Flame away—not paying for seats when airplane is 2 and 2?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm usually someone who will switch seats but why do parents seem to think if I do end up sitting next to your kid (either because I couldn't/wouldn't switch or any other reason) that I'm going to be in the slightest bit willing to tend to your kid in any way? You really think I'm going to read to your kid, ask your kid if s/he has to go potty, dole out the Cheerios? Sure, I'll make sure the seatbelts good but otherwise, I have my book and headphones. You'll have to figure it out.

The entitlement is staggering and - by the way - makes those of us who would generally be helpful decide not to be. And also because a lot of parents these days are nutty and insanely overprotective - some lady gave me the stink eye the other day when I smiled at her kid ahead of me in the check-out line, I'm a 55 year old woman BTW - so to protect my own thing best to not have much to do with your kids.

I was joking when I said that, but two year olds have a way of forcing you to tend to their needs. I don’t expect anyone to do anything but listen to the child cry, get spilled on or get peed on, and I will deal with it at the end of the flight.

+1. This is what I don't understand about the people not willing to switch. When the 2 yr old next to you starts having a crying, screaming tantrum, sure you can just sit there. But is that what you really want to listen to? Sitting next to a tantruming toddler is worth not giving up your aisle seat?

This is OP. Ordinarily we wouldn't risk this, but the plane is 2x2. We plan to check in at 24 hours. If we can't get seats together then, we'll try at the gate. If we can't get seats together then, I'm assuming that we probably won't end up with the last four window seats in the back of the plane. Even if we did, I imagine that the people in the aisle seats in the very last row would be willing to take the window seats in the row in front in order not to have to sit in the last row.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm usually someone who will switch seats but why do parents seem to think if I do end up sitting next to your kid (either because I couldn't/wouldn't switch or any other reason) that I'm going to be in the slightest bit willing to tend to your kid in any way? You really think I'm going to read to your kid, ask your kid if s/he has to go potty, dole out the Cheerios? Sure, I'll make sure the seatbelts good but otherwise, I have my book and headphones. You'll have to figure it out.

The entitlement is staggering and - by the way - makes those of us who would generally be helpful decide not to be. And also because a lot of parents these days are nutty and insanely overprotective - some lady gave me the stink eye the other day when I smiled at her kid ahead of me in the check-out line, I'm a 55 year old woman BTW - so to protect my own thing best to not have much to do with your kids.

I was joking when I said that, but two year olds have a way of forcing you to tend to their needs. I don’t expect anyone to do anything but listen to the child cry, get spilled on or get peed on, and I will deal with it at the end of the flight.

+1. This is what I don't understand about the people not willing to switch. When the 2 yr old next to you starts having a crying, screaming tantrum, sure you can just sit there. But is that what you really want to listen to? Sitting next to a tantruming toddler is worth not giving up your aisle seat?

Screaming 2 year olds are part of air travel regardless of where you're sitting.

[Anonymous]

I knew someone who wouldn't switch seats (this was years ago), because if the plane crashed should wanted to be identified properly. Yes, this was an educated person with absolutely no common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm usually someone who will switch seats but why do parents seem to think if I do end up sitting next to your kid (either because I couldn't/wouldn't switch or any other reason) that I'm going to be in the slightest bit willing to tend to your kid in any way? You really think I'm going to read to your kid, ask your kid if s/he has to go potty, dole out the Cheerios? Sure, I'll make sure the seatbelts good but otherwise, I have my book and headphones. You'll have to figure it out.

The entitlement is staggering and - by the way - makes those of us who would generally be helpful decide not to be. And also because a lot of parents these days are nutty and insanely overprotective - some lady gave me the stink eye the other day when I smiled at her kid ahead of me in the check-out line, I'm a 55 year old woman BTW - so to protect my own thing best to not have much to do with your kids.

I was joking when I said that, but two year olds have a way of forcing you to tend to their needs. I don’t expect anyone to do anything but listen to the child cry, get spilled on or get peed on, and I will deal with it at the end of the flight.

+1. This is what I don't understand about the people not willing to switch. When the 2 yr old next to you starts having a crying, screaming tantrum, sure you can just sit there. But is that what you really want to listen to? Sitting next to a tantruming toddler is worth not giving up your aisle seat?

Screaming 2 year olds are part of air travel regardless of where you're sitting.

