Airplane Seating and a Naive Mommy

[july19]

So, apparently I am totally stupid and completely naive. And am now scared to death and cannot sleep.

 

We leave for Florida really soon (19 days) and I just found out that I really really should have paid the extra $$ to choose our seating because my son may be sitting next to strangers? I chose to not pay the extra money because I figured the child would be next to a parent, regardless...and it doesn't matter to us if my husband and I are next to each other.

 

My son isn't even 5 yet...and has never ever flown before, I had no idea an airline would ever separate a parent and young child before. Like I said, I wasn't trying to be cheap, I just really had no idea.

 

I'm calling the airline first thing in the morning to ask if there are two seats still be next to each other. In the meantime it's 2 am here and I keep thinking that there won't be seats available and no one will be willing to switch me seats and he's going to be scared and I can't help him.

 

Please don't flame me for not knowing better....I haven't flown in about 13 years and have never flown with a child :crying:

[kalanamak]

SOMEONE WILL SWITCH, so you can go to sleep. The world of airtravel is not full of heartless fools who want to spend their trip comforting a frightened 5 year old.

[joannqn]

No, they won't seat your child alone without you. You may not all three be together, but your son will be with one of you.

[Alenee]

It should be fine even if you don't call the airline. However, don't be alarmed. There are probably plenty of seats still available to make the switch. :grouphug: I just flew stand-by to Wisconsin a month ago. The flight home was over-booked but my dd and I still got on the plane. I've flown so often and talked with just about every seat-mate I ever had and generally speaking, most people would be willing to make a switch to help out a mom with her kiddo.

[july19]

I guess my fear is coming from the very scary Disboards thread that I read. 15+ people commenting on how they would refuse to move, how they would ignore a crying scared kid, and how even if the kid had to go to the bathroom he could hold it because "holding pee for a four hour flight won't kill him".

 

I'm mortified and feel terrible. I know I shouldn't, but I still do.

[DaffodilDreams]

This has happened to us before, too. Sometimes checking in early helps. If the plane is already full, though, you can pretty much bet someone will give up a seat so your child can sit by one of you. I think most people would consider sitting next to a young child separated from a parent to be on a list of experiences they'd rather not have. We've never had to fly with dd sitting alone next to strangers even though seat assignments initially looked that way. If for some reason you do face opposition, perhaps just mention what a screamer/unpotty-trained/motion sick child you have. That might inspire a quick change of seats! Try to get some sleep. My guess is it will work out okay.

[Kate CA]

So, apparently I am totally stupid and completely naive. And am now scared to death and cannot sleep.

 

We leave for Florida really soon (19 days) and I just found out that I really really should have paid the extra $$ to choose our seating because my son may be sitting next to strangers? I chose to not pay the extra money because I figured the child would be next to a parent, regardless...and it doesn't matter to us if my husband and I are next to each other.

 

My son isn't even 5 yet...and has never ever flown before, I had no idea an airline would ever separate a parent and young child before. Like I said, I wasn't trying to be cheap, I just really had no idea.

 

I'm calling the airline first thing in the morning to ask if there are two seats still be next to each other. In the meantime it's 2 am here and I keep thinking that there won't be seats available and no one will be willing to switch me seats and he's going to be scared and I can't help him.

 

Please don't flame me for not knowing better....I haven't flown in about 13 years and have never flown with a child :crying:

 

You should be able to sign up for your seats 24 hours or more before your flight if you register/check-in online. I did this two years ago - it was really easy and we just did our check-in online and printed our boarding passes on our computers. We chose our seats and it was quite easy. I sat next to my friend. I would not be worried, but would be proactive - call the airlines and see what their check-in policies are.

[july19]

Thank you for the replies. I feel better. I'm going to go try sleeping. Husband gets up at 5 for work.

 

Shoooot. Anyone have sheep I can borrow? :001_smile:

[Oops, duplicate account :/]

I wouldnt worry but would be proactive as well...there shouldnt be a problem getting your child next to someone he knows! I will have to say though that I would never let a young child sit only by strangers. A VERY good friend of mine had her young daughter exposed to porn this way...mom had other two daughters next to her and her youngest daughter was a row or two away. A man was watching it on his lap top next to her. :crying:

Edited June 26, 2011 by JENinOR
Clarify

[Lilymax]

My sister is a flight attendant and she says they ALWAYS work to keep parents and kids together--even with people who fly on buddy passes and therefore have no "rights" to seat choice or anything. So if you've bought tickets, I would be very surprised to hear that you'd have any trouble getting your son seated next to you. Just let them know at the gate; if that doesn't get you anywhere, talk to the flight attendants at the door as you're boarding and I'm sure they'll sort it out before the plane takes off.

