Help! 3 yr old not seated w/us on plane!

[Alexander]

This debate cracks me up!

I just never know who will react or post when I post now days on here!

Anyway...called Delta, she sees the same things I see online and advised me to check in early and get to gate early and they will be able to help me. I'm not worried. What happens, will happen. We'll just go in very nice and cute and hope our politeness and charm will get us somewhere. I did think of bribes, whoever posted that earlier, and will be prepared to offer something monitary and be sweet and polite about it.

We are seated together on the first leg and we will deal with this too. Just a 3 hour flight. No stress. Plus, some of you all are cracking me up!

PS- didn't know DD had to sit in window seat in a car seat. I think we were asked to do this last year, but when she was 2, we had her seated in between both of us and that was on a Delta flight.

I completely agree with you! This whole, "I paid for my seat early and I'm not giving it up" is ridiculous! I have flown every legacy US carrier, AirTran and JetBlue and never not been seated with my young child! We have even had a gate agent purposely put us in the exit row knowing we couldn't stay and an adult party of 2 would gladly take those seats for more leg room. We have had to fly 2 and 2 many times (DH and 1 DS) and (Me and 1 DS) but it was fine! I was going to post that you don't need to worry about it, Delta will take care of you, but I knew that all of these responses would show up! "There is no guarantee" "You should have booked sooner" "I paid for my seat" Blah, blah blah.

OP--Enjoy your vacation, and at least one of you will be seated with your 3 y/o, they are not going to seat her alone!

 

[maxiesmom]

I completely agree with you! This whole, "I paid for my seat early and I'm not giving it up" is ridiculous! [/B]!

What is ridiculous about people wanting to keep what they paid for?

I think it is more ridiculous to book seats that you know are unacceptable, and expect others to move around to accomodate you.

 

[Alexander]

Horrible experience with Delta...but this was in Mexico booked well in advance and had seats together day we were leaving they had major problems lost our whole plane or something. I picked the wrong line. And they had DS2 listed as an adult so they split us up. Spend 20 min trying to get us seats next to each other. Finally sent me to the gate (actually escorted) when I get there they try to refuse me then they tell me I have to hold DS as a lap child. Ummmm no you made me pay for a seat for him unless you want to give me my money back. They are holding up the entire plane for us. Finally FA asks two people if one of them will more...and they moved him to first class so no complaints by this 20 year old.

Then we connect thru detroit, well with everything going in inCancun I didnt realize that I didnt get boarding passing for connection. I am told I have to go to the gate. By the time someone is there they have already given up our seats. She hand writes me tix but somehow they got reassigned again. So once on the plane I try to switch. They are only 2 person per row. DS had window and I had aisle in row in front. The man that I try to switch with got totally pissed off...not sure why he went aisle to aisle. FA told him that was fine he didnt have to switch but he would be sitting next to my 2 year old the entire flight. The man grumbled under his breath and took my seat.

First and last time I will fly Delta

And how is any of this Delta's fault? YOU clearly didn't indicate he was a child on the reservation when you made it, and YOU didn't ensure you had the boarding passes for the second flight. I'm sure they weren't telling you that you HAD to hold him on your lap (they obviously had a seat available for him), but were indicating that would be the only way right then to guarantee he would be with you. When you asked the man to move and HE was grumpy, how was that Delta's fault?

 

[Alexander]

What is ridiculous about people wanting to keep what they paid for?

I think it is more ridiculous to book seats that you know are unacceptable, and expect others to move around to accomodate you.

You would really dig your heels in and prevent a parent from sitting with their child if you were perfectly capable of moving seats? I see this as all part of the me, me, me country that we are becomming. It wouldn't kill people to give a little kindness.

They never show all of the seats that are available until 24 hours before check-in, because you don't even have to select your seats when you book, so the claim of booking something that is unacceptable is not valid in my viewpoint. By booking seats, the OP has guaranteed she will have seats. If you don't book your seats on Delta, there is a very good chance you'll end up getting bumped.

 

[npcougar]

We just snagged a great deal on Delta to Orlando Easter Sunday through the following Wed. Quick little sunny getaway! On the way home, the plane is pretty much full. The only seats I could get for the three of us, me DH and DD 3, were in three rows, in a row. How is the best way for me to approach this before the flight or at the gate to get at least one of us together with my 3 year old daughter? THANKS!

