RANT: I don't care if you want to sit next to your kids on the airplane

[roseaster]

One thing to have an opinion on etiquette, far another in how you present it. That is the only thing I can think of. The initial mention was just to show she had kids. The follow up was on how she presented her opinion on that topic. (This is not an expression of how I view the OP.)

Sorry, it still says nothing to me about the OP. I guess that is because I agree with her. I, too, cannot see why anyone would think that it was okay to drag along the rest of the family when only one person was invited.

I don't think the invitation thing has anything to do with this thread. It doesn't show any "attitude" to me at all.

I also don't see what having kids or not having kids has to do with this thread, so maybe I am missing a lot of points.

 

[TheDisneyDoll]

I more than likely wouldn't give up my seat either. I get free premium economy upgrade, but I pay for that by being a frequent flier so it's hardly free. To me someone using motion sickness as an excuse is just rude and a scare tactic, if someone told me that i would assure them it's no big deal as I also am prone to severe motion sickness.
Now it's easy to see how both sides could've handled the situation better.

I have to add there were times when I was young and forced to travel and couldn't sit beside my parent, but let me tell you those were the best trips to me! My dad (usually) would make sure the flight attendant would know we were together though we weren't sitting together, just in case I needed something. It filled me with such pride as a little girl who was trusted to sit by herself. Now not all kids do, but i felt that i had to be on my most lady-like behavior because sitting alone was a privilege and i wanted the people next to me to like me. Anyway theres no point to that story i'm just reminiscing. For the record i still try to be a considerate passenger, and if someone were kind and approached me about a seat I would at least seriously consider and see who they were sitting beside and where the seat was located.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sorry, it still says nothing to me about the OP. I guess that is because I agree with her. I, too, cannot see why anyone would think that it was okay to drag along the rest of the family when only one person was invited.

I don't think the invitation thing has anything to do with this thread. It doesn't show any "attitude" to me at all.

I also don't see what having kids or not having kids has to do with this thread, so maybe I am missing a lot of points.

Just explaining the thought process. It wasn't brought up for any other reason than to show she had kids.

Quite often, if one has no children, than opinions regarding children tend to be disregarded. By having children, any "you must not have kids and thus don't understand" nonsense is proven to be wrong and ridiculous.

We like to think that certain facts don't matter. But to some, they do.

So not on this topic..


But the most hysterical "you must not have kids" nonsense comes when some childless person who read a book or watches Dr Phil suddenly thinks they are an expert on children. They then offer a ridiculous opinion that clearly shows their nonexistent experience due to the ridiculous Impractical nature of said opinion.

By having her (his?) own children -- it lends credence to her own experience and opinions.

We like to think it doesn't matter. But it does.

Like Disney--whose opinion would you value more? The person who has gone at least once or the person who has never been, but read a few blog posts?

Society tends to give credence to those with actual experience. Thus--her denial of the mom, seems more okay than if she has no children.

Again--I am speaking generally in reference to what some may observe.

 

[ten6mom]

No, but it happens. And, IME, if it happens AND you previously has seats assigned together (in other words, taken responsibility to do what you could to get seats together), they will be MUCH more sympathetic and helpful than if you merely assumed you would get seats together and did nothing. Also, as was pointed out previously, checking your reservation weekly as your date for travel approaches is also helpful to see if there was an equipment change and head off the problem before you get to the airport. This is one thing I do consistently. If you DO get assigned seats apart because of an equipment change, it's a lot easier to get it fixed before other people start checking in for the flight at the airport.

I will certainly keep that in mind the next time I fly any way other than alone. Thank you for the advice!

 

[Shutterbug]

This thread brings this commercial to mind. Not sure why, just does.

 

[justgrace]

Yup, I will gladly be sitting in first for less than some people paid for their middle seat in the back.

TEACH ME YOUR WAYS!!!!!!!!!!!! What airline did you book with for such a fantastic deal?

 

[mnrose]

TEACH ME YOUR WAYS!!!!!!!!!!!! What airline did you book with for such a fantastic deal?