 

Good luck!

[RoundAbout]

Don't worry! I had this happen to me on the last leg (San Francisio to Seattle) of a very long international journey traveling with my 2 year-old. The overseas agent couldn't book specific seats and after immigration and customs I didn't arrive early enough to get two seats together. Both the ticket counter and gate agents assured me that that the flight attendants would arrange on board. They only had to ask one person, but I'm sure they would have canvased the whole plane if necessary. Someone *will* switch! Trust me, no one wants to sit next to someone else's kid :)

 

Keep us updated though!

[EmmaNZ]

Don't panic! The airline will do all it can to keep a child with their parents. We had a disastrous seating arrangement given to us for a long haul flight last month (I have 4 children age 7 down to 1). We got on the plane last, spoke to the attendant as we got on, and then spotted all the spare seats as We walked down the aisle!!. A very kind man in the row behind us willingly switched when we explained the situation. Most people are not heartless!

[saw]

Continental tried to do this to me once when I was travelling alone with twin 3 yo dds and 6 month ds. Although I called and called to explain, asked at the ticket counter, asked at the gate, I was forced to board with each of us sitting in different seats (quite far apart). I had to put ds in his carseat in one row and go sit elsewhere. Once everyone was seated, the flight attendants moved us around. Stupid stupid stupid.

Having flown lots with kids on my own, my backup plan is to go to the child sitting alone, hand her the airsick bag (whether or not this is the child who gets airsick) and explain very loudly what she is to do WHEN she starts to throw up. Another backup plan is to ask the flight attendant who will take legal responsibility in the event there is a problem and the child is seated alone (oxygen masks etc).

I've never had to had the kids sitting alone, though, the flight attendants always come through in the end.

[kolamum]

Wanna know a secret?

 

All you have to do is walk on the plane with your kid and put him in his seat and then say really loudly, "Here's your cup, try hard not to spill and if you need ANYTHING, even to go potty Mommy's right here behind you."

 

Trust me, the businessmen and travelers will give up their seats. ;) Some nut placed my 4 year old sitting a row ahead of me, and another plane across the isle from me. Both times the guys he was meant to sit next to gave me looks of horror and offered up their seats. ;) Stewards never cared a bit. :D

 

Trust me, most people do NOT want to sit next to kids on planes. They presume kids are poor travelers. Mine aren't. They are use to the whole thing and are quite good and keeping busy and quite, BUT no one wants that kinda responsibility. Kwim? :D

[Melissa in Australia]

2 years ago, my DH flew with my oldest ds's aged then 13 & 15, parts of the fight they were all separated all over the plane.

When My DH flew to Canada with Ds11 last year, part of the flight they were in opposite parts of the plane.

 

He is going this year with dd11, & ds 7. I hope this time they will be all together.

[regentrude]

ask to change seating at teh gate, on the plane, if necessary. Most strangers are not too wild about sitting next to a young child and will only be happy to move so you can take care of your kid.

[emeraldjoy]

SOMEONE WILL SWITCH, so you can go to sleep. The world of airtravel is not full of heartless fools who want to spend their trip comforting a frightened 5 year old.

 

I have flow A LOT....all over the world in the last few years.

I totally agree with the above.

:grouphug: No flaming....just hugs to worried momma. It will be okay.

e

[laundrycrisis]

1. Someone will switch.

2. Our DS1 actually loved sitting apart from us on a flight at this age. (We did not push for switching on this one. We were just glad to get seats on the earlier flight.) We frequently got up to go check on him and took him to the bathroom. He was very happy and next to someone nice. He was also several rows in front of us so we could see him if he unbuckled and stuck his head up.

3. I have been the stranger next to someone's child. They were a large family that just could not all be seated together with just two parents and several younger siblings. His parents checked on him frequently. He had a good time and was fun to sit next to. The flight attendants had tried to get them all together but couldn't. They asked me if I minded and if I was okay with it. If I had been upset about it I believe they would have found a different spot for him.

