Transport Minister urges airlines to stop separating parents, children
Apr 30, 2016, 2:15 pm
#286
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,920
@Northern,
It should still be scattered around the cabin (for Y). While yes, the facilities are better in the back, some of those seats also appeal to other travellers as well (for example, those that don't want the normal meals or those that value even half a leg of space). You also don't necessarily want a concentration of kids in the back. A stampede of little ones in an area with limited space is often a bad idea..
As for J, I could see if parents want to book it, that the kids have to be across the aisle from the parents. While not idea, the parents can still exert control over their kids (most of the time).
It should still be scattered around the cabin (for Y). While yes, the facilities are better in the back, some of those seats also appeal to other travellers as well (for example, those that don't want the normal meals or those that value even half a leg of space). You also don't necessarily want a concentration of kids in the back. A stampede of little ones in an area with limited space is often a bad idea..
As for J, I could see if parents want to book it, that the kids have to be across the aisle from the parents. While not idea, the parents can still exert control over their kids (most of the time).
Apr 30, 2016, 2:21 pm
#287
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This may be controversial to ask but why does there need to be a charge to select your seat ahead of time? Is there any extra cost to the airline if they let you select when you book? (Not counting preferred seats)
When you buy tickets to a concert you get to choose the seats without having to pay extra, even when buying cheap tickets. Imagine if they said you had to pay extra to pick your actual seat or wait till 24 hours in advance and then pick seats in the level you bought your tickets.
For years there was no charge for selecting your seat. I get no frills, you don't get food for example without paying extra, but then the airline saves too. How does no advanced seat selection actually save the airline money and reduce costs?
Is it not just a money grab?
When you buy tickets to a concert you get to choose the seats without having to pay extra, even when buying cheap tickets. Imagine if they said you had to pay extra to pick your actual seat or wait till 24 hours in advance and then pick seats in the level you bought your tickets.
For years there was no charge for selecting your seat. I get no frills, you don't get food for example without paying extra, but then the airline saves too. How does no advanced seat selection actually save the airline money and reduce costs?
Is it not just a money grab?
If they didn't allow low fares to select seats for free, there would have been open seats available.
I ended up canceling the ticket.
So United lost a high revenue purchase because they allow low revenue tickets free advance seat selection.
It's not a "$0 cost" for AC to allow it, if it pushes people like me onto other airlines.
If a child MUST sit beside a parent, then a child MUST NOT sit in a pod, because you cannot satisfy the first condition.
I don't agree with this at all, but that's the argument being made.
I have a somewhat-related question for the AC employees who still post here. I read this comment on reddit. Basically, an unaccompanied minor sat next to a solo male traveler, and the FA asked the male traveler to move or risk getting kicked off the plane because AC doesn't allow solo male pax to sit next to solo children. Is that actually true?
(If this was answered further upthread, sorry)
(If this was answered further upthread, sorry)
Apr 30, 2016, 2:58 pm
#288
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
I've certainly bought cheap concert tickets that did not have a "seat assignment". Bring a blanket, sit on the grass. Tickets with seat assignments were more expensive.
Funny. I bought a UA B fare the other day, and I couldn't select a seat for free because there were only E+ left.
If they didn't allow low fares to select seats for free, there would have been open seats available.
I ended up canceling the ticket.
So United lost a high revenue purchase because they allow low revenue tickets free advance seat selection.
It's not a "$0 cost" for AC to allow it, if it pushes people like me onto other airlines.
Funny. I bought a UA B fare the other day, and I couldn't select a seat for free because there were only E+ left.
If they didn't allow low fares to select seats for free, there would have been open seats available.
I ended up canceling the ticket.
So United lost a high revenue purchase because they allow low revenue tickets free advance seat selection.
It's not a "$0 cost" for AC to allow it, if it pushes people like me onto other airlines.
As for having all the economy seating gone i said that can happen but a lot less frequent. Generally on UA when no free seats are left, i often just get E+ for free.
And given your example i guess AC must be losing lots of revenue from people like you then on international flights where they allow those in tango to select seats for free!
Realistically of course they are not. And charging for seat selection is simply a cash grab.
And now instead of blaming AC for the fact if they want the profit, they need to put up with the bad PR and stress to all passengers, instead we blame the passengers.
Just realize that if you want to book AC, then compared to mainline airlines you will have to deal with this stress more often than you would with a mainline airline.
If you don't want to deal with this from time to time then don't book AC for flights within North America.
Apr 30, 2016, 3:57 pm
#289
Join Date: Apr 2013
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And it appears, at least the way this article is worded in quotes of Lukacs , that AC is merely complying with CTA requirements and even AC's own tariff... perhaps a nice reminder to staff what existing policy is, was all that happened here?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...ares-1.3560027
Apr 30, 2016, 5:02 pm
#290
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And I guess LH isn't a "mainline airline" either.
Apr 30, 2016, 6:03 pm
#291
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This may be controversial to ask but why does there need to be a charge to select your seat ahead of time? Is there any extra cost to the airline if they let you select when you book? (Not counting preferred seats)
When you buy tickets to a concert you get to choose the seats without having to pay extra, even when buying cheap tickets. Imagine if they said you had to pay extra to pick your actual seat or wait till 24 hours in advance and then pick seats in the level you bought your tickets.
For years there was no charge for selecting your seat. I get no frills, you don't get food for example without paying extra, but then the airline saves too. How does no advanced seat selection actually save the airline money and reduce costs?
Is it not just a money grab?
When you buy tickets to a concert you get to choose the seats without having to pay extra, even when buying cheap tickets. Imagine if they said you had to pay extra to pick your actual seat or wait till 24 hours in advance and then pick seats in the level you bought your tickets.
