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Subscribe to RSSLess-than-desirable seatmates on a flight include the drooler, the chatterbox and the space hog. These days, you could get someone who’s all three: a kid, with nary a parent in sight.
With airlines charging extra for more and more seats in coach, some families who want to sit together in the cheap seats can find themselves scattered about.
“The airlines aren't charging families to sit together, per se,” said Chris Elliott of Consumer Traveler. “They are charging extra for certain economy class seats. So if families want to sit together, and one of the seats is a premium seat, they'll have to pay for it. It's all a matter of perspective, I guess.”
Airlines stress that they do what they can to have families nestled together in the air, but that’s no guarantee.
NPR Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon recently tweeted his frustration upon discovering that booking tickets offered no assurance that he’d be sharing armrests with his two young daughters.
“If there's a problem in air, shouldn't parents be near children? Do you really want strangers entrusted to help them?” Simon tweeted.
Although Simon did not name the airline, American Airlines responded to his tweet, noting that for prices starting at $4 a seat, customers can get “preferred seats” in coach. Tim Smith, a spokesman for the airline later elaborated to msnbc.com, “We always try to seat the younger children in the party with parents and guardians, even if it cannot be worked out for the entire party.”
Seating fees are now as much a part of flying as jet fuel. United–Continental, for example, charges for the first several rows of economy, where there’s more legroom. Discount airlines AirTran Airways and Spirit Airlines charge passengers to reserve a specific seat. But no worries on Southwest Airlines, which doesn’t bother with seat assignments.
Elliott suggests that parents with scattered seat assignments get to the airport early and ask a gate agent to seat them together. If that doesn’t work, talk to a flight attendant once onboard. And as a last resort, ask fellow passengers to make your flight a wee bit less stressful — just don’t try to trade away a center seat a nose away from the bathroom.
More on Overhead Bin
- Red-eye flight with a toddler — and Ben Bernanke
- Getting seats on a plane ... together
- Playing musical chairs with seat assignments
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I think just for a test one of the airlines should look at the numbers: what day do most families travel during the week and offer a shuttle server out of two major hubs that day that cater to families and see how popular it is. I would hope it was popular.
since airline de-regulation went into effect (Regan), the airlines have done everything possible to annoy,gauge,and make flying as un-comfortable as possible.
This splitting of families is just mean.
And insane.
One of these days a business traveler is going to go postal.
Why the F--- would anybody fly nowadays?!!??!
I don't get it. Whenever I fly, I try to make reservations early enough in advance to get all of our seats together and haven't had any problems. However, if I wait to the last minute, there are fewer seats available. Parents, you need to plan better and don't expect other passengers to give up their good seats for you. We all know that the days of empty seats are long gone.
Crais P see comment below.
Crais P, we all try to book in advance. But try telling grandma to please schedule her sudden death well in advance, so you can be sure to sit together on the plane? It does make planning more difficult. I am sure no one would expect other passengers to give up their good seats, after all, why be courteous or thoughtful to people who are in need? It's a dog eat dog world out there. We need to encourage everyone to be more selfish and heartless, just so they can keep their nominally more comfortable seats, for sure. That's what makes USA #1, right?
Shhs! Now it's $4.00 charge. What next .50 cent napkins with your $1.99 1/8 of a soda can, $1.00 plastic cup, and .99 cent scoop of ice for that drink?
OK Airlines, we've tried this unregulated crap and policing yourselves. Guess what? It AIN'T FRIKIN working. Time to RE-REGULATE these fools!
Be careful what you ask for. One of the daytime talk shows recently put up a chart showing the average cost for various aspects of a vacation, comparing 1970 to the present day. The cost of hotels have increased 10 times. The cost of gasoline also about 10 times. Meals cost about 8 times as much now. Airline flights? ... About 3 times as much.