[SailorMom]

Most people are nice. Just rememebr that :)

My DH and I have switched with families a few times. We don't get to sit together, but I usually read, and DH sleeps - so no big deal.

[mamato4girls]

No, they won't seat your child alone without you. You may not all three be together, but your son will be with one of you.

Very true, been in this situation many times!

[athena1277]

Last year I flew with both dc (dh had to work). None of our seats were together on any leg of the trip. At the start of the trip (going and returning), I spoke with the ticket agent as I checked in my bag and was referred to the gate agent. The gate agents ususally changed the seats then and there for me. One time they couldn't change it at the counter and they had us board first, tell the flight attendant and then were seated together by the flight attendant. They were very helpful about it. If you are still nervous, looking a little frazzled and panicked helps too. :D

[elegantlion]

You should be able to sign up for your seats 24 hours or more before your flight if you register/check-in online. I did this two years ago - it was really easy and we just did our check-in online and printed our boarding passes on our computers. We chose our seats and it was quite easy. I sat next to my friend. I would not be worried, but would be proactive - call the airlines and see what their check-in policies are.

 

Yes, we did the boarding pass online, it was great to get the right seat.

 

Someone *will* switch! Trust me, no one wants to sit next to someone else's kid :)

 

Keep us updated though!

 

Echoing the sentiment, no one wants to sit next a unaccompanied child on a flight.:lol:

[Mrs Mungo]

I guess my fear is coming from the very scary Disboards thread that I read. 15+ people commenting on how they would refuse to move, how they would ignore a crying scared kid, and how even if the kid had to go to the bathroom he could hold it because "holding pee for a four hour flight won't kill him".

 

I'm mortified and feel terrible. I know I shouldn't, but I still do.

 

Obviously, they are people without kids who don't understand kids.

 

One of my good friends once had her kids seated away from her on a flight to Japan. There was a seat beside her dd, but she needed one more seat for her son. Her dd was in the bulkhead and the guy sitting next to her didn't want to move and give up the leg space. So, she handed him an airsickness bag, said, "you're gonna need this," and started to walk away. He switched.

[Dmmetler]

We fly at least 6x/yr, between scattered family and the fact that DH and I both travel at least 2x/yr for work (and we choose to do these trips as a family in almost all cases, and let DD and the other parent spend time exploring whatever sights are in the area) DD has had frequent flyer cards on two airlines since she was 2 (and I think she might have had at least one before then). We've never had a flight where DD wasn't by at least one parent. I agree that no one wants to sit next to a child. If you have a car seat approved for airline travel and bring it, that's doubled (and your child will be more comfortable-but you won't be, because any car seat for anyone over about 6 months old tends to take more than it's share of space in Airline coach). Because even if someone doesn't mind sitting next to a child, they really, really don't want to sit next to the car seat!

[stripe]

I was once put next to some random woman with my infant, and my husband was put in another row. The (male) flight attendant was very blase about the whole thing, telling me it would be fine, blah blah. I finally said in a loud voice that I planned to be breastfeeding and actually I did prefer to sit next to my husband, and the woman graciously traded with my husband.

 

Someone will switch with you, if nothing else.

[Ellyndria]

Don't worry. Occasionally this gets taken care of at the gate, but most times they just tell us to ask on the plane.

 

We've switched with people a bunch of times. If the person is already in their seat, we ask them directly if they would mind switching (we usually try to give them the better seat in the switch), or if the person isn't there yet, we will talk to the flight attendant about the situation and they will handle it. Most people do *not* want to sit next to a young child or baby on the plane.

 

Many times I have already been sitting with DS, but DH gets placed elsewhere, and he will ask the person next to me if they mind switching so he can be with his family, and they've always switched, too.

[MamaBearTeacher]

