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

[NotUrsula]

Folks, I think that there are a lot of erroneous assumptions flying around here about what one always CAN do when booking an air ticket.

Purchasers cannot always see the available seats before purchase on all airline sites for carriers that assign seating. For jollies, I just went out on the Delta site and tried to look to see what seats were available on a flight next Saturday, and while the system would let me look at the diagram, it would not let me actually choose unless I purchased the tickets first. When I progressed to the actual purchase page and tried to select the seats, I was given a message that

"Sorry, you cannot select seats for this flight at this time. Please check back later or receive your seat assignments at the gate prior to boarding."​

​

These were not "bargain-priced" seats, but fully refundable walk-up fares, but I still couldn't get the seats pre-assigned. So now what am I supposed to do -- Delta happens to be the only airline that can fly me to that particular destination. Do we just not go to Grandma's funeral?

Also, remember that only a few airlines actually charge for seat assignments, and Delta is NOT one of them. You have absolutely no way of knowing how much another passenger paid to be sitting in that coach seat next to you. For all you know, they could have paid full walk-up fare, or they could be non-revs who are not paying a dime. (On one memorable AA flight home from MCO about 5 years ago, we purchased tickets and originally had assigned seats, but ended up separated because there were NINETEEN AA pilots flying non-rev on that plane, and every single one of them was seated in an aisle seat. I mentioned to the one sitting next to me that we had lost our assigned seats on the flight, and he told me that he was only told that he would be on the flight 30 minutes before it departed. WE, on the other hand, arrived at the gate 90 minutes before departure.)

It is completely ridiculous to feel contemptuous of a fellow passenger who was not able to choose a seat selection in advance. You don't know the circumstances, and you don't know what they paid for the seat; the odds are that if you are one of those people who purchased well in advance, then you are the one who paid less for it. Also, if for some reason an FA tells you that you have to move, then you move; you simply don't get the last word on it unless you are willing to die on that hill and get off the plane. You can write all of the letters that you want to after the fact, but I guarantee you that, post 9/11, if you directly defy an FA's order, you won't be remaining in that seat, because you won't be remaining on the aircraft; security will have your tush hauled right off it.

 

[gibsontrio]

OP- I'm sure you will have no problem getting your seat switched. I've never had an issue flying Delta with my children. With that being said I booked our Delta flight about 4 months ago when only 10-20 seats were booked. After you click "purchase" but before you pay you are given the option to look at the seating available. Because I booked using travel vouchers this time I had to book 3 different times for 4 people + an infant on my lap (which requires a certain seat on delta) (I have 3 different confirmation numbers). Immediately after I booked my tickets I called Delta to tell them I would need to have our tickets linked. The woman I spoke to noticed I seated us in a row we wouldnt be allowed to sit in together due to the baby on my lap so she moved our seats with no issue. SO this would worry me that the woman you spoke to would not move your seat over the phone. If I were you I would call back and try someone else.
If I were a single traveler I would have no issues switching seats, but I have a hunch that most people traveling to MCO are families wanting to sit together. Honestly, if you are on my flight I wouldn't give up my seat. Not because i'm mean and not sympathetic, but because I booked 4 months ago and I want to sit next to my family. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[DebbieB]

Odds are this will be resolved without anyone being forced to change their seat. Delta holds many seats in the front half of the plane for Medallion members (frequent flyers with over 25,000 annual miles). Starting at 5 days prior to departure, if there are empty seats in first class Medallion members get moved up, opening up preferred coach seats. Business travelers are usually traveling solo and usually prefer the aisle seat, so a window and middle seat is likely to be open. It's even possible that one of the window seats next to the OP's middle seat is actually open, it's just blocked for Medallion members or airport control. This is being blown way out of proportion. OP - keep watching the seat chart and be sure to check-in at 24 hours. If there are not 2 seats open, call them and see if they can assign seats held for airport control. Because of the car seat, they will not let this get to an issue on the plane itself.

 

[bumbershoot]

First, I'm certain this won't end up actually being a problem on the flight.

But...when I just went through a mock booking, after clicking "Review and Purchase", the next button that was clickable was "choose your seats". But you didn't state that you clicked that but ran into a problem, just that you didn't see the seats before, so it makes me think that you used something like orbitz. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I've used them before (never once got a better deal than on the airline's own site, sad to say), but it does change the things you can do, that's for sure!

