Fox News: Could airlines soon be required to let families fly together?
#76
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Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
Long past time for this. The current situation, where airlines basically force a bunch of uncomfortable interactions between strangers to deal with what should be an open and shut issue of a parent and a kid sitting together is pretty bad. Far better to put it back on the airline and have them deal directly with any affected passengers who might need to be moved to accommodate the family.
What I mind is having to give up my pre-reserved seat because some parent couldn't be bothered to pre-reserve seats as well, or assumed the airline would seat them together.
#77
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
I don't mind sitting next to a kid. That threat by entitled parents doesn't bother me. I won't be looking after the kid either. Not my circus, not my monkey.
What I mind is having to give up my pre-reserved seat because some parent couldn't be bothered to pre-reserve seats as well, or assumed the airline would seat them together.
What I mind is having to give up my pre-reserved seat because some parent couldn't be bothered to pre-reserve seats as well, or assumed the airline would seat them together.
#78
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NY State
Posts: 212
I don't mind sitting next to a kid. That threat by entitled parents doesn't bother me. I won't be looking after the kid either. Not my circus, not my monkey.
What I mind is having to give up my pre-reserved seat because some parent couldn't be bothered to pre-reserve seats as well, or assumed the airline would seat them together.
What I mind is having to give up my pre-reserved seat because some parent couldn't be bothered to pre-reserve seats as well, or assumed the airline would seat them together.
I am a mother and a grandmother.....and I am also someone that books as early as possible so that I am able to get an aisle seat. I have my own reasons for that which, to me, are as important as the family wanting to sit together.
If it was not figured out before boarding, and seating is not available without having to move pax all around, then the family will need to wait for a flight that can accomodate them.
My thoughts are that airlines should not charge family members to be seated together. Trying to book seats together on some of these airlines is ridiculous. This seat costs this much....seat next to it a few dollars more....etc. (One parent to each minor child = free booking of seats together)
At least, that is what I wish.....
#79
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SAN
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Posts: 23,295
I don't mind sitting next to a kid. That threat by entitled parents doesn't bother me. I won't be looking after the kid either. Not my circus, not my monkey.
What I mind is having to give up my pre-reserved seat because some parent couldn't be bothered to pre-reserve seats as well, or assumed the airline would seat them together.
What I mind is having to give up my pre-reserved seat because some parent couldn't be bothered to pre-reserve seats as well, or assumed the airline would seat them together.
#81
Join Date: May 2005
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 271
Some feel that they should be free to prey on children as this man did by demanding a right to sit next to a child away from a patent's watchful eye
http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/06/man-...-airlines.html
so it requires an act of Congress to bring common sense to aviation.
http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/06/man-...-airlines.html
so it requires an act of Congress to bring common sense to aviation.
#82
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
This ended up doing basically nothing. All the bill did was direct the DOT to study the idea originally proposed.
http://airport.blog.ajc.com/2016/07/...-sit-together/
http://airport.blog.ajc.com/2016/07/...-sit-together/
#83
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
Some feel that they should be free to prey on children as this man did by demanding a right to sit next to a child away from a patent's watchful eye
http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/06/man-...-airlines.html
so it requires an act of Congress to bring common sense to aviation.
http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/06/man-...-airlines.html
so it requires an act of Congress to bring common sense to aviation.
#84
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#86
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#87
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,436
But.... what happens when there aren't two seats together left or two sets of two for a family with two young children.
The article says paying the fee GUARANTEES family adjacent seating.
Sounds like seat change notices will be going out to solos.
End result - solo travelers will in some situations be forced to accommodate families.
#88
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The title of this thread is misleading as all airlines (with the possible exception of some foreign carriers that do not permit babies in FC, although even those airlines would "let" families fly together in coach) currently let families travel together if there's space together on the flight and the family is willing to pay the fare and any requires taxes and fees, including applicable seat reservation fees. Since airlines are not permitted to discriminate, they're basically required to "let" families fly together if these conditions are satisfied. OTOH if for example a flight only has one remaining seat available, there's no feasible way to "let" some family fly together on that flight and it would be pointless for any government to require this.
#89
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,436
The title of this thread is misleading as all airlines (with the possible exception of some foreign carriers that do not permit babies in FC, although even those airlines would "let" families fly together in coach) currently let families travel together if there's space together on the flight and the family is willing to pay the fare and any requires taxes and fees, including applicable seat reservation fees. Since airlines are not permitted to discriminate, they're basically required to "let" families fly together if these conditions are satisfied. OTOH if for example a flight only has one remaining seat available, there's no feasible way to "let" some family fly together on that flight and it would be pointless for any government to require this.
Leaving aside the free market principles of whether carriers should be allowed to monetize family travel, I think ultimately the argument is decided on safety issues. Because if my 5 yo is seated 10 rows behind me seated between two strangers, if you think I'm exiting that plane in an emergency without her, you're nuts. I'm heading upstream to get her and I'll do what I need to if you or an FA tries to stop me. THAT presents a danger to the entire plane that overrides a solo FF desire to sit in their favorite seat or the airline's desire for profitability.
#90
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
The story was just used as an horrifying tale to scare readers towards the poster's point of view.