Delta "Family Seating"

[sam_gordon]

I haven't read every page of this debate, so my apologies if this has been covered. I just have a question on my personal arrangements with Air Tran.

I booked through Air Tran and paid the extra fees so my family of 5 could sit together both ways. Is this guaranteed or no?

TIA

I don't know how Air Tran works, but if possible, I would keep checking online to make sure your seat assignments haven't been changed. With two months to go (according to your ticker), I'd be checking about 3 times a week. With about two weeks to go, start checking every day. The idea is IF a change is made, you'll have some notice and hopefully be able to do something (might be able to pick new seats online or have to call them).

That does not mean there won't be a change once you get to the plane, but you try to control what you can.

 

[LilyWDW]

I haven't read every page of this debate, so my apologies if this has been covered. I just have a question on my personal arrangements with Air Tran.

I booked through Air Tran and paid the extra fees so my family of 5 could sit together both ways. Is this guaranteed or no?

TIA

Keep an eye on the flight. Depending how far out you are you might want to check weekly for any changes. IF there is an equipment or flight change, you will have to call Air Tran. They will be able to switch things around (most likely) to be sure you are back together. However, this is easiest when the change first happens, so keep an eye on things.

I am 2 weeks out and check at least every other day (some days I simply forget).

 

[Jenny3]

Thank you, I will be sure to check numerous times; just looked now and I'm still good to go. We have an early flight and the last thing I want are issues with seating, especially with a toddler!

 

[ccgirl]

Thank you, I will be sure to check numerous times; just looked now and I'm still good to go. We have an early flight and the last thing I want are issues with seating, especially with a toddler!

I find the earlier flights are the most consistent. Once the day goes on; it's like a domino effect. Delays cause other delays, plane changes cause other plane changes etc. I usually try to book the first direct flight out.

 

[h518may]

Keep an eye on the flight. Depending how far out you are you might want to check weekly for any changes. IF there is an equipment or flight change, you will have to call Air Tran. They will be able to switch things around (most likely) to be sure you are back together. However, this is easiest when the change first happens, so keep an eye on things.

I am 2 weeks out and check at least every other day (some days I simply forget).

I agree with keep watching, but that doesn't always work either. We had our plane changed between when we checked in at Disney (last year) and when we got to the airport.

First understand that my DD is special needs and can't sit by herself safely. I called and talked to Airtran about a month before our flights. They noted her special need for a parent sitting with her, then charged us for DH and DS seats. So when the plane was smaller they worked with us to put DH and DS together, and DD with me. Now I did realize that my DS was 7yrs and could be seated by himself.

 

[maxiesmom]

I agree with keep watching, but that doesn't always work either. We had our plane changed between when we checked in at Disney (last year) and when we got to the airport.

I've had that too, but on Delta. Last December. And for my trip in a couple of weeks, Delta has already changed my seat assingments. Thankfully they kept the whole family together, but we are farther back in the plane than we were to begin with.

 

[Spoonful of Sugar]

So I just found out that West Jet has a few rows that they don't let anyone select seating for, so my guess would be that if anyone needs to be shuffled around, they would do it within rows where no one payed to select their seats. Works for my situation, and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of airlines have something like this, but since I don't fly often I don't know. But look at it this way, even if you select a seat you don't have an option of who you will be sitting next to -- could be someone who talks your ear off, a screaming baby, someone who smells, etc. -- but if you are seated next to a little kid, you can be nice and switch with the parent, or you can spend your flight with someone else's little kid...

 

[crashbb]

So I just found out that West Jet has a few rows that they don't let anyone select seating for, so my guess would be that if anyone needs to be shuffled around, they would do it within rows where no one payed to select their seats. Works for my situation, and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of airlines have something like this, but since I don't fly often I don't know. But look at it this way, even if you select a seat you don't have an option of who you will be sitting next to -- could be someone who talks your ear off, a screaming baby, someone who smells, etc. -- but if you are seated next to a little kid, you can be nice and switch with the parent, or you can spend your flight with someone else's little kid...

Interesting, I booked a flight today and other than the bulkhead (kept for those with disabilities) there wasn't a single row where I couldn't choose a seat (there were a few rows where one or two seats were taken, but not a single full row). It actually surprised me, because with Air Canada (with whom I normally fly), there are always a number of rows that are blocked out (i.e. appear taken, but are not). Weird. Maybe they only block over holidays when the expect a lot of children? I know that Porter Airlines doesn't seem to block out any seats, but then they only fly small planes (2 seats on each side of the aisle).

