just out of interest, on all airlines i've flown with if there is an infant on the booking then noone on the booking can check in online in advance, if you can't book in online then surely you can't guarantee seats in advance?
That has not been my experience flying SWA. Besides, you don't need to check in online to keep your seats if you already have pre-assigned seats. You can check in at the airport.
i haven't flown SWA so can't comment there, but all airlines ive flown out with from the UK have only guaranteed seats if have been able to check in online
Sure. I'm not in favor of splitting up parents and children on airplanes -- I'm just opposed to moving strangers who booked their seats in advance to keep parents and children together. My only point was I'd hope strangers would assist children in distress if no parent was around.
Who said I wouldn't help in any other situation? Where in the world did you get that?
Sorry, but as a parent I can't afford to rely on hope. As the caretaker and able-bodied person, it's my responsibility to be as close as possible to the person who may need my assistance, whether it's my child or my 90-year old grandmother.
I don't have an exhaustive list of what situations you would help with, but it seems pretty clear from your posts that you probably wouldn't help in a situation if it involved inconveniencing strangers who booked their seats in advance.
Quote:
Originally Posted by exbayern
I didn't read anyone say that in this thread or frankly cannot recall anyone saying that in hundreds of threads I have read on the subject.
If anything, several people have said that the willingness of others to help in an emergency is often underestimated.
I don't however consider it an 'emergency' if someone isn't sitting right next to their child, especially if they failed to do all they could in advance, and are not willing to deplane if necessary as a last resort.
I didn't say that being split up was an "emergency." I said that it's unfortunate that a situation has to be perceived as an emergency for others to be willing to help. Sorry if that was not clear.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; May 1, 11 at 8:38 am..
Reason: multi-quote
Programs: No longer an FF, no status, no joy in Mudville.
Posts: 31,579
Quote:
Originally Posted by KSinNYC
Sorry, but as a parent I can't afford to rely on hope. As the caretaker and able-bodied person, it's my responsibility to be as close as possible to the person who may need my assistance, whether it's my child or my 90-year old grandmother.
Whoever said you shouldn't?
Quote:
I don't have an exhaustive list of what situations you would help with, but it seems pretty clear from your posts that you probably wouldn't help in a situation if it involved inconveniencing strangers who booked their seats in advance.
If it was a non-emergency, you're absolutely right. Why you, or anyone else, thinks that traveling with kids gives you priority over those who don't is, frankly, beyond me.
i haven't flown SWA so can't comment there, but all airlines ive flown out with from the UK have only guaranteed seats if have been able to check in online
hence asking the question
It's different on most UK (and European) carriers than on US carriers.
I find bmi most annoying as one can only check in at the 24 hour mark and only if the previous day flight has departed.
Even then, I drop everything to be by a computer or mobile device to check in, to ensure that my own needs are met so that I do not inconvenience anyone else.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KSinNYC
I didn't say that being split up was an "emergency." I said that it's unfortunate that a situation has to be perceived as an emergency for others to be willing to help. Sorry if that was not clear.
Have you ever heard the saying 'lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part?'
I realise that it isn't always lack of planning, but often it IS. Go read threads on leisure travel sites especially from people flying on AirTran, SW, Air Canada, and other carriers which charge for certain seats or early boarding.
Many, many of them do not think that they should have to pay for seats, even when others did, because their 'emergency' should take precedence over everyone else's needs. That is downright selfish.
There was a mother here on FT who did not choose to pay for seats on AC and was not seated with her tween. She made quite the scene here and was ripped apart, frankly with reason. Her rationale was that even if most other people choose to pay for seats, or have status and thus get advance seat assignments, her situation should require everyone/anyone else to move. She knew the rules of the Tango fare in advance, knew about the fee, but chose not to pay it and take her chances.
That type of parent is unfortunately quite common online and I have seen a few in person. It does impact how some people react in future.
I can tell stories, including about the mother who announced loudly her husband's title and station at UA and tried to use that as a tool to make us move for a non-rev. I can tell you about the mother who screamed and cursed at me at MCO after I intially responded 'yes' when the GA asked me to move and then seconds later realised that it wouldn't work based on my visible physical injury. Those may sound like extreme examples, but they are out there, making threats and trying to bully people instead of doing what they need to do and asking nicely for assistance.
And for the record, I have deplaned a few times when I could not get a seat which worked for me, or not flown. I also pay for a seat on any carrier which charges for preferred or better seating to ensure that my needs are met.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; May 1, 11 at 8:38 am..
Reason: multi-quote
I didn't read anyone say that in this thread or frankly cannot recall anyone saying that in hundreds of threads I have read on the subject.
If anything, several people have said that the willingness of others to help in an emergency is often underestimated.
I don't however consider it an 'emergency' if someone isn't sitting right next to their child, especially if they failed to do all they could in advance, and are not willing to deplane if necessary as a last resort.
Travelling with my children I take it as my responsibility to ensure I do everything I can so that we can sit together, as I do not believe it is right or indeed safe for a 6 year old who cannot understand the saftey messages (incidently this was her trip), put on mask etc. to sit away from me
Doing everything I can includes
a) Booking the trip as far as possible to ensure maximum availability (9 months in this case)
b) Selecting the seats well in advance (invloved me actually calling Canada direct from the UK)
c) Checking on a regular basis to ensure the seats were still correct
d) Actually visiting the airline at my depature airport and obtain a print out from their own system to confirm the seats were correct (well I wanted to show the kids the airport so they knew a little of what to expect)
These steps also try to ensure that other passnegrs are not inconvienced my children,
In our case we were seated all over because we missed our original MIA-LAX flight as our flight inbound from the Carribean was three hours late due to a crew rest requirement. I had the choice of taking those seats or not flying at all that day. It struck me more as an annoyance than a safety concern, I guess I must have more faith in common decency than some. And yes if we get on a subway train and there are only a couple of seats and they are not together I will tell my kids to sit down next to strangers.
