I would absolutely NOT have allowed my 3-year old to sit alone among strangers on that plane. Frankly it should be illegal for the airline to allow it. Who was responsible for helping her put on her oxygen mask? Life jacket? Do you think one of the people who wouldn’t bother to switch seats was going to suddenly step up and worry about her? Had something bad happened on that flight your 3 year old was left with no way to protect herself and no one around her to do it for her. Shame on the airline, and frankly shame on you OP. Not a good day as a parent.

What airline was this OP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is on you, OP. I've gone on countless flights with my kids, and the situation you want to avoid is asking people yourself on the plane. So here's what you should have done -

1. You should have insisted to get seat assignments upon check-in.
2. If unsuccessful, you should have insisted at the gate, and gone back to ask repeatedly. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
3. If unsuccessful, tell the flight attendant that your child cannot sit by herself (don't ask, tell), and say that you will be asking other passengers to switch. And proceed to do so. Only one of you needs to be seated with your child.

No passenger has ever refused to switch with me in the past, when it's been a question of being seated next to my young child. Stick with the least desirable seat that you've been assigned and ask the person next to it to move to the more desirable one.

OP did nothing wrong. Nothing. I completely disagree that it’s on her. People are assholes. The flight attendant should have forced someone to switch.

Not a chance. If I paid the aisle or window seat, no one is going to force me to move. The OP needs to learn how to advocate for herself at the ticket counter.

Ah-you’re the asshole on the plane. Got it.

+1 you are an asshole PP. What ever happened to being a decent person?

Based on my own experiences flying (not this particular scenario), I'm going to guess that you are a "businessman" between 35 and 60? Regardless, you're an asshole.

The airline should have kept offering better incentives until someone took it. It’s not on any one passenger to bail out the airline for being too cheap.

Wow, I am shocked the airline thought it was ok to leave a 3 year old by herself. What airline?

Anonymous wrote:I just...cannot imagine being the asshole in the seat next to your child, as you lean over them to secure her in her seat belt and give her an iPad. I can’t imagine not immediately getting up and giving you my seat. What is wrong with people?

Right?! Seriously...those people are jerks

Unfortunately this happens frequently. I now pay extra to sit in better seats. We need to pass better laws to protect passengers.

Anonymous wrote:That’s HORRIBLE. I’m sorry for you and your child! I’m not a letter writer, but I would absolutely write to the airline.

Whether I would get off the plane or not depends on the child. For my oldest, possibly no. For my youngest, very likely yes.

I also cannot believe no one moved for you. What complete a$$es.

I would write a letter too. Honestly this incident is one of those things that would "go viral" if you wrote a post about it...it is outrageous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s crazy that no one would switch with you. No one wants middle but to make a three year old sit alone is awful. But it’s really the airline’s fault for not handling it. I think you handled it the best you could. Not a huge deal in the end. I wouldn’t have skipped the flight.

I wouldn't want to give up my seat just because the airline screwed up. They need better incentives to induce people to give up their seats. Be real people.

Are you kidding me? YOU be real! This is one of those situations where DUH you be the decent person and give up your seat. Not even a question.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just...cannot imagine being the asshole in the seat next to your child, as you lean over them to secure her in her seat belt and give her an iPad. I can’t imagine not immediately getting up and giving you my seat. What is wrong with people?

This. WTF.

Agree!!! That is nearly unfathomable to me. Seriously - those 2 people are assholes

OP I cannot BELIEVE no one moved for you - that is atrocious! Who are theses a$$holes you were flying with? Obviously yes, no one is EXCITED about moving to a middle...but the fact that they all just continued to sit there even as you prepared to take off and NO one said anything is crazy. I can't believe it. Even as a college student flying alone I remember moving for a woman who somehow hadn't gotten a seat next to her kid...obviously not my first choice but common sense that that's what needed to happen. Of COURSE now that I have kids of my own this would be a no brainer, and I can guarantee that my husband, my mom, my sister, my brother...would do the same. I seriously can't believe no one stepped up and was decent, I'm so sorry that happened.

Re: what I would have done, I agree I would have pushed harder for it to happen at the gate / definitely approached once I realized they were about to start boarding. But if I were in the situation of ending up on the plane having been overlooked, I think I would have been (...and this does NOT come naturally to me) that "pain" of a person who really pushes the issue and basically refuses to sit down until it is dealt with. That's just crazy

Why do airlines even allow a 3 year old to be alone.... that’s what’s disturbing. This is a safety issue. It wasn’t a super long flight- people need to learn how to be charitable. And doesn’t someone on that flight have the authority to at least up the incentive to a flight voucher. I am flying with my two year old twins by myself in a couple weeks, and if for some reason we were separated - I would have no choice but to not take the flight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is on you, OP. I've gone on countless flights with my kids, and the situation you want to avoid is asking people yourself on the plane. So here's what you should have done -

1. You should have insisted to get seat assignments upon check-in.
2. If unsuccessful, you should have insisted at the gate, and gone back to ask repeatedly. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
3. If unsuccessful, tell the flight attendant that your child cannot sit by herself (don't ask, tell), and say that you will be asking other passengers to switch. And proceed to do so. Only one of you needs to be seated with your child.

No passenger has ever refused to switch with me in the past, when it's been a question of being seated next to my young child. Stick with the least desirable seat that you've been assigned and ask the person next to it to move to the more desirable one.

OP did nothing wrong. Nothing. I completely disagree that it’s on her. People are assholes. The flight attendant should have forced someone to switch.

Not a chance. If I paid the aisle or window seat, no one is going to force me to move. The OP needs to learn how to advocate for herself at the ticket counter.

Do you have kids?

Anonymous wrote:I just...cannot imagine being the asshole in the seat next to your child, as you lean over them to secure her in her seat belt and give her an iPad. I can’t imagine not immediately getting up and giving you my seat. What is wrong with people?

This. WTF.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP back: I should have pushed more obviously. From my seat I could see her and see she wasn’t upset prior to takeoff. Thankfully once we boarded we taxied and took off quickly. She was with me for the remainder of the flight until landing.

I'm surprised the people next to you didn't want to switch as its not very comfortable if you are in the middle with a 3 year old on your lap.

I’m petite and so is my DD. While not comfortable, she is pretty small.

OP, I'm inclined to defend you...but your attitude in these responses makes me think you really do share some of the blame here. It is flat out a safety issue for your child, whether you can see her or not, to be flying sitting next to strangers. Sometimes planes get stuck on the tarmac for a long time after pushback. Often there is turbulence during take off and landing. I am more shocked that no one, next to your kid or next to your or your DH (that's 6 people altogether) was willing to switch seats. But you do seem to give off an air of apologizing for your own existence.