Just make sure that you check in at 24 hours so you can get two of those seats. At 24 hours, all the seats open up and anyone get take whatever they want (well, of those still left of course).

 

[LaurenLC]

Wow! I sure hope I'm never on a flight with some of you people.... Threads like these make puppies cry!

 

[rjthkids]

I haven't read all the replies on this thread, but I will say that we are a large family (8) that actually flies quite a bit. While I have always worked very hard to book us all together, there have been a handful of times where we've been scattered (mostly when a flight has been canceled and we've been re-booked on another flight etc. etc.). All of my kids except one have significant special needs, and we've also always flown with a toddler or younger in tow. The airlines have always taken care of it for us without a problem, but I'm glad to know a bit more about the process, and that is helpful information to have!

 

[Jey12]

I read the first page and that was probably enough. Just wanted to chime in that we are flying delta at the end of this month and booked the airfare through Disney. Oddly enough it was cheaper that way. We have 3 adults and 1 child flying. After booking my reservations I called delta the next day to confirm and ask about seat assignments. The two connecting flights to and from Orlando we were assigned in the middle seats rows apart. I wasn't surprised and didn't expect anyone to be moved. I simply said oh that's too bad that my 5 year old will have to sit away from one of us. The CS woman immediately told me to hold on and came back with the same scenario as the OP. She had moved myself, DD5 and my mother in our own row in the back. DH would still need to sit away from us, and he's probably more than fine with this option. If this isn't the case when we board then it's not the case. DD5 is young and yes I'd prefer she sat with one of us, but she's also a very confident child that I doubt would have any issues coloring or reading for the entire flight while sitting next to a stranger. Or she might try to chat their ear off about her Disney trip I can't say. I also understand not all children are like this and flying alone would be a very scary thought that hopefully something could be worked out so they wouldn't have to experience it. If my child was frightened of this concept I would speak at length with them about the possibility of having to sit apart so it's not such a shock at the airport. I think it was a nice gesture on the part of Delta and very sweet of the CS agent to automatically try to just take care of the issue, and hopefully it works out.

 

[surfgirl]

But really, I had no idea so many people care where they sit.

But YOU care where you sit ... with your kid. Why wouldn't you assume others care too ?

There are lots of reasons people want certain seats - leg room, medical reasons, to sit with their companions, my kids like window seats so they can sleep (long flights), tight connections, etc. I think the only seat people don't want for a reason... a middle!

Having said that, don't get me started on the people who stop in the first row, put their bag in the overhead, and then walk back to their seat in the back?!?

I also used to take the Greyhound bus often, where you can reserve seats, but I never had a problem with people switching for me to sit with DD, and I often switched to let others sit with their kids. (That's a 4 hour trip, compared to my 1.5 hour flight). I figure I'm an adult and the needs of a child trump mine, but that's just me. I know now that there's some who have serious reasons for needing to sit in a certain spot, but that can't be the whole plane full of people, right? I mean, I doubt people who have reserved seats will be asked to move, when there must be a lot of people who don't reserve. But I'm just guessing, I admit I don't know how many people reserve.

Did you have to pay to reserve those Greyhound seats ?

I think that's where the sticking point comes in. When people have paid to reserve a "specific" seat - especially an aisle, to be asked to switch to a middle for a family's convenience is unfair.

As for the "needs of the kid trumps the needs of the adult", what if there is a tight connection because of a delayed flight and someone asks you to switch from 4B to 24B? Because of other flight problems (and a cancelled flight the night before), this is the only way you can make an important meeting and you are hoping beyond belief to make the connecting flight. In that case, does the needs of the kid trump the needs of the adult ?

I just think it is hard to make blanket statements - there is always an exception to every one of them.

"most" of the time, it will work out (as long as you are willing to switch aisle for aisle or window for window!). However, don't just count on the kindness of strangers. When it happens, its a bonus, not a given.

