Flying with Young Children - Paying to Choose Your Seats

[Nancyg56]

not with a 2 year old but I have had other airlines also move paid for seat so not next to my kids. only problem with a 6 year old is they are old enough to fly by self and they will not ask for people to change seats.

If I pay for seat selection I will not accept that a youngster with me be seated alone.

 

[wvjules]

I was originally planning to go to WDW solo so I booked basic economy on American because it was cheaper and I didn't care where I sat (I still get free checked bags with my CC). A week or so later, DD and DGS decided to come so I booked them in regular economy (him as a lap child). I'm praying that when I can finally pay to select a seat that I can get one with them. I did notice that if I move her seat they block out the seat next to her so I'm hopeful that I can get that one when it comes time to select a seat. Who wants a middle seat anyway? lol

 

[Betty Rohrer]

If I pay for seat selection I will not accept that a youngster with me be seated alone.

it happened to us. didn't check once seats were selected. got to airport and plane had changed so had seats. we were not together and full plane. because girls were old enough to fly alone our choice was take next plane which was next morning or take the seats offered. we were the ones that had to change flights if we wanted together but we would arrive 12 hours later. as you have hissed we took the seats and flew that night

 

[katyjeka]

I would never want to be seated with a youngster that was not mine or related, sorry but not in todays world. This issue has come up several times over the years and I just don't understand it. If you need to be seated in a certain part of the plane or next to someone pay up. It is not the airlines responsibility to make sure you are seated next to a child, it is the parents. Traveling with children does not grant a person special privileges and yes I am a parent!!!

 

[Nancyg56]

I would never want to be seated with a youngster that was not mine or related, sorry but not in todays world. This issue has come up several times over the years and I just don't understand it. If you need to be seated in a certain part of the plane or next to someone pay up. It is not the airlines responsibility to make sure you are seated next to a child, it is the parents. Traveling with children does not grant a person special privileges and yes I am a parent!!!

PLease see above post.

 

[Tattylou]

I always pay the extra $$ to choose my seats to sit with my kids.

 

[Kevin1281]

Don’t not pay for seats and expect others who paid for seats to move for you because you wanted to save money. Sorry to be blunt but it is not fair to ask someone who paid for their family to be seated together (or single traveler who chose aisle seat) to move so you can sit with your kids. The airlines don’t have to make people move.

I never said that I plan to do this.

 

[Kevin1281]

I don't think it's bogus.
Those prices never existed before. The price you used to pay was for choosing your seat and having baggage.

That is what they want you to think.

 

[Kevin1281]

Just curious, what is your concern on the 7 year old sitting solo? I believe most airlines allow unaccompanied minors from age 5+ though I'm not positive. I'm sure if you prepped your 7 year old to be on their own (and maybe the 5 year old too) and had a backpack with their snack/water bottle/activities or whatever, they might handle it totally okay. I feel like airplanes are a "safe" situation for a kid to be in a different row. They can't wander off, you're likely able to physically see them (or at least the back of their head) and so you know they're safe. We've also always had the nicest people next to my kids when they've had to sit solo, most people I think are happy to help out with ordering their drink from flight attendant, etc.

I am sure my 7-year-old would be fine if put in the situation. I just don't want to put him in that situation.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I am sure my 7-year-old would be fine if put in the situation. I just don't want to put him in that situation.

If you don’t want to put your 7 year old in that situation or any of your children you need to suck it up and pay for seats- then as others stated from experience keep an eye on the reservation to make sure there was no plane change.

Yes airlines nickel and dime for everything and it stinks but sometimes paying extra is worth it.

Enjoy your trip—

 

[Nancyg56]

I am sure my 7-year-old would be fine if put in the situation. I just don't want to put him in that situation.

The question I ask is if you find that you have placed him in this situation, how do you plan to handle it? Will you graciously park him in his assigned seat, go to yours and let it go, or will you ask the FA to try to get someone to move for you?

 

[Kevin1281]

The question I ask is if you find that you have placed him in this situation, how do you plan to handle it? Will you graciously park him in his assigned seat, go to yours and let it go, or will you ask the FA to try to get someone to move for you?

If I pay to choose our (5) seats, which I plan to do, and then we are scattered throughout the plane, I will definitely not just let it go. I am a non-confrontational person, but in that situation, I would ask them to make it right.

 

[Kevin1281]

If you don’t want to put your 7 year old in that situation or any of your children you need to suck it up and pay for seats

I agree. That is what I plan to do. I am allowed to complain about it though.