Well, this past year I traveled by plane for the first time with my husband and 3 children, the 2 older have severe special needs and behavior problems and the youngest was only 4 and they had never been on a plane. The travel agent told me that I could not book seats until 24 hours before by phone or internet. I did not think much about it because I had not flown in 10 years and when I did fly in the past I was usually alone and never had to book the seat in advance. So 24 hours before I tried online and it would not let me and so I called and they said that it could only be done at the ticket counter but that it would not be a problem to sit together. The flight was at 6:00 am and we arrived only 2 hours in advance rather than 3 because I wanted them to get a bit more sleep. My older sons were in an extremely bad mood by the time we arrived at the ticket counter (the line up was really long)and were screaming at the tops of their lungs. The ticket agent was really nice and sincerely wanted us to get seats together but there were none at all. She found seats that were the closest but that was 3 on one side of the plane and these were separated by a row each and on the other side of the plane 2 diagonal across the aisle separated by 2 rows. I explained our situation again at boarding and when we got on the plane but they would not help us by finding people to switch seats. The problem was that this was a flight to Orlando so there were no business travelers and ALL adults were travelling with children so there was nobody to switch with. I was very scared because the children had never been on a plane and I did not know if it would hurt their ears or make them feel weird or scare them or if the noise would be too much. I was scared that my older sons would grab things from the other passengers (I was pretty sure they would) and I told the flight attendants that. They said they could not do anything because the plane was full. During lift-off DS4 kept on putting his tray down. The flight attendant kept putting it up. He liked this so he did it more. After lift-off I noticed a woman with a 2-year old in her lap so I put DS4 in my lap. The flight attendant came by and said it was against regulations. A man complained to the flight attendant that a small child should not be sitting alone so she asked if he wanted to switch with us and he said no. Someone did switch with DH so he could be near one of our children. It was the man in a family with a wee infant so I felt bad. During the flight one of our DSs grabbed at someone's coffee up and the whole big cup of hot coffee spilled all over her. She was not upset though. It was really a crazy scene. We really had to play musical chairs to bring them to the bathroom. I was crying during take-off thinking about my children alone in their seats scared but it turned out they had not been scared and found the whole thing exciting. I did feel like the worst mother in the world though.

I doubt this will happen to you but I would get to the airport early. From now on I will always reserve my seat in advance.

[kalanamak]

Obviously, they are people without kids who don't understand kids.

 

 

 

the internet brings out the hidden troll in us, too

[ktgrok]

What the airlines told me to do was to go to the Gate ASAP and they will arange your seats for you. Just do it right away. They are the ones that have the ability to switch seats around. otherwise, don't worry, someone will switch with you. They don't want to sit by a kid on the flight anyway, lol.

[OrganicAnn]

Also they will let families with young kids board first and they often say an age limit (like 2 or 3 years old), but if your child is 4 they aren't going to quibble. They may not be able to officially tell you can do it, but they will wink wink not ask the age.

 

We found that in a group of people on a plane you will find plenty of kind sympathetic people that will switch.

[ocelotmom]

SOMEONE WILL SWITCH, so you can go to sleep. The world of airtravel is not full of heartless fools who want to spend their trip comforting a frightened 5 year old.

 

Even if they are a heartless fool... hand them a barf bag and warn about your kid's tendency towards motion sickness and sudden projectile vomiting, and you should be ok.

 

 

Continental tried to do this to me once when I was travelling alone with twin 3 yo dds and 6 month ds. Although I called and called to explain, asked at the ticket counter, asked at the gate, I was forced to board with each of us sitting in different seats (quite far apart). I had to put ds in his carseat in one row and go sit elsewhere. Once everyone was seated, the flight attendants moved us around. Stupid stupid stupid.

 

I find that absolutely horrifying. I can see doing that with older kids, but a 6 month old? A baby or toddler shouldn't be isolated without direct supervision like that even for the length of boarding.

Edited June 26, 2011 by ocelotmom

[ByGrace3]

Obviously, they are people without kids who don't understand kids.

 

 

Apparently there are a plethora of moms on this board that think it is there right to sit in the seat they have paid for regardless :glare:

 

OP, I have flown NUMEROUS times with lo's and had the airline split us up plenty of times. Only ONCE did I have a lady hesitate to give up her "window" seat.:glare: I sat my 3 and 5 yo right next to her and began giving them her things and instructions if they needed anything. The lady gave a panicked look and asked where was it I wanted her to sit? :lol: so, yes, she had every right to sit there, true, but in reality no one REALLY wants to usurp that right. Someone WILL move. If you have someone rude say no at first, just stay next to your child and the stewards are normally more than happy to work it our for you. I would walk right off a plane before I let my kids sit next to a stranger...

[stripe]

I did feel like the worst mother in the world though.

 

 

Definitely not. Sounds like the worst airline in the world.

[Aelwydd]

So, apparently I am totally stupid and completely naive. And am now scared to death and cannot sleep.

