Would you pay to keep your airline seats together?

[Greysword]

Hi Everyone,

I was on the Delta forum of Flyer Talk last night, and MSPEconomist posted an interesting suggestion:

Maybe airlines should sell not only individual reserved seats, which is essentially what you get for a fee now, but blocks of seats for people traveling together. This woiuld require a sophisticated computer algorithm, but instead of purchasing 9A for Mr Smith and 9C for Mrs Smith at $30 each, the Smiths would pay more, perhaps $80 total to reserve not only their individual seats but two seats that stay together through aircraft changes and are guaranteed to be together rather than just being "guaranteed" to both be EC seats on the flight.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...-separately-delta-after-equipment-change.html

I think this is a good idea, as the service does not exist now (despite what we think should happen, so we are not actually getting anything) but based on many comments here, the service may be desired.

To that end, I was hoping to see how many DISers would be willing to pay a nominal fee to ensure seating assignments remain "locked" together in case of aircraft changes or irregular operations. In addition, what would be an amount you'd be willing to pay for the service?

Of course, this is irrelevant on Southwest (WN).

Thanks for playing, and remember...


...It's fun to be free!

 

[goofy4tink]

It shouldn't be that hard to book a certain number of seats and then expect them to remain that way. If I have already paid extra for those special seats on Jetblue,then I am going to be hardpressed to pay extra to hold onto them!!!
If my flight reservation includes myself, my dd and my dh, then it should be obvious that since we booked seats together, we probably want to remain seated together. Would I pay addtl for that? I don't know.
I do realize that sometimes equipment has to be changed..and in that case, a human being should be sitting at the computer figuring out the seating. Not a computer that just puts people wherever!!!
And in the case of flights being cancelled and lumped together??? That's just a recipe for disaster.

 

[lylone]

I am not concerned about sitting together, but more like sitting where I would like to sit. I sat once in the back of the airplane and almost had a panic attack and hence why we pay to choose our seats.

 

[dawnball]

My daughter is eight, and that's plenty old enough for her to sit with strangers for a five hour flight.

On the other hand, we've paid for seats with more leg room (because my DH is tall, or so my bad knees had more space to stretch), upgrades to the front of the plane (a very tight connection with cascading badness if it wasn't made), window seats (DD likes to watch out the window), etc, etc, etc.

There are probably situations where we'd pay to sit together (injury, illness, very long flights, etc) but not for ordinary trips.

 

[Hannathy]

Nothing cause I don't care if we sit together or not. We usually don't because 3 of them want windows so we just go for window seats where ever they are.

The flight is just the transportation it isn't the vacation. I'll see them when we land we all get to the same place at the same time.

 

[ssawka]

It shouldn't be that hard to book a certain number of seats and then expect them to remain that way. If I have already paid extra for those special seats on Jetblue,then I am going to be hardpressed to pay extra to hold onto them!!!

Jetblue is not really a good example as they don't charge extra for assigned seats. That's why we always use them to fly to MCO. Just give me a price, don't nickel and dime me!

Hey, if we can't get seats together, someone else can have the joy of sitting next to my DD the whole trip. IMHO, I think charging a family for wanting to sit together is ridiculous. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go put on my flame retardant suit and wait for the replies.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Generally I would rather sit next to the kid the parents are threatening me with then a jerk who makes threats like that

Kids fly alone a lot and they do fine and are great seat mates unlike a lot of adults who seem to act less mature then the kids

 

[kaytieeldr]

Jetblue is not really a good example as they don't charge extra for assigned seats. That's why we always use them to fly to MCO. Just give me a price, don't nickel and dime me!

Hey, if we can't get seats together, someone else can have the joy of sitting next to my DD the whole trip. IMHO, I think charging a family for wanting to sit together is ridiculous. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go put on my flame retardant suit and wait for the replies.

Consider this a flame if you wish, but it's not intended that way.

Being a family doesn't and shouldn't give a group any more entitlements than are given to any other group (or individual). Most airlines charge for seat selection. That's not going away. Greysword's poll is about groups, not just families.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't know how they could "lock" seats. If your flight is cancelled and they move you to another one, what if someone is already "locked" to those seats on the other plane? What if there are no "unlocked" seats together on the other plane?

 

[ssawka]

Consider this a flame if you wish, but it's not intended that way.

Being a family doesn't and shouldn't give a group any more entitlements than are given to any other group (or individual). Most airlines charge for seat selection. That's not going away. Greysword's poll is about groups, not just families.

I have no problem with separating groups of adults if they choose not to pay the fee, but requiring parents to pay if they want to be able to sit with their children is just plain insensitive.

 

[rascooby]

I have no problem with separating groups of adults if they choose not to pay the fee, but requiring parents to pay if they want to be able to sit with their children is just plain insensitive.

And requiring some poor, innocent stranger to sit next to my 3 or 5 year old because I don't pay the extra fee is pretty mean. Luckily we fly Southwest so we don't worry about it. I hate flying.

 

[ssawka]

And requiring some poor, innocent stranger to sit next to my 3 or 5 year old because I don't pay the extra fee is pretty mean. Luckily we fly Southwest so we don't worry about it. I hate flying.

I hear you, that's why we fly Jetblue. Not only do we get to sit together, but we get to select our seats when we purchase our tickets.

