no seats together on plane :(

[Hannathy]

It's true. Been there done that! Sorry, but if I am paying extra to have an aisle seat, call me a big jerk for not moving. I don't own the problem.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060314/BIZ/603140400/1001


Also, 10 and 11 year olds are allowed to fly as unaccompnied minors, so why can't they sit alone?

pinnie

Have to agree here to both statements. Sorry but I'm not moving for a 10 or 11 yr old. I'd move if possible for a preschooler but not for an older child. I also have not seen FA making much of an effort for a child this age, younger yes they will do what they can but not at this age. And I don't consider people who don't move jerks, because there is no real reason they should, now if they won't move for a 3 yr old that's quite a bit different.

 

[don8life]

I have had this happen a few times. prepare to sit seperately. Not once, did a stewardess or gate person try to move seats so we could sit togetehr. Even when I asked people if they could switch, they wouldn't.

If it is real important try to get another flight that isn't booked. They shouldn't charge you for switching if they cancelled first. Good Luck.

 

[WillCAD]

It's true. Been there done that! Sorry, but if I am paying extra to have an aisle seat, call me a big jerk for not moving. I don't own the problem.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060314/BIZ/603140400/1001


Also, 10 and 11 year olds are allowed to fly as unaccompnied minors, so why can't they sit alone?

pinnie

Believe me, I agree with you completely that you should always get what you paid for. If you have to be moved so that a family can sit together, you should get a refund of the extra money you paid for a premium set - not a voucher, not a credit, not ticketless travel funds that expire, but a cash refund of the actual money you spent for the preferred set that you did not get.

And I understand the grumbling that would ensue if someone asked me to move from a prefered set to a non-prefered seat. I am 6'-4" tall, pretty heavy, and have back trouble, so I don't just WANT extra leg room, I NEED extra leg room, or else I am in serious pain by the time the plane lands.

I would not consent to move just so Mom, Dad, and 3 littles could all sit together in two rows when they got on with a C boarding pass. But I would move so that I would not be stuck next to a 10-11 year old kid during the flight, partly because I would feel sorry for the kid, and partly because I don't want the hassle of baby-sitting someone elses kid on what is supposed to be the start of my vacation.

 

[TDC Nala]

I find it ironic that people avoid booking with Southwest, because they fear they won't get to seat together. (Not saying the OP is like that, just a general statement)

Exactly. All you would have to do is check in with Southwest early enough, and you would have NO worries about getting to sit together.

That said, I'll move, even to a middle seat on a long flight, for a minor child to sit with a parent. But I won't move for adults. If you must sit with your spouse, get there early and arrange it with the airline...or do the early checkin if you are on Southwest. I might feel differently about moving for kids if I'd paid extra for an aisle seat (which I wouldn't, I prefer windows and exit rows, where kids can't sit anyway).

 

[DebbieB]

Believe me, I agree with you completely that you should always get what you paid for. If you have to be moved so that a family can sit together, you should get a refund of the extra money you paid for a premium set - not a voucher, not a credit, not ticketless travel funds that expire, but a cash refund of the actual money you spent for the preferred set that you did not get.

Who would provide the refund? Shoudn't the person who took the premium seat pay for it?

 

[Pinnie]

Believe me, I agree with you completely that you should always get what you paid for. If you have to be moved so that a family can sit together, you should get a refund of the extra money you paid for a premium set - not a voucher, not a credit, not ticketless travel funds that expire, but a cash refund of the actual money you spent for the preferred set that you did not get.

Why would I HAVE to be moved????

pinnie

 

[makinorlando]

Our DDs very first flight which I booked at the last minute (she was 6 at the time) - we were not able to sit together, and on a whole plane of people, there was not one willing to change seats with us. So was a row behind and across the aisle from me with two other girls - 7 and 9 that were also sitting apart from their family. They had a great time on the flight. On the return flight of that same trip she was in a seat that I could not even see her! that could be done as the flight attendants can't make people move...

Especially on flights to Orlando where there are so many families may people are in the same situation, and those single passengers who on these flights looked like business folks, like their aisle seats - which I totally understand.

I did not hold it against the other passengers. At least now DD has no problem sitting alone on any flight if the situtation arises!

 

[WildGrits]

My girls have been flying yearly since they were 2 month and 18 months. I can think of one time we couldn't get our seats all together. My oldest was 6 or 7 at the time. She ended up sitting next to a college age young lady and had a wonderful time talking to her. My younger is special needs (invisible disability) so as soon as I tell the gate that, there is no problem.

Personally I wouldn't ask anyone to move for children school aged. As long as they know to not leave their seats till you come for them. They should be fine.

If you have someone so anxious about flying they make themselves physically sick, maybe you could try a homeopathic nerve tonic. Calms Forte is one I have used for my youngest in the past with success.

 

[countingthedays]

In recent years, it seems every other trip to Orlando that I'm on there is a request from the flight crew seeking volunteers to allow a parent and child to sit together. I always assumed that it was a quickly planned trip or lack of planning on the parents part to ensure that the seats were together. Guess I am guilty of making stuff up based on what OP said.

There have been times when I have moved and times when I have not. My decisions have been based on the age of the child, or how much anxiety I see on their faces when the FA is looking for volunteers. Not scientific, I know, but... Sometimes, I've volunteered to move without being asked because a child was sitting next to me and I didn't want to 'feel responsible' or just didn't want to keep picking up the goldfish crackers out of my lap.

