Kids being separated from parents on plane?

[DebbieB]

What is not fair?

I think she means that only those with a tablet/I-Pad could use the live TV. It saves SW the large expense of installing TV's at every seat on every aircraft. The TV will run through the existing wifi.

 

[Gracie09]

I think she means that only those with a tablet/I-Pad could use the live TV. It saves SW the large expense of installing TV's at every seat on every aircraft. The TV will run through the existing wifi.

I still don't get why that is unfair. If you have the equipment you can use the wifi. Just like if I have an iPod I can use it even if you don't.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

wow that's not fare i guess that would mean that they wouldn't make any money if everyone would bring there own devices to play, but still that's not right for them to do that.

In other words, the airline owes you free tv and a viewing device?

 

[goofy4tink]

I have flown to Florida on AirTran, SW, JB and Delta. Until Airtran and SW get their stuff together, I won't fly Airtran again. SW is fine..you just have to understand how it works. You are never 100% sure that you will all be seated together!! Airlines change equipment on occasion and the seating changes. Or they can change flights, combining two less full flights. Seats can, and do, change. SW seldom changes it's flights once they are announced. I always buy the EBCI but that's more for convenience...I hate having to worry about being near a computer, especially for my return flights. That way, I get into either the A boarding group or the low B group. If I'm traveling with just carryon bags, that's important. And you get 2 free checked bags. When traveling with kids, that hugely important!!

Love Jetblue. It's my airline of choice now. I love the individual tv's in the seat backs. Be sure to either bring your own ear buds or you can buy them for about $2 a pair. There are a lot of channels...especially for the kids!! They don't often change their flights...it does happen but not as often as with other airlines. And you get that first checked bag free.

I have flown Delta. But I finally got tired of paying for every checked bag and having to constantly monitor my flights. Delta makes a lot of changes to their flights if you have booked very early!! So, you may very well find yourself on a flight that just doesn't work out time-wise for you. And you could find yourselves split up vs in the same row.

In all reality? Choose the airline that works best for you. No airline is going to give you 100% assurance that your seats will not change. You just have to do due diligence in finding what works for your family as far as times, nearby airports and the airlines that fly out of that airport. Many people go by price alone...which isn't a bad idea. But price alone is hard if you need a specific airport and a specific time to leave.

Those that find themselves split up from their families usually booked very late, or didn't choose to pay the addtl fee to choose seats on those airlines that charge for that. I know that when I have flown Airtran, people that didn't pay to choose their seats, prior to arrival at the airport, found that their family had to split up..and that really upset them. It would seem that they didn't do their homework. Or, they decided to rely on the charity of strangers to give up their seats so as to enable the non-paying family to be seated together. That is never a good idea.!!!

 

[gmeh1]

Not TV's but I heard the other day that they are planning to rollout live TV that you can watch for free on your tablet/I-pad.

I don't think it is free. http://www.southwest.com/wifi/

 

[Allison]

I don't think it is free. http://www.southwest.com/wifi/

It is now.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...ines-offers-fliers-free-in-flight-tv/2484739/

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think all wifi is free, just the TV viewing. They are trying to compete with JetBlue probably.

 

[christinezb]

someone posted that pretty soon the airlines may not allow people to use there ipods or tablets on the plane, and i meant by that's not fare by the airlines should not do that because it's not fare to the customers that there not allowed to use there own electronic devices soo the airlines could make more money.

I didn't mean anything that its not fare for other people that didn't have it
im sorry if anyone misunderstood my post.

 

[DebbieB]

someone posted that pretty soon the airlines may not allow people to use there ipods or tablets on the plane, and i meant by that's not fare by the airlines should not do that because it's not fare to the customers that there not allowed to use there own electronic devices soo the airlines could make more money.

I didn't mean anything that its not fare for other people that didn't have it
im sorry if anyone misunderstood my post.

Haven't heard that. The last I heard was that there maybe a new rule that tables & ipads could be used during takeoff and landing, where currently they can only be used above 10,000 feet.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

someone posted that pretty soon the airlines may not allow people to use there [sic] ipods or tablets on the plane, and i meant by that's not fare by the airlines should not do that because it's not fare [sic] to the customers that there [sic] not allowed to use there [sic]own electronic devices soo the airlines could make more money.

I didn't mean anything that its not fare for other people that didn't have it
im sorry if anyone misunderstood my post.

Someone posting this doesn't make it true. It is not. Why would you think airlines would prohibit people from using their own electronic devices on planes?

 

[crashbb]

Someone posting this doesn't make it true. It is not. Why would you think airlines would prohibit people from using their own electronic devices on planes?

As far as I can tell (I just went back and read through the posts) no one actually said it anyway. Though I agree, even if it had been said, it wouldn't make it true.

 

[goofy4tink]

Seriously people??? We all knew exactly what that poster meant. There is no reason to go around, being the grammar/spelling police, making others feel badly. Geez Louise guys. Happy Monday.

 

[Lewisc]

does chewing gum still help soo your ears don't pop thats what i use to do when i went on the plane. thank you.

Chewing gum helps. It's generally (never?) sold at airport shops.