Flying Jetblue has taught me a few things. Air travel is not a commodity and sometimes it is worth paying a little more for genuine service.

 

[Lewisc]

Not a very good idea. A flight gets cancelled. Passengers who paid for "locked" seats may wind up waiting a lot longer for a flight.

My understanding is, when possible, the computer already tries to keep passengers on the same reservation number together. Most people would rather be split if the alternative was waiting hours, or days, for a flight with enough open seats. Passengers with "locked" seats probably won't be happy when they realize their "locked seat" is the reason why they're flying tomorrow afternoon instead of a flight an hour after their cancelled flight.

I'll agree airlines should make sure at least on parent can sit next to a 3 year old. A child who is 5 can travel as an unaccompanied minor and may be taking a school bus without a parent. Parents who want to sit next to an older child (I won't quibble if you think it should be 6 instead of 5) should have to pay the same as a passenger who wants to sit next to their spouse or other traveling companion.

 

[sjs314]

I am not concerned about sitting together, but more like sitting where I would like to sit. I sat once in the back of the airplane and almost had a panic attack and hence why we pay to choose our seats.

I feel the same as you, I try to buy my tickets early so I can get my seats in the front of the plane I do not like the closed in feeling I get sitting further back or the stronger turbulence. I am not happy about my flight this month I booked row 3 but JB cancelled my flight and now I am in row 7. Nothing I could do about it there were no seats further up on the new flight

 

[goofy4tink]

Jetblue is not really a good example as they don't charge extra for assigned seats. That's why we always use them to fly to MCO. Just give me a price, don't nickel and dime me!

Hey, if we can't get seats together, someone else can have the joy of sitting next to my DD the whole trip. IMHO, I think charging a family for wanting to sit together is ridiculous. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go put on my flame retardant suit and wait for the replies.

Only partially true nowadays!!! JB has blocked off so many seats now, for specific purchase, that you almost have to pay extra for your seats. If you need an aisle seat, which we do due to dh's extremely long legs and bad knees, then you are going to pay extra!!! JB is now charging addtl for most aisle seats.

Here's my issue....I see a ton of people here saying that they don't care if they sit with their kids or traveling companions. But, when push comes to shove, the vast majority of travelers want just that thing. If I'm flying with somebody, it sure would be nice to be able to sit next to them and chat. Otherwise, I'll book a seat off by myself to begin with. It's not just about parents and kids. Sure, my dd, 19, is more than able to sit by herself on a flight. But why should she??? I like being with her...and I'm sorry, but the flight is part of my vacation. I don't want to spend 3-4 hours seated next to someone that I don't know vs next to my family member or friend. The majority of airlines are now making it tougher to book and not pay for seat fees. They get us, one way or the other. I'm all for picking and choosing what you want to pay for....up front seats, exit row seats, checked baggage, food, etc. But to have to pay for an aisle seat, at the back of the plane???

Yes, flights get cancelled, equipment fails..which means that seats are going to have to change. It isn't difficult to make changes. If they have to combine flights, then the airline best combine flights that aren't both full!!! I've been on a cancelled flight that was 2/3 full....it was combined with another flight, that was also close to 2/3 full. Now I don't know about you, but I don't think a plane can hold more than it's capacity!!! So 4/3 isn't going to cut it. Find a flight that isn't more than 1/3 full..or put another plane in the air. I know, not always an option. I understand that our seats aren't a sure thing....and no amount of extra charges is going to change that. It's merely a big flying bus..if we get moved around, then so be it.

 

[Candlelady]

I voted 'Nothing'.
Whether we fly JB or SW, we never sit together anyway. DH takes a window and I take an aisle. Unless there is no choice, I refuse to sit in the middle. (had a few BAD experiences on SW )

 

[Missytara]

I am not concerned about sitting together, but more like sitting where I would like to sit. I sat once in the back of the airplane and almost had a panic attack and hence why we pay to choose our seats.

Ditto for me. I often fly solo and have claustrophobia. Do not ask me why, but I feel most comfortable in the window seat.

 

[dawnball]

Generally I would rather sit next to the kid the parents are threatening me with then a jerk who makes threats like that

Kids fly alone a lot and they do fine and are great seat mates unlike a lot of adults who seem to act less mature then the kids

Yup. My kid had darn well better be a good seatmate (for me, or a stranger) or she won't be flying again anytime soon.

We seem to get UMs put next to us a lot on southwest, and while they can be more or less fun, none of them have been a problem.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

Ever since we had a very turbulent flight in 2002, I have to take valium to fly. I would feel bad if a stranger had to sit next to me. In December we are flying Southwest for the very first time, and I paid extra so I can have my boarding number assigned 36 hours before the flight. I think more and more people are paying for this extra perk. As far as I am concerned, the cost is less than checked baggage, and I am a heavy packer!!

 

[lylone]

Hey, if we can't get seats together, someone else can have the joy of sitting next to my DD the whole trip. IMHO, I think charging a family for wanting to sit together is ridiculous. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go put on my flame retardant suit and wait for the replies.

So...because you all are a family you shouldn't be charged? But because I am not a family I should have to pay to sit up front to avoid panic attacks and loosing my stomach?
Sorry, but if I paid to sit in a particular seat.. then I am sitting there unless you will give me money to sit in business class or change flights!