 

[angelmom27]

I guess its a good thing we never fly. I think airlines should have a family section. That way families can stay together. I am not one to allow my child to sit away from me for any reason. Now a days you dont know who that stranger is sitting next to your child and I would never risk it. I have 3 older kids with special needs so they would have to be next to me but I would never even allow my 6 your old dd to sit alone some where with a stranger. I dont care if they could fly alone and from what I know if they can fly alone they are in special seating close to the flight attendants so they can be monitored.

I think it is great that Delta did that for you and you guys can be together. Maybe airlines shouldnt book seating til check in that way no one is moved or gets upset for some reason.

 

[KrysiaG]

I would never allow my 6 yr old to sit between strangers on a plane. Six...are you kidding me? That's kinder maybe 1st grade!

Uhhh, ditto.


There isn't one person on this forum that would want to sit with ANY of my older 3 kids (aged 5 and twins almost 7 years old). HAHA! My boys can be SUPER high maintenance. One is Autistic and the other cries at the drop of a hat.

---and actually, I don't think I would WANT to sit next to someone else's 5, 6, 7 or even 8 year old to be honest with you. NO THANK YOU.

Wow! I sure hope I'm never on a flight with some of you people.... Threads like these make puppies cry!

I only got thru page 2 but I was thinking the same thing.

Minus the fact that I wouldnt put my two 5 yo's and 8 yo with other people. Who wants to sit with my upset, probably scared 5 yo for hours??? Are they going to take them to the bathroom too?

RIGHT! Exactly!

I can't believe you would allow a 4 year old to sit alone. As a social worker, I am appalled you see nothing wrong with that. I am sure the other passengers enjoyed babysitting your child too.

Ditto

It's perfectly normal for moms to take 8 year old boys into the women's restroom with them because the child is too young to go to the men's room alone, but I'm being overprotective because I would prefer that my children sit with me (as opposed to strangers) on a 3 hour flight - and I'm sure those boys have gone to pee a lot more times than my daughters have flown!

I'm really sorry I bothered to post this. Silly me. I thought I might help some other family. I didn't realize how many people have nothing better to do than sit around judging others parenting decisions. You don’t know me, and you don’t know my children. You have no idea what they’ve been through. So how about y’all stick to raising your own kids (real or hypothetical) and I’ll raise mine.

BTW, if we get to the airport and learn that we aren’t sitting together, we’ll work it out, but I sure as heck wasn’t going to start out knowing we were going to be separated.

Absolutely no need to explain. I completely agree with everything you said.
I don't think half the people that commented realize that they wouldn't WANT to be sitting next to your children. Same goes for mine. A lot of improper assumptions are being made on this thread, and it is unfortunate. Really.

I'm reading this thread and am in the minority. I think it is insane to let your kids sit with strangers on a plane. First of all there are creeps around. Secondly, in case of an emergency who is going to look after my child and put a mask on their face? no one. Chances are it won't happen. Chances are there will be turbulence and I would not be able to see if my kids seat belt is on. There are tons of scenarios in my head. Yes, kids do fly by themselves but it won't be mine.

If you are in the minority, I am right there with you - because I agree with absolutely EVERYTHING you said. It's not just a matter of convenience, but a matter of not disturbing others, protecting your children and taking care of them in a safe manner if something WERE to happen. I'm sorry that others do not see this. I do.

 

[lilpooh108]

Wow! I sure hope I'm never on a flight with some of you people.... Threads like these make puppies cry!

I only read the first page and that's what I was thinking.

My gosh, some of the people on here are so judgmental. I'm sure there's a ton of kids with certain needs, even if they're not toddler age. It's nice that the OP is pointing out "family seating" (which we just learned about during our last trip). Why attack her over posting a tip?

Plus, I'm glad the airlines are trying to put families together. I'd rather be moved if I'm traveling alone than to have some mom leaning over me to get to her kids every 10 minutes or chatting for an hour over me because she got separated from the rest of her family... or if a kid is sitting alone and is now running up & down the aisle unsupervised (had that happen for 3 hours on a flight to Cancun...omg...the number of times my elbow was banged).

 

[Hannathy]

I dont care if they could fly alone and from what I know if they can fly alone they are in special seating close to the flight attendants so they can be monitored.

No there is no special seating. It is Usually closer to the front so it is easier for them at deboarding because they have to be escorted off but there is no special seating.
And the monitoring is the escorting them off the plane and between flights, not on the flight.

