Was I in the wrong here? (get the popcorn)
#16
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
OP, put your toddler son in row 2 Take your assigned seat in row 1.
One of two things will happen:
1. You son can see you in the row ahead, be reassured, and behave well.
2. Son pitches a fit, and Mr. Rude will change his mind and swap seats.
If Mr Rude gives you any 'tude, you can tell him to STFU.
I forgot to add a title: "Call his bluff"
One of two things will happen:
1. You son can see you in the row ahead, be reassured, and behave well.
2. Son pitches a fit, and Mr. Rude will change his mind and swap seats.
If Mr Rude gives you any 'tude, you can tell him to STFU.
I forgot to add a title: "Call his bluff"
#17


Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,436
Correct, this was actually his first flight not traveling infant in arms.
I get that people have the right to not want to switch seats and my needs to not get priority over your needs. At the same time, who would want to sit next to a toddler anyhow? Is there a rule that says he has to sit next to a parent? I could have just put him in his car seat, gone to my seat and let my son bother 2C the entire time; which would have been a lot worse for everyone involved.
Also - when assigning upgrades, does Delta ever think about splitting families apart? Presumably there have been times where a medallion and their companion are upgraded, arent sititng together but would rather be together in coach than apart in first? Also, would they have a way of knowing they just upgraded a 2 year old?
Next time i'll just uncheck the upgrade request box. But honestly i didnt think it would be an issue for this flight, as, again, who would rather sit next to a toddler over an adult?
I get that people have the right to not want to switch seats and my needs to not get priority over your needs. At the same time, who would want to sit next to a toddler anyhow? Is there a rule that says he has to sit next to a parent? I could have just put him in his car seat, gone to my seat and let my son bother 2C the entire time; which would have been a lot worse for everyone involved.
Also - when assigning upgrades, does Delta ever think about splitting families apart? Presumably there have been times where a medallion and their companion are upgraded, arent sititng together but would rather be together in coach than apart in first? Also, would they have a way of knowing they just upgraded a 2 year old?
Next time i'll just uncheck the upgrade request box. But honestly i didnt think it would be an issue for this flight, as, again, who would rather sit next to a toddler over an adult?
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 20,271
OP, put your toddler son in row 2 Take your assigned seat in row 1.
One of two things will happen:
1. You son can see you in the row ahead, be reassured, and behave well.
2. Son pitches a fit, and Mr. Rude will change his mind and swap seats.
If Mr Rude gives you any 'tude, you can tell him to STFU.
I forgot to add a title: "Call his bluff"
One of two things will happen:
1. You son can see you in the row ahead, be reassured, and behave well.
2. Son pitches a fit, and Mr. Rude will change his mind and swap seats.
If Mr Rude gives you any 'tude, you can tell him to STFU.
I forgot to add a title: "Call his bluff"
#19



Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Posts: 1,733
I'd say you were perfectly reasonable to ask, and he was perfectly reasonable to decline, though he didn't need to be a jerk about it.
I'm surprised at how many people are advocating for allowing kids to run amok to "punish" someone for refusing to switch seats. Maybe this is why flyers brace themselves when they see a family with young kids coming?
I'm surprised at how many people are advocating for allowing kids to run amok to "punish" someone for refusing to switch seats. Maybe this is why flyers brace themselves when they see a family with young kids coming?
#22
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Location: MEM
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Posts: 5,431
Post 15 suggested that the ticketed passenger sit in his assigned seat. It did not advocate for the OP to go out of his way to do anything to "punish" the person in the seat next to him.
#23
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
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You're suggesting that merely bringing a child onto a plane is a "punishment" for the miserable jerks who think children should be locked in a basement their entire lives.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 20,271
Seating the child in the seat assigned to him is hardly allowing him to run amok. Though there is no doubt it will inconvenience his seatmate. To the extent, that after a few minutes, HE might be asking Dad if he'd like to swap. And maybe become an advocate for DL applying some intelligence to family boarding in the event of upgrades or IRROPS.
#25
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: Delta GM, AMEX Reserve
Posts: 184
As someone who almost always flys alone and strongly believes children under the age of 30 should be placed in the overhead bin or stowed underneath the seat in front of you I would say that 2C is a jerk. Asking to switch aisle to window on a short flight in F is a trivial thing. This guy was acting like you were asking him to move back to 31b.
#26
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
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Posts: 5,431
Maybe have a low denomination peets or starbucks card, and I'm speaking practically here -- I think you are far more likely to engender a positive response with even just the offer of some nominal recompense versus the alternative, which may strike the other passenger as you asking them to solve a problem you didn't manage on your own.
Actually, this gave me a great idea. Buy a bunch of $5 gift cards, use them up for your normal coffee purchases, and then keep the $0 cards for this purpose.
#27
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Titanium, Nat'l EE, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,637
You're never wrong for asking to switch seats. Other passengers are never wrong for saying no. The only way either of you are wrong is if you're a jerk about it.
#29




Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
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#30
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
You did a GREAT thing having your infant son sit in your lap. That opened an extra seat for upgrade to someone else. It's especially good if the person who .....ed at you was your seat mate who had to get up three times to let you out.
Two questions:
Did you tell the gate agent/FA your son will be an INFT for proper passenger counting?
Was someone else upgraded into your son's vacated seat?
Two questions:
Did you tell the gate agent/FA your son will be an INFT for proper passenger counting?
Was someone else upgraded into your son's vacated seat?

