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dalayney
Shut the PEA UP! Yer gettin me all twitterpaited!
PeaNut 123,471
January 2004
Posts: 16,351
Layouts: 165
Loc: Husker by Heart in WI
 |  Posted: 2/4/2013 8:21:45 PM
I've only ever flown twice on big planes. Last time I flew was 2005. 
So I admit it, I'm a non educated flyer. (yes, all you peas on that other fantastic thread, I am... your worst nightmare)
So, I'm booking flights on wednesday for our disney vacation. (leaving THIS Feb. 23rd, there are 4 of us. Me, My DH , my 14yr old son, and my 7yr old son)
Are there any airlines that guarantee I can sit w/my 7yr old? Is it that much of a problem? I do not want to be a burden on any other passengers. But have you experienced a child having to sit alone?
I'm looking at southwest out of Milwaukee, and love the price and times, but since we would be flying the wanna get away seats, (last to board) ... am I asking for trouble?
Do most stewardess work with parents to make sure they sit together?
Are certain airlines better at this?
In all of my research, I've heard of horror stories, of passengers not wanting to give up their seats, for a mom/dad to sit w/their child....
What say the flying peas? |
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pennyring
Thrift Ninja
PeaNut 226,011
October 2005
Posts: 22,408
Layouts: 40
Loc: Rite Aid
 | Posted: 2/4/2013 8:24:18 PM
Just pick your seats when you pick your flight. Done and done.
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dalayney
Shut the PEA UP! Yer gettin me all twitterpaited!
PeaNut 123,471
January 2004
Posts: 16,351
Layouts: 165
Loc: Husker by Heart in WI
| Posted: 2/4/2013 8:25:09 PM
But not all flights let you see the seats. Doesn't southwest, you don't get to pick them, till you're actually going into the plane? |
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TankTop
I teach, therefore I am a teacher
PeaNut 25,495
December 2001
Posts: 9,053
Layouts: 37
Loc: Stuck in the 80's
 | Posted: 2/4/2013 8:27:03 PM
I traveled once with my 2 year old and 7 year old across the country by myself. I had us all checked In together with seat assignments together, but something happened last minute and things did not turn out that way.
The plane was full and nobody wanted to switch us seats. It was so odd. I handed the person next to each child their bag of flight supplies. My 2 year olds seat mates were given his diaper bag.
All of a sudden they were willing to switch us. Lol  |
"Childhood is what you spend the rest of your life trying to overcome." Hope Floats
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valincal
Comfortably numb.
PeaNut 227,939
October 2005
Posts: 13,599
Layouts: 5
Loc: Southern Alberta
| Posted: 2/4/2013 8:27:43 PM
Can you check in on-line (usually 24 hrs. before the flight) and select seats at that time? |
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ilovebuble
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 539,539
January 2012
Posts: 2,452
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 2/4/2013 8:28:06 PM
If you are going to be flying on Southwest you will not be able to pick your seats ahead of time. Make sure you check in for your flight exactly 24 hours before your flight when they start allowing you to check in. That will secure you an earlier boarding order to ensure there are more seats to choose from. You can also pay a fee to check in 36 hours before your flight. | |
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Beckym
mom to one, chauffer to many
PeaNut 41,141
June 2002
Posts: 16,653
Layouts: 39
Loc: driving around town
 | Posted: 2/4/2013 8:29:06 PM
I believe even with Southwest they will make sure to the best of their ability you will sit next to your 7yr old. Your 14 yr old might have to sit separate. |
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scrappin jen
PeaAddict
PeaNut 111,615
October 2003
Posts: 1,343
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/4/2013 8:33:54 PM
With Southwest the best bet is to pay the extra 10-20 charge for 2 of your tickets and get early bird check in. This way you are guaranteed to get on the plane in the first group to get your seats. Seating on SWA is first come first serve so when we fly with the kids we go for that option to assure we sit together.