On Delta, nearly every time I've booked a flight in the last couple of years, I've gotten the pop up that says "for X dollars more, you can be in first class." And, if it's reasonable, I take them up on it. For our March trip, I booked in August, I think (which is a LONG time before). The flight was nearly empty when I booked, and the first class cabin was completely empty. That's your best shot for a decent price upgrade. If all the seats in coach are gone (or nearly so), the price to upgrade becomes steeper. If there are only a couple seats left in first, the price becomes steeper. The difference I paid between coach and first class for a 4+ hour flight was a bit over $100 each way. The coach seats are now selling at a premium for my flights since they are nearly sold out....so the coach fare is over what I paid. And, first class is now 4X the cost of what I paid (which is totally not worth it). But, for $100? Sure. To me. I get 2 bags (limit 70 pounds, rather than 50) checked for free (and we bring a lot of water sport equipment with us, so we use it), a free meal each direction, and free drinks (including the ever so important pre departure beverage....LOL), and MORE room. I am tall, with very long legs so coach is just extremely uncomfortable for me these days as the pitch has gotten smaller and smaller back there. I can do it for a couple of hours, but more than that it gets bad. So, I upgrade when I can.

YMMV. United is another one with decent FCM. American, not so much, IME.

Note that I have "status" in no airline at all. People with status get even better $$$ offers than I get. I'm a "member" of the Delta frequent flyer program, but since all my travel is leisure based these days, not enough miles to even get "lowly" status.

The one place you DON'T get good upgrades offer is in international business class, or cross country if you are talking a plane with lie flat seats. They will completely gouge you for that. I'm looking to take another Asia trip in the next few years, and OMG the cost of business class is just through the roof on most airlines. Sigh. I'm going to have to save my $$$. Last time I went, it was in coach, and never again. I'm too old for a 12+ hour flight in coach.

 

[Sabeking]

This may have been answered up thread so sorry if it is redundant. Someone mentioned you could get reassigned seats due to certain circumstances. So if you paid for an upgrade can they bump you to a lower seat? I have never booked an upgrade.

 

[ronandannette]

I'm doubting, we will ever know the details...or that the OP will return to their thread.


So much for their "rant". IMO

I'm interested to know whether or not we would have gotten and equal but opposite rant if the parent had never identified herself and the kid sitting alone had caused some annoyance to the OP? Something along the lines of how selfish a parent is to "dump" their bratty kid on unsuspecting co-passengers?

Personally I'm with Flightless Duck, who way, way up-thread (sorry, didn't bother to go back and catch the quote) aptly pointed out that we should be directing our collective ire towards the airlines whose money-grubbing policies have evolved into this chaos.

 

[Mortlives]

This may have been answered up thread so sorry if it is redundant. Someone mentioned you could get reassigned seats due to certain circumstances. So if you paid for an upgrade can they bump you to a lower seat? I have never booked an upgrade.

Yes, they can, and if you complain, they have to refund the extra fees you paid.

 

[mnrose]

This may have been answered up thread so sorry if it is redundant. Someone mentioned you could get reassigned seats due to certain circumstances. So if you paid for an upgrade can they bump you to a lower seat? I have never booked an upgrade.

Yes, they can bump you. Generally, they would refund the difference to you, although technically under the terms of their tariffs, they are not required to do so. They will NOT refund if the change is voluntary on your part....so, for example, let's assume OP had paid a fee for that seat but decided to give it to the Mom to be "nice." The airline would give OP nothing.

 

[mnrose]

Yes, they can, and if you complain, they have to refund the extra fees you paid.

They are NOT required to do so. Their tariffs make this clear. However, I do agree that in most circumstances they WOULD refund you the fees.

 

[RedAngie]

On Delta, nearly every time I've booked a flight in the last couple of years, I've gotten the pop up that says "for X dollars more, you can be in first class." And, if it's reasonable, I take them up on it. For our March trip, I booked in August, I think (which is a LONG time before). The flight was nearly empty when I booked, and the first class cabin was completely empty. That's your best shot for a decent price upgrade. If all the seats in coach are gone (or nearly so), the price to upgrade becomes steeper. If there are only a couple seats left in first, the price becomes steeper. The difference I paid between coach and first class for a 4+ hour flight was a bit over $100 each way. The coach seats are now selling at a premium for my flights since they are nearly sold out....so the coach fare is over what I paid. And, first class is now 4X the cost of what I paid (which is totally not worth it). But, for $100? Sure. To me. I get 2 bags (limit 70 pounds, rather than 50) checked for free (and we bring a lot of water sport equipment with us, so we use it), a free meal each direction, and free drinks (including the ever so important pre departure beverage....LOL), and MORE room. I am tall, with very long legs so coach is just extremely uncomfortable for me these days as the pitch has gotten smaller and smaller back there. I can do it for a couple of hours, but more than that it gets bad. So, I upgrade when I can.

