Reply to airplane -- seats not together with 5 year olds

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]We booked our vacation flight to California about a month out[/b] -- but there were no seats available next to each other... and only middle seats available.  Our twins are 5 yrs old.  Have people generally had luck with people switching seats (even tho they have windows & aisles, probably don't want to sit next to needy, possibly crying 5 year olds??)  or other options/suggestions for how to handle? [/quote]

I would have had more sympathy for you - but you need to plan better. You are now asking people who have windows and aisle seats to accommodate you because you didn't get your act together or aren't willing to pay more. [/quote]

Not the OP.

This is often not a question of planning better.  This is the airlines trying to make money.  If you book through a third party site, often you get whatever seats the third party site if authorized to give - and sometimes those are only crappy seats.  Also, some airlines, like US Air, charge extra for the window and aisle seats, so this might actually be an affordability question.   Most airlines do release some seats 24 hours in advance, so get on the website of your airline then and see if you can move your seats together.  24 hours in advance is also when most of the upgrades happen, so some seats may free up as passengers with status get moved around.  I have also had help from the gate agent or the flight attendants, but don't count on it.

I agree, though, don't count on anyone switching with you if they had to pay for the aisle or window.  Don't expect help from the flight attendants.  I was on a United flight recently in economy plus window, with the middle seat open and the aisle occupied.  The lady in the aisle was upgraded to first, and the poor guy in the middle seat in non economy row behind us was not allowed to move to the empty aisle seat, even after the plane took off, because "people pay for those seats" according to the flight attendant.  Maybe the flight attendants will be nicer on your flight.

I find it reprehensible that the airline split families up on flights in the interest of extracting more money.  How can a 5 year old sit by themselves?[/quote]

Airline isn't splitting up the families. Airline indicated which seats were available and OP bought those seats. OP should have checked other airlines until she found an option to have at least 2 and 2 side by side seats. Yes, she would have paid extra, but that is what happens when you book late. I am totally sympathetic, but you can't blame the airline who clearly indicated what seats are available. OP - try and check in online exactly when that opens - about 24 hours a head of time. Until then, periodically check to see if other seats come available. Call the airline and see what they see. Worse case scenario - offer to buy someone a drink or a meal on the plane to switch with you. [/quote]

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