airlines & toddler travel...a rant

[magpie]

You know what's fucking stupid? We can't choose seats for the flights next week because there's pretty much none left (as they have reserved like more than half the plane for elite status people) except for the odd "priority choice" seat or whatever, which is like $30-$99 extra. The trip was booked pretty last minute, so there aren't ANY seats, even including the extra $$$ seats where there are two together.  We called and explained that we have a 2-year-old in our party and that it is not possible for her to sit alone (though I laugh a little at the idea of plopping her down in the center seat between two strangers and being like, "See ya later, darling!"). Can they assign at least 2 of our seats so that we can ensure one of us can sit with her? No, of course they can't. We have to go to the gate and ask them to assign us seats together at the airport. They assured us that we'll get at least two seats together, but they might have to make one of those announcements, begging people to give up their seats so a small child can sit with a parent. I mean, I'm sure that one of us will get to sit next to DD, but it's soooo stupid and inefficient.  Half the seats on the plane aren't even assigned yet, they are just reserved for elite status people to pick and choose from first. So annoying! I'm also slightly worried about this because I have a super tight connection on the way back (when I'll be solo with DD), so it's unlikely that I'll get to the gate before boarding begins. If they can't pre-assign us seats for that one, it's definitely going to be a clusterfuck of moving other passengers around to accommodate me with the little lady. On the plus side, I bit the bullet and bought a CARES harness, so at least I'm not going to be carrying a car seat around on the plane.

[Deleted]

Don't worry. People will move. Nobody wants to sit beside a child that is all alone.

And people will not think you are an annoyance. They will be too annoyed with the guy complaining about his bad seat because he is too big (saw this) the other people in his aisle are too big (yep saw this too) he won't move his hat from the overhead bin (yep)
And on and on.

[robot]

This is a pet peeve of mine as well. Are you flying United? Because in my personal experience, they are the freaking worst about doing exactly what you have described. Actually, I believe they took it a step further and refused to change our seats at the GATE either. They made us board and then at the last second, request then request the person sitting next to us switch.

[Deleted]

I really would t stress about it. Your 2 year old isn't going to sit alone. They will likely move people around when you are checking in and no one will even know that it happened.

[magpie]

Sept 24, 2015 12:35:01 GMT -5 robot said:

This is a pet peeve of mine as well. Are you flying United? Because in my personal experience, they are the freaking worst about doing exactly what you have described. Actually, I believe they took it a step further and refused to change our seats at the GATE either. They made us board and then at the last second, request then request the person sitting next to us switch.

Due to the last minute nature of this trip, we're flying everyone!  Seriously, one flight is Delta, another United and the way back is all American.  Let the fun begin!

[Deleted]

Dont stress about it. It's not worth the brain power to think about. You guys will end up sitting together. I've never seen people be dicks and refuse to move to accommodate a parent and child sitting together.

[magpie]

Sept 24, 2015 12:37:01 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

They have always managed to assign us seats together at the check-in counter (before security) when I haven't been able to select them online. At that time, they will likely put you (or another passenger) in the seats that cost extra money and not charge you because they don't have a hope of selling those an hour or so before the flight leaves.

I haven't had to do this on a connection, but when they check you in for the first flight, ask if you can get your seat assignments for the next flight too.

It is almost certainly NBD. I wouldn't stress about it.  ETA: Obviously it will vary between airlines, but it isn't something you can change between now and the airport anyway.

I have to check, but at least one of our connections is between airlines (this trip didn't have much lead time, so it's all cobbled together).  I think the close connection is within one airline though, so I'm hoping they will do it all when we get there.  I'm not worried about not sitting together (I don't think that would even be a possibility with a toddler), I'm just sort of frustrated that it's going to have to be us on a plane having to ask  people to move around, which seems like such a pain.

[CloudBee]

Try not to stress. This has happened to me a few times and it always works out. While they aren't letting YOU reserve 2 seats together, or SEE that you in fact will have seats together... their records have you guys linked together. You DO have seats together (at least 2 of you), they just aren't sure which seat numbers, yet.

You're good!

[scsarah]

And to echo @fivedogs, I've always been able to do this at the check in counter, for all my flights. So even if you have the tight connection on your way back, ask when you're checking in if there's anything that they can do to help you.

[yellowbrkrd]

This happened to us when we traveled with our 1 year old to South Korea. There were a couple of jerks that refused to move from one aisle seat to another but we eventually got it all worked out. So annoying.

[magpie]

You guys are right, it's not even worth getting worked up about. I just feel frustrated that they make it into a scramble or rearranging passengers. I feel like airlines are just getting worse and worse in terms of making travel more unpleasant than it used to be.

[frlcb]

Delta usually reserves the back row for families and situations like this. You will be fine.

[dcn]

Don't stress about it, the flight attendants will help you find someone to switch with if you can't get assigned seats together.

[ssmjlm]

When we went to Disney on SW a family was the last to get one and they had a toddler and baby. People were very accommodating so each parent could sit with a child.

[penguingrrl]

Don't stress about it. Someone will get up and move to avoid babysitting for you the entire flight.

[momin2013]

Definitely not worth stressing about. Every single time we've flown and tried to select seats in advance it shows as very few available, then all of a sudden within 24 hours of the flight they all open up.

What I would do: do online check-in 24 hours in advance of the flight (try to log in right at 24 hours before), and see if you can select better seats then. If that fails, though, it's likely that they'll be able to figure it out for you either at the check-in desk or the gate desk.