LOL at the pea who passed off her diaper bag for her 2 yr old! Amazing how some people have to be pushed to be helpful. | |
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geauxDeb
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 77,992
March 2003
Posts: 2,035
Layouts: 0
Loc: Louisiana girl now in Hong Kong
| Posted: 2/4/2013 8:35:01 PM
With Southwest you can pay extra to be in the first boarding class. Last time I checked I think it was $25-30 each way. So if you wanted to do that just for you and the 7yo, it would add at least $50 to each of your tickets. |
Debbie
Mom to 3 boys (13, 10 & 6)
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BlankPea
PeaNut
PeaNut 457,049
February 2010
Posts: 203
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 2/4/2013 8:39:47 PM
BTDT instead of paying to be first on the plane for everybody just pay for 1 adult to go first then they board first and pick and save your seats and then when you board your seats are ready together! And you saved the extra fee on the 3 other tickets! Hope this helps  | |
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BlankPea
PeaNut
PeaNut 457,049
February 2010
Posts: 203
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/4/2013 8:43:26 PM
BTDT instead of paying to be first on the plane for everybody just pay for 1 adult to go first then they board first and pick and save your seats and then when you board your seats are ready together! And you saved the extra fee on the 3 other tickets! Hope this helps | |
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BlankPea
PeaNut
PeaNut 457,049
February 2010
Posts: 203
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/4/2013 8:43:54 PM
BTDT instead of paying to be first on the plane for everybody just pay for 1 adult to go first then they board first and pick and save your seats and then when you board your seats are ready together! And you saved the extra fee on the 3 other tickets! Hope this helps | |
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ksuheather
low-information individual
PeaNut 190,373
February 2005
Posts: 7,935
Layouts: 0
Loc: wherever the army sends us
 | Posted: 2/4/2013 8:46:13 PM
In my experience no one wants to sit next to an unaccompanied child and they are willing to switch around. When we flew this summer I called a month ahead of time and got the 5 of us assigned together. We were in the very back of the plane which was fine as we had a newly potty trained child.
One previous time when it was just DD who was 2 and I the gate agents were snotty and unwilling to help. I sat DD by herself and her neighbor was very willing to switch. |
A veteran is someone who, at one
point in his life, wrote a blank check
made payable to 'The United States of
America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'
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TXDancermom
PeaFixture
PeaNut 146,748
May 2004
Posts: 3,651
Layouts: 1
| Posted: 2/4/2013 8:48:05 PM
I would pay the extra $10 for southwest early boarding - you will end up in the A group, or at least early in the B group - and you will have your choice of seats and could get all together.
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TXDancermom
PeaFixture
PeaNut 146,748
May 2004
Posts: 3,651
Layouts: 1
| Posted: 2/4/2013 8:48:44 PM
I would pay the extra $10 for southwest early boarding - you will end up in the A group, or at least early in the B group - and you will have your choice of seats and could get all together.
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CraftChickaPowPow
PeaAddict
PeaNut 477,269
August 2010
Posts: 1,457
Layouts: 0
Loc: N 4720.2 W 12206.2
 | Posted: 2/4/2013 8:54:35 PM
I fly Southwest a lot and they have always announced pre-boarding for people with disabilities and families with small children prior to allowing general boarding. I would call them to double check but that has been my experience with SWA. |
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scrappysurfer
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 151,822
June 2004
Posts: 2,669
Layouts: 5
| Posted: 2/4/2013 8:55:52 PM
I'm amazed at some of the anecdotes shared on this thread... WTH kind of flight attendant would not be willing to help make sure a mother can sit with her young minor child on a flight?!? Some people never cease to amaze me. |
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TravelAgent
Resident Smart Ass
PeaNut 294,429
January 2007
Posts: 12,670
Layouts: 7
Loc: Indiana
 | Posted: 2/4/2013 8:57:48 PM
BlankPea's strategy will earn the other passengers' hatred very quickly. If they paid to board first, they will not tolerate someone saying, "These seats are saved."
Wanna Get Away doesn't have anything to do with boarding -- it's the class for refunds. If you have to cancel, it means they don't give you any money back; they bank all of it as a credit for you to use within the year.
