What happens when kids aren't seated with you on flight?

[Liv's Mommy]

Thanks! I did call Delta and the woman told me that the blocked seats would not open until the day of departure. So, I guess I will see what I can do on that day to get us together. I was able to at least move us, so 1 adult and 1 child is sitting in the same row. We just aren't right beside each other, but at least my dd's aren't 10 rows ahead of us! Hopefully, someone in our row will swap with us, but we will see when the time comes.

 

[SEC]

The TA is wrong, for some reason when we were boarding a delta flight new seat assignments were spit out as we were getting on the plane. Delta expected
my just turned 2 year old to sit by herself. I did throw a fit and a passenger behind us offered to trade seats.

 

[dougsmom98]

While it is not an ideal situation, try not to panic. We travel during school vacation week and the airline changed our seats two years ago. My twins were 7 and my oldest was 9. The plane was booked solid and there was no way I could get us all sitting together (there were six of us spread all over). We told the kids that this might happen and tried to be matter of fact about it so that they wouldn't get too nervous. We also told them what kind of behavior we expected from them and tried to prepare them for the in flight snack so that they could order their own drink. They did great. They would have preferred to be with one another and I wanted them with us, but it was a good lesson for them - they know they need to be flexible and go with the flow when we travel.
Good luck.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The TA is wrong, for some reason when we were boarding a delta flight new seat assignments were spit out as we were getting on the plane. Delta expected
my just turned 2 year old to sit by herself. I did throw a fit and a passenger behind us offered to trade seats.

That was very kind of that passenger, but he or she had no obligation. It was likely offered in response to your fit.

Before/in placing of throwing a fit over airline seating, there are many steps that can be taken:
Be flexible - don't expect your entire party of 80 to sit together.
Work with the airline's telephone Customer Service Department for a solution, such as cccdisney was able to do.
If that doesn't work, check in for your flight online EXACTLY 24 hours prior to departure; many airlines open up previously blocked seats, or upgrade Elite passengers - thus making more seats available for choice.
If that doesn't work, arrive at the airport EARLY. Whether you use curbside check-in or go to the counter - and yes, you NEED to do this even if you already checked in online - again appeal for assistance.
If that doesn't work, talk to the Gate Agent.
If that doesn't work, talk to the Flight Attendants.
Using ALL these steps, if necessary, should pretty much eliminate the need for "pitching a fit".

 

[crashbb]

That was very kind of that passenger, but he or she had no obligation. It was likely offered in response to your fit.

Before/in placing of throwing a fit over airline seating, there are many steps that can be taken:
Be flexible - don't expect your entire party of 80 to sit together.
Work with the airline's telephone Customer Service Department for a solution, such as cccdisney was able to do.
If that doesn't work, check in for your flight online EXACTLY 24 hours prior to departure; many airlines open up previously blocked seats, or upgrade Elite passengers - thus making more seats available for choice.
If that doesn't work, arrive at the airport EARLY. Whether you use curbside check-in or go to the counter - and yes, you NEED to do this even if you already checked in online - again appeal for assistance.
If that doesn't work, talk to the Gate Agent.
If that doesn't work, talk to the Flight Attendants.
Using ALL these steps, if necessary, should pretty much eliminate the need for "pitching a fit".

While I don't condone pitching a fit (and it would have guaranteed that I didn't offer to move from my seat), the poster wasn't able to follow any of that advice. According to the post, they were given new seats as they boarded the plane - after all but the last of your (and my) proposed steps.

Only once in all of my flights have I had my seat changed as I boarded the plane. It was a flight from London to Vienna for which I had received my boarding pass in Toronto, when I boarded my Toronto to London flight. I guess they changed aircraft while I was in the air and didn't automatically re-seat me as I ended up losing my aisle seat and getting a middle seat. Annoying, but it was a short flight.

 

[seashoreCM]

In other words, do not hand them a paper bag and say "Here's a bag in case she gets sick". Do not tell your child to cry. .

This part does get intriguing. I should give the bag directly to my own child. I probably should also go through the motions of asking to trade seats so I can better look after my child. Because, if a mishap should occur, there would be less impact on others if I were next to the child. Furthermore, if problems involve others, the amount of money needed to make good is likely to be larger and if I am deprived of the ability to control my children I would use that as an excuse for not making good to others if something goes bad and allow the airline to step in and make good instead.

Yes I will accept having to get up every now and then to check up on my children, take them to the bathroom, (yes, out they come when I arrive) etc.