True--so you can be the "parent" that is doing nothing to try and comfort and calm the child down. Because the other passengers are going to assume that the adult sitting next to the child is the parent, not a stranger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What in the world makes you think all 4 seats will near each other? If you ask me to switch my seat that I did select ahead of time, I will kindly respond with “No.”.

You’d rather sit next to 4 yr old Larla?
But OP knows the right answer here.

As opposed to sitting next to another completely random person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm usually someone who will switch seats but why do parents seem to think if I do end up sitting next to your kid (either because I couldn't/wouldn't switch or any other reason) that I'm going to be in the slightest bit willing to tend to your kid in any way? You really think I'm going to read to your kid, ask your kid if s/he has to go potty, dole out the Cheerios? Sure, I'll make sure the seatbelts good but otherwise, I have my book and headphones. You'll have to figure it out.

The entitlement is staggering and - by the way - makes those of us who would generally be helpful decide not to be. And also because a lot of parents these days are nutty and insanely overprotective - some lady gave me the stink eye the other day when I smiled at her kid ahead of me in the check-out line, I'm a 55 year old woman BTW - so to protect my own thing best to not have much to do with your kids.

I was joking when I said that, but two year olds have a way of forcing you to tend to their needs. I don’t expect anyone to do anything but listen to the child cry, get spilled on or get peed on, and I will deal with it at the end of the flight.

+1. This is what I don't understand about the people not willing to switch. When the 2 yr old next to you starts having a crying, screaming tantrum, sure you can just sit there. But is that what you really want to listen to? Sitting next to a tantruming toddler is worth not giving up your aisle seat?

This is OP. Ordinarily we wouldn't risk this, but the plane is 2x2. We plan to check in at 24 hours. If we can't get seats together then, we'll try at the gate. If we can't get seats together then, I'm assuming that we probably won't end up with the last four window seats in the back of the plane. Even if we did, I imagine that the people in the aisle seats in the very last row would be willing to take the window seats in the row in front in order not to have to sit in the last row.

That's not really a good assumption, OP. Many people prioritize getting an aisle seat no matter where it is in the plane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go ahead and roll the dice, just don’t pitch a sanctimonious fit when your seats are scattered throughout the plane and no one will move for you.

This. I wouldn’t give up my seat for you, op, unless it’s window for window. Not when i know ypu chose to not pay more to reserve your seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm usually someone who will switch seats but why do parents seem to think if I do end up sitting next to your kid (either because I couldn't/wouldn't switch or any other reason) that I'm going to be in the slightest bit willing to tend to your kid in any way? You really think I'm going to read to your kid, ask your kid if s/he has to go potty, dole out the Cheerios? Sure, I'll make sure the seatbelts good but otherwise, I have my book and headphones. You'll have to figure it out.

The entitlement is staggering and - by the way - makes those of us who would generally be helpful decide not to be. And also because a lot of parents these days are nutty and insanely overprotective - some lady gave me the stink eye the other day when I smiled at her kid ahead of me in the check-out line, I'm a 55 year old woman BTW - so to protect my own thing best to not have much to do with your kids.

I was joking when I said that, but two year olds have a way of forcing you to tend to their needs. I don’t expect anyone to do anything but listen to the child cry, get spilled on or get peed on, and I will deal with it at the end of the flight.

+1. This is what I don't understand about the people not willing to switch. When the 2 yr old next to you starts having a crying, screaming tantrum, sure you can just sit there. But is that what you really want to listen to? Sitting next to a tantruming toddler is worth not giving up your aisle seat?

This is OP. Ordinarily we wouldn't risk this, but the plane is 2x2. We plan to check in at 24 hours. If we can't get seats together then, we'll try at the gate. If we can't get seats together then, I'm assuming that we probably won't end up with the last four window seats in the back of the plane. Even if we did, I imagine that the people in the aisle seats in the very last row would be willing to take the window seats in the row in front in order not to have to sit in the last row.

Wishing you the best of luck with this plan. Not sure why you even asked since you knew you were going to do this anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

That's not really a good assumption, OP. Many people prioritize getting an aisle seat no matter where it is in the plane.

Exactly. Someone might have picked that precise seat because they need quick and easy access to the bathroom. You just never know. It could be super easy to change seats, it could be hard. Pay for your seats now and you can stop thinking about it OP. I don't care how "expensive" it is, put some value on your peace of mind.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. People are so gross. How long is the flight. I’d switch for families to be together anytime. Get over yourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm usually someone who will switch seats but why do parents seem to think if I do end up sitting next to your kid (either because I couldn't/wouldn't switch or any other reason) that I'm going to be in the slightest bit willing to tend to your kid in any way? You really think I'm going to read to your kid, ask your kid if s/he has to go potty, dole out the Cheerios? Sure, I'll make sure the seatbelts good but otherwise, I have my book and headphones. You'll have to figure it out.

