PSA - please give up your seat if someone needs it more

[Chuck S]

The only concern with stayin in your seat on an ECV is that you then raise the center of gravity, making them much more likely to tip over, even when belted in. I saw one tip sideways when the bus took a quick curve, The occupant wasn't hurt, but it did take time to return the ECV to an upright position. Now whether it was strapped in properly, or maybe if a latch failed, I don't know.

 

[georgina]

Yes. Why aren’t children under a certain age automatically seated with parents or guardians? It’s a safety risk.

I was thinking more along the lines of parents who were too cheap to pay for seat assignments then expecting people who DID pay for seats to give up their seats for them. There are usually multiple levels of tickets.

 

[PPFlight75]

You can’t fit a toddler on your lap if you’re wearing a baby carrier…
And how is being polite and courteous to someone who ‘might’ need it infantizing women (which I happen to be - a very strong opinionated retired tech VP) - I’ve had people offer me their seat and I’ve declined - no offense given or taken…

Exactly! It's just a nice thing to do whether it's mom or dad with a baby. My DH has offered his seat and it has been both taken and declined. It's just being a nice human. Although the one who declined was super miffed about it. I don't get it. I am not grandma age yet but I've been offered seats and have accepted and declined with no weird feelings. I've also offered my seat and had them both accepted and declined. No need to think anymore that someone being nice.

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

I’m also disgusted by the people who refuse to stand to help others who need it when they could, or who won’t trade seats on a plane so young kids can sit with parents. It sometimes feels like society has thrown parents under the proverbial bus. I hope they are better to older or frail people than to those with young kids (but I doubt it).

If somebody pays for a certain seat, why should they be required to give it up for somebody who did not plan well?

On some airlines, this can be a high amount, especially if you upgrade so that your bags are covered.

Saw a woman throw a small fit on a Delta flight. She paid for 2 seats in Comfort + and expected somebody to give up one in the same row for her child....the seat was a $400 upgrade. The passenger told her no, or to fork over $400 in cash and she threw out the "have respect for a mom with children" line. That sounds less like a respect issue and more of an entitled issue.

 

[sam_gordon]

If somebody pays for a certain seat, why should they be required to give it up for somebody who did not plan well?

On some airlines, this can be a high amount, especially if you upgrade so that your bags are covered.

Saw a woman throw a small fit on a Delta flight. She paid for 2 seats in Comfort + and expected somebody to give up one in the same row for her child....the seat was a $400 upgrade. The passenger told her no, or to fork over $400 in cash and she threw out the "have respect for a mom with children" line. That sounds less like a respect issue and more of an entitled issue.

I agree 100%. The only exception in my mind is if a connection is missed, the family is put onto a different flight that doesn't have seats together available. Then, it's not the "fault" of the family for not booking appropriate seats. BUT, IMO, it's up to the AIRLINE to "make things right".

No traveler should be forced/guilted into giving up the seat they have planned/payed for. If they've paid extra, that money should be reimbursed. Someone may have planned for their own tight connection (better to be at the front of the plane than the back) or their physical comfort (do people really expect others to give up an aisle or window seat for a middle, ESPECIALLY if you're moving from front to back?).

 

[robinb]

The only concern with stayin in your seat on an ECV is that you then raise the center of gravity, making them much more likely to tip over, even when belted in. I saw one tip sideways when the bus took a quick curve, The occupant wasn't hurt, but it did take time to return the ECV to an upright position. Now whether it was strapped in properly, or maybe if a latch failed, I don't know.

The ECV must not have been strapped down properly. They usually really get ratcheted down.

 

[BrightMorningStar]

who won’t trade seats on a plane so young kids can sit with parents. It sometimes feels like society has thrown parents under the proverbial bus. I hope they are better to older or frail people than to those with young kids (but I doubt it).

As mentioned by another poster, how does one's poor planning make me/others a rude traveler? If I pay additional for my seat, via boarding position fees or seat upgrade, I paid those extra fees for a reason. Every traveler has the same options available to them. Parents with young kids have the advantage on SWA and other airlines allow you to choose your seat(s) when booking. I do not see where the rudeness lies? Being a parent and having children is not a disability. Traveling is a luxury, not an equal rights situation.

 

[atthebeachclub]

As mentioned by another poster, how does one's poor planning make me/others a rude traveler? If I pay additional for my seat, via boarding position fees or seat upgrade, I paid those extra fees for a reason. Every traveler has the same options available to them. Parents with young kids have the advantage on SWA and other airlines allow you to choose your seat(s) when booking. I do not see where the rudeness lies? Being a parent and having children is not a disability. Traveling is a luxury, not an equal rights situation.

SW is many folks’ primary airline. Only kids under 7 get priority. Shall we leave 7 year olds to sit with a random person?

I don’t really care about your opinion about this; it isn’t right to have kids separated from their family members, no matter the reason. This isn’t necessarily something for travelers to fix, but for the airlines themselves to address, and they should be addressing this.

 

[sam_gordon]

SW is many folks’ primary airline. Only kids under 7 get priority. Shall we leave 7 year olds to sit with a random person?

I don’t really care about your opinion about this; it isn’t right to have kids separated from their family members, no matter the reason. This isn’t necessarily something for travelers to fix, but for the airlines themselves to address, and they should be addressing this.