 

[seashoreCM]

Minus the fact that I wouldnt put my two 5 yo's and 8 yo with other people. Who wants to sit with my upset, probably scared 5 yo for hours??? Are they going to take them to the bathroom too?

Whether or not sitting with his child, the parent gets up and takes the child to the rest room if the child is unable to go himself.

One of these days they will have (or can you now get) walkie talkies so your child can ask you rather than your having to guess when he needs to go to the rest room.

New invention idea for IFE (in flight entertainment): The ultimate switchboard intercom. On your seatback touch screen TV you press a number an a letter (just as on a jukebox) for a seat and can then talk to a distant-seated family member.

On a typical airplane there are many instances of one person sitting next to a person he does not want to sit next to and also the latter does not want to sit next to the former. By blocking off more seats for assignment to families or groups at boarding time we cut down on the total number of such instances and I dare say we increase the sum total of happiness.

 

[ccgirl]

I guess its a good thing we never fly. I think airlines should have a family section. That way families can stay together. I am not one to allow my child to sit away from me for any reason. Now a days you dont know who that stranger is sitting next to your child and I would never risk it. I have 3 older kids with special needs so they would have to be next to me but I would never even allow my 6 your old dd to sit alone some where with a stranger. I dont care if they could fly alone and from what I know if they can fly alone they are in special seating close to the flight attendants so they can be monitored.

I think it is great that Delta did that for you and you guys can be together. Maybe airlines shouldnt book seating til check in that way no one is moved or gets upset for some reason.

The problem with this is that for certain flights, such as Orlando, it is primarily families. What happens when family seating fills up? That is what is basically going on..."Family seating" is filled and the seat configuration is no longer conducive to families sitting together. But, rather than choosing another flight they (a general they) want that flight since it is the best time so book any way and don't care if others need to be moved around to accommodate them. Mix up due to the airlines such as decreasing the size of the plane is another story. Simple logistics...there are only so many seats together. Most airlines I know do keep the back two rows near the bathrooms open as long as possible. If more than 2 families ask to sit with their families there the seats go.

 

[DopeyDame]

I would never even allow my 6 your old dd to sit alone some where with a stranger. I dont care if they could fly alone and from what I know if they can fly alone they are in special seating close to the flight attendants so they can be monitored.

Nope. No special seating for unaccompanied minors.
I've flown many times as a UM and worked one summer during college as the escort for unaccompanied minors at the airport. It was fun talking with the kids, but stressful and annoying working at an airport. Flight Attendants varried widely in their attentativness to the UMs on their flight.

 

[rjthkids]

I also think there are some false presumptions going on in this thread:

When you "reserve" a seat on an airline, you are not GUARANTEED that seat. Even if you reserve the first row aisle seat to get off that airplane the fastest for a connecting flight, you have no right to that seat. The airlines make that very clear when you book your flight. You are not entitled compensation if they move you. You have no right to due process over the fact that the airlines move you. The seat does not belong to you whether you reserved it or not, it belongs to the airline and they can do what they want with it. What you are "guaranteed" is a seat on that flight, and even that is only a guarantee is quotation marks because they can overbook, and they can cancel flights, though are you are at least entitled compensation if they choose to overbook and boot you, or you otherwise are unable to board the plane because of the airline.

So, if an airline like Delta determines that they are going to bump someone else out of a seat so that my daughter with significant special needs is seated directly next to me, then I'm not being the rude, selfish, uncaring person who "robbed" "you" of your seat. I merely presented a problem *to the airline* and the airline resolved it as they saw fit to do so. They own the airline, they have the plane, they make the decision. I'm not "making" anyone do anything. Nor am I feeling entitled to something that belongs to "you" just because I have children. I have a logistical problem (a seating issue with my children). I approach the airline staff about my logistical problem. They solve it.

So,I really think it is inappropriate to discussing parents who do nothing but request customer service as if they running up and down airplane aisles "forcing" the rule abiding, seat reserving grown-ups out of seats they own. *Everyone* is following the rules here--- the parents who request seating help, those who reserve seats in advance, those who sit in the "family section", those who end up in the emergency exit rows and on and on.

Any one who has a serious problem with the rights, responsibilities and rules that govern seating on an airplane needs to take it up with the airline that they fly, not berate their fellow passengers as if they are doing something wrong.

:heart