 

We leave for Florida really soon (19 days) and I just found out that I really really should have paid the extra $$ to choose our seating because my son may be sitting next to strangers? I chose to not pay the extra money because I figured the child would be next to a parent, regardless...and it doesn't matter to us if my husband and I are next to each other.

 

My son isn't even 5 yet...and has never ever flown before, I had no idea an airline would ever separate a parent and young child before. Like I said, I wasn't trying to be cheap, I just really had no idea.

 

I'm calling the airline first thing in the morning to ask if there are two seats still be next to each other. In the meantime it's 2 am here and I keep thinking that there won't be seats available and no one will be willing to switch me seats and he's going to be scared and I can't help him.

 

Please don't flame me for not knowing better....I haven't flown in about 13 years and have never flown with a child :crying:

 

First of all, take a deep breath and let it out! Relax!

 

Years ago, I worked as an airline ticketing agent. I've flown countless times, so I've got a few suggestions that maybe will help.

 

1.) Call the airline! Explain the situation, and see if the reservations agent can get you assigned seats, together. Even if the airline's website shows that there are no available seats, that doesn't mean that there aren't still some unassigned seats left. Airlines typically block or hold certain "prime" seating until the day of departure.

 

2.) Get to the airport EARLY. If you are there between an hour-and-45-minutes to two hours before departure time, that helps the ticketing agents to get you seats together. This is because that "prime" seating I referred to above gets divvied up as travelers check in and request seat changes, etc.

 

3.) Florida is a huge vacation destination, obviously, so there are many, many families with small kids that fly there. Other passengers flying to FL are going to be expecting kids! The flight attendants, too. So, if despite trying other measures, still found yourself in the unlikely scenario of having separate seat assignments from your child, I highly doubt that there wouldn't be someone, somewhere on that plane that wouldn't be flexible enough to switch. Again, flights to FL are expected to have several kids on board. Especially in the summer. People know and expect that.

 

So, feel better? You should! It'll all work out, and I hope you have a fab trip! :)

 

P.S. Let us all know how it went for you afterwards?

[In The Great White North]

We have had the airlines CHANGE our seats, after we had reserved them altogether, putting the dc all over the plane.

[nukeswife]

Just be prepared to put up a fight if needed.

 

When my kids were 5 and 2.5 my mom and I took them to Disneyworld and on the flight home the airline (Airtran) sat my mom and son (the 5 y/o) next to each other me two rows behind them and my 2.5 y/o dd 10 rows in front of us. They refused to change anything and told us to ask some of the other passengers. We asked and the guys sitting with my dd between them said "No, we came on this vacation to spend time with our friends, you'll just have to deal" they didn't care that a 2.5 y/o little girl would be sitting in the middle of them with their other buddies across the isle, the airline staff didn't care that they put my little girl between two totally strange men and her mom wasn't even close to her. In the end my mom ended up having to offer the lady next to her and my son $50 to switch because it was the only way she'd give up her aisle seat. When we got home I sent a letter to the airline and the response I got was along the lines of "Oh well, it happens, sorry" and that was it.

 

I sure hope you have better luck, but just be prepared.

[In the Rain]

We have had the airlines CHANGE our seats, after we had reserved them altogether, putting the dc all over the plane.

 

:iagree: This happened to us too. We were able to have an adult by each child only by giving up our nice seats for the ones in the back row, next to the restroom, that don't recline. :glare: People with those seats are often eager to switch. ;)

 

OP, don't worry about it too much, or feel like you need to plan every detail out now. You never know what will happen. We had full price seats, reserved in advance, and still went through a hassle. :001_huh:

[Impish]

Apparently there are a plethora of moms on this board that think it is there right to sit in the seat they have paid for regardless :glare:

 

OP, I have flown NUMEROUS times with lo's and had the airline split us up plenty of times. Only ONCE did I have a lady hesitate to give up her "window" seat.:glare: I sat my 3 and 5 yo right next to her and began giving them her things and instructions if they needed anything. The lady gave a panicked look and asked where was it I wanted her to sit? :lol: so, yes, she had every right to sit there, true, but in reality no one REALLY wants to usurp that right. Someone WILL move. If you have someone rude say no at first, just stay next to your child and the stewards are normally more than happy to work it our for you. I would walk right off a plane before I let my kids sit next to a stranger...

I don't understand why it wouldn't be their right to stay in the seat they've paid for.

