Has anyone not been able to sit with their young kids on a flight?

[Anonymous]

DH and I fly with our 2 kids, and we always pay to get our seat assignment in advance. We always get 1 row of 3 seats and the next aisle seat. Once DH had to give up his seat next to our family for a parent with a child. We agreed because we felt bad for the kid, but I don't think it is right for these parents to expect other passengers to give up their seats. Would it be fair for a family that paid to be together be separated so a parent ( too cheap to pay a few dollars to get advanced seat assignment) may sit with his/her child? At the very least, if these parents want to change seat, they should reimburse the inconvenienced passenger for the amount that the latter paid to get that seat. If a family worries about being separated, just pay up! It is stressful enough to fly with kids, you do not need that added worry about whether you'll seat together. Just my 2 cents, and I apologized in advance if my post offends anyone.

[Anonymous]

PP, I totally agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I fly with our 2 kids, and we always pay to get our seat assignment in advance. We always get 1 row of 3 seats and the next aisle seat. Once DH had to give up his seat next to our family for a parent with a child. We agreed because we felt bad for the kid, but I don't think it is right for these parents to expect other passengers to give up their seats. Would it be fair for a family that paid to be together be separated so a parent ( too cheap to pay a few dollars to get advanced seat assignment) may sit with his/her child? At the very least, if these parents want to change seat, they should reimburse the inconvenienced passenger for the amount that the latter paid to get that seat. If a family worries about being separated, just pay up! It is stressful enough to fly with kids, you do not need that added worry about whether you'll seat together. Just my 2 cents, and I apologized in advance if my post offends anyone.

I always try to get seats together, and I would pay for them (I have not yet encountered this to be an option on any flight I have been on to guarantee seats together). However, the last time we flew we had to make some changes to our flight plans a few weeks before the flight. We could not get seats together. I called the airline many times over those weeks, but there was nothing they could do, and it was the only good flight option for us. So yes, I was that annoying person trying to get people to switch seats with me. But I apologized to and thanked a lot the person who switched and offered to buy them a drink (which they declined).

Not everyone who does not have seats together was too cheap or didn't try. I always try, but sometimes they just aren't available. And these days there are less and less flights to choose from, especially if you are trying to fly somewhere direct or cross country.

[Anonymous]

I never knew you could pay to get seats assigned in advance.
But then I do not fly often enough
Now that I think of it, I would grab at the chance of using someone else as free child care, sit and enjoy the flight on my own.
maybe even have a drink or two

[Anonymous]

PP, what makes you think that the person who refused to switch seat with you would be a decent child care giver? Please do not get onto an airplane with the attitude that people will have to accommodate your and your child's needs because ultimately your child will be the one paying the price, being stuck next to a "scary" stranger.

[Anonymous]

Why is there an assumption that if someone is separated from their child that they were too cheap to pony up for assigned seats? I would get off the plane with my entire family before letting my child sit next to a complete stranger (mine are 2 and 4 right now). Things happen, when my dad died we had to change flights half a dozen times. I wasn't being cheap, but I did want to attend my Dad's funeral. I'm sorry I couldn't plan out his death weeks in advance. I would have paid extra had it been a choice. I greatly appreciated the passengers who moved so I could sit with my 18 month old. I really hope the parents who said they would let their 2 - 5 year olds sit next to strangers were kidding ...

[Anonymous]

I'm going to say it like this. IfI paid extra for my seat, then I AM NOT moving to accomodate you and your child. If I did not pay extra then I would gladly give you my seat in a heartbeat. I work hard for my money and more than likely used it to buy that particular seat for a valid reason.

[Anonymous]

ok pp
you must be a saint

One day if you ever are blessed enough to be a parent, chances are you will be ashamed of your pre-baby behavior

or maybe you are just a jerk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ok pp
you must be a saint

One day if you ever are blessed enough to be a parent, chances are you will be ashamed of your pre-baby behavior

or maybe you are just a jerk

Actually, I am a parent. And Actully I have had to pay to sit next to my LO. SO I stand by my earlier post. If I had to pay for my seat I will not be giving it up to you because you failed to pay or failed to plan ahead. When I travel without my LO I do not pay extra for a seat. So, if you need a seat that I have not paid extra for, then by all means you may have it!

[Anonymous]

I travel a lot but have only one child. If I can book in advance, I do. The few times I haven't been able, the airline has always shuffled people around to seat us together. My son gets airsick and also has food allergies - I don't think anyone would want to have to deal with that anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ok pp
you must be a saint

One day if you ever are blessed enough to be a parent, chances are you will be ashamed of your pre-baby behavior

or maybe you are just a jerk

Actually, I am a parent. And Actully I have had to pay to sit next to my LO. SO I stand by my earlier post. If I had to pay for my seat I will not be giving it up to you because you failed to pay or failed to plan ahead. When I travel without my LO I do not pay extra for a seat. So, if you need a seat that I have not paid extra for, then by all means you may have it!

