Coming and Going

When Assigned Seats Aren't

Upright and Locked

When 'Assigned Seats' Aren't

Gene Isaman of Jeffersonton, Va., was understandably upset when, after buying airline tickets through Expedia, he discovered that his "assigned seat" wasn't assigned after all. Responding to his complaint, Expedia wrote: "Although Expedia.com forwards your seat request to the airlines , we cannot guarantee that every request will be honored."

Retorts Isaman: "The seat selection was printed on my itinerary; people should know that while Expedia gives the impression they have assigned seats, they really don't."

It's true that assigned seats can change due to circumstances beyond Expedia's -- or any other booking agent's -- control. The next question: Are your odds of not getting the seats you requested worse if you buy through a third party than if you go directly to the airline?

In most cases, the odds aren't really that different. Seat assignments can change for a variety of reasons , including a change of equipment or the need to accommodate a family, group or disabled person. "Go online before the trip to reconfirm everything," advises airline expert Terry Trippler of Cheapseats.com. Even then, he warns, there are no guarantees. However, if you were pre-assigned a bad seat, it's worth checking a couple of days before your flight to see if you can get one of the better seats routinely held in reserve for an airline's most frequent fliers.

Another seating option: Northwest Airlines last week announced that it would offer, for $15 per flight segment, some of the better seats in coach. The seats for hire are available 24 hours in advance -- 36 hours for elite-level frequent fliers. About eight seats on most planes -- one of two exit rows and about four aisle seats near the front -- will come with the $15 premium. You can buy your ticket from any source, but must pay for the better seats at www.nwa.com.

WHEEL DEALS

Car Rentals: E-Z Does It

Next time you rent a car for a drive along the toll-laden highways of the Northeast, you might be able to rent an E-Z Pass to get you through toll booths faster.

Avis and Budget will soon offer the option of renting an E-Z Pass for $1.50 a day, plus tolls . Beginning April 1, E-Z Pass will be available on cars rented at New York City's airports and in Manhattan, northern New Jersey and southern Connecticut. The program will roll out to more areas, including metro D.C., by summer, said Avis spokeswoman Susan McGowan. The two car rental firms also will offer special license plates in Houston, for $2 a day, that electronically pay tolls on Texas highways .

Hertz, meanwhile, has been testing the concept in a pilot program in Houston and, according to spokeswoman Paula Rivera, plans to expand into other cities in the next few weeks.

CoGo has always just slapped the E-Z Pass from a personal car onto a rental car windshield and was surprised to hear that's illegal. Then again, it works.

TRAVEL TICKER

New technology at Orbitz.com allows up to six people to be alerted if your flight experiences an unforeseen delay after takeoff. Customers can ask for people on the ground to be contacted by phone, e-mail, PDA or text message . . . In the odd promotion category : Get a free companion ticket by mailing in the labels of five Polident products. There are blackout dates, and prices for the first ticket are better between some cities than others, so check details at http://www.polident.com/ before buying unnecessary false teeth products.

BARGAIN OF THE WEEK

A Merry Olde Deal

Fly nonstop from Washington Dulles to London on British Airways for $569 round trip, including $221 in taxes and fuel surchages and get a two-day London Pass worth $73. The London Pass allows free admission to more than 50 sites, including the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. The cheapest fares are available for Monday-Wednesday travel April 3-May 28. Buy by March 22; travel by Oct. 31 to receive free pass. Info 800-247-9297.

Reporting: Cindy Loose.

Help feed CoGo. Send travel news, road reports and juicy tattles to: cogo@washpost.com. By fax: 202-912-3609. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.

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