Do people really pay $50 each way per person for seat selection??

[Anonymous]

Another things airlines should do is make checked luggage free and charge $50 or more for carryons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another things airlines should do is make checked luggage free and charge $50 or more for carryons.

Yessss. I will add that to my consultant list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We fly southwest to avoid this and also to avoid people who are going to freak out about being asked to accommodate a family with young kids sitting together. We also really like their "bags fly free" policy. When we fly to Europe we use airlines that seat families together. I think the EU actually requires this so flying within Europe you don't have to worry.

I wish people realized that this is about the airline screwing people and being dishonest in pricing, not people being "narcs." It used to be that seat selection was baked into the price along with checked bags and other *totally normal* aspects of flying. Doing a seat price and then nickel and diming you for everything else is a way to obscure the cost of flying so that they can charge more while claiming in advertising that they charge less. It's BS. Americans should demand better transparency in pricing and not accept policies like this that actually make flying worse for everyone.

The insane thing to me is that even if you pay to select your seat, if the flight is canceled and you wind up on another flight they don't even refund your fee for the seat you never even used. So a family of four could spend an extra $400 for seats together and then wind up having to beg people to move so they could sit with their little kids anyway. That's deranged!

We like Southwest too but there are many places they don’t fly, like most other countries including European ones.

Yes but read the post: many European carriers seat families together anyway (EU actually has passengers rights rules about this). The EU rules don't apply in US but if you contact the airline they will usually ensure it. Sometimes you don't even have to contact them-- they will automatically ensure any child under 12 is seated with a parent or guardian.

[Anonymous]

One reason I don't like paying for seat selection just to sit with my kid is that I am not picky about the seats location, only proximity to a small child who will need supervision. I'm fine sitting in middle seat in the back of the plane as long as my 4 yr old is next to me. So why should I have to pay extra like I'm getting a better seat?

But I solve this by not flying airlines that are stupid enough to try and charge me an extra $200 just to ensure I am seated next to my preschooler. It's a dumb business practice and I vote with my wallet.

[Anonymous]

Never have. They have always put us together. I logged in yesterday and we were in the middle with one seat next to us. I figured they may leave that seat empty if possible, but just in case picked the two on the left under the window for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s just part of the cost of flying if you don’t want a middle seat. If you are fine with a middle seat feel free not to pay. Don’t expect others to move so you can be with your family/friends.

+100
I'm still amazed that there are people who decide not to pay and then expect others to move for their convenience. Nope. I'm staying in my great, paid for seat.

I am amazed that people forget their manners and are not willing to be considerate or accommodating. The aggressive me first culture is atrocious

The "mannerly" way to ask to trade seats with someone is to offer to cover what they paid for their seat. Don't expect manners when you're not showing any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes of course. It’s the o my way to guarantee seats with my kids.

Heck, I'd pay to *not* have to sit next to my kids. I'm certainly not going to pay for that "privilege." If the airline thinks that's an "extra", then the flight attendants are free to deal with my 4-year-olds.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I've done it multiple times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We fly southwest to avoid this and also to avoid people who are going to freak out about being asked to accommodate a family with young kids sitting together. We also really like their "bags fly free" policy. When we fly to Europe we use airlines that seat families together. I think the EU actually requires this so flying within Europe you don't have to worry.

I wish people realized that this is about the airline screwing people and being dishonest in pricing, not people being "narcs." It used to be that seat selection was baked into the price along with checked bags and other *totally normal* aspects of flying. Doing a seat price and then nickel and diming you for everything else is a way to obscure the cost of flying so that they can charge more while claiming in advertising that they charge less. It's BS. Americans should demand better transparency in pricing and not accept policies like this that actually make flying worse for everyone.

The insane thing to me is that even if you pay to select your seat, if the flight is canceled and you wind up on another flight they don't even refund your fee for the seat you never even used. So a family of four could spend an extra $400 for seats together and then wind up having to beg people to move so they could sit with their little kids anyway. That's deranged!

We like Southwest too but there are many places they don’t fly, like most other countries including European ones.

Yes but read the post: many European carriers seat families together anyway (EU actually has passengers rights rules about this). The EU rules don't apply in US but if you contact the airline they will usually ensure it. Sometimes you don't even have to contact them-- they will automatically ensure any child under 12 is seated with a parent or guardian.