So that's good news for you.
The purchasing process gives you the chance to pay for automatic boarding assignment, which does NOT guarantee you get in the A group to get on first (if more than 63 people buy the automatic boarding option, they have to go first come, first served and line some of those up in B section. But it does increase the odds. Last time I booked clients on Southwest (which was in October 2012), it was $10 per person each way.
If that isn't in your budget, make sure that you are on your computer or have the Southwest app pulled up EXACTLY 24 hours in advance of your flight. If it leaves at 5:45 am, you are ready to punch in your reservation code in the check-in screen at 5:44 and hit send when the clock rolls to 5:45. That will put you in the first of the group that didn't buy the early board option. It's very common to still get B group that way, but again, don't piddle. Seriously, I've seen five minutes push people into C group just because everyone else beat them to the line, and C is where you start to see seats scattered apart around the plane.
You will have to do this on both ends, so if you will be in a park or other activity for the return, you could think about buying early boarding perk just on the return trip. But whatever you do, be ready to make a decision upfront, because Disney at spring break time will have a lot a families who will not want to split up on the plane, and while the attendants try their best, it's not guaranteed.
Another option would be to buy the early boarding for you and the 7 year old, and have your DH and teen son take the pot luck option.
Julie |
| www.indianapolisonthecheap.com | |
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Canadian Girl 77
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 33,042
March 2002
Posts: 2,865
Layouts: 42
Loc: Canada
| Posted: 2/4/2013 8:59:08 PM
You're probably be fine. When we flew home from LAX this summer they made everyone wait until people agreed to switch so a mom could sit with her kids (4 and 6).
However, when I was 5, my parents ended up not seated near me. They couldn't get anyone to move so that I could sit with a parent. We were all over the plane. Mom tells me she wishes I had been a bad flyer but I didn't even care. We lived in Bermuda and traveled to Texas and Canada a lot. But this was 30 years ago.
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jenjie
PEAsed to be here
PeaNut 88,667
May 2003
Posts: 22,766
Layouts: 283
Loc: NJ
| Posted: 2/4/2013 9:01:54 PM
On Southwest, "families with small children" means children 4 and under. They board after the A boarding group. We paid $10 pp each way for early bird checkin and had no trouble sitting together. I did joke that anybody who insisted on sitting alone next to ds8 would get what they had coming to them, no backsies. It was actually a non-issue.
On our flight home there was an issue with a mother and child not being able to sit together. The flight attendant made an announcement offering a free drink for anybody willing to switch. |
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WiiPii
Dirty little freaks!
PeaNut 374,795
May 2008
Posts: 7,325
Layouts: 0
Loc: too far away....
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dalayney
Shut the PEA UP! Yer gettin me all twitterpaited!
PeaNut 123,471
January 2004
Posts: 16,351
Layouts: 165
Loc: Husker by Heart in WI
| Posted: 2/4/2013 9:11:12 PM
Thanks for all of the advice. If it's just $10/each way/ each person, I'll gladly dish out the $40 total.
I do appreciate the advice here. Again, I do not want to be a pain for anyone.
I'm also seriously thinking about just doing it all through disney as one big package. It seems like so much less hassle, and the only pain would be flying out of Ohare, instead of Milwaukee.
I will make up my mind on wednesday ,but I really do appreciate the advice! |
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KrissiesMom
BucketHead
PeaNut 24,522
November 2001
Posts: 925
Layouts: 0
Loc: So. CA
| Posted: 2/4/2013 9:13:00 PM
My dd flys the Wanna Get Away quite often and her sitting depends and when she gets her boarding pass which I believe is 24 hours before the flight. Believe me, they don't want your 7 year old sitting by themselves. | |
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TravelAgent
Resident Smart Ass
PeaNut 294,429
January 2007
Posts: 12,670
Layouts: 7
Loc: Indiana
| Posted: 2/4/2013 9:17:35 PM
I'm amazed at some of the anecdotes shared on this thread... WTH kind of flight attendant would not be willing to help make sure a mother can sit with her young minor child on a flight?!? Some people never cease to amaze me.