 

[la79al]

Am I really the only parent that gets to the airport HOPING that they seat their 4 year old somewhere else?! I could really use that 2.5 hour break before and after a Disney trip. I'm totally kidding but this is something I have not thought about. Youngest DD, I would feel bad for whoever gets stuck next to her and thought they were going to have a quiet ride, middle DD would be my kid to freak out. In the end, DH has met too many innocent looking pedophiles in his line of work to let any of the kids sit alone with strangers so I really need to look into this.

 

[FireflyTrance]

I was recently on a flight where there was a father and son who both had middle seats. The son looked to be around 7-8 years old. Multiple people refused to switch with them and the kid ended up sitting alone. I didn't offer because I was seated with my baby and 6 year old. Anyway, don't assume someone will switch for a child. If your 7 year old can't handle sitting alone, make sure to pay to sit together.

 

[Kevin1281]

I was recently on a flight where there was a father and son who both had middle seats. The son looked to be around 7-8 years old. Multiple people refused to switch with them and the kid ended up sitting alone. I didn't offer because I was seated with my baby and 6 year old. Anyway, don't assume someone will switch for a child. If your 7 year old can't handle sitting alone, make sure to pay to sit together.

Again, I never said that I expect people to switch seats for my children.

And again, I never said that my 7-year-old can't handle sitting alone. I personally don't want him to sit alone.

For these reasons, I am going to be paying to choose our seats. I am just going to whine about it, hence why I started this thread.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

Am I really the only parent that gets to the airport HOPING that they seat their 4 year old somewhere else?! I could really use that 2.5 hour break before and after a Disney trip. I'm totally kidding but this is something I have not thought about. Youngest DD, I would feel bad for whoever gets stuck next to her and thought they were going to have a quiet ride, middle DD would be my kid to freak out. In the end, DH has met too many innocent looking pedophiles in his line of work to let any of the kids sit alone with strangers so I really need to look into this.

Nope! I'm in that boat too. Was reading this thread thinking, gee - I typically try to make sure my kids are seated near me for the benefit of the other passengers. I love my kiddos, and I want them to be safe - but on a plane we are all pretty much safe. It isn't like they could run off and get lost, so if they are seated somewhere else it would be ok with me. I'd only try to swap seats if someone else was being inconvenienced sitting next to my kid, which is more likely the case!

I get how frustrating it might be for those without kids to be asked to move - I've done plenty of solo travel too! But at the end of the day, it might be good to remember its in everyone's best interests to put kids close to their parents, and out of other people's space. It is also good to remember that the 'economy' choices that do NOT come with seat selection aren't exactly discounted tickets from previous prices. The cheapest fares have gotten more expensive over the last 20 years and with less and less included, and while online bookings have tried to make it more clear what risks you take with the cheapest fares, there are so many warnings and fine print that many people end up clicking through - too much information to absorb. If someone has traveled in the past, but not for a few years, they might be very surprised at all the changes with carry on, checked bags and seat selection.

 

[Sherky]

Again, I never said that I expect people to switch seats for my children.

And again, I never said that my 7-year-old can't handle sitting alone. I personally don't want him to sit alone.

For these reasons, I am going to be paying to choose our seats. I am just going to whine about it, hence why I started this thread.

Have you called the airline? Sometimes they will do it on the phone with young children or a doctors note

 

[DisneyOma]

Yes I know. If you read my post I state that. Economy fares do not allow you to choose your seats, but they offer to let you select seats by paying an additional fee (which can be added anytime after you buy your tickets). They basically "upgrade" you to main cabin seats but it's an upgrade in name only - you're paying the extra seat choice charge.

Yes, but then what would he complain about?

Have you called the airline? Sometimes they will do it on the phone with young children or a doctors note

What would a doctor's note have to say that would influence an airline to give someone something that they charge for, for free?

 

[zoo2tycoon]

Have you called the airline? Sometimes they will do it on the phone with young children or a doctors note

What does a note from the doctor have anything to do with airline seats? Airlines will not let people not pay for seats by presenting a doctors note-

Pre 2001 (1996) I had my 6 month old son visiting my family and was pregnant. I started to have a miscarriage and the doctor told me to go home to my doctor. He called the airline but I was still charged a change fee. And I can understand why as they are out to make money .

You think a doctor is going to write a note saying XYZ has to sit by mom on the plane please excuse mom from paying for a seat?

Kids don’t entitle people to special treatment - such as not paying for seats. (This is not direct at OP as he was venting and stated is paying for seats).