat back, or b)you take to their Facebook page and see if you can get someone to talk to you in the public eye. (Squeaky wheel). (that might be risky if they think you are being problematic, given the above paragraph).

    The takeaway is to, at least, make sure to book everyone in one transaction and requesting preallocated seats does not mean you get to keep them. Genuinely, best of luck sorting this out.

    • RockyRaccoon on 06/09/2015 - 08:38

      we may occasionally need to reassign seats

      How occasionally?

      And how often does one have to contact SQ to have these issues resolved

      • try2bhelpful on 06/09/2015 - 08:42

        I'm completely on your side, the problem is that companies point to clauses like that and say they are covered. I feel your pain but I think you can only keep batting it back to them each time and not book with them in the future. Once you have travelled I would put the full story up on their Facebook page, Tripadvisor and whatever other appropriate site you can find.

        • RockyRaccoon on 06/09/2015 - 08:47

          But it's SQ, no one will believe you that they aren't that good!! Mass media loves SQ Travel writers rave about them etc. Now if it was our local airline, we would have headlines in all the local rags telling us how woeful this treatment is. Sigh!

          BTW it's not me travelling, I gave up on SQ years ago ironically as I got tired of being addressed by the attendants as Mr Raccoon this, Mr Raccoon that, while not really delivering. I just like being left alone and not having my name broadcast to every other passenger in earshot. :)

  • Peck on 05/09/2015 - 18:20

    This is very bad treatment. I fly a real lot but never with Singapore air. I would never fly without a pre-selected seat, and I have never been switched. All airlines cover themselves with the fine print, but it should be a very rare occassion indeed that they need to exercise that need. I don't like the way that Singaporeair and, to a lesser extent, Qantas, block out a lot of seat selections.

  • Randxyz123 on 05/09/2015 - 19:45

    Alright the BEST thing to do would be to arrive at the airport about 3 hours before when checkin opens and ask to have your seats rearranged. (Before everyone else arrives).

    I agree with try2bhelpful. Try posting on their facebook wall. Be polite but express your disappointment.

    • Love a bargain on 05/09/2015 - 22:17

      Wouldn't online check-in as soon as it's opened be better?

      • Randxyz123 on 06/09/2015 - 07:51

        You can do online checkin as well but the staff at the checkin desk might be able to rearrange seats and override other's selections so getting to the airport early would be best.

        • RockyRaccoon on 06/09/2015 - 08:39

          might be able to rearrange seats and override other's selections

          And the game goes on, the "other's" seat selections aren't then guaranteed either when they checked in online!!

        • Randxyz123 on 06/09/2015 - 09:10

          @RockyRaccoon: Not everyone checks in online….

  • Consort on 08/09/2015 - 19:45
    +2

    I am confused. I have a booking in Singapore Suites coming up, and my seat allocation hasn't been changed once. Maybe you should change your booking to Suites?? Also, there is only 12 seats in the cabin, so statistically you are very likely to be seated next to each other - even if you are moved. And if you are moved, drinking bottles of Krug will probably make you forget quickly.

    Hope this helps.

    • Randxyz123 on 08/09/2015 - 19:50

      I've had a bloody long day and this made me smile. +1 for you.

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