? regarding airplane seating dilemma

[Finally_Talking]

We've flown Jetblue before but never had this problem. The only seats available on our flight to Orlando are single seats throughout the plane. (Didn't realize this when we booked). This won't work for us since we are two adults and two kids. The woman I spoke to told me to talk to the people at the desk when we check in and they may be able to seat us "two and two" so one adult can sit with each child. Has anyone ever encountered this problem? Do you think they will be able to do this if the plane is pretty full? Thanks so much.

 

[Princess Nancy]

I am guessing you will be okay. Talk to the desk then when you sit I be most people will not want to sit by a child who could be sitting with a parent. I would always change even if it meant splitting up 2 adults traveling together.

Good Luck.

 

[Finally_Talking]

Thanks for responding to my question - I appreciate it. Especially as I just realized this should be on the transportation board instead! oops. I hope the others on our flight are as considerate as you - thanks again.

 

[disneygals]

We have 3 kids and this has happened often for us. There is always an person who will move for you!

 

[WonderWomanDC]

Maybe they could call the people up from the adjoining seats at the gate and ask if they'd be willing to trade/move?

 

[Noelle]

Some how this happens to us more often than I'd like. Most of the time, we book all four seats together and end up all separated around the plane.:
The key is arriving at the airport EARLY!!! We go to the check-in counter (NOT curbside) tell them that we have two children / two adults and that we don't feel comfortable or that it's not feasible to have the children travel ages 5 & 12 traveling away from us. More often than not, they can arrange the seating so that 1 parent is with 1 child. But the later you arrive at the airport, the more chances those seats still left unassigned will have been taken. So again, arriving early is the key.

 

[Kitty-chan]

Ditto to those above -- I've had a number of situations where DS9 was seated alone, but people are pretty accomodating, and flight attendants can sometimes apply a bit of pressure if nobody's stepping forward to help. Some airlines give flight attendants flight credit vouchers they can give to helpful passengers (I was given one once on United for trading seats with somebody in similar circumstances).

One thing that helps is to get aisle or window seats if you can -- people are happier to trade for them than for a middle seat. But even if you've got all middle seats, somebody will help you.

One time I was having a hard time finding somebody to swap with, and I was starting to feel desperate. I looked this one guy in the eye and said, "You don't really want to sit next to a seven-year-old kid who wants his mom, do you?" He couldn't get out of that seat fast enough!

 

[Lyn5]

I am always desperartly making sure that at least one adult is seated next to the children...so I totally understand when someone esle get separated and wants to sit near their kids. I have moved from an the end seat to a middle and DS from a middle to window before so that a child could be at the end seat and her mom sat a row behind on the end also. I couldn't give them my two seats since then I would have been separated from DS (3 then) and the girl was about 10 or 11 so it worked out. Her mom was happy. I think the Dad and the younger brother ended up sitting together after some people swapped their seats. I agree with getting to the airport early, the sooner you take care of this the sooner you will be able to relax...enjoy your trip!

 

[crisi]

There was a really funny thread on the family board about this where someone suggested being prepared to "teach" your child's seatmate that your child has sensitive ears so will scream on takeoff and landing, to give them messy snacks, and noisy toys, show your child how to use the airsick bag ("he gets motion sick so easily you know, and hasn't been feeling well for a few days") etc.

But it isn't necessary, generally people will move so you can sit two and two or at least three and one (we always take a flight with three seats across - my husband always gets a peaceful trip across the aisle). The exception may be if the plane is absolutely full of families with kids and there aren't adults who can be moved without putting their families in the same situation. Our last flights had a real problem filling the exit rows with adults.

 

[dcfromva]

Finally_Talking,
I would urge you to get there early, too. I have never flown on Jet Blue, but I can't imagine this would be that much different from the legacy airlines. Many of the airlines I have flown on honor your request according to your frequent flyer status and then the time the request was made.

Another thing I would recomend is to check-in on-line. I always take a look at which seats are available when I check-in. Sometimes, other travelers have moved during their check-in as a result of receiving an upgrade (or exit row seats). This sometimes results in finding seats together.