 

Moving is a nice thing for someone to do, but surely not an obligation. Its not the other ppl's fault that the airline didn't seat families together, and therefore not their responsibility to accomodate anyone. Nice of them, absolutely, but I don't understand the idea that they *have* to move for someone else.

[DianeW88]

I'm sure it doesn't happen often, but on our return flight from Orlando, the plane was full, and a family of four was seated all over the plane. The little girl...5 or 6 maybe...was seated behind us. Her brother was on the aisle across from us, and her parents were seated separately somewhere up in the front of the plane. She did really well and it was a four hour flight. The women seated in the row with her were very nice, although their conversation was quite adult at times. She did have the window seat and they did allow her to get up and use the restroom. I didn't see her parents for the entire flight, because the seat belt sign was on for most of it, and they were not allowed to stand up.

 

The family boarded late and by the time they got on....they were just happy to find seats. Nobody changed or switched seats to accomodate the family. In fact, the flight attendants didn't want anyone to move because we had to get going. It wasn't a problem and the kids were fine.

 

This was Southwest airlines, where there are no assigned seats. If you want to be seated together, then check-in as soon as you're allowed and get "A" boarding passes. If you get "C"......there's a darn good chance you won't all be seated together. They do not allow family pre-boarding except within sections and only if you have a baby. At least on the flights we were on.

[HSmomNY]

I don't understand why it wouldn't be their right to stay in the seat they've paid for.

 

Moving is a nice thing for someone to do, but surely not an obligation. Its not the other ppl's fault that the airline didn't seat families together, and therefore not their responsibility to accomodate anyone. Nice of them, absolutely, but I don't understand the idea that they *have* to move for someone else.

 

No they don't HAVE to move. They have the right to stay in the seat they've paid for. People DO have the right to be unkind and inconsiderate of others. :glare:

Personally, I think the airlines should be required to seat children under 12 with a parent.

[EKS]

They will make sure that your son is with one of you.

[Maus]

When my kids were 5 and 2.5 my mom and I took them to Disneyworld and on the flight home the airline (Airtran) sat my mom and son (the 5 y/o) next to each other me two rows behind them and my 2.5 y/o dd 10 rows in front of us. They refused to change anything and told us to ask some of the other passengers. We asked and the guys sitting with my dd between them said "No, we came on this vacation to spend time with our friends, you'll just have to deal" they didn't care that a 2.5 y/o little girl would be sitting in the middle of them with their other buddies across the isle, the airline staff didn't care that they put my little girl between two totally strange men and her mom wasn't even close to her. In the end my mom ended up having to offer the lady next to her and my son $50 to switch because it was the only way she'd give up her aisle seat.

 

It's hard to think in the stress of the moment, of course, but there's nothing to stop you from trading seats within your own party. I would have sent mom up the ten rows, put the 5 y/o and 2.5 y/o together, and taken my seat two rows back. The lady stuck with two kids probably would have volunteered to switch in short order.:lol:

 

-----------

 

My DH, MIL, our DS (then 10 m/o), and I traveled to Europe eight years ago; we went again three years later with DH, DS (3.5), DD (1.5), a niece (12), and I. Each time, after the first leg where we had chosen our seats, we found ourselves split up. At each gate, we just pointed out the littles and said quite firmly, "He (they) can't sit by himself." They always agreed, and swapped things around on the computer before we boarded.

 

The "worst" was a leg in which I had one little, DH had the other a few rows back, and our shy niece was on her own across the aisle from DH.

 

Or maybe it was the leg from Paris to Vienna on the first flight, when I was alone w/ baby DS, with neither DH or MIL anywhere in sight, and new attendants kept coming by and insisting that the flight was full and I'd have to hold DS (we'd bought him a seat and brought his car seat). I had to show his ticket to several different attendants, and insist back, "No, I bought him a ticket. He gets his own seat." Finally, the first attendant I'd shown his ticket to realized I was being asked continually, and she stepped in when other attendants approached.

__________

 

It wasn't always our preferred arrangement, with all of us together, but at no time were our young children left on their own.

[Sarah CB]

No, they won't seat your child alone without you. You may not all three be together, but your son will be with one of you.

 

I was on a flight from Paris to Montreal and there was a mom, dad, and a boy who could have been about ten. All of them were seated separately in middle seats. The plane was full and no one wanted to switch. It might have been different if the kid was 5.