Why did you order the tickets if you weren't happy with the seat locations? Totally selfish of you expecting others to loose their seats to accommodate you. Congrats on your deal.

 

[sam_gordon]

BUT...how the heck can an airline, in all good conscience, move people out of the seats they chose and paid for, in order to accomodate someone who knowingly bought

I think it is more ridiculous to book seats that you know are unacceptable, and expect others to move around to accomodate you.

I know it's not the case in the OP, but let's not forget how often legacy airlines change flights/times, and subsequently seating assignments. So if I book a flight that fits my schedule & seating requirements and the airline makes a change and my party is not sitting together anymore (specifically if I have a young child), should I not raise a stink?

Just something to keep in mind the next time you frequent travelers are asked to change seats to keep a family together. It may not have been that families fault they got separated.

 

[maxiesmom]

I know it's not the case in the OP, but let's not forget how often legacy airlines change flights/times, and subsequently seating assignments. So if I book a flight that fits my schedule & seating requirements and the airline makes a change and my party is not sitting together anymore (specifically if I have a young child), should I not raise a stink?

Just something to keep in mind the next time you frequent travelers are asked to change seats to keep a family together. It may not have been that families fault they got separated.

If everyone took the time to understand what they are getting when they book a flight, they would know that all you are guaranteed to get is from point A to B on a given day. Even those of us who pay for certain seats are not really 100% guaranteed getting them. So no, no stink needs to be raised IF you understand what you have paid for.

Even so, we all know you are better off paying for a seat assignment. You do have better odds of being seated together if you pay to be seated together. Not paying, or booking seats that are not together, and expecting others to have to accomodate you is rude and selfish. Imho.

 

[goofy4tink]

I completely agree with you! This whole, "I paid for my seat early and I'm not giving it up" is ridiculous! I have flown every legacy US carrier, AirTran and JetBlue and never not been seated with my young child! We have even had a gate agent purposely put us in the exit row knowing we couldn't stay and an adult party of 2 would gladly take those seats for more leg room. We have had to fly 2 and 2 many times (DH and 1 DS) and (Me and 1 DS) but it was fine! I was going to post that you don't need to worry about it, Delta will take care of you, but I knew that all of these responses would show up! "There is no guarantee" "You should have booked sooner" "I paid for my seat" Blah, blah blah.

OP--Enjoy your vacation, and at least one of you will be seated with your 3 y/o, they are not going to seat her alone!

I have no problem moving if need be. But really?? Because someone else waited until the last minute to book 3 of the few remaining seats (which is why the fare was so low to begin with), and they decide that these seats, which they chose, are no longer going to work for them, so they get to have someone move that booked months in advance and paid a premium price for doing so??? Sorry I don't agree. I have moved in the past. But I'm telling you...if the FA asks my dd and I to move out of our middle/window seats to accomodate someone else, then that airline had either put us in better seats, or compensate me. I booked early to get the seats I wanted.

I know it's not the case in the OP, but let's not forget how often legacy airlines change flights/times, and subsequently seating assignments. So if I book a flight that fits my schedule & seating requirements and the airline makes a change and my party is not sitting together anymore (specifically if I have a young child), should I not raise a stink?

Just something to keep in mind the next time you frequent travelers are asked to change seats to keep a family together. It may not have been that families fault they got separated.

Absolutely...been there, done that. If flights/times have changed, then I am probably going to have been moved as well, so I will understand a family needed others to move. I have booked with Delta, choosing my seats, up towards the front because I needed to be off the plane quickly that one time. Then, Delta changed the flight time by about 20 mins and we lost our seats. Now, I am seated in the far back of the plane and my dd was in the middle of the plane! I called them, and got us two seats together, but it was in the back.
Okay...so then, a month goes by and Delta completely canceled the flight and put us on a flight that was 3/4 full. Now, you have to understand that our flight was also 3/4 full....so, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what is going to happen. When Delta made that change, it really messed up my arrival time, so I had to cancel something on the other end. But, when I called Delta to see if there was something else I could do, since that flight was so overbooked at this point, they put me on the flight I had originally wanted, but didn't book since it was double the fare of the flight I ended up booking.