For spring break flights to Orlando, it isn't about people being poop heads. They are clumped together in families themselves, and to move means to leave their children alone.
I work with one client who would lose her mind if she was separated from her 21-year-old daughter on a flight. Yep, that's still her "baby."
But again, Disney is a whole new ballgame. I was once on a flight during fall break where they had to beg people to sit in the exit rows both ways. You can't have children in those rows and there weren't enough solo adults flying to fill them (these were double rows, so they needed 12 of us). Flight attendants were tapping grandparents on the arm and strongly suggesting they move over there. A few dads were more than willing until they saw the ugly looks their wives shot them. 
I was thrilled to be a solo flyer. Best legroom evah! And if it hadn't been for the FAA rule, I would have had the whole stinkin' row to myself as well as the leg space!
Julie |
| www.indianapolisonthecheap.com | |
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freecharlie
Is the pool open yet?
PeaNut 109,127
September 2003
Posts: 19,232
Layouts: 4
Loc: Colorado
| Posted: 2/4/2013 9:22:47 PM
I always pay for early bird check in. DH doesn't always, but I am very quick to check him in. There was one time I paid for early bird, he didn't and there were 6 boarding spots between us.
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| Tribbey: I believe, as long as Justice Dreifort is intolerant toward gays, lesbians, blacks, unions, women, poor people, and the first, fourth, fifth, and ninth amendments, I will remain intolerant toward him! [to Ainsley] Nice meeting you | |
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Basket1lady
PeaAddict
PeaNut 465,906
April 2010
Posts: 1,903
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern Virginia
| Posted: 2/4/2013 9:28:02 PM
I used TankTop's method one time flying with my four year old DD. No one would switch with me. Same seats, just a different row. What middle aged guy wants to sit next to a four year old that isn't his own?
I starting pulling out books, snacks, sippy cup, etc. She had spilled a juice box on the previous flight, and I was warning the guy, as well as telling him she couldn't read yet and would want him to read to her.
He muttered some profanity and just got up and moved. Fine with me. She was a chatty little thing and would have driven him nuts. But I wasn't comfortable with him sitting with her, mostly because he seemed to WANT to sit with her. |
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Rhondito
MississiPEA
PeaNut 40,147
June 2002
Posts: 23,610
Layouts: 2
Loc: Flowood, Mississippi
| Posted: 2/4/2013 9:29:00 PM
BlankPea's strategy will earn the other passengers' hatred very quickly. If they paid to board first, they will not tolerate someone saying, "These seats are saved."
Thank you!
I ran into this problem on a SW flight a couple of years ago. All the way down the aisle, every time my daughter and I would try to sit in open seats, someone would say they were saved. About 2/3 of the way through there was an empty row with a purse sitting in the middle seat. I asked the lady in the row behind if it was her purse and she said yes, those seats were for her family (all adults). I picked up her bag, handed it to her, and said, "Maybe your family should try checking in earlier." |
Rhonda
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ahiller
*Fingers crossed*
PeaNut 48,862
September 2002
Posts: 7,202
Layouts: 252
Loc: MI
| Posted: 2/4/2013 9:36:00 PM
In all of my research, I've heard of horror stories, of passengers not wanting to give up their seats, for a mom/dad to sit w/their child....
