Originally Posted by
PTravel
3.
Families who book flights knowing there are no seats together and assume that the FA or GA will move people around for them (or that they'll simply usurp someone's seat and play the "kid card.") I have absolutely no sympathy at all -- I will move only if required to by the captain, at which point I will demand that I be treated as an IDB. As I said in another post, "The lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine." However, I will move if it is a TRUE emergency, i.e. someone is sick or dying, someone needs medical attention, parent being deployed to Iraq, etc. As above, it will need to be explained to me (again, by either FA, GA or parent). If it's a true emergency, I'll sit wherever there's room, regardless of whether its a downgrade. Short of a true emergency, though, don't even ask under these circumstances -- if you're lucky, I'll ignore you. If I'm in the mood, however, I'll treat you to a lecture about entitlement, planning and proper parenting. Pull the, "Okay, if you won't switch, I'll just leave junior here next to you -- here are extra diapers" trick and I'll ask the FA to call Child Protective Services and/or the police.
So thank you, MarqFlyer -- your consideration is noted and appreciated! ^^^
Note: not a dig at anyone posting in this thread. Just a lot of pent up frustration.
PTravel,
I don't know if you have ever booked a trip without having elite status, but if so, you are often able to see row after row of empty seats in the elite section while the non-status section is completely full. In fact, sometimes you won't even be given a seat number, but will be told that it will be assigned at the airport.
The airlines do nothing to warn these families that they need to get their seat assignments up front. They are simply not given seat numbers and told that seats will be assigned at the airport. OR, they are given seats all over the place and told by the airline agent that the gate agent will take care of seating the family together.
I guess I would make two points. First, in many instances these families are playing as much by the rules as the person who has had the firm seat assignment for 331 days. They have done exactly what the airline told them to do. Second, most of these families don't travel much, don't read FT and are unaware of how much it irritates people to ask them to move. So they book whatever seats they can assuming they will be able to switch and sit together.
With all that said, if a family holding four middle-seat tickets comes on board looking for people to switch seats, they aren't going to get very far with me in my aisle seat. But if I can make an equal swap and make their trip better, I'm more than happy to help.