And sadly, noise canceling headphones do not block out sound.

My brother's n.c. headphones do.

We won't fly southwest because there are no seat assignments.

Whereas I find SW to be the BEST to fly with a kid! Because you are literally choosing your seat right then and there...not picking one then hoping you'll actually get it when you print your boarding pass/get to the gate.

Flight I was on last Monday...they asked people to move so a fully grown honeymoon couple could sit together. It was just me and my son, sitting together, so neither of us would have moved anyway (there was a stranger sitting in the window seat next to us so a move by her wouldn't have helped either), but seriously, for an adult couple? I think not. (but someone did, probably because of the free drink the FA offered)

The bolded part is ironic. Because SWA does not assign seats but allows children under age 5 to board in a priority position, SWA is in effect the only US airline that can nearly guarantee not to separate you from a child that young. On SWA you are in final control of where you sit; not the airline: as long as you proactively handle checkin and take your boarding position at the gate within suggested time limits

I never would have done family boarding (not even when it was before everyone else, because DS at that age didnt' want ANY extra time on the plane!), I just made sure to get us checked in as early as possible. Even when DS and I were boarding a plane that was already almost fully boarded (a few years ago), when our flight was finally canceled at the last moment, we still found seats together...

I think the bribes mentioned were bribes from FAs to your fellow passengers (like the free drink offered on SW so the adults could sit next to each other). Not from you.

I see this as all part of the me, me, me country that we are becomming.

People, *beings*, have ALWAYS looked out for their own interests. It goes against biology to do otherwise. It's why they don't let you sit in an exit row if you are flying with your own little kids, because it would go against every last bit of nature to ignore your child and help other people.

And while you think it's "me me" for someone to keep their seat instead of changing, others would think it's "me me" for someone to make an irresponsible booking then expect someone else to move.

I'm lucky enough to have a brother and sis in law who are blissfully childfree, who travel quite a bit (often solo for work), and they talk to me about their travels, and I get to see the things that are assumed about them. Although they have put themselves out quite a bit for me and my son, if I ever once *expected* it of them, the kindness would likely end. They were sweet enough to let my sick kid recuperate at their place last week when he became ill suddenly...but if I'd just shown up at their door demanding a room...it might have gone very differently.

Those with kids made their choices, and their choices should not severely impact the lives of others, who might or might not have chosen differently.

Boy have things changed for the worst.

People have been saying that it changed for the worst since before I joined (I lurked before I joined) back in '07...I think maybe it's always been the same, personally.

When I progressed to the actual purchase page and tried to select the seats, I was given a message that

"Sorry, you cannot select seats for this flight at this time. Please check back later or receive your seat assignments at the gate prior to boarding."​

​

The only flights DH and I have seen that situation on have been very very very FULL flights. Of course we haven't seen all flights, but that has been DH's experience (he's the one flying those flights, I'd never book a trip for the 3 of us on a flight that seems so full, at least not until DS is a bit older and/or has grown out his ear pain problems), and when he books one, he always gets to the airport 3+ hours before the flight to make SURE he gets a decent seat assigned. (bigger guy who will contort himself to not impact his fellow passengers...he'd prefer to only contort half his body so he tries for an aisle instead of a middle seat)

 

[Bell30012]

I'm a single father with a daughter. There was a time in my life I commuted from ATL to PVD. We flew out every Sunday and returned every Thursday afternoon. Throw in a few assorted leisure trips we were definitely in the frequent flier classification back then.

Most of our travel was on Delta with an occasional Airtran on some of the leisure trips. This went on from the time my daughter was two until she was almost five. On all those flights, I found that the attitude of the passengers determine the attitude of the airline personnel.

A couple times we got bumped for an overcrowded flight. We had a meal on the airline and caught the next flight. There were a couple times we changed a schedule and were ticket apart. The gate agent always fixed this for us.

It could have been the cute smile on my little one. We reached a point she knew the flight attendants by name. I tried to get her to ask for phone numbers but you know kids.

