Anyone not been able to sit next to their kids on Southwest?

[Anonymous]

Just pay the extra $ for one adult to board with the A group. That person can then save seats for everyone.

No one on Southwest ever has a problem if you tell them "My wife and kids are further back in line -- I'm saving these 4 seats for them, but the window seat is open."

No one will take the window seat, either, until the plane is full.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people must not be listening. I booked tickets all together on united 6 months in advance for a Christmas trip. During those 6 months, our seats were changed three times. The third time, the change was at the last minute, and we ended up with seats apart through no fault of our own. A nice couple moved so that we could sit together. It was advantageous to us that 2 of our seats were actually on the side and better for this couple anyway, but we were very grateful to have the assistance of that couple.

Or how about if you have to book a last minute flight due to a death in the family. You have no control over that and can't always sit together.

So glad that I don't have to fly very often.

It doesn't fit into their argument that you're a cheap, neglectful parent, so they choose to ignore your valid points. I feel you, I've been there too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just pay the extra $ for one adult to board with the A group. That person can then save seats for everyone.

No one on Southwest ever has a problem if you tell them "My wife and kids are further back in line -- I'm saving these 4 seats for them, but the window seat is open."

No one will take the window seat, either, until the plane is full.

You really are not allowed to save seats. Most people won't push the issue, but get someone who is already having a rough day--and maybe they will.

And I prefer window seats, so I would take the window seat!

[Anonymous]

With children that age, I would think that either the airline will assist in ensuring you get to sit together (SW doesn't have assigned seating), or another passenger will willingly move to allow you to sit with your children. No one is going to let a 3 year old sit by themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With children that age, I would think that either the airline will assist in ensuring you get to sit together (SW doesn't have assigned seating), or another passenger will willingly move to allow you to sit with your children. No one is going to let a 3 year old sit by themselves.

You clearly have not read this entire thread.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine not moving seats to accommodate a family. Seriously, if I'm travelling by myself, why not? I really don't understand people who absolutely refuse to help out others even when it costs them so little. I have no idea why a given family didn't get seats together--last minute travel for a family emergency, airline rescheduling, whatever. Who cares? I like to put a little nice out into the world when I can.

Fun story--the last time my husband flew for business, he sat next to a woman and her small son. The kid's husband asked if my husband would switch seats so that he could sit with him family. The switch was aisle-for-aisle, but the guy's seat was less desirable because it was at the back of the plane. My husband said yes. At the end of the flight, the guy told him he was the executive chef at a DC restaurant I'd been wanting to try, and he was so grateful that my husband was nice that he told him to go to the restaurant and he and his whole family could have a meal on him. We quite enjoyed that meal--everyone at the restaurant knew who we were and were super-nice. Karma's a bitch, but she can be a nice lady, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people must not be listening. I booked tickets all together on united 6 months in advance for a Christmas trip. During those 6 months, our seats were changed three times. The third time, the change was at the last minute, and we ended up with seats apart through no fault of our own. A nice couple moved so that we could sit together. It was advantageous to us that 2 of our seats were actually on the side and better for this couple anyway, but we were very grateful to have the assistance of that couple.

Or how about if you have to book a last minute flight due to a death in the family. You have no control over that and can't always sit together.

So glad that I don't have to fly very often.

You don't have to fly at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to see some of the never-seat-swapping posters answer the question of the last PP below!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a family of 4 and all had to sit separately. (kids were 8 and 10) The flight attendant tried desperately to get someone to move so my 8 yr old who was freaking out about sitting alone would be able to sit next to one of us, but no one budged!!

After the 4th announcement by the flight attendant a man moved to another seat and asked the man next to him, whom he didn't know, to move too in a kind of "come on man, let's do this" kind of way. I'm so thankful for him.

I'll always look for other airlines before I look for Southwest again. It's not the service, the flight attendant was so nice and really tried, but I will always opt for any airline with assigned seats from now on.

I posted this on a different thread about SW and got dogged out because of it. I was told my child is old enough to get over it, that I was acting entitled, why should they give up their seat, etc. Typical DCUM nastiness, but I never thought that people were as nasty as they sometimes act on here in real life. I was dead wrong because that must have been some of the thoughts of the people on the plane since they wouldn't move.

It is astounding to me that we as a society in a first world country where we pride ourselves on our civilized lifestyle and high education that we have become so selfish and arrogant that it is too inconvenient to switch seats so a crying child could sit next to their parent on a cross country 6 hour plane trip.

I feel for you, PP. There are a lot of selfish, nasty people in the world.