The entitlement is staggering and - by the way - makes those of us who would generally be helpful decide not to be. And also because a lot of parents these days are nutty and insanely overprotective - some lady gave me the stink eye the other day when I smiled at her kid ahead of me in the check-out line, I'm a 55 year old woman BTW - so to protect my own thing best to not have much to do with your kids.

I was joking when I said that, but two year olds have a way of forcing you to tend to their needs. I don’t expect anyone to do anything but listen to the child cry, get spilled on or get peed on, and I will deal with it at the end of the flight.

+1. This is what I don't understand about the people not willing to switch. When the 2 yr old next to you starts having a crying, screaming tantrum, sure you can just sit there. But is that what you really want to listen to? Sitting next to a tantruming toddler is worth not giving up your aisle seat?

This is OP. Ordinarily we wouldn't risk this, but the plane is 2x2. We plan to check in at 24 hours. If we can't get seats together then, we'll try at the gate. If we can't get seats together then, I'm assuming that we probably won't end up with the last four window seats in the back of the plane. Even if we did, I imagine that the people in the aisle seats in the very last row would be willing to take the window seats in the row in front in order not to have to sit in the last row.

Just pay the money. Why risk it? If you can choose and pay and get two seats and choose not to, its not right to expect someone to give up their seat that they paid a premium for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. People are so gross. How long is the flight. I’d switch for families to be together anytime. Get over yourselves.

Bully for you. Enjoy your middle seat, back row by the toilet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That's not really a good assumption, OP. Many people prioritize getting an aisle seat no matter where it is in the plane.

Exactly. Someone might have picked that precise seat because they need quick and easy access to the bathroom. You just never know. It could be super easy to change seats, it could be hard. Pay for your seats now and you can stop thinking about it OP. I don't care how "expensive" it is, put some value on your peace of mind.

I'm 'that person.' Because of chronic illnesses, whether I'm solo or with DC, I *always* choose the seat most accessible to the bathroom. I now have a medical condition that also involves an immobile leg, so for disability purposes I'm always on the right side of the plane: I pay for any upgrades or accommodations I need to achieve this. It really really is a medical issue. So, OP, if you and your family were looking for a seat in the back row aisle, and I had 'the seat' blocking your plan, I would not trade with you unless I were within one row of the bathroom. Not because I am cruel, or family insensitive, or any of those things, but because I am disabled and have qualified and paid for special needs.

I really don't mean to sound so harsh but I am just REALLY not understanding why you wouldn't at least try to budget some of this into your travels (even if it's paying for two seats together *somewhere* on the plan -- at least that way you could ensure your most vulnerable child would have a parent with him/her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That's not really a good assumption, OP. Many people prioritize getting an aisle seat no matter where it is in the plane.

Exactly. Someone might have picked that precise seat because they need quick and easy access to the bathroom. You just never know. It could be super easy to change seats, it could be hard. Pay for your seats now and you can stop thinking about it OP. I don't care how "expensive" it is, put some value on your peace of mind.

I'm 'that person.' Because of chronic illnesses, whether I'm solo or with DC, I *always* choose the seat most accessible to the bathroom. I now have a medical condition that also involves an immobile leg, so for disability purposes I'm always on the right side of the plane: I pay for any upgrades or accommodations I need to achieve this. It really really is a medical issue. So, OP, if you and your family were looking for a seat in the back row aisle, and I had 'the seat' blocking your plan, I would not trade with you unless I were within one row of the bathroom. Not because I am cruel, or family insensitive, or any of those things, but because I am disabled and have qualified and paid for special needs.

I really don't mean to sound so harsh but I am just REALLY not understanding why you wouldn't at least try to budget some of this into your travels (even if it's paying for two seats together *somewhere* on the plan -- at least that way you could ensure your most vulnerable child would have a parent with him/her.

Does the airline really make you pay to select your seat in this situation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not crazy but if your plan is to show up and ask people to switch for you because you wanted to save money, it's incredibly entitled and rude.

This. Pay the d*&^ extra money. It's part of the cost of traveling with young kids and don't make others suffer because you don't want to pay the extra $39 or whatever it is.