 

[NotUrsula]

The only flights DH and I have seen that situation on have been very very very FULL flights. Of course we haven't seen all flights, but that has been DH's experience (he's the one flying those flights, I'd never book a trip for the 3 of us on a flight that seems so full

Nope. I was able to see the seating chart, just not select anything, and there were at least 20 seats open on the chart. And the flight was on a jungle jet, so that was around 30% of the aircraft.

 

[Jaymie]

On one of our Delta flights, I booked it last minute, got 2 seats together for DS3 and I then a 3rd seat for DH apart. When we checked in, we just asked if it was possible to be seated together, but not a big deal if we couldn't. There was another family with a similar situation, but they had 3 seats all apart from each other. Delta got both families 3 seats together and told us it was no big deal, they hold back seat assignments for just this reason.

 

[AnrynKewkel]

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!
__________________

You can't possibly be serious?? Calling people judgemental because they are telling it like it is? And then thanking someone who sees no problem in taking something from someone when that someone used good planning and money to get what he/she needs? Geeze, grow a spine, a thick skin, and get over yourself.
And you don't think at all that calling everyone's posts on this thread 'vile' and 'pretentious' is not judgemental? Oh I know why....because it is not something you want to hear!

Honey....I've got news for you.....This may be a hard pill to swallow but here it is...
Not everything is going to revolve around you - especially when you did poor planning. So you screwed up - big deal; it happens to the best of us. If someone caves and gives you what you want, then great! But if not, then that person is hardly a bad person. They are only keeping what they planned for, paid for, and made the responsibility to keep (ie. researched airfare and seating, paid for their ticket and paid for and chose their seat, continuously checked their airline for changes, made appropriate changes if need be, checked in online when the time allowed, got to the airport early).

That's the problem with people today. They screw up, or things don't go their way, and God forbid if other people don't fall to the ground to cater to them.

The 'Me Generation' is getting seriously out of control.

 

[Allison]

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!

But aren't you doing the same thing you have just complained about? Should the mods do something about your post?

 

[keishashadow]

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.

well said

Since the DIS is a fountain of info, let's hope that a casual flyer planning their trip might actually do a search here for advice before booking & will find this thread. Certainly should serve to instruct/deter anybody from making the same mistake/assumption re seat assignments .

I've never flown Delta but still curious whether they would refund a fare if a customer found out after booking that their seats weren't together (i had suggested the OP give them a call to see what could be done for this situation), anybody know if they would make the accommodation?

 

[Lewisc]

The truth is most of us, if asked nicely, would move so one parent could sit next to a 3 year old child.

Discussion boards like this shouldn't be people's first place to turn for information. I discovered I didn't get a seat next to my 3 year old. The first thing I'd do is call Delta, not ask on DIS. Unless Delta was able to assure me the GA could take care of the situation I'd switch flights.

I don't know if it's still true but at one time wasn't almost 1/3 of the seats held for gate assignment?

I don't think it's clear if the seat chart available prior to purchase showed available seats together. I'm sure Delta would have cancelled the reservation, without any penalty, if the customer called shortly after booking.

Folks, I think that there are a lot of erroneous assumptions flying around here about what one always CAN do when booking an air ticket.

Purchasers cannot always see the available seats before purchase on all airline sites for carriers that assign seating. For jollies, I just went out on the Delta site and tried to look to see what seats were available on a flight next Saturday, and while the system would let me look at the diagram, it would not let me actually choose unless I purchased the tickets first. When I progressed to the actual purchase page and tried to select the seats, I was given a message that

"Sorry, you cannot select seats for this flight at this time. Please check back later or receive your seat assignments at the gate prior to boarding."​

​

These were not "bargain-priced" seats, but fully refundable walk-up fares, but I still couldn't get the seats pre-assigned. So now what am I supposed to do -- Delta happens to be the only airline that can fly me to that particular destination. Do we just not go to Grandma's funeral?

Also, remember that only a few airlines actually charge for seat assignments, and Delta is NOT one of them. You have absolutely no way of knowing how much another passenger paid to be sitting in that coach seat next to you. For all you know, they could have paid full walk-up fare, or they could be non-revs who are not paying a dime. (On one memorable AA flight home from MCO about 5 years ago, we purchased tickets and originally had assigned seats, but ended up separated because there were NINETEEN AA pilots flying non-rev on that plane, and every single one of them was seated in an aisle seat. I mentioned to the one sitting next to me that we had lost our assigned seats on the flight, and he told me that he was only told that he would be on the flight 30 minutes before it departed. WE, on the other hand, arrived at the gate 90 minutes before departure.)