I've flown several times with my kids (3 and under) and we've never run into this problem. Most people we've encountered have been very, very nice about it. | |
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Kate-pea
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 146,398
May 2004
Posts: 2,937
Layouts: 1
| Posted: 2/4/2013 9:50:10 PM
I used to fly with my children a couple of times a year, and usually people were very accommodating. I do remember one flight where nobody wanted to switch - I had an infant in arms, and my 2yo was assigned a different row. Nobody agreed to switch until we actually sat down, at which point both my seatmate and DS2's suddenly decided thye'd rather sit together than with either me (& baby) or DS.  | |
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psoccer
PeaNut
PeaNut 486,535
October 2010
Posts: 68
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/4/2013 9:55:57 PM
We had that happen. I wasn't aware that we didn't have assigned seats for the way back so I called while on our vacation to get seats. Only two seats were together and the other 3 were throughout the plane. I put the two younger ones (5, 7) together and my husband, my 13 year old, and myself got the separate seats. When I got my little ones settled, tears were just pouring out of my youngest eyes, and my 7 year old was tearing up. I didn't ask to switch, but the stewardess asked the lady next to them. She refused. She was really stinky about it, which made my children tear up more. I wasn't far away, I could see my children, I was ok with the separation, and my children weren't bawling and screaming. They just had little tears running down their face. Soon, the stewardess came over. She had maneuvered several people so that I could sit with my children. It was the kindest thing. | |
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sunny 5
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 472,024
June 2010
Posts: 2,063
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/4/2013 10:03:19 PM
I think you should try the ideas given, but you could also just prep your kid to sit separately. at 7, many kids will be ok with this...I sent my kids alone on the plane at this age. | |
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bahama97
BucketHead
PeaNut 21,938
September 2001
Posts: 743
Layouts: 0
Loc: Eastern NC
| Posted: 2/4/2013 10:04:07 PM
I fly Southwest quite a bit. This last time I was flying with my 11 year old daughter. We had the same type of ticket, etc. I did not pay extra for myself or my daughter. I checked myself in and I was like A23. I then turned right around and checked in by daughter and she was B12.
When it got time for me to line up, I brought my daughter with me. When I got up to the attendant who was scanning tickets, I gave him mine and then I gave him my daughters. I just said "This one's for me and this one is for my daughter." He said okay and let us go through, no problems at all. |
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teddyw
BucketHead
PeaNut 288,430
December 2006
Posts: 891
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/4/2013 10:10:43 PM
I know people who travel frequently and have said they'd rather sit with a child than an obese person taking up half their seat.
People in aisle seats are really possessive of those too.
It amazes me that people would let small children cry an entire flight rather than trade seats.
I think I'd pay the fee so we could sit together. | |
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Super Soda
BucketHead
PeaNut 269,431
July 2006
Posts: 779
Layouts: 6
| Posted: 2/4/2013 10:15:53 PM
I cannot even imagine not switching seats so a small child could sit with a parent. How awful. And I sure as heck wouldn't want to be stuck next to an unaccompanied toddler on a flight. What is wrong with people? | |
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freecharlie
Is the pool open yet?
PeaNut 109,127
September 2003
Posts: 19,232
Layouts: 4
Loc: Colorado
| Posted: 2/4/2013 10:21:14 PM
I cannot even imagine not switching seats so a small child could sit with a parent. How awful. And I sure as heck wouldn't want to be stuck next to an unaccompanied toddler on a flight. What is wrong with people?
Well, I plan way in advance and buy my tickets in a way that at the very least one parent and one child sit together. I doesn't matter to me if all four of us sit together, but I would not give up my seat with my children for someone who did not plan ahead. My children would be scared and uncomfortable without me as well.
I assume that flights to Orlando are full of families who want to sit with their children.
Now if it was just DH and I flying we'd switch because we don't tend to talk on the plane anyway. We listen to music or read books, or sleep and we can do that whether we are sitting together or not. |
| Tribbey: I believe, as long as Justice Dreifort is intolerant toward gays, lesbians, blacks, unions, women, poor people, and the first, fourth, fifth, and ninth amendments, I will remain intolerant toward him! [to Ainsley] Nice meeting you | |
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SMG in AZ
Je suis desole
PeaNut 38,879
May 2002
Posts: 5,598
Layouts: 36
Loc: Phoenix area
| Posted: 2/4/2013 10:40:37 PM
Since I lost weight, I delight in the fact that I can sit anywhere comfortably. I prefer aisle for longer routes, window when there is wifi, but will sit in the middle any time someone needs to switch.
