Originally Posted by
gglave
Airlines 'playing chicken' with passengers
http://redtape.nbcnews.com/_news/201...h-your-kid-fee
Choice quotes:
"Generally, a combination of airline employee cajoling and passenger volunteers straightens out the mess"
"Flight attendants also are helpful in seating people together if they are aware that families need to sit together"
Actually I have a story regarding that. I was flying LHR-ORD on a United 767-300ER and it was one of the first flights on the new upgraded configurations and the seat assignments became mucked up. So there was this guy and his wife became seperated with their group. Thankfully they did tell the GA & Flight Crew so once we got abroad they could sort it all out. They didn't poach any seats (I did move because it was a window and I didn't have to share it with my brother
) and they did ask with the help of the FA's. I have noticed people are more likely to help you if you ask instead of poaching seats.
Regarding seating companions I will say a few hours apart won't kill you. When I was studying abroad (It was a Faculty Lead Trip, there were 9 of us) I didn't mind not having a seat next to them since I had a window so a few hours won't kill you plus it was suppose to be an Over-Night Flight but that didn't happen (flew over greenland due to a Volcano) and out of the 9 of us only 7 of us ended up sleeping (myself and one other guy didn't.)