For years there was no charge for selecting your seat. I get no frills, you don't get food for example without paying extra, but then the airline saves too. How does no advanced seat selection actually save the airline money and reduce costs?
Is it not just a money grab?
So, should airlines charge more for every row closer to the front? Better the seat, more you pay, just like a concert. I don't think it's a money grab. AC only charges for there cheap(discounted tickets) fares.
Apr 30, 2016, 6:09 pm
#292
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LH doesn't give seat selection even on Lat fares. Closer to home, Delta and AA are changing to no seat selection on there low fare class. You can't even buy a seat if you wanted to.
Last edited by Wpgjetse; Apr 30, 2016 at 6:15 pm
Apr 30, 2016, 6:28 pm
#295
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Just booked revenue space on BA. Hard to believe for a full fare PY & J ticket, seat selection is NOT complementary unless you have BA/OW status.
Apr 30, 2016, 7:37 pm
#296
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http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/160429_1.html
Travelling with Children
April 29, 2016
At Air Canada, our intent is to always seat children with a parent or guardian. For this reason, we offer complimentary seat assignment for parents/guardians and children under the age of 12 who are travelling together*.
In order to ease the travel experience for our young passengers and their parent or guardian, we ask that you inform the Air Canada agent or your travel agent at time of booking that you are travelling with children under the age of 12.
If you’ve already completed your reservation, you can go to the Manage My Bookings tab within 36 hours of completing your booking to confirm that your child has automatically been seated with a parent or guardian. Alternatively, please contact Air Canada Reservations or your travel agent to make the necessary changes.
In the event that adjacent seating cannot be arranged, Air Canada will offer other flight options or a full refund.
* Applies to all flights operated by Air Canada and Air Canada rouge.
Travelling with Children
April 29, 2016
At Air Canada, our intent is to always seat children with a parent or guardian. For this reason, we offer complimentary seat assignment for parents/guardians and children under the age of 12 who are travelling together*.
In order to ease the travel experience for our young passengers and their parent or guardian, we ask that you inform the Air Canada agent or your travel agent at time of booking that you are travelling with children under the age of 12.
If you’ve already completed your reservation, you can go to the Manage My Bookings tab within 36 hours of completing your booking to confirm that your child has automatically been seated with a parent or guardian. Alternatively, please contact Air Canada Reservations or your travel agent to make the necessary changes.
In the event that adjacent seating cannot be arranged, Air Canada will offer other flight options or a full refund.
* Applies to all flights operated by Air Canada and Air Canada rouge.
Apr 30, 2016, 9:08 pm
#297
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
And therefore situations happen more frequently where people are asked to move to accommodate families sitting together.
So yes you will have to deal with us - either by being asked to move or as a bystander watching others being asked and potential upset.
Apr 30, 2016, 9:16 pm
#299
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
The difference is that even those in the upper level at a concert don't have to wait until 24 hours ahead of time to select their seats, or when they enter the stadium.
Any reason why AC doesn't do this for international flights then for their cheap (discounted tickets) fares?
Apr 30, 2016, 10:50 pm
#300
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 2,648
http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/160429_1.html
Travelling with Children
April 29, 2016
At Air Canada, our intent is to always seat children with a parent or guardian. For this reason, we offer complimentary seat assignment for parents/guardians and children under the age of 12 who are travelling together*.
In order to ease the travel experience for our young passengers and their parent or guardian, we ask that you inform the Air Canada agent or your travel agent at time of booking that you are travelling with children under the age of 12.
If you’ve already completed your reservation, you can go to the Manage My Bookings tab within 36 hours of completing your booking to confirm that your child has automatically been seated with a parent or guardian. Alternatively, please contact Air Canada Reservations or your travel agent to make the necessary changes.
In the event that adjacent seating cannot be arranged, Air Canada will offer other flight options or a full refund.
* Applies to all flights operated by Air Canada and Air Canada rouge.
Travelling with Children
April 29, 2016
At Air Canada, our intent is to always seat children with a parent or guardian. For this reason, we offer complimentary seat assignment for parents/guardians and children under the age of 12 who are travelling together*.
In order to ease the travel experience for our young passengers and their parent or guardian, we ask that you inform the Air Canada agent or your travel agent at time of booking that you are travelling with children under the age of 12.
If you’ve already completed your reservation, you can go to the Manage My Bookings tab within 36 hours of completing your booking to confirm that your child has automatically been seated with a parent or guardian. Alternatively, please contact Air Canada Reservations or your travel agent to make the necessary changes.
In the event that adjacent seating cannot be arranged, Air Canada will offer other flight options or a full refund.
* Applies to all flights operated by Air Canada and Air Canada rouge.
Wow. Good on AC!
I just logged back in to follow-up on a couple of things.
1) When I book with my young family now, I make sure we get seats assigned (previously when on the tail end of SE status, and recently by buying flex).
On my flight right now there is a family of 4 separated (2 parents, 1 child, 1 lap infant). The father is giving a ton of lip and attitude to the FA's and the SD for not seating them ALL together.
The children are all sitting with the mother and switches made to put them in preferred seats.
The father is in the exit row, and he's still griefing and pouting to the crew about not seating them together.
The children are all sitting with the mother and switches made to put them in preferred seats.
The father is in the exit row, and he's still griefing and pouting to the crew about not seating them together.
- they need to wait until boarding is done since it is a full flight
- they are continuing to sort out the seat issue for him
They never let the entitled attitude of the passenger get to the them.
Kudos to the crew of AC141 that late at night^