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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

IME, yes. They will do what they will do for OP, if you choose not to pay. They will ask if there is a volunteer who can put themselves out in order to accommodate you. But unless you pay for what you need or want, you are depending on the kindness of strangers.

OP needs to get over herself and pay for the accommodations she wants. It's incredibly rude to assume other people aren't making choices for their own needs. I need to be near a bathroom, so I always choose an aisle seat. Given a choice, I imagine people would rather an unattended 4 year old pee herself than a 60 year old. I know which I'd prefer, so no OP, I'm not switching.

[Anonymous]

When I fly Southwest I always pay for early check in. Why? Because I want to make sure I get the seats I want, especially if I’m traveling with my kid. I have anxiety about flying so I need to make sure I’m sitting next to DH when we fly together without our kid and I prefer a window seat because it helps me to not feel so claustrophobic. When I fly other airlines I pay whatever fee is necessary to ensure my comfort in order to lessen my anxiety. Sorry, but I would not switch because someone else chose not to do the same. Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine. Pay the fee or take the risk, but don’t get upset when it doesn’t work out in your favor when you could have done something to prevent the undesirable situation.

[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.

Here's the thing about these small regional jets - they often have to weight balance the plane and move folks to the back of the plane. I know lots of folks that paid for front aisle seats that got booted to the back with no compensation. So honestly, OP, I wouldn't pay and would just hope for the best.

[Anonymous]

I don't think OP is assuming that other people will put her needs first. I think she's saying that given the circumstances, she's going to roll the dice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think OP is assuming that other people will put her needs first. I think she's saying that given the circumstances, she's going to roll the dice.

And if it doesn’t go her way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think OP is assuming that other people will put her needs first. I think she's saying that given the circumstances, she's going to roll the dice.

And if it doesn’t go her way?

OP here. My six year old will be fine sitting by herself. I imagine that with four tickets we'll be able to get an adult next to our four year old. If not, he'll also be ok with a video.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think OP is assuming that other people will put her needs first. I think she's saying that given the circumstances, she's going to roll the dice.

And if it doesn’t go her way?

The fact that this is a 2x2 plane makes this very unlikely. There's no middle seat issue, and that's by far the biggest impediment to switching. In a transatlantic flight, with 3x5x3 seating, this would be an insane strategy. On a 2x2 regional jet, I really don't see the big deal.

[Anonymous]

I have literally never paid to select my seats and travel frequently with my DS who is 3 yrs old. We started traveling when he was 4 months old (and still a lap child, so not applicable at that point). We have never been seated separately. The airline algorithm automatically seats us together whether we've paid or not. We have flow spirit etc and this has never been an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think OP is assuming that other people will put her needs first. I think she's saying that given the circumstances, she's going to roll the dice.

And if it doesn’t go her way?

OP here. My six year old will be fine sitting by herself. I imagine that with four tickets we'll be able to get an adult next to our four year old. If not, he'll also be ok with a video.

Then why did you start this thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think OP is assuming that other people will put her needs first. I think she's saying that given the circumstances, she's going to roll the dice.

And if it doesn’t go her way?

OP here. My six year old will be fine sitting by herself. I imagine that with four tickets we'll be able to get an adult next to our four year old. If not, he'll also be ok with a video.

Then why did you start this thread if everything will be fine?

[Anonymous]

Didn't we just have a huge thread about a family who was all seated in different seats and the 2, 3, or 4 year old was seated alone for takeoff and landing?

I mean, if you want to be that parent, then sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think OP is assuming that other people will put her needs first. I think she's saying that given the circumstances, she's going to roll the dice.

And if it doesn’t go her way?

OP here. My six year old will be fine sitting by herself. I imagine that with four tickets we'll be able to get an adult next to our four year old. If not, he'll also be ok with a video.

I would not switch if I paid to select my seat, and your kid better have headphones for the sound on that video

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think OP is assuming that other people will put her needs first. I think she's saying that given the circumstances, she's going to roll the dice.

And if it doesn’t go her way?

OP here. My six year old will be fine sitting by herself. I imagine that with four tickets we'll be able to get an adult next to our four year old. If not, he'll also be ok with a video.

I would not switch if I paid to select my seat, and your kid better have headphones for the sound on that video

Or what? I personally wouldn’t even give them a video.

[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?

I have headphones, I'll be fine. Also, just so you know, I'm watching Game of Thrones right now. It's likely that your kid, in the midst of his or her tantrum, will see something you may rather s/he not.

Pay for the damn seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think OP is assuming that other people will put her needs first. I think she's saying that given the circumstances, she's going to roll the dice.

And if it doesn’t go her way?

OP here. My six year old will be fine sitting by herself. I imagine that with four tickets we'll be able to get an adult next to our four year old. If not, he'll also be ok with a video.

I would not switch if I paid to select my seat, and your kid better have headphones for the sound on that video

Or what? I personally wouldn’t even give them a video.

DP. You'd needlessly make your kid bored and miserable during a flight just to stick it to the adult sitting next to them? Wow. Okay. Yeah.