Assigned seats taken, traveling with 2 small kids, nightmare brewing, HELP!
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 3
Assigned seats taken, traveling with 2 small kids, nightmare brewing, HELP!
Flying from Kona direct to SFO on Aug. 11. Traveling with 2 adults, a 2 year old and a 7 mo. baby. All 4 have their own seats and we had booked a row of 3 and one seat elsewhere, with the idea of Mom sitting with the kids. Just checked our flight to see our seats have been taken and there are only 3 loose middle seats on the plane.
Agent on phone says they will "probably work it out" at check in. I feel like we are doomed to be bumped with 2 little kids and nowhere to go. Also, I expect they are going to steal our infant's seat and try to make him a lap baby, which will be very hard with a 2 year old as well (which is why we paid $600 for a seat!)
Is there any way to navigate this or find a solution without going to the airport and praying?
Agent on phone says they will "probably work it out" at check in. I feel like we are doomed to be bumped with 2 little kids and nowhere to go. Also, I expect they are going to steal our infant's seat and try to make him a lap baby, which will be very hard with a 2 year old as well (which is why we paid $600 for a seat!)
Is there any way to navigate this or find a solution without going to the airport and praying?
#3
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott/SPG/Hilton Gold, PreCheck + Clear
Posts: 2,306
As for sitting together, fear not: if for some reason you can't select seats at check-in 24 hours before take-off as recommended above, mention your predicament to the GA. If you get lucky and get a good one, it might be solved before you even board. If you have to sort it out on the plane, you'll have no problem finding passengers willing to trade as long as you offer equal seats and ask very, very nicely.
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,227
If you're on UA643, not sure what's going on. There are plenty of economy seats for sale, but the seat map is completely blanked out. I tend to agree with the earlier comments that (a) you're not gong to get bumped, and (b) they will find you seats at the gate.
In the meantime, I would keep watching the seat map online, because it may open back up.
In the meantime, I would keep watching the seat map online, because it may open back up.
#6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
Contact United on social media. Explain the situation. Ask for assigned seats together. Follow up if they don't get back to you. Stay ahead of the situation.
Your traveling party is not self loading cargo. Don't let United treat you as such.
SL
Your traveling party is not self loading cargo. Don't let United treat you as such.
SL
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,937
Flying from Kona direct to SFO on Aug. 11. Traveling with 2 adults, a 2 year old and a 7 mo. baby. All 4 have their own seats and we had booked a row of 3 and one seat elsewhere, with the idea of Mom sitting with the kids. Just checked our flight to see our seats have been taken and there are only 3 loose middle seats on the plane.
Agent on phone says they will "probably work it out" at check in. I feel like we are doomed to be bumped with 2 little kids and nowhere to go. Also, I expect they are going to steal our infant's seat and try to make him a lap baby, which will be very hard with a 2 year old as well (which is why we paid $600 for a seat!)
Is there any way to navigate this or find a solution without going to the airport and praying?
Agent on phone says they will "probably work it out" at check in. I feel like we are doomed to be bumped with 2 little kids and nowhere to go. Also, I expect they are going to steal our infant's seat and try to make him a lap baby, which will be very hard with a 2 year old as well (which is why we paid $600 for a seat!)
Is there any way to navigate this or find a solution without going to the airport and praying?
Good Luck.
#9
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 209
Airlines can't seat toddlers away from parents. You might get the 3-1 configuration, or a 2-2, but each kid will be seated next to a parent. The gate agent will shift other flyers around, and will likely have new boarding passes already printed for you.
If the baby flies in a car seat, make sure it has the FAA sticker. They've been checking that more frequently lately.
If the baby flies in a car seat, make sure it has the FAA sticker. They've been checking that more frequently lately.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Poland
Posts: 869
Be there extra early to talk with the GA's as soon as they arrive. Be in line slightly before they arrive if you need to. You should be ok. Even if they don't settle it, you can mention the situation to other passengers nicely and you may be surprised how many people will be willing to give up their seats to assist. Many of us are parents and will understand. Plus, everyone on there would rather see the parent sitting next to their young child than being the stranger sitting next to him/her expected to supervise.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,040
You may need to be proactive to keep your baby's seat. Our experience was that airline staff assume infants are lap babies. Our baby was not going to be assigned a seat without some argument and checking that we did indeed pay for him to have a seat. We were advised to avoid that kind of confusion next time by entering his age as over 2 years old when buying the ticket.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,684
You may need to be proactive to keep your baby's seat. Our experience was that airline staff assume infants are lap babies. Our baby was not going to be assigned a seat without some argument and checking that we did indeed pay for him to have a seat. We were advised to avoid that kind of confusion next time by entering his age as over 2 years old when buying the ticket.
Terrible advice! No need to incorrectly input child's age. Just check the infant in, I'd he/she has a ticket, he'll be assigned a seat. Scan all boarding passes, and all the seats will show as occupied. Basicly, check everyone in, scan every boarding pass, no problems. Entering false DoB only does a single thing, and that is to provide false data to the weight and balance systems. Incorrect Wright data is no solution. Well, 2 things. It also provides false data to the "secure flight" requirement about the identity of the traveler. Neither of these things are acceptable
Last edited by fastair; Aug 5, 2017 at 8:07 pm
#14
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#15
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,040
Terrible advice! No need to incorrectly input child's age. Just check the infant in, I'd he/she has a ticket, he'll be assigned a seat. Scan all boarding passes, and all the seats will show as occupied. Basicly, check everyone in, scan every boarding pass, no problems. Entering false DoB only does a single thing, and that is to provide false data to the weight and balance systems. Incorrect Wright data is no solution. Well, 2 things. It also provides false data to the "secure flight" requirement about the identity of the traveler. Neither of these things are acceptable