If you can't change your flight, getting to the airport early to speak with the gate agent is a great idea and hopefully you'll all get your seats together. Good luck.

 

[countingthedays]

Why would I HAVE to be moved????

pinnie

I fly a lot and I have never seen an FA move sombody who didn't want to. They ask for volunteers. If no one volunteers, then that's then end of it.

 

[Pinnie]

I fly a lot and I have never seen an FA move sombody who didn't want to. They ask for volunteers. If no one volunteers, then that's then end of it.

ITA!!! I fly a lot, also, and when I spend the extra $ for an aisle seat, I have no intentions of moving.

I try and fly SWA as much as I possibly can so that *I* am the one in charge of my own seat destiny! I just wish SWA few to every place I need to go!

pinnie

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I have had a DL FA move someone against their choice on a return flight from Hawaii to the Mainland so my husband and I could sit together. The seat she was given was still an aisle seat and was actually closer to the front of the plane. The passenger didn't want to move because she had already stowed her luggage, so we helped her with that. Of course, this must have been close to 10 years ago and maybe it is no longer worth the effort for the FAs.

I have also been on a plane where the switch was easy because the person sitting next to me had a family member sitting next to someone in my family! That was also many years ago.

I haven't had this happen in a long time, but that may be because I monitor my flights regularly online now.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have to agree that if I am sitting in an aisle seat or premium seat, I'm not moving for a 10-11 year old, unless I get a similar seat. Not giving up a seat on a plane doesn't make someone a jerk.

I have had a DL FA move someone against their choice on a return flight from Hawaii to the Mainland so my husband and I could sit together.

That is absurd if true; I would NEVER give up a good seat so two adults could sit together.

 

[tjmw2727]

Oh that reminds me of one trip when we had three of us, me and my dd's then 4 and 6. We had two seats, window and middle in one row - toward the front of the aircraft and the asile seat in the row in front of us. When we got to our rwo there was a young woman in the asile seat and we asked her nicely if she would just move one row forward in the same seat so my 6yo could sit with my 4yo and I. She gave me a very hard time because she had all her stuff put away and didn't want to move it. The FA overheard and offered to help her move it - she very reluctantly did. Funny thing is she only had a magazine and a pack of gum

TJ

 

[mandy200587]

Delta has done the same to us with our seats. We purchased last year and they have changed them three times now and have no seats together. It's annoying to say the least.

 

[WillCAD]

I have to agree that if I am sitting in an aisle seat or premium seat, I'm not moving for a 10-11 year old, unless I get a similar seat. Not giving up a seat on a plane doesn't make someone a jerk.

That is absurd if true; I would NEVER give up a good seat so two adults could sit together.

I suppose I was a little harsh when I used the term jerk. I am, after all, a firm believer in getting exactly what you pay for, especially when you pay extra for something like an aisle seat.

I would also never give up a seat just so two adults can sit together; if you want to sit together, you better check in early enough to get A boarding passes, or good seats assigned. But children are a different matter.

There are three things to consider when this issue arrises:

1) How will it affect the kid?

Some kids can handle being separated from their parents for a 2 or 3 or 4 hour flight, others can't. The older a kid is, the more likely is is that he'll be able to handle the trip away from Mom and Dad, and the younger they are, the less likely they are to be able to handle it. I hate to see kids upset or traumatized, so if it seemed on cursory inspection that the kid was freaking, I'd move to let the kid sit next to a parent.

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.

And then there are the screamers; no way I'm going to sit next to one of them for 2 hours in a small plane.

3) How will it affect the rest of the passengers?

"WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!WAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

Um, do ya think maybe the kid would be quiet if one of us moved so he could sit with Mommy or Daddy? I would really like to be able to get a little shut-eye while we're in the air, and little Jeffery's hyena impression would rule out that option for a whole planeload of people.

Obviously, these 3 don't cover every single conceivable situation, but they cover the basics of why I will move to let a small kid sit with a parent. Adults, no way - you made your ressie, now sit in it, same as me.

I will be somewhat sympathetic if your flight was changed without your permission by the airline, but as unfair as that might be, them's the breaks. I would live with it if it happened to me, and all I ask is that you live with it without making similar unfair demands on me.

 

[roxannensteve]

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....

 

[tbrenk]

Exact same is happening to me now. I booked flights last summer on Delta for this Easter. It is me and my 9 year old traveling. I looked the other day and they had split us in different rows. I called and asked to have this change and was told they will note it on the reservation and will seeee what they can do. I will check in the day before as well to see if at that tie we are together. Not right Delta!!!! THere does need to be some consideration for people who book in advance.

I am going through the same thing now for Easter. I understand making changes and I can deal with that. However, each change they put my 5 year old son rows ahead of me and say they can't do anything until boarding. The last Delta rep said "Well, let'e hope the FA can help out when you board. Sometimes people don't want to give up their setas." Well, we all know they plan will not take off if my son is by himself. I don't understand why the seats assigenments can't stay the same if the aircraft doesn't change.

 

[Befferk]

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....

I am curious about these same questions....

Beth

 

[Hannathy]

I am going through the same thing now for Easter. I understand making changes and I can deal with that. However, each change they put my 5 year old son rows ahead of me and say they can't do anything until boarding. The last Delta rep said "Well, let'e hope the FA can help out when you board. Sometimes people don't want to give up their setas." Well, we all know they plan will not take off if my son is by himself. I don't understand why the seats assigenments can't stay the same if the aircraft doesn't change.

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.