United Splitting up Families (Basic Economy ticket)
#226
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
This isn't terribly complicated - parents can abide by the rules, fly a different airline, or not fly at all.
#227
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Palm Springs, CA USA
Posts: 28
Please let families sit together for free
As a 1K, I would prefer not to be seated next to anxious children who would clearly prefer to be seated with their parents. Maybe United should charge ME for not putting me in this situation. (Yes, I am joking.) United, please rethink this policy.
#228
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,211
Let them eat cake.
#229
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
Holding harried parents to rigid standards of personal responsibility is really low.
The world doesn't exist to mete out punishment at everyone who doesn't meet your personal standards of contract. Raising children is 1000 times more important than anyone's right to an aisle seat on an airplane.
The world doesn't exist to mete out punishment at everyone who doesn't meet your personal standards of contract. Raising children is 1000 times more important than anyone's right to an aisle seat on an airplane.
I have traveled with my kids for 14 years now, domestically and all around the world, in economy and international first class. I've used Group 1 pre-boarding, and we've cattle car boarded Air Asia. I've booked seats 300 days in advance, and I've upgraded my entire family on CPU's at the gate. My kids are fantastic travelers, and with the exception of one flight to Australia, where my *wife* was allergic to a blanket, there were no extraordinary hiccups that weren't easily dealt with.
The responsibility for ensuring that those trips went smoothly with my kids was and continues to be 100% mine, *unless* the airline makes a change between the time I booked my kids' seats and the departure of the flight. Then I believe the airline has a responsibility to get at least one parent sitting next to each kid. Other than that, it's my obligation to seat my family together.
If that means I have to pay more for seats for my family, that's what it takes, and we do it all the time - if we *had* to be on a certain flight, we've purchased F, but that's the exception rather than the rule. I certainly wouldn't expect UA to move somebody out of an aisle seat, or give me something for free, simply because there's a child involved.
Again, in the case of IRROPS or aircraft changes, then I do believe UA has an obligation to keep a parent next to each kid, so moves may be necessary, but absent that, it's all on the parents.
#230
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,848
For what it is worth, when I have booked Basic Economy with AA (for myself, my wife, and my kid) we have always gotten three seats assigned together by AA at the time of booking (near the back of the plane). Changes to those seats cost money, but their system recognizes the common decency to put a minor with parents (and their policy I believe is that minors must be seated with at least one of the parents).
So, I'd be furious with United over this. I travel a decent amount (no longer on United though), and it would never occur to me, despite all the language in United's policies, that they would split minors away from a parent (no matter the ticket type).
So, I'd be furious with United over this. I travel a decent amount (no longer on United though), and it would never occur to me, despite all the language in United's policies, that they would split minors away from a parent (no matter the ticket type).
Last edited by MarkOK; Aug 31, 2018 at 3:30 pm Reason: Discuss the issues, not the poster(s)
#231
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
Or is it that you fundamentally believe that there should be an exception to the pricing rules for kids, and that anyone traveling with a minor should be entitled to pay for basic economy seats but still get their choice of seats together?
If the latter, that’s where you lose a lot of us, including those of us who travel regularly with kids.
#232
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
For what it is worth, when I have booked Basic Economy with AA (for myself, my wife, and my kid) we have always gotten three seats assigned together by AA at the time of booking (near the back of the plane). Changes to those seats cost money, but their system recognizes the common decency to put a minor with parents (and their policy I believe is that minors must be seated with at least one of the parents).
So, I'd be furious with United over this. I travel a decent amount (no longer on United though), and it would never occur to me, despite all the language in United's policies, that they would split minors away from a parent no matter the ticket type.
So, I'd be furious with United over this. I travel a decent amount (no longer on United though), and it would never occur to me, despite all the language in United's policies, that they would split minors away from a parent no matter the ticket type.
#233
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,848
What would you have them say in the booking process to make it more clear that you get what you get when it comes to seats, and if you want to pick your seat, you need to book a higher fare?
Or is it that you fundamentally believe that there should be an exception to the pricing rules for kids, and that anyone traveling with a minor should be entitled to pay for basic economy seats but still get their choice of seats together?
