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

[Anonymous]

We're flying Southwest soon and I just realized we're the second leg of a flight originating elsewhere. The ticket agent said they have a large number of people already signed up for early bird boarding, so she said we'd likely be better off doing family boarding after the A group. The hitch is that the flight is completely sold out (both legs) and people from the first leg will already be on the plane when boarding starts here. Should I be preparing my kids (3 & 6) to sit with strangers? I'm suddenly feeling anxious!

[Anonymous]

Never had to sit them with strangers. People have moved for us and are generally polite about it.

[Anonymous]

Do you have two kids and two adults, or just one adult? You should be OK if you have to split up, with kids in middle seats (those always go last). If you need a whole row, I still think you should be OK if you get on after group A.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never had to sit them with strangers. People have moved for us and are generally polite about it.

You think someone is going to kidnap the kid on the plane.

I pay for early boarding and you should do the same if you want to sit together.

[Anonymous]

I think the threat of sitting next to an unsupervised child or worse, toddler, is enough to make any rational person move. I can't imagine it being a problem. And if not, hey, get a drink and enjoy the free babysitting!

[Anonymous]

I was just on a SW flight last weekend and my 9 yr old sat alone (we were standby passengers). No big deal. But if these are little kids, I think most sane people would rather move than sit next to a little kid. When you board the place, mention your situation to the flight attendant. Maybe they can make an announcement. I've moved when I've flown alone so parents could sit with their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the threat of sitting next to an unsupervised child or worse, toddler, is enough to make any rational person move. I can't imagine it being a problem. And if not, hey, get a drink and enjoy the free babysitting!

Except, and I hate to even say it, there have been insistences of creepy men sexually assaulting women AND sometimes children on flights, often when the person is asleep, but sometimes even when awake. Inappropriate touching and all that. It's amazing how that kind of thing can happen in a crowded plane, but it has. Not saying it's common or it will definitely happen- but I wouldn't want my kids sitting alone, especially if they were under 9

[Anonymous]

These things tend to work themselves out. No one wants to move to accommodate a family, but as soon as someone realizes that their options are to move or to sit next to a crying three-year-old who wants her mommy, or next to a six-year-old who will talk their ear off if there's no parent around to intervene, they suddenly get a lot more willing to change seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just on a SW flight last weekend and my 9 yr old sat alone (we were standby passengers). No big deal. But if these are little kids, I think most sane people would rather move than sit next to a little kid. When you board the place, mention your situation to the flight attendant. Maybe they can make an announcement. I've moved when I've flown alone so parents could sit with their kids.

Agree with all this (except the 9 y.o. part since I don't have one of those). SW flight attendants are particularly accommodating. And I was recently moved to accommodate a small child when flying without my baby, and two different flight attendants came by to thank me and give me drink coupons!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the threat of sitting next to an unsupervised child or worse, toddler, is enough to make any rational person move. I can't imagine it being a problem. And if not, hey, get a drink and enjoy the free babysitting!

Except, and I hate to even say it, there have been insistences of creepy men sexually assaulting women AND sometimes children on flights, often when the person is asleep, but sometimes even when awake. Inappropriate touching and all that. It's amazing how that kind of thing can happen in a crowded plane, but it has. Not saying it's common or it will definitely happen- but I wouldn't want my kids sitting alone, especially if they were under 9

I believe it...had a weird experience on NJ transit like this in my early twenties where a guy pretended to be asleep and put his hand on my thigh twice, after being told to stop the first time, at about 6am, effing perv! So I would not ultimately get on the flight if I couldn't sit with such young kids...but I don't think that will happen to ODp, I bet someone will move.

[Anonymous]

Just flew Southwest with my twin 5-year olds. We were on a non-stop flight so we didn't have your problem when we boarded after A group. But the last people to board the flight was a family of 3 - mom and two young daughters, maybe 6 and 9. The flight attendant made an announcement that there was a family aboard that would like to sit together and asked if some people would give up their seats. The flight attendant offered one free drink ticket to each passenger willing to move. Wasn't a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never had to sit them with strangers. People have moved for us and are generally polite about it.

You think someone is going to kidnap the kid on the plane.

I pay for early boarding and you should do the same if you want to sit together.

OP here. Ticket agent said early boarding wouldn't help and we'd be better off boarding after the A's. We did purchase early boarding for one of us, in the hopes that it would yield an earlier board than Southwest family boarding. No, I don't think anyone is going to kidnap my child, but I do prefer to sit with them since they would be nervous with strangers.

We're traveling with two adults and two kids, so don't need a whole row together or anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the threat of sitting next to an unsupervised child or worse, toddler, is enough to make any rational person move. I can't imagine it being a problem. And if not, hey, get a drink and enjoy the free babysitting!

Except, and I hate to even say it, there have been insistences of creepy men sexually assaulting women AND sometimes children on flights, often when the person is asleep, but sometimes even when awake. Inappropriate touching and all that. It's amazing how that kind of thing can happen in a crowded plane, but it has. Not saying it's common or it will definitely happen- but I wouldn't want my kids sitting alone, especially if they were under 9

I believe it...had a weird experience on NJ transit like this in my early twenties where a guy pretended to be asleep and put his hand on my thigh twice, after being told to stop the first time, at about 6am, effing perv! So I would not ultimately get on the flight if I couldn't sit with such young kids...but I don't think that will happen to ODp, I bet someone will move.

Yep, I have never had someone try to innapropriately touch me but there are so many weirdos out there.

If someone will move, which I bet they will, this will be no issue. I hope thats the case.

[Anonymous]

I know people it has happened to. One opted to wait for a later flight. If you family board you should be ok. More people are ok than have issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never had to sit them with strangers. People have moved for us and are generally polite about it.

You think someone is going to kidnap the kid on the plane.

I pay for early boarding and you should do the same if you want to sit together.

Yikes you are a rude one! The problem is the second leg when you get on a flight which is a continuation for it is loaded with the people from their original leg also.

OP, the PP is one you want to sit the 3 year old by and then go to the back and close your eyes.