Airplane seating situation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This is on you, OP. I've gone on countless flights with my kids, and the situation you want to avoid is asking people yourself on the plane. So here's what you should have done -

1. You should have insisted to get seat assignments upon check-in.
2. If unsuccessful, you should have insisted at the gate, and gone back to ask repeatedly. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
3. If unsuccessful, tell the flight attendant that your child cannot sit by herself (don't ask, tell), and say that you will be asking other passengers to switch. And proceed to do so. Only one of you needs to be seated with your child.

No passenger has ever refused to switch with me in the past, when it's been a question of being seated next to my young child. Stick with the least desirable seat that you've been assigned and ask the person next to it to move to the more desirable one.

OP did nothing wrong. Nothing. I completely disagree that it’s on her. People are assholes. The flight attendant should have forced someone to switch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s crazy that no one would switch with you. No one wants middle but to make a three year old sit alone is awful. But it’s really the airline’s fault for not handling it. I think you handled it the best you could. Not a huge deal in the end. I wouldn’t have skipped the flight.

I wouldn't want to give up my seat just because the airline screwed up. They need better incentives to induce people to give up their seats. Be real people.

The incentive (in addition to being a decent human being) would have been to not be stuck next to an unaccompanied 3 year old. I am surprised neither of the people flanking the 3 year old switched. Especially since this was a flight to Florida -- so 2-3 hours -- I am surprised no one took a middle.

Having said that, it would have made sense for the airline to offer something to try to sweeten the pot a bit, and that may have made a difference.

I've had flight attendants offer me drink coupons for switching to accommodate a family. Even when I did it willingly and said I didn't need an incentive. I've also been offered cash by a person who wanted to switch with me to sit with his girlfriend...though even in that case I would have switched without (but he insisted when I refused).

[Anonymous]

I would have announced that she couldn't sit alone, and just kept saying that until something happened. I would also offer to buy drinks with my own $ for a passenger who switched. It's good she got through it, but if there were an emergency, 3 is too young to be in a separate row.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is on you, OP. I've gone on countless flights with my kids, and the situation you want to avoid is asking people yourself on the plane. So here's what you should have done -

1. You should have insisted to get seat assignments upon check-in.
2. If unsuccessful, you should have insisted at the gate, and gone back to ask repeatedly. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
3. If unsuccessful, tell the flight attendant that your child cannot sit by herself (don't ask, tell), and say that you will be asking other passengers to switch. And proceed to do so. Only one of you needs to be seated with your child.

No passenger has ever refused to switch with me in the past, when it's been a question of being seated next to my young child. Stick with the least desirable seat that you've been assigned and ask the person next to it to move to the more desirable one.

OP did nothing wrong. Nothing. I completely disagree that it’s on her. People are assholes. The flight attendant should have forced someone to switch.

PP you replied to.

In an ideal world, you're right. But in the real world, you and OP are wrong. Air travel is not what it used to be, flight attendants couldn't care less, you've heard the horror stories. So if you want your child to be safe and comfortable, who is ultimately responsible?
That's right.
I'm not fighting with you on the principle, PP. This is just YEARS of experience talking here!

[Anonymous]

I had a similar situation in Iceland Air in Dec. 2 parents with our 5yo. They gave us 2 seats in an emergency row and 1 seat near the back. She was not allowed in the emergency row and I wouldn't put her in the back by herself. I kicked up enough of a stink some nice people moved around and we actually got to sit together which was not my intention. I just wanted one of us with DD. I would not have let her sit away from me. I'm too concerned about pedophiles to let my young child sit next to complete strangers in an enclosed space. In your situation the airline should have offered something to people to move. If they didn't then you kick up a stink until it happens.

[Anonymous]

If I had been in your shoes I would have flown back alone. My husband and child would have taken a different flight where they can be seated together.