So, I understand that families get messed up when airlines make changes. I just have a problem when someone waits until the last minute and books when they find a nice, low fare. And that fare is low because it's for single middle seats!! So, after buying their fares, they come along and say that the seats are working for them and how do they get to sit together. That is my issue.

 

[sjs314]

I am in the camp with thoses who do not understand completeing the ticket purchaseing process knowing there were not 3 seats together. To me it seems to make more sense to spend a little more money for the flight than to risk being separated on a fight.

I would be calling Delta to see about changeing my flight right away rather than have to hope for seat changes the day of the flight to accomidate my family

 

[TiggerCat]

You would really dig your heels in and prevent a parent from sitting with their child if you were perfectly capable of moving seats? I see this as all part of the me, me, me country that we are becomming. It wouldn't kill people to give a little kindness.

Hold on. So you are saying that someone who has followed the correct process to select a seat in advance should gladly give up their seat to someone who didn't? Hmmmmm, you have interesting logic. My thoughts, the "me, me, me" you refer to is the individual who booked seats knowing very well that they would need to be accommodated. I really think it is time for people to get their priorities straight and start looking to take care of their special needs first and then worry about saving money.

TC.

 

[TiggerCat]

I am in the camp with thoses who do not understand completeing the ticket purchaseing process knowing there were not 3 seats together. To me it seems to make more sense to spend a little more money for the flight than to risk being separated on a fight.

I would be calling Delta to see about changeing my flight right away rather than have to hope for seat changes the day of the flight to accomidate my family

 

[sam_gordon]

If everyone took the time to understand what they are getting when they book a flight, they would know that all you are guaranteed to get is from point A to B on a given day. Even those of us who pay for certain seats are not really 100% guaranteed getting them. So no, no stink needs to be raised IF you understand what you have paid for.

Even so, we all know you are better off paying for a seat assignment. You do have better odds of being seated together if you pay to be seated together. Not paying, or booking seats that are not together, and expecting others to have to accomodate you is rude and selfish. Imho.

And you as a fellow passenger know the separated family DIDN'T pay for their seats together?

So, I understand that families get messed up when airlines make changes. I just have a problem when someone waits until the last minute and books when they find a nice, low fare. And that fare is low because it's for single middle seats!! So, after buying their fares, they come along and say that the seats are working for them and how do they get to sit together. That is my issue.

My point is simply other passengers have no idea whether the "separated family" either a) didn't pay for seats or b) got bumped out of their selected seats by the airline. Gate agents may be able to tell by looking at the computer, but I think making a blanket statement of "I've paid for my seat, tough luck you didn't" is too narrow minded.

 

[kjs1976]

Ok seriously all of you judgemental people on this board. I booked the tickets and then realized that the seats were where they are. So my whole point in posting was to see if there was anything I could do to get one of us seated by my daughter. Isn't the point of this board to get information on Disney trips or otherwise? If I wanted half of you to play God and judge me, I would have indicated that in my post. Thanks for ripping me a new one, I appreciate your vile, pretnetious support and wish you all the same. If the mods can't do something about these posts, then what is the point of this nice friendly board that I joined 10 years ago? Boy have things changed for the worst.

Alexander....thank you truly for being supportive!

 

[maxiesmom]

And you as a fellow passenger know the separated family DIDN'T pay for their seats together?

In the case of the OP we know she didn't. They were not available. Do I know the history behind everyone else on the plane? Nope. And they wouldn't know mine either.

I've been asked to swtich seats twice. The first time by a mom who wanted to move from her seat in the back of the plane to my lovely aisle seat towards the front of the plane. I was sitting by the dad and their daughter. He told me they had done the name your own price deal and not chosen their seats.

The second time was a mess to begin with. Plane change, seats given out to multiple people, the airline handing out new seat assignments as people boarded. I don't know what happened that time, but again someone wanted my front of the plane aisle seat and expected me to be happy to move to a back of the plane middle seat. This time it was 2 sisters I was sitting next to, about 10 & 12 in age I would have to guess. So not small children who needed mommy. In fact she ended up sitting right in front of us, and they all ignored one another the whole flight.

 

[Alexander]

I myself have said there is no pixie dust on the transportation board, but I honestly didn't realize that there was such rudeness. Peace-out!

 

[maxiesmom]

OP--I think most of us hope everything works out for you.