I recently traveled next to an adorable child traveling unaccompanied. She was one of the last to board and ended up in the middle seat. After I realized she kept trying to sit up to peer out my window, I asked if she wanted to switch seats so she could see better. I had more fun watching her enjoy looking out the window than I ever would have had looking out myself!
I believe I am a flight attendant's dream. But that is probably just my imagination. |
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cmpeter
PEAceful Pea
PeaNut 14,521
April 2001
Posts: 34,343
Layouts: 31
Loc: Washington State
 | Posted: 2/5/2013 12:06:59 AM
We fly a couple times a year and have never been split up...but we usually book our family of two in groups of two...ds and dh take aisles across from each other and dd and I take an aisle and middle seat in a different row. |
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ScrapNatya
Is this an instrument of torture or communication?
PeaNut 1,583
October 1999
Posts: 7,442
Layouts: 399
Loc: Long Island
 | Posted: 2/5/2013 12:36:40 AM
Whenever we fly Southwest, I make sure I print my boarding passes at exactly the 24 hr prior mark. We end up boarding together in the "B" section and there are always 2 seats together. |
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omarakbt
AncestralPea
PeaNut 302,707
March 2007
Posts: 4,601
Layouts: 22
Loc: california
| Posted: 2/5/2013 1:44:26 AM
Southwest has an early bird option which for I can't remember, 10 or 15$ you can purchase an upgrade to be part of the early boarding. If you do that for you and your daughter you will be boarded in the A group and have your two seats together. Also checking in at the exactly 24 hour before mark will give your husband and son the earliest boarding after the business class and early birds.
usually only if you are in the "C" group do you really have to worry about being separated |
Diane
and the Kerry Blue Terriers
canon rebel DSLR
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writermom1
Thrift Whisperer
PeaNut 114,407
November 2003
Posts: 22,289
Layouts: 66
Loc: At the intersection of Hooterville and Stars Hollow
| Posted: 2/5/2013 5:59:18 AM
It amazes me that people would let small children cry an entire flight rather than trade seats.
It amazes me that at what it costs to fly passengers are supposed to engage in a survival of the fittest game of musical seats to keep parties traveling together seated together. |
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HerRoyalScrappiness
PeaAddict
PeaNut 173,293
October 2004
Posts: 1,044
Layouts: 250
Loc: Milton, Florida
| Posted: 2/5/2013 6:39:53 AM
I have flown many times recently without my children, an any and every time I am
Asked to move. I dont mind at all. And move with a smile. The flight attendants always seem a little shocked that I would do it so easily and I get many free drinks
I didn't realize this was such a problem! People can be real jerks sometimes |
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dottyscrapper
PeaAddict
PeaNut 311,985
April 2007
Posts: 1,063
Layouts: 0
Loc: UK
| Posted: 2/5/2013 7:07:11 AM
It amazes me that people would let small children cry an entire flight rather than trade seats.
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It amazes me that at what it costs to fly passengers are supposed to engage in a survival of the fittest game of musical seats to keep parties traveling together seated together.
I'm amazed that all the people that are on the planes are not willing to change seats but are willing to take the risk that they would have to care for that lone child sitting next to them in any emergency!!! Or are they so obnoxious that they'd let that child care for him/her self in such a situation?
"Yeh right I'll put my oxygen mask on you find a way to put yours on yourself....you're on your own kiddo" How selfish
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melanell
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 26,836
January 2002
Posts: 14,446
Layouts: 86
| Posted: 2/5/2013 7:22:28 AM
It amazes me that at what it costs to fly passengers are supposed to engage in a survival of the fittest game of musical seats to keep parties traveling together seated together.
I agree.
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utmr
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 271,408
August 2006
Posts: 2,466
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/5/2013 7:36:13 AM
On SW you have several options, as the others have said. Pay extra for the A group, check in exactly at the 24 hour mark and get B group, or possibly A. Even in C if you head to the back you may find 2 seats together.
I try to be sympathetic to people with babies. But I think it is unreasonable to expect another passenger who paid extra or who checked in early to get the seat they wanted to trade with another px who is in a bind due to their own lack of planning.