[Anonymous]

Airlines suck. Good lord. God help the people sitting next to mybunaccompanied 3 yo. He would have freaked out. Kids need to sit with their parents on planes. It is a safety issue. What if she had an allergy or medical issue? What if her seatmate was a pervert or a creep. Unacceptable on behalf of the airline. OP shouldn’t have to nag. And what, all of a sudden the flight attendant has no authority to move a seat? That is BS. You have to move if a flight attendant tells you to move.

[Anonymous]

My young kids would never sit alone on a flight. OP, you need to be more assertive. This is not an ok situation.

[Anonymous]

OP back: I should have pushed more obviously. From my seat I could see her and see she wasn’t upset prior to takeoff. Thankfully once we boarded we taxied and took off quickly. She was with me for the remainder of the flight until landing.

[Anonymous]

It depends the situation. If I had to get back, I would do it and do what you did but if we could wait, I'd demand to be put on the next plane so at least two of us could sit together. That is absurd that they place a 3 year old with strangers. I'd contact the airline and ask for a refund for your child's seat and if they say no, post it on their facebook and other public media sites so people are warned not to use them with young kids. That's why we try to fly southwest as they allow families to board between a and b.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP back: I should have pushed more obviously. From my seat I could see her and see she wasn’t upset prior to takeoff. Thankfully once we boarded we taxied and took off quickly. She was with me for the remainder of the flight until landing.

I'm surprised the people next to you didn't want to switch as its not very comfortable if you are in the middle with a 3 year old on your lap.

[Anonymous]

I just...cannot imagine being the asshole in the seat next to your child, as you lean over them to secure her in her seat belt and give her an iPad. I can’t imagine not immediately getting up and giving you my seat. What is wrong with people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is on you, OP. I've gone on countless flights with my kids, and the situation you want to avoid is asking people yourself on the plane. So here's what you should have done -

1. You should have insisted to get seat assignments upon check-in.
2. If unsuccessful, you should have insisted at the gate, and gone back to ask repeatedly. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
3. If unsuccessful, tell the flight attendant that your child cannot sit by herself (don't ask, tell), and say that you will be asking other passengers to switch. And proceed to do so. Only one of you needs to be seated with your child.

No passenger has ever refused to switch with me in the past, when it's been a question of being seated next to my young child. Stick with the least desirable seat that you've been assigned and ask the person next to it to move to the more desirable one.

OP did nothing wrong. Nothing. I completely disagree that it’s on her. People are assholes. The flight attendant should have forced someone to switch.

Not a chance. If I paid the aisle or window seat, no one is going to force me to move. The OP needs to learn how to advocate for herself at the ticket counter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is on you, OP. I've gone on countless flights with my kids, and the situation you want to avoid is asking people yourself on the plane. So here's what you should have done -

1. You should have insisted to get seat assignments upon check-in.
2. If unsuccessful, you should have insisted at the gate, and gone back to ask repeatedly. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
3. If unsuccessful, tell the flight attendant that your child cannot sit by herself (don't ask, tell), and say that you will be asking other passengers to switch. And proceed to do so. Only one of you needs to be seated with your child.

No passenger has ever refused to switch with me in the past, when it's been a question of being seated next to my young child. Stick with the least desirable seat that you've been assigned and ask the person next to it to move to the more desirable one.

OP did nothing wrong. Nothing. I completely disagree that it’s on her. People are assholes. The flight attendant should have forced someone to switch.

Not a chance. If I paid the aisle or window seat, no one is going to force me to move. The OP needs to learn how to advocate for herself at the ticket counter.

Ah-you’re the asshole on the plane. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP back: I should have pushed more obviously. From my seat I could see her and see she wasn’t upset prior to takeoff. Thankfully once we boarded we taxied and took off quickly. She was with me for the remainder of the flight until landing.

I'm surprised the people next to you didn't want to switch as its not very comfortable if you are in the middle with a 3 year old on your lap.

I’m petite and so is my DD. While not comfortable, she is pretty small.