Why shouldn't the PARENTS address it? Buy tickets on an airline that you can choose everyone's seat. Also, teach your older kids some self reliance. Barring some kind of disability, there's really no reason an 8yo can't sit by himself, keep their seatbelt on, and keep the,selves entertained.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Why shouldn't the PARENTS address it? Buy tickets on an airline that you can choose everyone's seat. Also, teach your older kids some self reliance. Barring some kind of disability, there's really no reason an 8yo can't sit by himself, keep their seatbelt on, and keep the,selves entertained.

People fly for all sorts of reasons, and have to book at all sorts of times prior to the flight. Have you not met poor people before? Those people fly too. Maybe not as often, but they might have a family reason to have to travel as well. Those folks shouldn’t have to leave their kids next to a stranger just because they can’t afford to shell out additional dollars to sit with their kids. And yes, there are good reasons 8 year olds shouldn’t have to sit next to strangers without supervision, as predators definitely exist.

 

[sam_gordon]

People fly for all sorts of reasons, and have to book at all sorts of times prior to the flight. Have you not met poor people before? Those people fly too. Maybe not as often, but they might have a family reason to have to travel as well. Those folks shouldn’t have to leave their kids next to a stranger just because they can’t afford to shell out additional dollars to sit with their kids. And yes, there are good reasons 8 year olds shouldn’t have to sit next to strangers without supervision, as predators definitely exist.

And there are MANY more parents that want free seating for their child while going on vacation. Don't give me "they're poor and flying because of a 'family reason'". Flying is a choice, not a right. Having children is a responsibility. Part of that responsibility is paying for your child.

We already end up with mothers trying to guilt folks out of their enhanced seat for a middle seat in the back of the plane because their child couldn't sit alone.

How about the parent ask to switch to the worse seat? Offer their aisle seat at the front for the middle seat in the back? You never hear about those requests. I wonder why.

 

[atthebeachclub]

And there are MANY more parents that want free seating for their child while going on vacation. Don't give me "they're poor and flying because of a 'family reason'". Flying is a choice, not a right. Having children is a responsibility. Part of that responsibility is paying for your child.

We already end up with mothers trying to guilt folks out of their enhanced seat for a middle seat in the back of the plane because their child couldn't sit alone.

How about the parent ask to switch to the worse seat? Offer their aisle seat at the front for the middle seat in the back? You never hear about those requests. I wonder why.

I don’t have any plans to argue with you about this; obviously you already have your own ideas, grounded in your own ideas of reality.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don’t have any plans to argue with you about this; obviously you already have your own ideas, grounded in your own ideas of reality.

As opposed to made up hardships, yup, I believe my "reality".

 

[atthebeachclub]

As opposed to made up hardships, yup, I believe my "reality".

Yes, the fact is, we really all do have our own realities. You, me, everyone. And my discussion with you on this topic ends here.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes, the fact is, we really all do have our own realities. You, me, everyone. And my discussion with you on this topic ends here.

Have a great night!

 

[Chuck S]

SW is many folks’ primary airline. Only kids under 7 get priority. Shall we leave 7 year olds to sit with a random person?

I don’t really care about your opinion about this; it isn’t right to have kids separated from their family members, no matter the reason. This isn’t necessarily something for travelers to fix, but for the airlines themselves to address, and they should be addressing this.

Did the parents book early and pay for SW Early Bird check-in for each member of their traveling party? Or did they decide to risk it and just figure people will move? That said, even though I usually travel with friends, and we get Early Bird and plan to sit together, I don't mind moving and sitting alone if is it an "in kind" seat, ie, aisle for aisle. I would not be happy about being forced to move to a middle seat if I paid for Early Bird Boarding and had a A or B group, only to be guilted into giving my aisle seat to someone who didn't pay for early bird, and had a group "C" boarding pass.

My family wasn't rich, but we made do. When my great uncle passed when I was a child of 4, the same year my own father died, and we booked a last minute flight from Los Angeles to Texas, the only option open to guarantee seats together was first class on Continental, so that is what my Mom booked. And that was before the age of everyone having credit cards, you had to pay cash at the airline counter.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

It costs zero dollars to be kind.

 

[sam_gordon]

It costs zero dollars to be kind.

In this case, it might. If some paid extra for a specific seat (for whatever reason), and gets guilted into a "standard" seat, then yea, that "cost" the money they've paid for the seat.

Again, you never hear of a parent offering to trade THEIR "better" seat so they can sit with the kids. Why is that?

 

[mi*vida*loca]

In this case, it might. If some paid extra for a specific seat (for whatever reason), and gets guilted into a "standard" seat, then yea, that "cost" the money they've paid for the seat.

Again, you never hear of a parent offering to trade THEIR "better" seat so they can sit with the kids. Why is that?

I’m not referring to the airline seats. Just the OP topic.

 

[BrightMorningStar]

SW is many folks’ primary airline. Only kids under 7 get priority. Shall we leave 7 year olds to sit with a random person?

I don’t really care about your opinion about this; it isn’t right to have kids separated from their family members, no matter the reason. This isn’t necessarily something for travelers to fix, but for the airlines themselves to address, and they should be addressing this.

Apparently you care somewhat, because your snarky response shows you are triggered. And your opinion is just that, your opinion. It is not more valid than anybody else's.

Furthermore, SWA does not enforce their own rules. I fly all the time. SWA is the primary airline I use. Huge families board together, over 7, and SWA does not do anything about it. Grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, kids of all ages...even pre-teens and young teens. I see it constantly.

If I pay Business Select or an Anytime fare to get a better boarding position and you did not want to spend more than a WGA fare, that is your issue, not mine.