If the latter, that’s where you lose a lot of us, including those of us who travel regularly with kids.
No need to change anything in the fare rules or the way they are described.
#234
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Join Date: Oct 2017
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I am saying that if someone buys a BE ticket for a minor within a PNR, the airline chooses seats that keeps that minor with a parent. Charge the customer for any changes to this seat. Being seated with your minor children and choosing your actual seats are not the same thing. Again, this is how AA has done my reservations in BE, and it makes perfectly sound sense.
No need to change anything in the fare rules or the way they are described.
No need to change anything in the fare rules or the way they are described.
#235
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,848
No, but it sure seems United created a problem for themselves. United could pick the seats at the time of booking (as AA does) in these cases, and have a small block usually a few rows of seats near the back of the plan to allow them to seat children with parents if such a case happens that parent/children don't have seat assignments yet at the gate (I don't know about United, it's been a few years since I've flown with them, but this is also something that AA does).
#236
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
No, but it sure seems United created a problem for themselves. United could pick the seats at the time of booking (as AA does) in these cases, and have a small block usually a few rows of seats near the back of the plan to allow them to seat children with parents if such a case happens that parent/children don't have seat assignments yet at the gate (I don't know about United, it's been a few years since I've flown with them, but this is also something that AA does).
#237
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: united
Posts: 1,636
nothing wrong with basic economy, you CAN select seats if you want for a SMALL fee (I've paid $5-7 extra DEN-IAH) - if that's not for you - buy a regular economy seat.
IMO, most folks are just trying to work the system - sad state of flying today. Even if everything is perfect on a flight people will complain trying to get something for an airline.
IMO, most folks are just trying to work the system - sad state of flying today. Even if everything is perfect on a flight people will complain trying to get something for an airline.
#238
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
Discussions are taking on a very OMNI feeling --- let's focus back on the original issues (what the OP's SIL could/should have done, what UA could/should have done & should do in the future. is it really that clear what the limitations of BE are, ...) and leave the greater societal discussions for the folks in OMNI.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
#239
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 542
AA doesn't seem to have this issue (which I realize could be an exception rather than the rule at UA).
Tonight my girlfriend was paged by the gate agent. The GA asked if she would be willing to give up her standard aisle seat for an aisle seat in MCE which includes complimentary cocktails and extra legroom.
She accepted.
Reason for the request: A mother wanted to sit with her two children.
It could have been a last minute booking when 3 seats together were not even a posibility for all I know. The judgment on this forum regarding parents not reserving seats with their children is deafening.
Tonight my girlfriend was paged by the gate agent. The GA asked if she would be willing to give up her standard aisle seat for an aisle seat in MCE which includes complimentary cocktails and extra legroom.
She accepted.
Reason for the request: A mother wanted to sit with her two children.
It could have been a last minute booking when 3 seats together were not even a posibility for all I know. The judgment on this forum regarding parents not reserving seats with their children is deafening.
#240
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Accor Plat, Htz PC, Natl ExEm, other random status
Posts: 2,876
I am saying that if someone buys a BE ticket for a minor within a PNR, the airline chooses seats that keeps that minor with a parent. Charge the customer for any changes to this seat. Being seated with your minor children and choosing your actual seats are not the same thing. Again, this is how AA has done my reservations in BE, and it makes perfectly sound sense.
No need to change anything in the fare rules or the way they are described.
No need to change anything in the fare rules or the way they are described.
What you're proposing creates a moral hazard. Parents want the cheap seats, but also want to be protected from the diminished amenities that come with those cheap seats. That doesn't make any sense to me, either from an economic perspective for UA, or from a fairness perspective to other passengers.
The parents have an alternative, which is to pay more for seats that allow you to book specific seats in advance. UA warns passengers booking these fares that they're going to be stuck with whatever seats they're assigned - if they're not comfortable with that risk, for whatever reason, pay more for the ticket. Personally, I agree with the suggestion that united.com should explicitly block parents with children under 14 from booking these fares.
This isn't like preboarding - what people are suggesting is that families with children should fly at a lower effective price than other passengers. I'm fully in support of the former, but the latter is just fundamentally wrong.