It's actually selfish and self-absorbed to assume people have to move to meet your needs. People often pick their seats for specific reasons, they have that right and judging them for it because things aren't going your way is selfish as well.

Would you be willing to assist a 5 year old sitting next to you in s crisis? You know, put their oxygen mask on and all that and help them evacuate?

I'm going to take care of my dog first. After she's all right, I would probably help the abandoned kid next to me with their mask, if their absentee parent hasn't shown up by then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to see some of the never-seat-swapping posters answer the question of the last PP below!

Anonymous wrote:

Would you be willing to assist a 5 year old sitting next to you in s crisis? You know, put their oxygen mask on and all that and help them evacuate?

I would not. I would likely have my own child with me who would get my assistance first. You know, since I was responsible enough to get seats together and all. This question makes me angry. Take care of your own damn children. You've never helped me with mine.

So if you ended up with a head injury due to turbulence and couldn't help your own child, I shouldn't bother to help you or your child either? After all, you've never helped me or my child.

You don't see the difference in intentionally sitting away from your child?

it isn't intentional. It is because the airlines are terrible and some passengers are jerks and won't switch seats.

Oh, I see. So instead of picking an airline that allows you to purchase seats together, you try to save money on WN or some other discount carrier and can't sit together. Isn't your child's life worth doing the most you can to sit together?

Yeah, I don't switch seats. I have elite status on two airlines, which means I have the pick of seats and I have a reason to pick the seats I do. I'm not giving up a premium economy seat so you can sit next to your child. Likely you were just too cheap to purchase seats together and figured you'd get someone to switch. Not my problem. And I won't talk to your child, either. I have my own child who travels with me and deserves all my attention. Odd how we've NEVER been separated and DD has logged over 100,000 miles in two years. So what are you doing so wrong?

Think I was always this bitter? Guess again. I became this bitter after being isolated after my child was born. No one wanted to help me then, so I'll be damned if I go out of my way to help other parents now. I can promise you the ramifications of me not helping you are a lot less than the ramifications of no one helping me out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes, are there really people out there who would not help a child put on their oxygen mask on a plane?

+1

This thread is making me so sad. I think I've had my daily fill of DCUM.

+1
Truly a reality check.
Don't make excuses for nasty people: You can't put a flower in an asshole and call it a vase.

Confirms that I will move heaven and hell to sit together with my kids, no exceptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine not moving seats to accommodate a family. Seriously, if I'm travelling by myself, why not? I really don't understand people who absolutely refuse to help out others even when it costs them so little. I have no idea why a given family didn't get seats together--last minute travel for a family emergency, airline rescheduling, whatever. Who cares? I like to put a little nice out into the world when I can.

Fun story--the last time my husband flew for business, he sat next to a woman and her small son. The kid's husband asked if my husband would switch seats so that he could sit with him family. The switch was aisle-for-aisle, but the guy's seat was less desirable because it was at the back of the plane. My husband said yes. At the end of the flight, the guy told him he was the executive chef at a DC restaurant I'd been wanting to try, and he was so grateful that my husband was nice that he told him to go to the restaurant and he and his whole family could have a meal on him. We quite enjoyed that meal--everyone at the restaurant knew who we were and were super-nice. Karma's a bitch, but she can be a nice lady, too.

Really happy to read this! Great story. Pay it forward people!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to see some of the never-seat-swapping posters answer the question of the last PP below!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a family of 4 and all had to sit separately. (kids were 8 and 10) The flight attendant tried desperately to get someone to move so my 8 yr old who was freaking out about sitting alone would be able to sit next to one of us, but no one budged!!

After the 4th announcement by the flight attendant a man moved to another seat and asked the man next to him, whom he didn't know, to move too in a kind of "come on man, let's do this" kind of way. I'm so thankful for him.

I'll always look for other airlines before I look for Southwest again. It's not the service, the flight attendant was so nice and really tried, but I will always opt for any airline with assigned seats from now on.

I posted this on a different thread about SW and got dogged out because of it. I was told my child is old enough to get over it, that I was acting entitled, why should they give up their seat, etc. Typical DCUM nastiness, but I never thought that people were as nasty as they sometimes act on here in real life. I was dead wrong because that must have been some of the thoughts of the people on the plane since they wouldn't move.

It is astounding to me that we as a society in a first world country where we pride ourselves on our civilized lifestyle and high education that we have become so selfish and arrogant that it is too inconvenient to switch seats so a crying child could sit next to their parent on a cross country 6 hour plane trip.

I feel for you, PP. There are a lot of selfish, nasty people in the world.

It's actually selfish and self-absorbed to assume people have to move to meet your needs. People often pick their seats for specific reasons, they have that right and judging them for it because things aren't going your way is selfish as well.