?
Are you saying that to accomodate children the airline will separate one family so the others can sit next to their kid?
How old are your children?
My take is that in a public place you need to behave like a gentleman/lady, and definitely be curteous and considerate. I cannot imagine publicly refusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I fly with our 2 kids, and we always pay to get our seat assignment in advance. We always get 1 row of 3 seats and the next aisle seat. Once DH had to give up his seat next to our family for a parent with a child. We agreed because we felt bad for the kid, but I don't think it is right for these parents to expect other passengers to give up their seats. Would it be fair for a family that paid to be together be separated so a parent ( too cheap to pay a few dollars to get advanced seat assignment) may sit with his/her child? At the very least, if these parents want to change seat, they should reimburse the inconvenienced passenger for the amount that the latter paid to get that seat. If a family worries about being separated, just pay up! It is stressful enough to fly with kids, you do not need that added worry about whether you'll seat together. Just my 2 cents, and I apologized in advance if my post offends anyone.

I always try to get seats together, and I would pay for them (I have not yet encountered this to be an option on any flight I have been on to guarantee seats together). However, the last time we flew we had to make some changes to our flight plans a few weeks before the flight. We could not get seats together. I called the airline many times over those weeks, but there was nothing they could do, and it was the only good flight option for us. So yes, I was that annoying person trying to get people to switch seats with me. But I apologized to and thanked a lot the person who switched and offered to buy them a drink (which they declined).
Not everyone who does not have seats together was too cheap or didn't try. I always try, but sometimes they just aren't available. And these days there are less and less flights to choose from, especially if you are trying to fly somewhere direct or cross country.

You just stated that you had to make changes to your flight last minute and could not get seats together on the new flight so you were the annoying person asking people to give up their seats. You stated that this was the only good flight option for you. This is the problem right here. Instead of booking a different flight that had seats together you decided to book this flight anyways, knowing that there were no seats for your family to sit together. This kind of behavior is just rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I fly with our 2 kids, and we always pay to get our seat assignment in advance. We always get 1 row of 3 seats and the next aisle seat. Once DH had to give up his seat next to our family for a parent with a child. We agreed because we felt bad for the kid, but I don't think it is right for these parents to expect other passengers to give up their seats. Would it be fair for a family that paid to be together be separated so a parent ( too cheap to pay a few dollars to get advanced seat assignment) may sit with his/her child? At the very least, if these parents want to change seat, they should reimburse the inconvenienced passenger for the amount that the latter paid to get that seat. If a family worries about being separated, just pay up! It is stressful enough to fly with kids, you do not need that added worry about whether you'll seat together. Just my 2 cents, and I apologized in advance if my post offends anyone.

I always try to get seats together, and I would pay for them (I have not yet encountered this to be an option on any flight I have been on to guarantee seats together). However, the last time we flew we had to make some changes to our flight plans a few weeks before the flight. We could not get seats together. I called the airline many times over those weeks, but there was nothing they could do, and it was the only good flight option for us. So yes, I was that annoying person trying to get people to switch seats with me. But I apologized to and thanked a lot the person who switched and offered to buy them a drink (which they declined).
Not everyone who does not have seats together was too cheap or didn't try. I always try, but sometimes they just aren't available. And these days there are less and less flights to choose from, especially if you are trying to fly somewhere direct or cross country.

You just stated that you had to make changes to your flight last minute and could not get seats together on the new flight so you were the annoying person asking people to give up their seats. You stated that this was the only good flight option for you. This is the problem right here. Instead of booking a different flight that had seats together you decided to book this flight anyways, knowing that there were no seats for your family to sit together. This kind of behavior is just rude.

How would you suggest she gets herself and kids to her dad's funeral? I really hope that these types of posts are made up and stirring the pot, but I fear not.

[Anonymous]

Which airlines allow you to pay extra to guarantee seating with your kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I fly with our 2 kids, and we always pay to get our seat assignment in advance. We always get 1 row of 3 seats and the next aisle seat. Once DH had to give up his seat next to our family for a parent with a child. We agreed because we felt bad for the kid, but I don't think it is right for these parents to expect other passengers to give up their seats. Would it be fair for a family that paid to be together be separated so a parent ( too cheap to pay a few dollars to get advanced seat assignment) may sit with his/her child? At the very least, if these parents want to change seat, they should reimburse the inconvenienced passenger for the amount that the latter paid to get that seat. If a family worries about being separated, just pay up! It is stressful enough to fly with kids, you do not need that added worry about whether you'll seat together. Just my 2 cents, and I apologized in advance if my post offends anyone.

I always try to get seats together, and I would pay for them (I have not yet encountered this to be an option on any flight I have been on to guarantee seats together). However, the last time we flew we had to make some changes to our flight plans a few weeks before the flight. We could not get seats together. I called the airline many times over those weeks, but there was nothing they could do, and it was the only good flight option for us. So yes, I was that annoying person trying to get people to switch seats with me. But I apologized to and thanked a lot the person who switched and offered to buy them a drink (which they declined).

Not everyone who does not have seats together was too cheap or didn't try. I always try, but sometimes they just aren't available. And these days there are less and less flights to choose from, especially if you are trying to fly somewhere direct or cross country.

Of course. Sometimes flights get canceled, or the airline switches planes, with a different sitting configuration. In both cases, your advance planning would go out the window as the airline reassigns your seats.