Re-regulation would mandate profits - a modest but predictable amount of profit. I tell you, as someone who spent the first ten years of his career in a company (in an unrelated field) that was regulated, it was worse for the customers than for the company. The company enjoyed a specific return on expense, had very little concern about efficiency because if they weren't efficient that inefficiency would just be reflected in and recovered via higher prices. In the almost thirty years since de-regulation (of that unrelated industry) prices have stayed pretty low, while services offered have exploded in quality and value.
And you can rely on re-regulation to have the opposite impact of what you're intending: Prices would increase, because there would no longer be any motivation to risk capital in what might be unprofitable operations. As a matter of fairness, actually, airlines would probably be required to offer services to rural areas, thereby spiking costs even higher, again all that extra cost rolled into higher fares because the business is regulated again. They'd probably be required to pander more to the Airline Passengers "Bill of Rights", thereby spiking costs yet-even higher, again all that extra cost rolled into higher fares because the business is regulated again. They'll lose the ability to raise money through fees, again resulting in higher fares.
And then comes the secondary impact: Fares that much higher will decrease demand, thereby making each passenger mile flown that much less efficient from a cost perspective. What happens when cost increases? Yup! Higher fares.
Figure a $500 flight could easily double, if airlines were re-regulated.
Glad we like to take the train.
@Robin Steele
Because I don't feel like driving to London. Flying is one of the most amazing human innovations. Being able to get on a plane and go 1000 miles in 3 hours is incredible. Just think of what traveling used to be: sailing, wagons,horses, walking and death. We are lucky to able to fly. SO STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT IT!!!
Since when has de-regulation ever been to the benefit of the consumer?
Airlines have gotten a little absurd with what they charge for now. Some airlines even charge more if you want to reserve a window or aisle seat, particularly near the front of the plane. What this means is that a family that does not want to pay "premium seat fees" when traveling may very well windup sitting in a column, instead of a row, that is a column of middle seats in successive rows of the aircraft. There should be a regulation passed if the airlines won't do it themselves that forces the airlines to allow at least one parent to sit next to their child without paying any premium seat fee. Kids should no be forced to sit alone, and parents should not have to worry about strangers sitting with their kids without them being able to easily monitor what is going on to protect their kids from harm. It used to be pretty much automatic that a couple traveling with one child would get one side of the row, an aisle and window for the parents with the kid in the middle (of course the parents could let the kid have the window if they wanted). Now, because airlines are trying to get revenue any way they can, the parents would have to pay premium seat fees to get the window and probably the aisle as well.
I really think that this "ala carte" pricing, as the marketing types call it, has gotten completely out of hand. Certain things should come with the plane ticket without getting bombarded with extra fees. It has gotten to the point where it is impossible to tell what your trip is actually going to cost until after you have completed it.
robin steele-
Some of us have to fly on a regular basis. Ground travel can only take you so far. Expand your horizons.
I agree, many of us need to fly to see families, work, ect. I am sorry, airlines are pushing it. I don't thing anyone want to seat next to my 2 year old and babysit her through a 6 hour fly to LA from NYC!
I don't think the propensity of a business traveler going totally postal is as great as a child, who is separated from his family, getting fondled by a pervert.
Bring on the lawsuit that will bankrupt the airline!
Re regulate airlines. 'nuff said.
I think the first incident of a kid being molested while NOT being able to sit with their parents, the airline will change their $4.00 fee. Of course, the airline would probably charge for being molested twice. once by the TSA and another for child molestation . Let's charge for using the reading lights, or pushing the call button while we're at it. I've been on some airlines where they charge for earphone plugs. US airlines suck! I was just recently on an Asian airline for a 2 hour flight, I GOT a meal, free newspapers, blankets, pillows free of charge.....yeah Asia airlines are SO much better.
Airlines charge a fee for unaccompanied minors, and yet there have been a number of cases of molestation. A parent who neglects to pay a fee to ensure they're sitting next to their child will be faulted for such an incident long before the airline is.
Okay, first of all, the world is not filled with child molesters and perverts, and airplanes are enclosed, very public and visible places. How paranoid are people that they can't have their children more than two inches away from them for a little while? Also, nobody wants to sit next to your children, so most passengers will trade places with you in order to not sit next to your children.