Wait until you have teens and you no longer get special treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One reason I don't like paying for seat selection just to sit with my kid is that I am not picky about the seats location, only proximity to a small child who will need supervision. I'm fine sitting in middle seat in the back of the plane as long as my 4 yr old is next to me. So why should I have to pay extra like I'm getting a better seat?

But I solve this by not flying airlines that are stupid enough to try and charge me an extra $200 just to ensure I am seated next to my preschooler. It's a dumb business practice and I vote with my wallet.

Which airlines? I only know of SW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We fly southwest to avoid this and also to avoid people who are going to freak out about being asked to accommodate a family with young kids sitting together. We also really like their "bags fly free" policy. When we fly to Europe we use airlines that seat families together. I think the EU actually requires this so flying within Europe you don't have to worry.

I wish people realized that this is about the airline screwing people and being dishonest in pricing, not people being "narcs." It used to be that seat selection was baked into the price along with checked bags and other *totally normal* aspects of flying. Doing a seat price and then nickel and diming you for everything else is a way to obscure the cost of flying so that they can charge more while claiming in advertising that they charge less. It's BS. Americans should demand better transparency in pricing and not accept policies like this that actually make flying worse for everyone.

The insane thing to me is that even if you pay to select your seat, if the flight is canceled and you wind up on another flight they don't even refund your fee for the seat you never even used. So a family of four could spend an extra $400 for seats together and then wind up having to beg people to move so they could sit with their little kids anyway. That's deranged!

We like Southwest too but there are many places they don’t fly, like most other countries including European ones.

Yes but read the post: many European carriers seat families together anyway (EU actually has passengers rights rules about this). The EU rules don't apply in US but if you contact the airline they will usually ensure it. Sometimes you don't even have to contact them-- they will automatically ensure any child under 12 is seated with a parent or guardian.

Wait until you have teens and you no longer get special treatment.

A teen can sit on their own without "special treatment" so... it's fine.

The whole point is that it's really in everyone's best interest for young kids to be seated near their parents. So the airline should ensure it happens. If they want the family to sit in the back next to the toilet because all the other seats are preferred and cost more okay. But forcing a family to pay $100 per ticket just so a 4 year old doesn't have to sit alone is dumb which is why it's not even legal in other countries.

[Anonymous]

Be kind to people if you’re flying this week. We were originally seated together, then our flight got wildly delayed and we couldn’t have made our connection. We’re now seated away from our young special needs child. We will indeed be rectifying the situation when we get there. We’ll probably get judgment from strangers who think we were too cheap to pay the fee. We weren’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One reason I don't like paying for seat selection just to sit with my kid is that I am not picky about the seats location, only proximity to a small child who will need supervision. I'm fine sitting in middle seat in the back of the plane as long as my 4 yr old is next to me. So why should I have to pay extra like I'm getting a better seat?

But I solve this by not flying airlines that are stupid enough to try and charge me an extra $200 just to ensure I am seated next to my preschooler. It's a dumb business practice and I vote with my wallet.

Which airlines? I only know of SW.

In the US it's mostly Southwest but there are global carriers that will also ensure it. I can't remember off the top of my head but many European and Asian carriers do it.

Even in the US thought it can be worth it to call customer service and ask. It's been a few years but I did this with United once and they told me they could assure me that my infant and I would be seated together. It's not an explicit policy but I think they get that especially if you are talking about babies or very young kids it's in their interest. Airlines prefer you book a seat for a baby anyway rather than use the lap child rule so they are incentivized to help you out because it would be pretty dumb if the easiest way to ensure your baby could sit with you was to buy one less whole ticket and hold the baby in your lap.

[Anonymous]

If they didn't buy el cheapo fares r flew enough to accrue status they would get seat selection as a matter of course.
DCUM is a weird mix. Basic Economy flyers and people asking who else has over $500k hhi. Hope not same people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be kind to people if you’re flying this week. We were originally seated together, then our flight got wildly delayed and we couldn’t have made our connection. We’re now seated away from our young special needs child. We will indeed be rectifying the situation when we get there. We’ll probably get judgment from strangers who think we were too cheap to pay the fee. We weren’t.

That is very different than pp who doesn't want to pay for it, demands to sit where it suits her and calls those that don't immediately do as she asks rude.