It is completely ridiculous to feel contemptuous of a fellow passenger who was not able to choose a seat selection in advance. You don't know the circumstances, and you don't know what they paid for the seat; the odds are that if you are one of those people who purchased well in advance, then you are the one who paid less for it. Also, if for some reason an FA tells you that you have to move, then you move; you simply don't get the last word on it unless you are willing to die on that hill and get off the plane. You can write all of the letters that you want to after the fact, but I guarantee you that, post 9/11, if you directly defy an FA's order, you won't be remaining in that seat, because you won't be remaining on the aircraft; security will have your tush hauled right off it.

 

[goofy4tink]

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!

Seriously??? There has been no rudeness here, no judgemental behaviour. You asked a question, you got answers. Now, you may not have liked the some of the answers you got. But this is a public board, and people are free to post their answers...as long as they are polite. And that has been the case. I CAN do something about mean, nasty, judgemental posts...and I will as soon as I see one. This board is friendly and hugely helpful. But it is always the posters who don't like the answers they get that cry 'foul' and tell us how nasty we are here.

Many of us fly often...and we see many people trying to 'work the system' so we get somewhat peeved when someone comes along and tells us they knowingly booked seats that wouldn't work for them and how do they get seated together. For the life of me I can't understand how you failed to realize the available seats. But please do not come here and make accusations about others.

Folks, I think that there are a lot of erroneous assumptions flying around here about what one always CAN do when booking an air ticket.

Purchasers cannot always see the available seats before purchase on all airline sites for carriers that assign seating. For jollies, I just went out on the Delta site and tried to look to see what seats were available on a flight next Saturday, and while the system would let me look at the diagram, it would not let me actually choose unless I purchased the tickets first. When I progressed to the actual purchase page and tried to select the seats, I was given a message that

"Sorry, you cannot select seats for this flight at this time. Please check back later or receive your seat assignments at the gate prior to boarding."​

​

These were not "bargain-priced" seats, but fully refundable walk-up fares, but I still couldn't get the seats pre-assigned. So now what am I supposed to do -- Delta happens to be the only airline that can fly me to that particular destination. Do we just not go to Grandma's funeral?

Also, remember that only a few airlines actually charge for seat assignments, and Delta is NOT one of them. You have absolutely no way of knowing how much another passenger paid to be sitting in that coach seat next to you. For all you know, they could have paid full walk-up fare, or they could be non-revs who are not paying a dime. (On one memorable AA flight home from MCO about 5 years ago, we purchased tickets and originally had assigned seats, but ended up separated because there were NINETEEN AA pilots flying non-rev on that plane, and every single one of them was seated in an aisle seat. I mentioned to the one sitting next to me that we had lost our assigned seats on the flight, and he told me that he was only told that he would be on the flight 30 minutes before it departed. WE, on the other hand, arrived at the gate 90 minutes before departure.)

It is completely ridiculous to feel contemptuous of a fellow passenger who was not able to choose a seat selection in advance. You don't know the circumstances, and you don't know what they paid for the seat; the odds are that if you are one of those people who purchased well in advance, then you are the one who paid less for it. Also, if for some reason an FA tells you that you have to move, then you move; you simply don't get the last word on it unless you are willing to die on that hill and get off the plane. You can write all of the letters that you want to after the fact, but I guarantee you that, post 9/11, if you directly defy an FA's order, you won't be remaining in that seat, because you won't be remaining on the aircraft; security will have your tush hauled right off it.

Yes, you can see available seats. If, as you mentioned, they aren't available at that time and you have to wait until gate arrival, then it says so. If you make a seat choice, it's because a seating chart came up. I can peruse various Delta flights right now, and see what seats are available. If I don't see seats that would work for me, I wouldn't book that particular flight. The OP chose seats, so it's pretty safe to assume she saw a seating chart..either before or after booking. I find it hard to believe that Delta doesn't allow you to choose seats before final payment.


So, since this thread has gotten 'contentious' and somewhat mean spirited, I am closing it. Enough is enough! Play nicely people.