seat choice on narrow body planes

[jitterbug]

For the narrow body jets that have 3 seats and the aisle and then 3 more seats, how do you choose seats for a family of 4 or more? Just curious.

Our kids will be 5 and 7 when we travel, so we are thinking of doing 3 on one side and 1 across the aisle in the same row. The parent in between the 2 kids might need a spa treatment upon arrival, but one rested parent is better than no rested parent.

 

[ibob52]

For the narrow body jets that have 3 seats and the aisle and then 3 more seats, how do you choose seats for a family of 4 or more? Just curious.

Our kids will be 5 and 7 when we travel, so we are thinking of doing 3 on one side and 1 across the aisle in the same row. The parent in between the 2 kids might need a spa treatment upon arrival, but one rested parent is better than no rested parent.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The seating arrangement you described is the one I would choose. Put a parent in each aisle seat. You can trade off easily.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would break it up.

Each child gets a window and a parent gets the middle. Whether that's all in one row or two rows.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would put the kids in the middle and window seats, with mom and dad taking the aisle seats. If you think the kids will bicker over the window, then you can either let one have the window going, and the other one gets it heading home...or, each child gets a window seat, and the parents take the middle seats...in two rows.

 

[MillauFr]

We always do 3 and 1

 

[jtowntoflorida]

When our kids were younger, we'd do 3 & 1. Now that they're older (4 & almost 8) they tend to bicker and annoy each other more, so we do 2 & 2. They're pretty experienced flyers and generally aren't high maintenance on planes anymore, thank goodness.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would break it up.

Each child gets a window and a parent gets the middle. Whether that's all in one row or two rows.

I pity the poor stranger in the aisle seat. I would not recommend this arrangement.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Kids are not supposed to be in aisle seats, in case of an emergency.
. . . they could panic and not allow others in the row to exit the plane
. . . they cannot assist others in the row, if needed

 

[richmo]

We've usually done the 3 + 1. One parent gets the '1' on the way there, the other on the way back. Now that they're considerably older, it doesn't matter much anymore. One time we took two rows of all aisle seats and that was kinda fun.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Kids are not supposed to be in aisle seats, in case of an emergency.
. . . they could panic and not allow others in the row to exit the plane
. . . they cannot assist others in the row, if needed

Completely untrue. No airline prohibits kids from sitting in aisle seats. Perhaps you meant exit row seats?

 

[sam_gordon]

I pity the poor stranger in the aisle seat. I would not recommend this arrangement.

Why? They're sitting next to an adult, and unless the child has some kind of bathroom issues, they MAY get up once during a flight... no different than flying with any stranger?

Kids are not supposed to be in aisle seats, in case of an emergency.
. . . they could panic and not allow others in the row to exit the plane
. . . they cannot assist others in the row, if needed

Where are you getting your information? I've never seen anywhere the person in the aisle seat is supposed to assist others. I call BS.

 

[stinkpickle]

Kids are not supposed to be in aisle seats, in case of an emergency.
. . . they could panic and not allow others in the row to exit the plane
. . . they cannot assist others in the row, if needed

That's why it's easier just to stuff kids in a suitcase and check them at the gate.

 

[momto3pirates]

We have 6 in our family but we usually get one row behind the other. That gives us 2 window seats so no fight and each parent deals with one kid.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I pity the poor stranger in the aisle seat. I would not recommend this arrangement.

Why? They're sitting next to an adult, and unless the child has some kind of bathroom issues, they MAY get up once during a flight... no different than flying with any stranger?


Where are you getting your information? I've never seen anywhere the person in the aisle seat is supposed to assist others. I call BS.

Oy! I quite agree with "lost."
"No, I don't want to play the 'let's pass the _____ across the aisle to your spouse/kid game'."

 

[Aaeolien]

That's why it's easier just to stuff kids in a suitcase and check them at the gate.

Cheaper even if you check them at the counter. Plus to checking them at the counter in the suitcase is you get semi-quiet non kid time at airport before departure, because you know once you let them out upon arrival it's going to be chaos. Lol

 

[nkereina]

Oy! I quite agree with "lost."
"No, I don't want to play the 'let's pass the _____ across the aisle to your spouse/kid game'."

I agree. But if they did child at the window, parent in the middle, one row in front of the other rather than across the aisle from each other, it might not be so bad. As long as they aren't constantly up and down yelling over the seat type thing.

And parents with small kids on the planes (not necessarily OP!) - my last flight a week ago had a young girl (5 or 6 yrs old) at the window with her dad in the middle seat. I was in front of the young girl and her legs were just long enough that she proceeded to kick the back of the seat and put her feet on the seat, effectively digging into my lower back the entire flight. I made the point to look back at them a few times but the father was so engaged in his iPad that he didn't even notice. So please be conscientious of this - it could make for an ugly situation if you get the wrong person

 

[sam_gordon]

I agree. But if they did child at the window, parent in the middle, one row in front of the other rather than across the aisle from each other, it might not be so bad. As long as they aren't constantly up and down yelling over the seat type thing.

Exactly! We also make sure the kids have their own activities.

And parents with small kids on the planes (not necessarily OP!) - my last flight a week ago had a young girl (5 or 6 yrs old) at the window with her dad in the middle seat. I was in front of the young girl and her legs were just long enough that she proceeded to kick the back of the seat and put her feet on the seat, effectively digging into my lower back the entire flight. I made the point to look back at them a few times but the father was so engaged in his iPad that he didn't even notice. So please be conscientious of this - it could make for an ugly situation if you get the wrong person

You can have rude people regardless of age. If I was the dad, I would have appreciated you telling me my child was kicking/pushing at your seat. I would have had them stop.

 

[tjmw2727]

Exactly! We also make sure the kids have their own activities.

You can have rude people regardless of age. If I was the dad, I would have appreciated you telling me my child was kicking/pushing at your seat. I would have had them stop.

This -

No matter what the seating is each kid had their own small backpack with their toys and snacks etc. This way no matter what we only had to make sure that each parent had one kid and they could be settled. No passing of items necessary!

When they were younger we did 2 and 2 with an adult in the middle and a child in the aisle so we had access to the bathroom without disturbing anyone.

When they got old enough to watch a movie together on a portable dvd or laptop using headphones we did kids window/middle with parents in the aisle/aisle.

There are no restrictions regarding children in the aisle unless your using a car seat.

I was vigilant about not letting my kids kick the seat and when they were at that toddler/early preschool age when it was more likely we had a family member sit in front of the potential kicker whenever possible just in case.

If I am being kicked I will kindly tell the parent of the situation ask them to please try and stop the kicking. If the child is old enough to know better and the parent won't stop it I will involve the FA if its bad enough. If it is a young child and the parent is trying I will just wait it out.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Why? They're sitting next to an adult, and unless the child has some kind of bathroom issues, they MAY get up once during a flight... no different than flying with any stranger?

...

I have seen families sit like this many times and it is a rare exception when the child is not up and down out of their seat and in the aisle like a jack-in-the box. Also Mom and Dad will inevitably be talking to each other across the poor aisle seated person.