In the defense of a lot of us, there have been posts many many times from people who think it is ok to skip paying a seat fee, and think that because they have a child everyone else should just move to accomodate them. I know that is not what you intended, but it is going to be the unfortunate outcome. People who fly a lot get sick and tired of paying for extras such as seat assignments, only to be told they need to suck it up and move, because someone else comes along who wanted to save a few bucks, but "needs" seats together. Again, I know that is not what you intended.

At least you know for next time that you can see what seats are available on an aircraft before you go ahead and purchase tickets.

 

[kaffinito]

What is ridiculous about people wanting to keep what they paid for?

I think it is more ridiculous to book seats that you know are unacceptable, and expect others to move around to accomodate you.

You would really dig your heels in and prevent a parent from sitting with their child if you were perfectly capable of moving seats? I see this as all part of the me, me, me country that we are becomming. It wouldn't kill people to give a little kindness.

They never show all of the seats that are available until 24 hours before check-in, because you don't even have to select your seats when you book, so the claim of booking something that is unacceptable is not valid in my viewpoint. By booking seats, the OP has guaranteed she will have seats. If you don't book your seats on Delta, there is a very good chance you'll end up getting bumped.

Which is typical "me me me" thinking... It's a shame you don't realize it as such.

It's sad that you really think that others who picked and paid for their seats well ahead of time need to rearrange their plans just to accommodate you.

 

[crashbb]

OP--I think most of us hope everything works out for you.

In the defense of a lot of us, there have been posts many many times from people who think it is ok to skip paying a seat fee, and think that because they have a child everyone else should just move to accomodate them. I know that is not what you intended, but it is going to be the unfortunate outcome. People who fly a lot get sick and tired of paying for extras such as seat assignments, only to be told they need to suck it up and move, because someone else comes along who wanted to save a few bucks, but "needs" seats together. Again, I know that is not what you intended.

At least you know for next time that you can see what seats are available on an aircraft before you go ahead and purchase tickets.

And in defense of, well, me, I provided some actual useful suggestions and advice.

Apparently, though, she only really wanted useless support (sorry, but simply saying that those that won't give up seats for children are rude jerks, isn't actually going to help the OP). I note that Alexander was thanked, but I was (apparently) part of the "vile, pretnetious support" (sic). As for wishing me the same - why thank you. Yes, I hope that if I need help in the future, someone goes out of their way to provide a list of suggestions (I, of course, will thank them in a slightly different fashion than the OP chose to use).

 

[letthewookiewin]

I truly hope that you are able to work everything out with Delta. Just look at this as a good learning experience. I know when I have to fly with our boys, I always check before hand what seats are available. Then I keep checking on a weekly basis, and then daily basis when it gets closer to the trip to make sure nothing has changed.
Also with it being a public board, when you asks a question, you will get opinions. Even if you didn't specifically ask for them. Not all of those opinions are going to agree with yours. Just read them, take any helpful information from them, and don't take them too much to heart.

 

[TiggerCat]

Ok seriously all of you judgemental people on this board. I booked the tickets and then realized that the seats were where they are. So my whole point in posting was to see if there was anything I could do to get one of us seated by my daughter. Isn't the point of this board to get information on Disney trips or otherwise? If I wanted half of you to play God and judge me, I would have indicated that in my post. Thanks for ripping me a new one, I appreciate your vile, pretnetious support and wish you all the same. If the mods can't do something about these posts, then what is the point of this nice friendly board that I joined 10 years ago? Boy have things changed for the worst.

Alexander....thank you truly for being supportive!

I don't get what you are upset about. You asked how to get around the normal procedures and some of us advised you not to get your hopes up. You then decide that everyone is "ripping you a new one" because they weren't agreeing that you should be accommodated over everyone else on the aircraft. I'm sorry if you don't get it but not everyone is going to come running to your defence when you put getting cheap tickets ahead of seat assignment. It is my personal opinion that someone who is really concerned about sitting with their child on an aircraft should ensure that they are able to do so before confirming the booking. If I have misinterpreted your situation I am truly sorry but that is how it comes across to me.

I also regret that you feel it is necessary to accuse those that don't agree with you with being vile and judgemental. I can assure you that this wasn't my intention. Your wish that I receive the same treatment is also noted but since I tend to abide by the recommended processes and procedures, I doubt that I will be in need of such support. But thanks just the same.

Kindly,

TC.