no seats together on plane :(

[tbrenk]

Don't count on it , unless you mean you will get off if you and your child aren't together. If no one will move you either separate or get off.

What I meant was (going byt waht the Delta rep told me) that a 5 year old cannot sit by themselves and that they plane cannot take off.

 

[Hannathy]

I think the Delta rep didn't know what they were talking about because it happens often that 5 yr olds are by themselves and 5 yr olds can fly as unaccompanied minors so I don't think they are right. My 5 yr old has sat by herself on planes and people on here have said their child sat by themselves, so don't count on it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

What I meant was (going byt waht the Delta rep told me) that a 5 year old cannot sit by themselves and that they plane cannot take off.

That Delta rep was misinformed. A five year old can certainly sit by herself. Delta's own policy allows an unaccompanied minor as young as 5 to fly on a non-stop or direct flight.

http://www.delta.com/planning_reser...r_children/children_traveling_alone/index.jsp

 

[kaytieeldr]

What I meant was (going byt waht the Delta rep told me) that a 5 year old cannot sit by themselves and that they plane cannot take off.

Sure they can. Delta accepts unaccompanied minors starting at age five; those kids are definitely not sitting with a parent.
From Delta’s website http://www.delta.com/planning_reser...r_children/children_traveling_alone/index.jsp
"Children ages 5–7 years can only fly on nonstop or direct flights with no change of planes"
So if a child flying without a parent can, well, fly without being seated with her/his parent, a child flying on the same plane as a parent can sit by themselves, too.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, Hannathy, lost* - think we proved our point?

 

[WillCAD]

Wow, I was planning onbooking now for a December flight, it will be myself, DH, DS1 who will be just making 6 & DS2 who will be 11 mths. I thought booking early would surely get us seats together - but looks like not the case - is any other airlines better? Or what can I do to make sure we do sit together? Whats the A or C boarding passes about? First time any of us fly....

The A, B, and C boarding passes only apply if you fly Southwest Airlines (SWA).

Most airlines actually give you a seat assignment when you book, but Southwest uses a system that is similar to general admission seating in a theater - when you check in to get your boarding pass (which you can do online up to 24 hours before your flight) you are assigned to a boarding group A, B, or C.

When Southwest boards the plane, you line up in 4 lines - Pre-boarders (people in wheelchairs and people with children under 5), and the A, B, and C boarding groups. Each group is allowed on board the plane in turn, and chooses their own seats on a first-come, first-served basis.

Obviously, the pre-boarders get the best choice of seats, since they get on first. Pre-boarders are put on the plane first on the assumption that these are folks who need help or take more time getting situated and will have an easier time of it if they get on before the rest of the plane.

The A boarding group is the most coveted, since the A group gets the best choice of seats after the pre-boarders. The C boarding group, of course, gets the worst choice of seats on the plane, and herein lies the major complaint - by the time the C group gets on the plane, there are usually nothing but single seats left available, which means that a group flying together may not be able to sit together unless they have an A boarding pass.

This boarding procedure is commonly called "cattle call" by passengers. However, many experienced fliers actually prefer the SWA procedure. I am not a big flier myself (I only fly once or twice a year), but in my experience the SWA "cattle call" method is actually a little faster than the traditional "assigned seats" method most of the time. It's not perfect, and it has drawbacks, but so does the traditional "assigned seat" method.

 

[tbrenk]

Sure they can. Delta accepts unaccompanied minors starting at age five; those kids are definitely not sitting with a parent.
From Delta’s website http://www.delta.com/planning_reser...r_children/children_traveling_alone/index.jsp
"Children ages 5–7 years can only fly on nonstop or direct flights with no change of planes"
So if a child flying without a parent can, well, fly without being seated with her/his parent, a child flying on the same plane as a parent can sit by themselves, too.

Thanks everyone. I just got someone that didn't know what they were talking about...which from reading here happens often.

Here is another question for you guys...everytime I had changes for our return flight I would call and the rep would say that the flight was overbooked and they couldn't seat us together. After reading the posts above, I decided to log on and check my reservation and now there were a handful of seats now available. I was able to change my seats to 3 across so that my husband, son and I are together. If no other changes occur in the next few weeks, am I ok to assume that this change will take place and the seats will be the same? Does changing your seats on-line and getting to the gate early ensure you will get those seats?

Thanks for your advice. I have never flown Delta and don't know how they work.

 

[makinorlando]

removed - question was already answered!

 

[NotUrsula]

What I meant was (going byt what the Delta rep told me) that a 5 year old cannot sit by themselves and that they plane cannot take off.

That rep was blowing smoke. Delta accepts unaccompanied minors at age 5, so they have no issue with a 5 yo sitting without an adult.

Most US airlines define "accompanied" as "seated in the same class cabin" (which they do so that they can charge the supervision fee in the event that the parent wants to sit in F and leave the child alone in coach.) Generally, great effort will be made to get someone to move if a child under age 5 is sitting without an accompanying member of his party, but there are only two circumstances in which the FA's have legal authority to force other passengers to move. One is when a child or the child's parent has been seated in an exit row, and the other is when a child strapped into a carseat has been seated alone. Federal law forbids those seating situations.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If no other changes occur in the next few weeks, am I ok to assume that this change will take place and the seats will be the same?