To the OP - check in at the 24 hour mark and you should be fine. Enjoy your trip. | |
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CreativeEngineer
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 134,808
March 2004
Posts: 6,138
Layouts: 4
Loc: East Coast
| Posted: 2/5/2013 7:58:15 AM
We fly Southwest a good bit as we often travel to Phoenix or Las Vegas. I've never had trouble getting seats together on a flight. And when we pay for early boarding, we usually get seats near the front. If you board with a small child on SW, most people will avoid you like the plague and the seats next to you will be the last to fill.
I have only been asked to switch seats once by a gate agent. She was trying her best to accommodate a family. We were a family of 5 and she asked if we would split up 2/3 with each parent having one or two kids. We agreed and she actually gave us $20 each in credit toward a future flight. I'm pretty sure this was Jet Blue. But if we were already on board, settled in, carry-ons stowed, etc I would not have moved.
I'm not willing to give up my aisle seat for a middle, but if you want me to trade one aisle for another and I'm not travelling with my own kids, I'd generally do it.
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michele st
PeaNut
PeaNut 371,154
April 2008
Posts: 129
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/5/2013 8:02:25 AM
The thing that gets me is when you check in you are given a seat #. We flew one time with our 4 kids. We were toward the end of boarding and our seats were gone. My 2 older kids (11 & 15) had to sit by themselves , I had my 5yr old with me and my dh had our 2 yr old. When I booked we had 6 seats in a row. Who sits in these seats when they have already been asigned a seat. The flight attends didn't care they just said to find seats. (yes we were going to Disney) | |
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Tuva42
PeaFixture
PeaNut 41,763
July 2002
Posts: 3,554
Layouts: 17
Loc: Somewhere in the middle...
| Posted: 2/5/2013 8:25:07 AM
We've had mixed experiences. With Delta, when I book the seats I am given the opportunity to choose my seats and those are always my seats. 2 years ago we flew home from Hawaii on USAir and although I had seats on my itinerary (booked 4 months ahead of time), I was told those were not guaranteed. They split all four of us up. My oldest DD17 who is scared to fly was going to have to sit alone, as was my DD11. The gate agent was no help at all. But she told me "You have an aisle seat. Use that to bargain." I was able to get someone to take my aisle seat so that my DDs could sit together.
I was furious, but there was another family on the plane, 2 parents, 2 grandparents, 2 toddlers. They'd had their tickets for A YEAR!! They were told they were being split up to 3 different flights. Their 3 year old had been switched, alone, to a different flight. They had to fight like crazy to get things changed. We won't be flying USAir again. It was ridiculous.
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ktNryansmom
*REDEYED PEA*
PeaNut 51,842
October 2002
Posts: 13,294
Layouts: 189
| Posted: 2/5/2013 8:30:52 AM
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Karen
**Children should be seen and heard and BELIEVED** | |
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Just T
I need therapea!
PeaNut 65,272
January 2003
Posts: 13,706
Layouts: 0
Loc: In my own little world
| Posted: 2/5/2013 9:01:15 AM
I'm shocked by a couple of things.
First of all, when you book your flight and pick your seats, why do they end up changed, separating all of you? That really is unacceptable. I've never had that happen thank goodness.
I'm also shocked that people would be so stubborn about switching seats so that a mom is able to sit with her young child. I can think of nothing worse than sitting next to a 2 year old that was not with a parent. I can understand not wanting to move if the person is with their own child and doesn't want to be separated, but otherwise, I really don't get it. | |
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Georgiapea
Mom to the Wild Things.
PeaNut 96,783
July 2003
Posts: 26,413
Layouts: 0
Loc: Poss-a-Dillo Hill, Ozark, AL
| Posted: 2/5/2013 9:07:09 AM
Preferably, choose an airline where seat selection is done on line. If you don't want to do that, your seats are assigned at the ticket counter when you check your baggage. The cabin crew can not change where you sit. | |
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