Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another thing to consider--we have a baby and buy a seat for him. By federal law he must be in the window seat but it is not uncommon for there to be no window seats open when I book. I book the middle and aisle seat plus the nearest middle in that case (and have had at least one airline tell me to do this). At least once we were booking last minute for a family emergency and there were only middle seats, so I took the three closest to each other. That means some window rider gets bumped, and that sucks. But it's also the law and there's not much I can do about that (short of not flying, which is ridiculous).

There is no such law. The law prohibits car seats in an exit row, but that's it.

The law requires car seats to be in a window seat (or else requires that the window seat be empty--the car seat cannot be in the path of travel for another passenger in an emergency). The airlines require that a ticketed baby be restrained in a car seat.

So, yes, technically no law requiring the baby to be in a window seat, but for all practical purposes, yes, that's the rule.

What airlines require this? I don't think many do.

Anonymous wrote:I booked flights using miles and the only seats they would offer were middle, so I took the middle seats as close together as possible. Two days before my flight United Moved only me to Economy Plus, even though my two young children were attached to my reservation (they require you to put in ages). When I called, United tried to make me pay to upgrade my kids to EP because those were the only three seats together on the plane. I said " is it United's policy to blackmail parents into paying for upgrades so they can sit by their children?" because I would have preferred the middle seats in close proximity over me In front of the plane and kids in back. Agent quickly changed his tune and gave me seats together at no added charge. Stop accusing people of purposely choosing middle seats and start blaming the airlines who are making a killing on added fees.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another thing to consider--we have a baby and buy a seat for him. By federal law he must be in the window seat but it is not uncommon for there to be no window seats open when I book. I book the middle and aisle seat plus the nearest middle in that case (and have had at least one airline tell me to do this). At least once we were booking last minute for a family emergency and there were only middle seats, so I took the three closest to each other. That means some window rider gets bumped, and that sucks. But it's also the law and there's not much I can do about that (short of not flying, which is ridiculous).

There is no such law. The law prohibits car seats in an exit row, but that's it.

The law requires car seats to be in a window seat (or else requires that the window seat be empty--the car seat cannot be in the path of travel for another passenger in an emergency). The airlines require that a ticketed baby be restrained in a car seat.

So, yes, technically no law requiring the baby to be in a window seat, but for all practical purposes, yes, that's the rule.

I don't know their circumstances, and since I am neither majician or mind reader, i will not switch my seat and sit in the middle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I will switch for aisle to aisle seat, or reluctantly aisle to window. But, I am not switching my aisle seat for a middle seat.

Seriously? You wouldn't switch to help a family with young kids that would otherwise be stranded for hours due to their flight being cancelled through no fault of their own? Do what you want, but I find that really gross. Of course parents should not take advantage of other passengers by intentionally scheduling flights where they can't sit with their kids, but circumstances come up beyond people's control, and for me, helping a family with young kids out is more important than the comfort of an aisle or window seat.

Yes, I am serious. I don't know their circumstances, and since I am neither majician or mind reader, i will not switch my seat and sit in the middle. I find that parents who feel they are entitled to my pre-planned seat gross. BTW--I also have a child under the age of seven. As a family we travel extensively. The kid has travelled internationally and domestically. I have yet to ask someone to switch their seats. Perhaps the reason why is because I pre-planned and did not feel entitled to another's seat.

Anonymous wrote:7:26 is why people don't want to give up their seats. You really think its OK for a family of five who went on a plane knowing they had all middle seats to try to break up the family with younger kids so the mom could sit with a 12 year old? Why does the family who accepted the middle seats deserve to be together when the family that made the effort to pick seats together does not? You think it was OK for an adult man to expect a parent to move away from his younger children so he could have a better seat with his entire family at the expense of the other family?

You sound like the one who never does anything for nice for anyone but expects everyone else to do things for you.

Anonymous wrote:Middle seats cost the same as window or aisle seats. Why would a family purposely book middle seats? This accusation from some people do NOT make any sense. More than likely it is because the late booking.

If you don't want to switch seats, don't do it.

Anonymous wrote:

I will switch for aisle to aisle seat, or reluctantly aisle to window. But, I am not switching my aisle seat for a middle seat.

Seriously? You wouldn't switch to help a family with young kids that would otherwise be stranded for hours due to their flight being cancelled through no fault of their own? Do what you want, but I find that really gross. Of course parents should not take advantage of other passengers by intentionally scheduling flights where they can't sit with their kids, but circumstances come up beyond people's control, and for me, helping a family with young kids out is more important than the comfort of an aisle or window seat.

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure if it is a law, but I have always been told the following: "Reserve adjoining seats. A CRS should be placed in a window seat so it will not block the escape path."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another thing to consider--we have a baby and buy a seat for him. By federal law he must be in the window seat but it is not uncommon for there to be no window seats open when I book. I book the middle and aisle seat plus the nearest middle in that case (and have had at least one airline tell me to do this). At least once we were booking last minute for a family emergency and there were only middle seats, so I took the three closest to each other. That means some window rider gets bumped, and that sucks. But it's also the law and there's not much I can do about that (short of not flying, which is ridiculous).

There is no such law. The law prohibits car seats in an exit row, but that's it.

Anonymous wrote:Another thing to consider--we have a baby and buy a seat for him. By federal law he must be in the window seat but it is not uncommon for there to be no window seats open when I book. I book the middle and aisle seat plus the nearest middle in that case (and have had at least one airline tell me to do this). At least once we were booking last minute for a family emergency and there were only middle seats, so I took the three closest to each other. That means some window rider gets bumped, and that sucks. But it's also the law and there's not much I can do about that (short of not flying, which is ridiculous).