TrojanHorse, I almost always book my kids as adults as I am almost always getting them award seats and paying for our seats, so they are on their own reservation and AA won't let you book two minors alone in their own reservation, so I just call them adults.
sure i agree with you, there was a situation that was pretty much out of control of you or the airline and therefore you made a decison based upon that changed situation and the choices you had
This is a little different from booking something, and the company changing things for their own benefit and then not communicationg this
As mentioned the risk of subway vs airline is different as you do not require the child to understand safety video, safety instructions, putting on a mask etc
It's different on most UK (and European) carriers than on US carriers.
I find bmi most annoying as one can only check in at the 24 hour mark and only if the previous day flight has departed.
Even then, I drop everything to be by a computer or mobile device to check in, to ensure that my own needs are met so that I do not inconvenience anyone else.
Have you ever heard the saying 'lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part?'
I realise that it isn't always lack of planning, but often it IS. Go read threads on leisure travel sites especially from people flying on AirTran, SW, Air Canada, and other carriers which charge for certain seats or early boarding.
Many, many of them do not think that they should have to pay for seats, even when others did, because their 'emergency' should take precedence over everyone else's needs. That is downright selfish.
There was a mother here on FT who did not choose to pay for seats on AC and was not seated with her tween. She made quite the scene here and was ripped apart, frankly with reason. Her rationale was that even if most other people choose to pay for seats, or have status and thus get advance seat assignments, her situation should require everyone/anyone else to move. She knew the rules of the Tango fare in advance, knew about the fee, but chose not to pay it and take her chances.
That type of parent is unfortunately quite common online and I have seen a few in person. It does impact how some people react in future.
I can tell stories, including about the mother who announced loudly her husband's title and station at UA and tried to use that as a tool to make us move for a non-rev. I can tell you about the mother who screamed and cursed at me at MCO after I intially responded 'yes' when the GA asked me to move and then seconds later realised that it wouldn't work based on my visible physical injury. Those may sound like extreme examples, but they are out there, making threats and trying to bully people instead of doing what they need to do and asking nicely for assistance.
And for the record, I have deplaned a few times when I could not get a seat which worked for me, or not flown. I also pay for a seat on any carrier which charges for preferred or better seating to ensure that my needs are met.
you could also say attribute the "lack of planning" to the airline who are responsible for this mess, not other passngers.
I can completely understand all of your stories, all involve parents acting in a unresponsible manner and I would totally agree with you...but not all parents behave in the same way.
In fact by trying to resolve the situation with AC Customer Service, then at Checkin I was trying to minimise any inconvience that would be caused, surely the airline should be trying to do this as opposed to just bumping the issue to the GA
Qantas says my family is seated together - let's see
I'm flying to the US with my family again next month. I rang Qantas to check our seating arrangements and "Tricia" told me that "because you're all on the same booking, unless there are unforeseen circumstances you'll be seated together." If you see a complaint from me next month about seat allocation, well, I did my best :-)
That happened to me once. I was traveling with a 1,5 year old and a 4 year old. But the flight attendants where great and helped me get us all together. I would not worry too much, I bet the other passenger would love to help you out. Have you tried call and see if they can help you change seats? People do that all the time, so if you feel too worried about it, I would give the booking company a call and see if they could sort it out for you.
Programs: No longer an FF, no status, no joy in Mudville.
Posts: 31,579
Quote:
Originally Posted by tinyglobetrotters
That happened to me once. I was traveling with a 1,5 year old and a 4 year old. But the flight attendants where great and helped me get us all together. I would not worry too much, I bet the other passenger would love to help you out.
Sorry, but you are mistaken. Frequent flying passengers choose their seats carefully and deliberately and are reluctant to give them up, particularly for someone who couldn't be bothered planning enough ahead to book seats together.
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Have you tried call and see if they can help you change seats?
As a general rule, airlines cannot make these kinds of changes if all seats are already occupied. Some seats are usually held back for airport control, but there is no way to access them except by getting to the airport early.
Quote:
People do that all the time, so if you feel too worried about it, I would give the booking company a call and see if they could sort it out for you.
Travel agents can't make unoccupied seats appear anymore than can the airline. If you have very high status, e.g. GS on UA, you might find that the airline will accommodate you. However, without status, no airline is going to bounce a status passenger (and probably not a no-status passenger) from an assigned seat.
You beat me to it. That post is filled with poor advice but I suspect that it may be to encourage whatever is linked in the signature rather than to give actual good advice to readers.
This is why if kids and parents can not be seated together when flying virgin atlantic you cannot preselect seats in advance, if you're flying with an infant the same applies, they have an obligation to put at least one adult in the party (not both) next to a child, if you have two adults and two children then you'd likely have one adult with each child
Sometimes things like and equipment change or a cancelled flight can screw up the best plans, but I have trouble wrapping my brain around the idea of buying tickets where you know your family will be separated and counting on the goodwill of strangers to make everything work out.
When my kids were little, if I couldn't be promised seats together when I made my reservation, it was just like there were no available seats - I'd simply try other flights until I could get the seats we needed. Occasionally, we had to split up and sit separately with 2 of us in one row and the other 2 somewhere else, but that was never a big deal.
I have offered to change seats so separated family members can sit together, but only when I'll get an equivalent seat (or better ). My generosity has definite limits, and I'm not going to willingly go into a middle seat for someone else's comfort!
). My generosity has definite limits, and I'm not going to willingly go into a middle seat for someone else's comfort!