I have a lot of trouble feeling sympathy for people who complain about airline fees (although I have been guilty of this on occasion). When people continue to buy the lowest price tickets regardless of the level of service offered, you send the message that you don't care about service. Also, take foreign carriers whenever possible, as the level of service is usually much higher (I like Air France, Lufthansa, and especially Singapore Airlines).
Paranoid? Apparently you have never checked out the sex offender registries to see just how full of child molesters and perverts the world actually is. It is hardly paranoia to want to sit next to your child to ensure you know what is going on with them during the flight.
Anyway, while molestation on a plane may be less likely due to the enclosed environment, it is NOT a guarantee. As for "visible"...that all depends on the seating position and whether anything is blocking inappropriate contact from plain sight (under a jacket or blanket, for example).
As for trading places, it is also not a guarantee--although most reasonable passengers (not just most passengers) will trade if they do not have a specific reason for sitting where they are.
Cause there's no train from Hawaii to the Mainland.
You're not paying a fee to sit together... you're paying a fee for a premium seat. This has nothing to do with deregulation or scamming or any of the other things shouted above.
The first row of coach, the exit rows, aisle and window seats toward the front of the cabin are all more desirable seats to many people. It makes absolute sense to charge a premium on seats that are more desirable. Those who find this inappropriate can book a row near the back of the cabin or not fly at all. It's a choice.
As far as the potential of charging for soda or paper towels... first, that's how capitalism works. Either people will pay or they won't, but its not something that needs regulated. Seccond... nobody would pay for that, so let's not get ridiculous.
And molestation... Jesus, people... Americans think every male over the age of 15 is a sexual deviant ready and waiting to violate the first toddler he comes in contact with. Do you realize how secure and heavily monitored flights are these days? Scaremongering.
Finally, I disagree with the assessment that the airlines have made traveling horrible. The TSA has made traveling obnoxious, but once through security, I greatly enjoy my time away from the madness on land. Of course, I'm helped by a pair of headphones and a couple of cocktails that sell for six bucks apiece... and I don't mind paying it, because that's how capitalism works.
Great Idea Ms. Tek. If they are going to charge a seating fee for parents to set by kids I say let the consequences shake themselves down. I have a boisterous and chatty 5 year old. Set them by a business frequent flier without me to tell him to shut up. I guarantee that that boy left unchecked will annoy the heck out of their gold star customer. I guarantee if told to shut up by the frequent filer he will come with something snarky (and have half of the plane rolling on the floor laughing). I fly only rarely. This will happen with other kids often. Tick off their best customers to make an easy buck. Typical airline BS.
That's one possible outcome, acethestace. Another is that your kid ends up sitting next to a pervert.
That's rather rude of you. That other passenger did nothing wrong. Why are you condemning him by not teaching your brat to keep his trap shut and behave? You and your son= both rude. I feel quite bad for anyone who has to deal with you or sit near you on any flight, frequent flier or not.
Ideas like yours are one reason our society is in such a decline. "I'm mad so I'm going to use my spawn to annoy someone who can do nothing about it". Good job.
togspled- I think the point acethestace was trying to make is that other people shouldn't HAVE to deal with her kid. If it's the airline's fault that something like that should happen, then the airline is losing a "gold star customer" for their own stupid policies.
The above is from Crais P and is the only valid comment to this nonsense people have to offer otherwise.
Thank you Crais P, well said!
How early is early these days? Made reservations three months early and I swear it must have been a computer that assigned seats and couldn't read last names because we were scattered throughout the plane. Also, all airlines don't have the nifty little seating chart for you to choose your seats (Jet Blue does and is one airline I LOVE, LOVE!)
Making reservations in advance is no guarantee of being seated together. None. (Read the contract if you think otherwise.)
I agree with Waltdis. I made reservations 4 1/2 mos in advance on a flight from Germany to LA with 3 other adults in our party. We were able to pick our seats together and was confirmed with airline. We we checked in at the airport, I was not seated with the rest of my party (family members) So it is never really guaranteed that you will be together!