I think she means that only those with a tablet/I-Pad could use the live TV. It saves SW the large expense of installing TV's at every seat on every aircraft. The TV will run through the existing wifi.

Not only the money but also weight.

I still don't get why that is unfair. If you have the equipment you can use the wifi. Just like if I have an iPod I can use it even if you don't.

Traditional IFE, either personal sets or drop down screens, can be used by all passengers. It might have value to families who don't fly much. SW's approach caters to people who fly with a tablet.I wouldn't say it's unfair, but no question it's of less value to many passengers. Add seat power and many passengers don't even need SW's TV download enough content for your flight.

 

[gmeh1]

someone posted that pretty soon the airlines may not allow people to use there ipods or tablets on the plane, and i meant by that's not fare by the airlines should not do that because it's not fare to the customers that there not allowed to use there own electronic devices soo the airlines could make more money.

I didn't mean anything that its not fare for other people that didn't have it
im sorry if anyone misunderstood my post.

That is during take off and landing.

 

[kwdw]

Listen -

Every airline and most passengers would prefer that you and your kids end up together. So - if its a huge concern for you - book an airline with assigned seats. Yes - they "could" change them later on you - but if they divide up you and your kids - you go complain and they can probably solve the problem. With SW - there is family boarding between A and B if your kids are 4 and under. If you are worried about being separated from kids older than that - buy EBCI - and you'll be fine. Done. I see it every time I fly to Disney - the A boarding group is full of families with kids ranging from 5-15. The little ones board between A and B. And those of us adults who don't really care if we end up separated from our traveling partners are in B and C because saving $12.50 per person was more important to us.

True story on SW - my niece (under 4) - decided it was time to wet all of her clothes right before boarding. So - they missed both family boarding and their boarding in the B group. They ended up one of the last set of folks on the plane - and with some help from other folks in the back of the plane and the flight attendant - the three of them ended up in the same row. Yes, it took some volunteers, but everyone pretty much realizes you can't ask a kid that little to sit without a parent. Someone had to give up an aisle set for a middle seat. Someone volunteered. Having someone swap so dad could also be in same row was a bonus - guy decided he'd rather sit in a middle seat than next to my niece.

Now - I might not agree to give up my aisle seat for a middle seat for your 12 year old to be seated next to you, but for a little one (say under 10) - I think a volunteer would step up in a bind.

 

[maxiesmom]

Now - I might not agree to give up my aisle seat for a middle seat for your 12 year old to be seated next to you, but for a little one (say under 10) - I think a volunteer would step up in a bind.

But you can't depend on it. You may hope someone would help out under extenuating circumstances, but it is not guaranteed. And most of the time family members are split up, it is not because of some emergency such as ruined clothes at the last minute.

The best advice is that if you want your whole family to sit together, do everything you can ahead of time to make it happen. Relying on strangers to move for you can have not so great results.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

We have been flying since our oldest (who will be 18 this week) was 6 weeks old. Both my kids had seats once they were 6 months ... I always get seats and will pay for us to sit together. I keep checking and if plane changes I make sure seats are together. Nobody has ever asked us to move---we used to do one row and aisle across. Now that the kids are over 6ft we do all four aisle seats. I'd leave it up to whoever was asked to switch if they'd move---probably would if similar seat---and asked nicely. Think if we were threatened with I'll let you care for my crying kid we'd crank up music and ignore the crying kid.
Only time we had issue with someone trying to claim aisle seat of my then 14 year old was on flight when a mom and her almost 2 year old lap child in window...the guy in middle seat tried to take my son's aisle seat (this guy obviously boarded early because we board when rows called---don't rely on overhead bins). Guy told my son middle seat was his thinking he didn't know better or wouldn't say a word. He was wrong---I was in row in front of my son and told the man in a nice way my son had aisle seat. Man not happy but I knew he didn't want to sit next to lap kid who was big and mom.
Thankfully the lap child fell asleep for whole flight!

If you have kids and its important pay whatever to make sure you are seated. Don't rely on people moving for you or for there to be family boarding. We fly next week and have four aisles across from each other for our flights ---will be interested to see how it goes. Like I said if asked nicely we might move if similar seat.

 

[Junebugwv]

We missed a connecting Delta flight because of weather and were reassigned to another flight, which meant we were assigned new seats and none of us were together (me, my elderly mother, ds9, ds12.) I took note of how separated we were and tried to figure out a polite way to remedy the problem. A man across the aisle from me asked a few questions and stood up and started asking people to help out. He was so calmly assertive that I almost offered to change MY seat. Good outcome.

 

[vbeaudry]

Thanks for the info everyone, we are flying in December on Southwest. When we booked our flight we were never told about the Early Bird Check in. Our DD's are 7 and 9, this is their first time flying so it would be nice to be together. I'll have to check to see if we can upgrade to early bird, instead of wait till 24 hrs before.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for the info everyone, we are flying in December on Southwest. When we booked our flight we were never told about the Early Bird Check in. Our DD's are 7 and 9, this is their first time flying so it would be nice to be together. I'll have to check to see if we can upgrade to early bird, instead of wait till 24 hrs before.

You should be able to just pay for and then add EBCI at any time. That option may be in the manage my flight area. Head over to the SW site and find where it is.