[Just Beachy]

I don't understand why it wouldn't be their right to stay in the seat they've paid for.

 

Moving is a nice thing for someone to do, but surely not an obligation. Its not the other ppl's fault that the airline didn't seat families together, and therefore not their responsibility to accomodate anyone. Nice of them, absolutely, but I don't understand the idea that they *have* to move for someone else.

 

No they don't HAVE to move. They have the right to stay in the seat they've paid for. People DO have the right to be unkind and inconsiderate of others. :glare:

Personally, I think the airlines should be required to seat children under 12 with a parent.

 

Under 12??? Really?? Children over the age of 5 are allowed to fly on the airplane with no parent at all. It would be a nightmare for the airlines to have to do this -- especially on a flight to Orlando because the vast majority of passengers are families. We travel a lot. In fact, we just got back from the Grand Canyon last month. On our way there, 3 of us were given seats in one row and we were given an additional seat in the next row. Fortunately, some kind gentleman moved allowing us to sit as a family. On the way back, we were given the last 4 seats on the plane. Two of them were in exit rows, so my dh and I HAD to take those. The other 2 were in First Class, and there was no way we would ask someone to move to our exit row in the main cabin, so we could sit with our children. Bottom line, they flew first and we were in coach. They are currently 11 and 9, and they were fine. Also, this isn't the first time we've had to sit apart. It really isn't that big a deal. Now, of course, it is for toddlers and even preschoolers. By 7 or 8 though, I think most children would be just fine seated apart from their parents.

 

I am also a former flight attendant and dh is a pilot. We have seen a lot. I have asked hundreds of people to move so that a parent can sit with a child. In only 1 case, did someone refuse. (Come to find out he was claustraphobic and needed to be near the front of the cabin.) However, even in that instance, a nice couple gave up their seats, so this parent could sit with her child. Even in the case of our trip back from the GC, I have no doubt we could have found someone to switch seats, but our main problem was that we were in the exit rows.

 

OP, I'm sure you will be fine. Airline personnel cannot force a passenger to trade seats with you, but believe me. Everyone on the plane (passengers and crew alike) will want you to be the one seated next to your child. All 3 of you may not get seats together, but I have no doubt that 2 of your seats will end up together.

 

Have a great trip,

:) Beachy

 

Oh, and don't worry about the DIS. For a Disney fan site, there isn't a whole lot of magic and/or pixie dust floating around there.

[nukeswife]

It's hard to think in the stress of the moment, of course, but there's nothing to stop you from trading seats within your own party. I would have sent mom up the ten rows, put the 5 y/o and 2.5 y/o together, and taken my seat two rows back. The lady stuck with two kids probably would have volunteered to switch in short order.:lol:

 

-----------

 

My DH, MIL, our DS (then 10 m/o), and I traveled to Europe eight years ago; we went again three years later with DH, DS (3.5), DD (1.5), a niece (12), and I. Each time, after the first leg where we had chosen our seats, we found ourselves split up. At each gate, we just pointed out the littles and said quite firmly, "He (they) can't sit by himself." They always agreed, and swapped things around on the computer before we boarded.

 

The "worst" was a leg in which I had one little, DH had the other a few rows back, and our shy niece was on her own across the aisle from DH.

 

Or maybe it was the leg from Paris to Vienna on the first flight, when I was alone w/ baby DS, with neither DH or MIL anywhere in sight, and new attendants kept coming by and insisting that the flight was full and I'd have to hold DS (we'd bought him a seat and brought his car seat). I had to show his ticket to several different attendants, and insist back, "No, I bought him a ticket. He gets his own seat." Finally, the first attendant I'd shown his ticket to realized I was being asked continually, and she stepped in when other attendants approached.

__________

 

It wasn't always our preferred arrangement, with all of us together, but at no time were our young children left on their own.

 

We tried that but then the flight attendant said that I couldn't let the kids sit together by themselves with me behind them. When I told her the original situation her response was "Oh" and then she stood by and watched my mom, who was at the end of her rope tell the lady with them in that row that she'd pay her to switch with me.

[Slartibartfast]

I guess my fear is coming from the very scary Disboards thread that I read. 15+ people commenting on how they would refuse to move, how they would ignore a crying scared kid, and how even if the kid had to go to the bathroom he could hold it because "holding pee for a four hour flight won't kill him".

