Beaniemom Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 I am flying tomorrow to go to a funeral. I booked the tickets last week (Delta basic economy fare) and thought all was good. Today I go to pick my seats and I am on standby for my 2nd flight. Is this common? I’m first on the list but this makes no sense to me. I can’t change the timing as I have someone meeting me at the airport which is 1 hour from my destination. Tbh I’m already stressed and this isn’t helping. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 I am flying tomorrow to go to a funeral. I booked the tickets last week (Delta basic economy fare) and thought all was good. Today I go to pick my seats and I am on standby for my 2nd flight. Is this common? I’m first on the list but this makes no sense to me. I can’t change the timing as I have someone meeting me at the airport which is 1 hour from my destination. Tbh I’m already stressed and this isn’t helping. if you actually purchased tickets with confirmed seats - it sounds like you got bumped for your 2nd flight. I would call the airline asap and tell them what happened and you need it to be fixed. if you have ANY proof that you are attending a funeral, I would include it. and if they don't fix it - you can make a big stink on your local people helper newsline. they love those types of stories, lots of click bait for ratings and an opportunity for people to complain about bad airline service. oth . . . the airlines hate them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 I think it is common. We just booked spring break travel, and they are very willing to sell seats on a full aircraft with no seats available. We changed the flight back home to one where we could confirm the seats even though it has a stop and the original flight was direct. There's no way I want to plan to come home with a party of 5, one a special needs kid in a wheelchair, and hope they have seats for us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 (edited) I am sorry that the reason for your travel is to attend a Funeral. Call the Toll Free reservations phone number for the airline. Explain to the agent you speak with that you are flying to attend a funeral. It sounds like the 2nd flight is badly "Overbooked", which is a normal reservations procedure and is necessary for the airlines to do, but not to the extent that they leave people at the Gate, which then means the flight was "Oversold". Ask to be put on the PRIORITY WAITING LIST for the 2nd flight, if the agent cannot confirm you on that flight while you are on the phone. Ask them to speak with their supervisor. If that does not work, as soon as you check in, for the first and second flights (your connecting flight) tell them that you are going to a Funeral and ask them to give you priority. ETA: I assumed before that your 2nd flight is a Connecting flight, which makes it a more important problem. If it is your return flight, I would still ask for Priority Waiting List because you are a "PBD" (Passenger because of Death) ETA #2: Always go through Security ASAP and then go directly to the Departure Gate and listen carefully to the announcements, in case there is a Gate Change, Offer of Compensation for Passengers who are willing to go on a later flight, etc., etc. Edited January 18, 2018 by Lanny 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 Follow on: Did you Print the ticket when you paid for the reservation? If so, in the Status box for the 2nd flight, does it show "HK" or "OK"? If so, that would indicate that at the time you paid for the ticket, you had s confirmed reservation on the 2nd flight. However, if the 2nd flight shows for status, "WL" or something, you were never confirmed on the 2nd flight. Again, if you have not already called the toll free reservation phone number for the airline, call and explain that you are a "PBD" (Passenger Because of Death) and ask them to confirm you onto the 2nd flight, so you can Print the Boarding Pass for the 2nd flight. NOTE: If you cannot Print the Boarding Pass for the 2nd flight, all of the Seats have previously been assigned and if more people show up, who have confirmed reservations (not waitlisted passengers) then the flight will be "Oversold" when it leaves the Gate. Tjat would not be helpful in your case, since you are going to attend a funeral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaniemom Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 Thanks for all the insight. I spoke with an airline rep and I am a confirmed passenger for both flights. Because I got an econmy fare, I was able to chose my seat for the first flight but for the second, I will be assigned a seat at the gate. So I have a seat, it just has not been assigned. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 (edited) Excellent. Have a safe trip! ETA: As you would for any flight, get through Security ASAP and then go directly to the Gate. Tell the Agent(s) at the Departure Gate that you are going to a Funeral and that you need your Seat Assignment. ETA #2: I would try that at the origin airport too. Hopefully it will have opened up and they can Print the Boarding Pass for the 2nd flight, in your airport of origin. Edited January 18, 2018 by Lanny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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