For short flights, I don't mind sitting apart from my family. I was actually sitting in coach while I let my parents enjoy First class (their first time) from BOS-FLL. They were psyched. I didn't really care since I have flown on international F before, and while it's nice, I don't mind coach at all for short flights.

Next to me was an unaccompanied minor (in the middle seat). He was super nice (and a little nervous) so I helped him out while some of the procedures he's not as familiar about. That worked out well.

For longer flights, I like sitting next to people I know because they can give me a bit more legroom if I needed it (or vice versa). Unfortunately, we had a unfortunate experience when our flight was once delayed (and we need to make a flight to an international destination) and we were all separated into (mostly middle) seats, completely ruining what we had planned.

I got a middle seat, which was okay (at least that's the domestic segment). My mom, who is of petite size, unfortunately, got the seat next to a person of size (who had to put the armrest up). My mom was not happy that she only got half a seat (not trying to be politically correct - but it was what it was), but she was polite about it (it wasn't like the lady next to her could help it). The lady next to her was apologetic, and it was a full flight, and there was not much that can be done at that point anyway.

It just wasn't a comfortable flight, so for my mom (who doesn't fly a lot), she prefers to sit next to people she knows now - short or long flights.

Excuse me?

I'm not joking, and I don't pay for seat assignments (AA doesnt require that). But when I do book, I book early enough that I can select the seat I like. Does the fact I didn't pay for a seat assignment make me less "entitled" (I hate that word, but you catch my drift) to a seat of my choosing than someone with children? How exactly does that work?

Exactly. Who's being high maintenance, someone who picks out a seat they like, or someone who expects that person to move just because they decided to have children? It's YOUR child, YOU figure it out. Don't make YOUR child MY problem.

+1 My exact response as well...

I don't understand this argument.So I'm supposed to wait years before I can take my child to a pediatric specialist for medical reasons so that I don't inconvenience everyone else on the plane? No, I cannot drive the 700 miles to get there for various reasons. And yes, I do pay extra for my infant under two AND I book seats together, but airlines make it effing hard to do when you pay a premium for a seat and tell you during purchase that you can't select seats online and it will be assigned at the airport. Believe it or not, but parents with kids aren't always flying for leisure purposes.

Twice when we have booked well ahead for a family trip, and have been assigned seats with our children, we have arrived at the airport to find our whole family split up and all sitting in middle seats.

The first time this happened they even had our under two year old sitting alone. We managed to get enough people to feel sorry for us on board that dad got to sit with the preschoolers, but young son and I had to remain in our middle seats far apart from each other. Son was very fearful and cried.

We did everything possible to ensure our kids would not be split up.

Remember not every one hasn't planned ahead. The airlines screw things up constantly. Have some compassion

When it is an emergency, like a doctor's visit, I expect most people will help you out. I know I would.

Sorry, no. Absent exigent circumstances, if you want to travel with young children, it's your problem (and the airline's). It is not my problem, nor the problem of any other passenger on the flight. If you book trips that don't have enough flexibility built in to take the next flight on which you can get seats together, then don't plan trips on which you have to fly. I find your definition of compassion rather extraordinary in that you are willing to show no compassion whatsoever for strangers who you expect to inconvenience and discomfort themselves for your benefit ONLY because you've decided to take a "family trip." That's your choice and your problem.

As I said, none of this applies if you're traveling in exigent circumstances. Taking a child to a doctor is an exigent circumstance. So is relocating. So is a funeral. I would always help you (and any other stranger) if I could when there are exigent circumstances. THAT is the definition of compassion. Discomfiting myself because you decided to take your brood to Disneyland? Not a chance.

PTtravel definitely not your problem at all. We all have our limits and clearly this is one of yours.

Disney was certainly not the destination, but if you feel better trying to belittle me with that then so be it.

I travel a lot, usually alone, my kids are fortunate enough that they get many great trips all over the world. We have only had this issue twice and both times on Air Canada/united code shares from Canada to the US.

The people who chose not to switch seats with us were polite, as we were when asking. But we would much rather have not dealt with the situation at all.

I lay the blame at the airlines feet, if they sell me seats three months out, then assign us seats together, I expect to arrive at the airport, three hours ahead, and find that we still have those seats.

If I book at the last minute then I expect to be separated, that is life. But three months out I want to sit with my kids.

As to sitting with hubby on flights, I don't really care. He is an aisle guy, I am a window chick, we often sit apart on planes. Sometimes with a confused middle seat passenger. Though we do not talk over them.

I've never had this happen, so I wonder if there's something else going on here. When I book a seat, I've always gotten it at the airport, unless I'm upgraded.

By the way, my reaction might make more sense if I told you that the first and last time I switched to accommodate a family, the child spilled grape juice all over the seat, which dripped underneath and onto my camera bag. It cost $150 to get a lens replaced. Why a child needs that much juice on an airplane, I'll never know. Why the family didn't even apologize for the damage, I'll also never know.

Anyway - never again.

Oh my goodness, I hear you. Children, when poorly patented, can be quite liquid.

Both times this happened tickets were bought on points! Need I say more. No more family travel will be booked on points, just not worth the bs treatment.

I was not belittling you. I was trying to draw a distinction between an exigent circumstance in which compassion from strangers was appropriate, e.g. taking your child to the doctor, and a non-exigent one in which compassion from strangers is not.

I understand. Sadly, on the occasions that I have been asked, the request was not polite, but framed as a demand. I was not suggesting that you would do that, however.

On this, we agree completely. If I were in your shoes, I would be raising all kinds of he!! with the airline, which has no business selling seats to you knowing that you're travelling with young children and then splitting you up. I think it's outrageous that they would and you have every right to be furious with them. My only point is that your dispute is with the airline, and not with other passengers.

No argument from me. I agree completely.

My wife and I do the same though, generally, we'll book two adjacent just to avoid the, "Ugh, I don't want to touch the stranger," issue.

Compassion from strangers is always appropriate. It's how I treat people and it's how I expect to be treated.

To quote George Costanza: "We're living in a SOCIETY here, people!"

Indeed, and I don't find it an act of compassion to engage entitlement and lack of consideration for others. Boarding an airplane with the expectation that others will move to accommodate you because you've decided to engage in discretionary travel with children is the definition of both entitlement and lack of consideration for others. I don't assume people will inconvenience themselves for my benefit unless there's a darn good reason. It's how I treat people, and it's how I expect to be treated.

That has nothing to do with switching seats, but rather with a kid in front of you.

If the damage was discovered on the plane you should have asked for contact info then.

I switched with the kid, putting him directly in front of me (so my bag was under his seat). I did ask for contact info - they laughed in my face, and deplaned.

If you're buying tickets on an airline website and they won't let select seats before purchase, then don't buy the tickets. Choose another airline that will let you select seats. Sounds like you are flying a discount airline to save money. And "Believe it or not" at least 90 percent of parents flying with kids are doing so for leisure purposes. They have the option of paying extra for choice seats to sit together. Most don't because they don't want to spend the extra money and have a sense of entitlement that others are going to move to accommodate them. When it doesn't work out they whine and try to make you feel guilty. Take it up with the airline, I'm not moving.