 

I'm mortified and feel terrible. I know I shouldn't, but I still do.

 

They are crazy. Hand someone an airsick bag and they'll move, quick.

 

And holding pee, that is bad for your bladder. It can be harmful, particularly when my kid pees everywhere, that might get on them.

 

Many of those people are not parents and have no idea what they are talking about.

Edited June 26, 2011 by Sis

[Slartibartfast]

I don't understand why it wouldn't be their right to stay in the seat they've paid for.

 

Moving is a nice thing for someone to do, but surely not an obligation. Its not the other ppl's fault that the airline didn't seat families together, and therefore not their responsibility to accomodate anyone. Nice of them, absolutely, but I don't understand the idea that they *have* to move for someone else.

 

No they don't HAVE to move. They have the right to stay in the seat they've paid for. People DO have the right to be unkind and inconsiderate of others. :glare:

Personally, I think the airlines should be required to seat children under 12 with a parent.

 

I would give my kid 47 cups of jello and a bag of jolly ranchers.

 

But...I don't fly Southwest, I only fly airlines where I can choose seats or puts families together

[twoforjoy]

SOMEONE WILL SWITCH, so you can go to sleep. The world of airtravel is not full of heartless fools who want to spend their trip comforting a frightened 5 year old.

 

This.

 

I've had this happen. If you go to the counter once you get to your gate, you can talk to somebody and they'll be able to help you out there most of the time. If that doesn't work, once you are on the plane, the flight staff will make sure that you are seated next to your child.

 

I imagine that anybody who is enough of a jerk to not want to switch their seat to help out a 5yo kid is probably enough of a jerk that they'd enjoy sitting next to said 5yo the entire flight.

[Impish]

This.

 

I've had this happen. If you go to the counter once you get to your gate, you can talk to somebody and they'll be able to help you out there most of the time. If that doesn't work, once you are on the plane, the flight staff will make sure that you are seated next to your child.

 

I imagine that anybody who is enough of a jerk to not want to switch their seat to help out a 5yo kid is probably enough of a jerk that they'd enjoy sitting next to said 5yo the entire flight.

 

No they don't HAVE to move. They have the right to stay in the seat they've paid for. People DO have the right to be unkind and inconsiderate of others. :glare:

Personally, I think the airlines should be required to seat children under 12 with a parent.

I think assumptions are being made. First of all, that everyone in the general public should be willing to accomodate a family. I don't see it as the responsibility of the general public. Yes, its a courtesy, but not a responsibility.

 

Second, you don't know what the situation is with the other person.

 

For myself, if I ever have to fly again, I will absolutely be booking a seat so that my right arm is against the window. And there's no way I would switch that seat for anyone or anything.

 

Not a matter of being rude, unkind, inconsiderate, or a jerk. A matter of my right arm has RSD. Having that arm brushed, bumped, etc would have me in increasing, screaming pain for hours. And unless I'm against the window, its going to happen on a plane.

 

And honestly, I don't think I owe an explaination of my medical condition to others on the plane. I'd simply say no.

[Slartibartfast]

I think assumptions are being made. First of all, that everyone in the general public should be willing to accomodate a family. I don't see it as the responsibility of the general public. Yes, its a courtesy, but not a responsibility.

 

Second, you don't know what the situation is with the other person.

 

For myself, if I ever have to fly again, I will absolutely be booking a seat so that my right arm is against the window. And there's no way I would switch that seat for anyone or anything.

 

Not a matter of being rude, unkind, inconsiderate, or a jerk. A matter of my right arm has RSD. Having that arm brushed, bumped, etc would have me in increasing, screaming pain for hours. And unless I'm against the window, its going to happen on a plane.

 

And honestly, I don't think I owe an explaination of my medical condition to others on the plane. I'd simply say no.

 

I just feel it is a responsibility to be accommodating regardless of whether or not it is a family.

 

If you did not get your window I would switch with you. I have traded seats because an old couple wasn't together and for other reasons. There are reasons to switch other than a little kid.

 

If you cannot for health issues just say you cannot.

 

But people saying they would let kids cry or would not let them out to pee are jerk and idiots. Do they not let adults out to pee?? I don't think people should be given special treatment because they have kids but when people are being jerks to kids because they are kids well...then they are just jerks. Do they also treat old people or disabled people badly? Would they get up to let a handicapped person pee?

Edited June 27, 2011 by Sis