Families booking middle seats and then expecting others to switch with them

[Anonymous]

This is a vent. This happened the last two times we flew. A family will book middle seats and then expect others to move for them. We have small kids and are sympathetic to not being separated with young kids but in both cases we found it wasn't an issue with the airline screwing up and double booking a seat or moving people who had paid for pre-arranged seating, it was people who just paid for middle seats or got on a flight stand by and knowingly accepted all middle seats.

The last family was incredibly obnoxious and delayed the entire flight. They seemed shocked that everyone was not giving up their seats to accommodate them. The worst part was the mother who felt like she needed to sit next the 12 year boy rather than be two rows behind him a middle seat. If they didn't feel that they could sit apart then they should have waited for a later flight. We did this when one of our flights was cancelled. Rather than fly stand by and end up all over the plane with little kids, we waited until a later flight even though this was very inconvenient for us.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, this happens a lot. People are pretty surprised when they ask you to move and you politely decline. I will for very young children, but not for kids that are actually old enough to fly alone.

Cue all the parents of special snowflakes who will start ranting now.

[Anonymous]

So did anyone switch with her? I hope you stood strong. On one trans-pacific flight when I was 20, and flying solo, this girl asked for my window seat when she had the middle. I felt so awkward saying no, so I agreed. I though she was probably really young and scared to be flying alone. Turns out she was 16! Definitely old enough to know better, then I was stuck in the midde with a gross old lady on the other side of me who picked her nose for 13 hours straight.

Ugh. Never again.

Some people just have no problem asking others to inconvenience themselves. Just don't be a chump like I was.

[Anonymous]

My experience is that we've not been able to book all the seats together. The aisle and window seats in all rows are the first to go and usually only the middle seats are left. When I have the option, I'll take a flight with better choices but I don't always have much of a choice. If the airlines would allow it, I'd let my little kids sit by themselves but, typically, the airlines won't allow it because the kids are capable of taking care of themselves in an emergency. The passengers on either side of them aren't likely to like it either because no one would be around to 'manage' my kid. I don't get irate when people don't want to change seats, I don't blame people but it's not my problem. It's the airline's problem to solve. Your anger is misdirected.

[Anonymous]

How did you "find out" it wasn't an issue with the airline double booking them? Did you conduct an investigation during the flight, Sherlock Holmes? Was Watson mad because he's too fat to sit in a middle seat?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My experience is that we've not been able to book all the seats together. The aisle and window seats in all rows are the first to go and usually only the middle seats are left. When I have the option, I'll take a flight with better choices but I don't always have much of a choice. If the airlines would allow it, I'd let my little kids sit by themselves but, typically, the airlines won't allow it because the kids are capable of taking care of themselves in an emergency. The passengers on either side of them aren't likely to like it either because no one would be around to 'manage' my kid. I don't get irate when people don't want to change seats, I don't blame people but it's not my problem. It's the airline's problem to solve. Your anger is misdirected.

No, you need to book your flights earlier and not wait so long.

[Anonymous]

Completely agree. People do this on purpose and expect u to accomodate them. Please save urself the trouble and dont ask me bc i will say no. And yes i am a mom of a young child myself.

[Anonymous]

Not to excuse anyone's obnoxious behavior, but on our last cross-country flight I booked 3 seats together and when we got to the airport the airline had changed the seats for the second leg of the flight and had us in three separate middle seats. The agent at the flight of origin could not (or would not) change it and because our flight arrived late and we ran to catch our second flight there was no time to address the issue at the gate. In the end, there happened to be an empty seat next to my daughter and the other person in her row was very pleasant. Choosing your seats doesn't always guarantee them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My experience is that we've not been able to book all the seats together. The aisle and window seats in all rows are the first to go and usually only the middle seats are left. When I have the option, I'll take a flight with better choices but I don't always have much of a choice. If the airlines would allow it, I'd let my little kids sit by themselves but, typically, the airlines won't allow it because the kids are capable of taking care of themselves in an emergency. The passengers on either side of them aren't likely to like it either because no one would be around to 'manage' my kid. I don't get irate when people don't want to change seats, I don't blame people but it's not my problem. It's the airline's problem to solve. Your anger is misdirected.

The airlines allow your kids to fly alone at age 5.

The airlines will allow your kids to sit alone younger than that--mine certainly have, and I've been on plenty of flights with other children who were.

[Anonymous]

we found it wasn't an issue with the airline screwing up and double booking a seat or moving people who had paid for pre-arranged seating,

Are you sure? Because the last two times we've flown, we booked months in advance, and arranged for me to have a seat next to my three year old, and both times, our seating was somehow changed so that he was sitting by himself next to another random adult. Fortunately, someone was willing to help us and switch seats (an aisle for an aisle) both times.

[Anonymous]

People need to plan better and not wait til the last min to book. Now obviously if ur loved one just passed and u need to head to a funeral last min thats a diff. Story.

[Anonymous]

Ugh the worst is when you pay extra and someone expects you to move. I just say no I paid extra sorry

[Anonymous]

This freaks me out that airlines would switch seats and think it's OK to let a 3 year old fly alone. We booked months ago for a flight in a few weeks, and no hell way is my 3 year old sitting alone. I would be asking everyone to help me if that happened. Sorry that would piss you off OP.

[Anonymous]

Ugh the worst is when you pay extra and someone expects you to move. I just say no I paid extra sorry

Well, it is fine for you to say no, but what is the harm in them asking? I usually say yes, because my company pays for my flights (I don't get to choose my seat, I get whatever travel picks for me) and since I'm a short, small woman, it doesn't matter that much to me if I'm in the middle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two small ones, and never "expect" anyone to give up their seats so that we can all sit together. That said, most people willingly switch when asked with kindness and respect and so that they don't have to sit next to your child! You never know what to expect from a child who is without their parent.

Also, any time I do see people unwilling to switch seats, it's always a fat, sweaty, bitchy woman. Very rarely is it a man.

Women can be such bitches....but we all know that! [/quote

How is the fat jab relevant? I'm fat, and as such, prefer aisle or window seats. What's it to you? I have switched before, out of kindness, but might not always be in the mood to do so.