YMMV. United is another one with decent FCM. American, not so much, IME.

Note that I have "status" in no airline at all. People with status get even better $$$ offers than I get. I'm a "member" of the Delta frequent flyer program, but since all my travel is leisure based these days, not enough miles to even get "lowly" status.

The one place you DON'T get good upgrades offer is in international business class, or cross country if you are talking a plane with lie flat seats. They will completely gouge you for that. I'm looking to take another Asia trip in the next few years, and OMG the cost of business class is just through the roof on most airlines. Sigh. I'm going to have to save my $$$. Last time I went, it was in coach, and never again. I'm too old for a 12+ hour flight in coach.

For a reasonable first class fare, I wouldn't mind tying up my money 7 months in advance. (The cheap FC class fares are non-refundable, right?) But I rarely book a flight more than 60 days before a trip, and by that time the FC seats are too expensive. But like I mentioned further up, sometimes FC upgrades are available for purchase at the last minute, occasionally at very reasonable prices.

 

[mnrose]

For a reasonable first class fare, I wouldn't mind tying up my money 7 months in advance. (The cheap FC class fares are non-refundable, right?) But I rarely book a flight more than 60 days before a trip, and by that time the FC seats are too expensive. But like I mentioned further up, sometimes FC upgrades are available for purchase at the last minute, occasionally at very reasonable prices.

Yup. Non - refundable. I can, however, cancel for a $200 fee and apply it to a future trip (within one year). So, it's not a total loss. LOL.

 

[CPanther95]

First Class on domestic flights is barely any better than what coach used to be back in the day.

 

[ols386]

I would give up my seat if the child looked young, but if it's an older child (say over 12), I probably wouldn't give up an aisle seat.

 

[Allons-y!]

One thing to have an opinion on etiquette, far another in how you present it. That is the only thing I can think of. The initial mention was just to show she had kids. The follow up was on how she presented her opinion on that topic. (This is not an expression of how I view the OP.)

Well, I guess I'm intolerant, too, since I can't imagine why anyone would assume that an invitation addressed to one child would mean siblings are included. That poster was really reaching for way to make the OP into a villain.

 

[piccolopat]

I guess after reading everyone's posts I am wondering why there was even a problem. So many people here seem willing to give up their seat, no matter how far in advance they booked, how much extra they paid, how much they personally need a certain seat due to bad knees, want to sit with their family, etc. With so many people willing to give up their seat at the drop of a dime, I'm positive there must have been so many people jumping up and offering to trade with this mother that there was no problem in the end.

 

[mnrose]

First Class on domestic flights is barely any better than what coach used to be back in the day.

True, which is just an indication of how bad coach has become. Which is why I don't want to sit there, if at all possible.

 

[Jaya]

One thing nobody has mentioned is that if the flight attendant tells you that you are going to move, you ARE going to move or you'll be off the flight before you can say "what the heck just happened?" Your only choice at that point is to ask for the "Dispute Resolution Officer", who will probably back the flight attendant or you can leave the plane voluntarily to be rebooked on a later flight.

If there's a "seat fracas" going on and it's delaying boarding (and thus delaying take-off), the flight attendant is going to do whatever it takes to get things moving quickly again. And if that means disaccommodating ONE person as opposed to having to deal with 2-3-4 people who are throwing a hissy-fit, that ONE person definitely has the scale balanced against him/her. The flight attendant's orders are supreme and "refusing to obey a flight attendant" is the number one reason people are booted from flights.

I did see someone once use a good defense against being moved from their chosen seat. The gentleman said IF he couldn't sit in the seat he had reserved, he would agree to be rebooked on a later flight, BUT his luggage would have to be removed from the baggage compartment. Apparently, since he was leaving "voluntarily", the flight could not leave with his luggage. There was a hasty discussion between the co-pilot and the flight attendants and the man was given his seat. Having to find his luggage would have delayed take-off and on-time takeoff is "golden".

If you want to read some good seat-poaching stories, go over to the Travelbuzz section of Flyertalk.