Seat selections -- was I in the wrong?

[Sandi]

For our return flight from MCO to DTW, I selected aisle seats for me and DD14 in the same row. We both prefer aisle seats and DD14 travels better if she can occasionally stand and stretch.

In our row was a family: mom and one child in the middle and window seat by my DD; dad and one child in the middle and window seat by me. The little boys were probably three and five. As we were taking our seats, the mom asked if we'd like to sit together in her middle and window seat and she'd move with the 3 year old to our aisle seats. I said that we would actually prefer the aisle seats and we took our seats. There were so many people trying to get to their seats that I just wanted to sit down and get out of the aisle. I asked the dad if he needed to be near the other child and he said, no they were good. He fell asleep and the little boy in his charge watched videos.

As we were leaving, the mom was complaining to the dad that I wouldn't change seats so they could all sit together. Had it been one parent with 2 children, I would have switched so they could all be together in a row, but that wasn't the case. Did I commit some sin?

 

[rgf207]

no you were not in the wrong. Those were your seats and you were not obligated to give them up. I would not give up my aisle seat for a window or center either.

 

[goofy4tink]

Nope, you did nothing wrong. You got those seats because they fit your needs. It isn't as if they were the only two seats left on the plane and that other mother was doing you a huge favor by offering to switch with you.
It would seem that Dad was just fine with the arrangements. Mom should have been as well. It's not as if she had been seated apart from her children. I have no issue at all with one parent, one child..even if the family can't be seated all together.

 

[bavaria]

Did I commit some sin?

In the real world? No.

In the DIS world? Yes.

Fortunately real world trumps DIS world every single time.








with apologies to our esteemed moderator

 

[DVCBELLE]

That makes no sense - her family would have still been seperated by the aisle.

Sounds like maybe mom didn't want the kids sitting with her so she would have put them in the row with Dad and then she would have been childless.

 

[dudspizza]

OP, you did nothing wrong at all. Many people choose seats by need...... Sounds like mom wanted to sit by both kids. Dad would have taken his nap anyways.... and he would have been in the aisle with the two of you trapped in the middle and window...

Bavaria, it is amazing how the real world is different than the DIS world. If you believe everything on the DIS as the ultimate word, you would think ME is horrible, that there are major issues on every airline flight, and more.... luckily in the real world, things happen without all the drama....

Have a nice day.

Duds

 

[bavaria]

Real world makes for a really really boring message board, Duds...

 

[Sandi]

Thanks gang. I think perhaps I've blurred the real world/DIS world to the point of hypersensitivity. Knowing there's no pixie dust on the Transportation Board, I thought I'd get a fair reading from y'all.

 

[bavaria]

Don't worry, Sandi, you were just inducted into the poopyhead gang. It may feel a little painful your first time around, but you'll soon get used to it. Besides, we have the good chocolate.

 

[DebbieB]

You were fine, it's not like one of the kids had to sit without a parent.

 

[rosiep]

Don't worry, Sandi, you were just inducted into the poopyhead gang. It may feel a little painful your first time around, but you'll soon get used to it. Besides, we have the good chocolate.[/QUOTE]

Share please!

OP: I think you weren't rude at all.

 

[Hannathy]

Stop thinking about it! You were fine, it was the Mom who was rude. My goodness her kids were with a parent and from the sounds of it you probably did the Dad a favor! LOL (he got to sit away from his wife AND take a nap, all was well in the world)

 

[safetymom]

Wow wasn't she being generous offering her middle seat? No thank you.

 

[dioxide45]

If this was an airline like AirTran, you likely paid for those seats, and the other family would have had the same opportunity. Nothing wrong done there. Now if it was SW, I would have given up my seat.

 

[Hannathy]

If this was an airline like AirTran, you likely paid for those seats, and the other family would have had the same opportunity. Nothing wrong done there. Now if it was SW, I would have given up my seat.

May I ask why would you give up your seat? Both kids were with a parent.

 

[Tara]

I would wager that the mom was actually more annoyed that the dad was able to sleep on the flight while she cared for the child she was seated next to.

You did nothing wrong. Funny, this is a classic case of passive-aggressive behavior. The woman didn't care if you and your daughter sat next to each other; she cared if her family was seated together. MAYBE if she'd asked for what she wanted rather than making a self-serving "offer" who knows, you might have been inclined to switch seats. (not saying you should have at all, though!) But instead she went the passive-aggressive route and was no doubt peeved when her strategy backfired.

 

[maxiesmom]

I wouldn't have given up my aisle seat either. The kids were not flying all alone while the parents were aisles away. Don't fret.

 

[Tozzie]

I don't think you were wrong at all. I am going to WDW in October, when I booked the flights I looked at the available seats to choose from and there were no aisle seats on the flight I really wanted to take so I booked a different flight and I won't be switching when I fly either.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I don't think you were wrong at all. I am going to WDW in October, when I booked the flights I looked at the available seats to choose from and there were no aisle seats on the flight I really wanted to take so I booked a different flight and I won't be switching when I fly either.

Just a note, although you did the right thing for yourself, seats are never guaranteed, so if the airline switches planes, cancels and rebooks, etc, you could be placed into a non-aisle seat.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks gang. I think perhaps I've blurred the real world/DIS world to the point of hypersensitivity. Knowing there's no pixie dust on the Transportation Board, I thought I'd get a fair reading from y'all.

You were not wrong = you were 100% right.

The last (probably truly the last) time I changed seats with someone, I had D. She was in C - both aisle seats - and her husband and son were in E and F. I figured, no problem, so I agreed. Equal seats. Nope. It was a red-eye flight and the twit in B was up and down ALL NIGHT. Now, I understand on long flights it's smart to get up and move for a few minutes every hour, to prevent blood clots. But no - she sat for a few minutes every hour and was up and down, in and out, for about 90% of the flight.

Never again. Okay, not never - but not easily, either.