Good luck!
-DC

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Haven't encountered the problem yet--but I bet if you check in super early, you should be okay.

From what I have heard--even though you have assigned seats...they are not guaranteed. At times we have checked in and our seats have changed.

Good luck.

I'm flying Northwest in December with my 5 and 3yo. Let's just hope they don't shift things around on me.

 

[Finally_Talking]

Thank you all for your replies. The woman I spoke to at the airline noted the request - I will just try to get there early and hope it works out. My children are 8 and 5 so sitting without an adult is not an option. If I have to change flights, I will, but hopefully we'll be able to make it happen. Again, thank you for your replies/advice. I appreciate it.

 

[SueM in MN]

Also, keep in mind that even though the flight looks full on the seating charts, they save some seats for assignment at the airport.

 

[JoiseyMom]

We had assigned seats together once, me, dh, ds2 and dd7. We wound up late because we were stuck in traffic and our seats had been given away. Needless to say we needed to be sitting together. We lucked out and were put together in Spirit Plus, larger seats and free food and booze, their version of first class. My in-laws were separated in the back. We had a very comfy flight though!!!!

 

[d4est]

So...are you saying that even though we have assigned seats (JetBlue) we might not get them? This is our first flight together. (I have only flown once a few years ago, DH when he was a child, DS--this is his first--wants that window seat)

We are planning to get to the airport (Syracuse NY) 2 hours before flight.

 

[MickeyMamma]

So...are you saying that even though we have assigned seats (JetBlue) we might not get them? This is our first flight together. (I have only flown once a few years ago, DH when he was a child, DS--this is his first--wants that window seat)

We are planning to get to the airport (Syracuse NY) 2 hours before flight.

That shouldn't be the case. I haven't heard of major airlines giving away your already assigned seats until they hit 30 minutes before take-off and then they are allowed to fill the seat of those not checked in yet.

 

[Ms. Belle]

I flew JetBlue last christmas from JFK; I was traveling with my SIL and son. My SIL's seat wasn't near ours and because she is a nervous flyer, she was freaking out because she couldn't sit near us. We arrived at the airport early and the rep at the gate was able to change her seat so she was with us. They were very helpful. If you get to the airport early, they should be able to accommodate you.

 

[d4est]

That shouldn't be the case. I haven't heard of major airlines giving away your already assigned seats until they hit 30 minutes before take-off and then they are allowed to fill the seat of those not checked in yet.

Thank you. I was worried for a second there!

 

[DMRick]

That shouldn't be the case. I haven't heard of major airlines giving away your already assigned seats until they hit 30 minutes before take-off and then they are allowed to fill the seat of those not checked in yet.

AA, Aer LIngus, United and Continental have all changed away our seats, and we get there two hous in advance. But we've never not had a seat. When you call them on it and show your seat assignment, they just say..oh, well, that's not what we have. Often someone will switch with you on those airlines..at least in our case.

 

[fofinia]

I have had the exact situation as you on a Jetblue flight. My family of three (DH, me and DD 2 1/2) and my sister's family of the same grouping. We were all flying on Jetblue and none of us were seated with the others (due to flight cancellations and rebookings). Like you I called and told them that my 2 1/2 year old was not going to sit alone under any circumstances. And they wouldn't change me. They told me though that the front two or three rows of every Jetblue flight are left open until the day of the flight. And then those seats are filled by a flight director in the outbound airport. So people who get to the airport early have the option of asking if those seats are available and they can be switched into them. But for people who have a note put in their reservation like you who need to be sat with the rest of their party they usually will pre- assign those people to the front three rows before the flight is available for check in from others.

So in my case, they told us they couldn't pre-assign us the front three rows but that we should get to the airport early to try to get those rows and if not then most llikely someone would switch seats. Because who wants to sit next to someone else's 2 1/2 year old. So you can imagine how stressed out I was the whole way to the airport. And then when we got there the flight director had seen the note and had all ready pre-assigned us the third row and we were all together. My sister's family also was seated together and everything was fine.

So long story short- I would think Jetblue will totally take care of you. And you don't need to worry. Good luck. I think you'll be fine.