Would you be willing to assist a 5 year old sitting next to you in s crisis? You know, put their oxygen mask on and all that and help them evacuate?

I'm going to take care of my dog first. After she's all right, I would probably help the abandoned kid next to me with their mask, if their absentee parent hasn't shown up by then.

You're supposed to fix your own mask before helping others, to make sure you're not incapacitated. How is the child's parent supposed to show up if they're tethered to an oxygen mask? The parent isn't an absentee on purpose if you've refused to switch with them, jerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to see some of the never-seat-swapping posters answer the question of the last PP below!

Anonymous wrote:

Would you be willing to assist a 5 year old sitting next to you in s crisis? You know, put their oxygen mask on and all that and help them evacuate?

I would not. I would likely have my own child with me who would get my assistance first. You know, since I was responsible enough to get seats together and all. This question makes me angry. Take care of your own damn children. You've never helped me with mine.

So if you ended up with a head injury due to turbulence and couldn't help your own child, I shouldn't bother to help you or your child either? After all, you've never helped me or my child.

You don't see the difference in intentionally sitting away from your child?

it isn't intentional. It is because the airlines are terrible and some passengers are jerks and won't switch seats.

Oh, I see. So instead of picking an airline that allows you to purchase seats together, you try to save money on WN or some other discount carrier and can't sit together. Isn't your child's life worth doing the most you can to sit together?

Yeah, I don't switch seats. I have elite status on two airlines, which means I have the pick of seats and I have a reason to pick the seats I do. I'm not giving up a premium economy seat so you can sit next to your child. Likely you were just too cheap to purchase seats together and figured you'd get someone to switch. Not my problem. And I won't talk to your child, either. I have my own child who travels with me and deserves all my attention. Odd how we've NEVER been separated and DD has logged over 100,000 miles in two years. So what are you doing so wrong?

Think I was always this bitter? Guess again. I became this bitter after being isolated after my child was born. No one wanted to help me then, so I'll be damned if I go out of my way to help other parents now. I can promise you the ramifications of me not helping you are a lot less than the ramifications of no one helping me out.

You should seek therapy before you ruin your child if you haven't already. I say this in all seriousness. Life is not be this terrible and you don't have to be so angry and mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to see some of the never-seat-swapping posters answer the question of the last PP below!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a family of 4 and all had to sit separately. (kids were 8 and 10) The flight attendant tried desperately to get someone to move so my 8 yr old who was freaking out about sitting alone would be able to sit next to one of us, but no one budged!!

After the 4th announcement by the flight attendant a man moved to another seat and asked the man next to him, whom he didn't know, to move too in a kind of "come on man, let's do this" kind of way. I'm so thankful for him.

I'll always look for other airlines before I look for Southwest again. It's not the service, the flight attendant was so nice and really tried, but I will always opt for any airline with assigned seats from now on.

I posted this on a different thread about SW and got dogged out because of it. I was told my child is old enough to get over it, that I was acting entitled, why should they give up their seat, etc. Typical DCUM nastiness, but I never thought that people were as nasty as they sometimes act on here in real life. I was dead wrong because that must have been some of the thoughts of the people on the plane since they wouldn't move.

It is astounding to me that we as a society in a first world country where we pride ourselves on our civilized lifestyle and high education that we have become so selfish and arrogant that it is too inconvenient to switch seats so a crying child could sit next to their parent on a cross country 6 hour plane trip.

I feel for you, PP. There are a lot of selfish, nasty people in the world.

It's actually selfish and self-absorbed to assume people have to move to meet your needs. People often pick their seats for specific reasons, they have that right and judging them for it because things aren't going your way is selfish as well.

Would you be willing to assist a 5 year old sitting next to you in s crisis? You know, put their oxygen mask on and all that and help them evacuate?

I'm going to take care of my dog first. After she's all right, I would probably help the abandoned kid next to me with their mask, if their absentee parent hasn't shown up by then.

You're supposed to fix your own mask before helping others, to make sure you're not incapacitated. How is the child's parent supposed to show up if they're tethered to an oxygen mask? The parent isn't an absentee on purpose if you've refused to switch with them, jerk.

It's not my fault the parent didn't get seats together. The air mask situation is just something they're going to have to figure out while I tend to my own business.

[Anonymous]

If you have kids, they let you board between the A and B groups.

Several flights lately people have boarded at the last minute with kids, and the flight attendant offered a free drink to anyone who would move.

Don't be the jerk that shows up 4 seconds before the plane leaves and makes a ton of people move around. Just get there early and board after A.