Relatively. As obsessive as this sounds (but who isn't, on the DIS? ), check your flights once or twice (or more, if you wish) a day. This close to your departure, there shouldn't be any equipment changes - but who knows?

 

[tbrenk]

Relatively. As obsessive as this sounds (but who isn't, on the DIS? ), check your flights once or twice (or more, if you wish) a day. This close to your departure, there shouldn't be any equipment changes - but who knows?

Ok, thanks. I check everyday anyway since there have been so many changes. I feel better knowing that they are at least together now. All I can hope for is no more changes, get to the airport early to check-in and hope all goes well.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes if you chose your seats on line and nothing else changes with the flight you should be good to go. Just make sure you didn't pick an exit row because with a little one you can't sit there. You can go on later and keep checking to see if your seats are the ones you picked. The airline keeps a few seats to assign at the airport so if you go early you can check again and make sure or sometimes make changes. The airlines do try to have at least one parent sit with a child they usually won't go out of their way tho to try and get a whole row. If it is a busy time or the flight is pretty full when you book sometimes you have to take what is left and that means sometimes being separated, but I look at it as only the means to get there and don't find it a big deal to be separated. Just keep telling yourself this is not the vacation just the transportation! A lot of time people will volunteer to move but not to a worse seat, you have to take the worst deal, but not if you start demanding or are not nice. It doesn't happen all the time and we can usually get 2 together but it does happen and I don't want any one to be caught unaware.

 

[tbrenk]

Yes if you chose your seats on line and nothing else changes with the flight you should be good to go. Just make sure you didn't pick an exit row because with a little one you can't sit there. You can go on later and keep checking to see if your seats are the ones you picked. The airline keeps a few seats to assign at the airport so if you go early you can check again and make sure or sometimes make changes. The airlines do try to have at least one parent sit with a child they usually won't go out of their way tho to try and get a whole row. If it is a busy time or the flight is pretty full when you book sometimes you have to take what is left and that means sometimes being separated, but I look at it as only the means to get there and don't find it a big deal to be separated. Just keep telling yourself this is not the vacation just the transportation! A lot of time people will volunteer to move but not to a worse seat, you have to take the worst deal, but not if you start demanding or are not nice. It doesn't happen all the time and we can usually get 2 together but it does happen and I don't want any one to be caught unaware.

Thanks. As long as my husband or I can sit with my son, we will be ok. My son jsut turned 5 and is quite shy and would be upset if he had to sit alone. I just went back and checked and we got row 38 D, E, F and it's not near the exit rows.

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

2) How will it affect you?

"Oh boy I like flying do you like flying I have a Playstation do you have a Playstation we're going to see Mickey have you ever been to Mickey's house what's your name do you have a dog we have two dogs and a cat I have a little brother do you have any kids my dog's name is Ruff can I play with your computer I'm bored how much longer till we get there I'm hungry where is the bathroom HEY MOM! I GOTTA PEE! would you hold my Game Boy till I get back..."

What a charming kid; now if he'd only SHUT UP for the rest of the flight so I can get some sleep! On second thought, why don't I move so the kid can sit with Mommy.

Have you sat by my son?!

I've always said that if they separated me from my son that they would be asking me inflight to change seats. I have one very intense child. There is a reason I own a mini-van for one child. Frankly I feel pretty sorry for anyone around us and that is with us shushing him and doing bathroom duty.

 

[roxannensteve]

Wow then, it seems like SWA might be better for us. I do have an infant too, but who will not be having a seat of his own, would we still be one of the firsts to go on? I was booking Delta so that my 5 year old would be ablr ei sit w/us but at that time he'll be 6,,,but I'll still have an 11 mth. old.

 

[SkcMom]

The A, B, and C boarding passes only apply if you fly Southwest Airlines (SWA).

How do they decide who gets what? Meaning an A B or C boarding pass? TIA!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Depends when you check in.
Southwest passengers can check in online up to 24 hours in advance.
If the flight is originating from 'your' airport, there are about 135 seats - so there will be about 45 "A" boarding passes, 45 "B"s, and 45 "C"s. If, of course, your plane starts somewhere else this number will be reduced based on the number of passengers staying aboard.

Within reason, the earlier you check in the better chance you have of getting an A; on the other hand, they DO distribute some of each at the airport.

 

[TDC Nala]

Wow then, it seems like SWA might be better for us. I do have an infant too, but who will not be having a seat of his own, would we still be one of the firsts to go on? I was booking Delta so that my 5 year old would be ablr ei sit w/us but at that time he'll be 6,,,but I'll still have an 11 mth. old.

It might be. But Southwest has on some occasions restricted families with small children from preboarding if there are too many preboarders. The absolute best plan is to get the A boarding pass.

 

[WillCAD]

How do they decide who gets what? Meaning an A B or C boarding pass? TIA!

Strictly first-come, first-served, based on the order you check in to get your boarding pass.

So as many have said, the earlier you check in to get your boarding pass, the more likely you are to get an A group.

 

[roxannensteve]

Sorry my posts sometimes has words spelled woring. I often type with a baby on my lap. But I gotta get my Dis fix twice a day (DH didn't know what I was referring to Dis-fix) So, ultimately I really think we'll fly Delta, how early should we be at the airport before flight time? And what, do we check in right away?