no seats together on plane :(

[emerymt]

Delta split us up on a return trip from Hawaii. We had seats reserved months in advance. Quite frankly, they didn't care if the 10 and 12 year olds sat with us or not, as long as the littlest one was with an adult (he was six or so). But they'd have been more than happy to charge us extra for an unaccompanied minor had we decided to let them travel alone!

 

[kaytieeldr]

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?

Ninety minutes to two hours. And yes, you check in as soon as you get to the airport. There may be a line, and depending where you are (where are you?) there may well be a line to get through security.

 

[mabenoab]

I haven't read every post, so maybe I've missed something but I just want to pipe in that if I was flying and a Mom or Dad and a child (regardless of the age) wanted to sit together (even if the child was old enough to fly all alone) I would happily move. I'd be hopeful someone would do the same for me if I were in the same situation.

I'm not saying anyone else HAS to move. I'm not saying they aren't nice people if they choose not to move, but I personally, for me and me alone, feel better about myself if I can do some small thing to make someone else feel more comfortable. That being said, if someone came on board and demanded that I switch seats, I don't think I would. Its all in how its presented, I guess.

 

[bavaria]

Beth, I am one of those who will rarely switch seats. I fly almost every week, usually long haul. I am severely claustrophobic and it has taken a lot for me to be able to fly. I plan ahead and fly United because I know that I can get a seat in bulkhead or failing that at least Economy Plus.

I was once asked by a gate agent to switch before boarding - my initial reaction was yes, as it was at MCO and for a family. Then I realized that I had a broken shoulder and would be on the 'wrong' side and couldn't switch. The mother let loose on me in the gate area.

Other times I have had people insist that I move - and it turns out that they are a couple. I understand wanting to sit together, but why should I move out of 9a on a 757, to go sit in Econony- in a middle seat so that two adults can sit together?

I can count on one hand the times I have been approached nicely to switch, but almost weekly someone 'demands' my seat. Sorry, I fly over 100,000 miles a year and I have worked hard to get a seat that meets my needs. I don't need to explain that to anyone.

 

[mabenoab]

You absolutely do not have to explain yourself, and you have right to the seat you've chosen for whatever reason you've chosen it. I was just saying that I'm ok with switching seats on a plane. I didn't mean any offense to anyone. I have other areas in my life where I'm really adamant about my situation. But no matter what, if someone demanded, or went off on me for any reason, then no, I wouldn't switch either.





QUOTE=bavaria;17717589]Beth, I am one of those who will rarely switch seats. I fly almost every week, usually long haul. I am severely claustrophobic and it has taken a lot for me to be able to fly. I plan ahead and fly United because I know that I can get a seat in bulkhead or failing that at least Economy Plus.

I was once asked by a gate agent to switch before boarding - my initial reaction was yes, as it was at MCO and for a family. Then I realized that I had a broken shoulder and would be on the 'wrong' side and couldn't switch. The mother let loose on me in the gate area.

Other times I have had people insist that I move - and it turns out that they are a couple. I understand wanting to sit together, but why should I move out of 9a on a 757, to go sit in Econony- in a middle seat so that two adults can sit together?

I can count on one hand the times I have been approached nicely to switch, but almost weekly someone 'demands' my seat. Sorry, I fly over 100,000 miles a year and I have worked hard to get a seat that meets my needs. I don't need to explain that to anyone.[/QUOTE]

 

[bavaria]

no worries, I wasn't personally directing that towards you - just pointing out why some people won't move. I'm regularly amazed by the people who actually come up to me and say 'move, I need to sit next to my wife' etc I think that I've heard every story possible, and very rarely was it presented pleasantly.

 

[mabenoab]

You know...there are times when I would appreciate sitting separately from my teens! LOL.

no worries, I wasn't personally directing that towards you - just pointing out why some people won't move. I'm regularly amazed by the people who actually come up to me and say 'move, I need to sit next to my wife' etc I think that I've heard every story possible, and very rarely was it presented pleasantly.

 

[DebbieB]

Alot is in the presentation. I was on a flight last year where I was in a window seat (my preference) and a young woman with a little girl and a lapbaby sat next to me at the last minute. They were not late arriving because I saw this woman talking to the gate agent at the counter well before boarding. I looked around to see if I could move so that she could sit the baby down. All I saw were a couple middle seats (over 2 hour flight). I was trying to get a flight attendent's attention to see if there were any aisle or window seats available but they were busy getting ready for the safety demo. All of the sudden the woman starts making comments to her daughter like "I really think you are getting sick", "let's sing songs all the way", "are you going to have to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes like last time?", "try not to keep kicking". She was trying to coerce me into moving to give them an extra seat. I thought "you should have bought a seat for your baby if you wanted one, don't play games to get a free one". I was willing to move until she started that. I just plopped on my IPOD and closed my eyes. Luckily the little girl fell asleep for most of the flight (she was in the middle seat).

 

[TDC Nala]

Other times I have had people insist that I move - and it turns out that they are a couple. I understand wanting to sit together, but why should I move out of 9a on a 757, to go sit in Econony- in a middle seat so that two adults can sit together?

This is why I won't move for adults.

If I am on Southwest, which most of the time I am, I checked in early, got there early and picked my seat out. A kid doesn't have responsibility if their parents don't do that, but adults have full control.

And anybody who starts insisting - well, maybe I will still move if they have a kid, but I will tell them there wasn't any need to be pushy and they should try getting to the airport earlier.

And unless somebody is afraid of flying or has some kind of medical issue I don't really see why they NEED to sit next to their spouse.

Regarding the last post: a lap baby is just that. If you want a seat for your baby, buy one.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

She was trying to coerce me into moving to give them an extra seat. I thought "you should have bought a seat for your baby if you wanted one, don't play games to get a free one". I was willing to move until she started that.

Good for you! She sounds obnoxious. I would have just put on my headphones as you did and ignored her.