"Gold Star customers" are not sitting by your boisterous child. If they're in coach at all, they're in a premium seat in the exit row or, worst case, near the very front of the coach cabin. I've never had to sit by someone's child and I fly a round trip every few weeks.
Or gold stars are bumped up to first class if its available.
Ahh flying, the only activity where you pay good money to be fondled by $14 an hour lackey hoodlums,get herded like cattle and treated like crap, then when you complain get placed on a watch list or banned from flying AFTER you get detained and questioned aggressively with a high possibility of being tazed.
All the airlines except for Southwest are really shooting themselves in the foot. I have a family of 6 and we used to travel across the country about 3 times a year, at least one of those trips was to visit relatives...more or less guaranteed revenue for the airline. A couple of years ago, after the airlines started charging their crazy bag fees (mind you, each person in our party only checked and carried on 1 bag before the fee), we found it too costly to make those trips. Now, when planning a trip, a lot of our decision hinges on whether Southwest flies from our town to that destination. If it doesn't, we're just waiting for its deal with AirTran to become complete, so that we can start booking. I wonder how many other customers are like us. The other airlines had better take note. I will not shed a tear if they go the way of Pan Am, Braniff, and TWA. As the economy stalls, they would get more business by figuring out ways to make people feel as though they're getting deals, not raising prices.
I only fly Southwest unless SWA can't get me 'there'. I fly constantly, and will not fly any other airline unless that's the only way to go. When I retire later this year, I won't be doing any flying unless absolutely essential because flying is too much of a hassle and pain these days. The airlines have screwed themselves, and continue to do so with their stupidity.
I flew Southwest with my family recently, and I actually wish that they had assigned seats. Unless you have a child under 4, the policy now is that you line up in assigned numbered groups to board and choose your seats (based on how early you made your reservation---and sometimes it is simply not possible to plan far in advance). Our numbers were in the middle, and my family ended up being split up, and one of our young daughters almost had to sit alone (except a kind person moved for us). I will only fly SWA again if I make the reservations FAR enough in advance to get in the first boarding group.
On Southwest, you'd have to pay $10 per ticket, per leg of flight to get in the "A" boarding group to assure seats together. Depending on your itinerary, it often adds up to the same, or more, than bag fees on a different airline that assigns seats. If you don't pay the $10 per ticket/per leg, you can check in 24 hrs. prior to your flight to get in the front of the "B" boarding group.
What chrissy111 said. Southwest is the WORST airline to fly if you want to be able to sit with your party because if you get anything beyond zone 2 on their crowded, messy cattle call boarding procedure, everyone in your party is sitting in a middle seat toward the back.
I only fly AirTran and I'm dreading the day Southwest rips out Business Class and takes away our right to choose our seats. I'm A+ Elite and will fly with AirTran until the day they take my seats... after that, Southwest loses me as a customer until they get their boarding act together.
This is hardly suprising, a bit reminiscent of segregation in all its glory and price gouging at its finest. Either cough it up and pay more for the same economy seat up front or be banished to the back with the rest of the cattle. Separating families and charging them more to be seated together is risky. The airlines are just asking for trouble. What happens when little Susie gets seated next to the innocent-looking grandpa with a fetish for young girls?
I should think airlines would want to avoid the liability of placing children under 18/consenting age in seats apart from their parents/guardian. LAWSUIT anyone? Who do most people feel more inclined to believe, the child or the adult? Even if nothing could technically be "proven," there is still the social/media fallout for consequences (see: Netflix).
This being a separate issue from a child's behavior/activities throughout a flight being managed by people other than parents/guardians.
Just make kid-free flights already, PLEASE
parents, learn to parent before you breed, dammit
Just make a$$hole-free flights already, PLEASE
people, learn to behave before you leave the house, darnit
more selfish, annoying people are adults than kids; they scream "you are being RUDE" and yell at you... never realizing that they are rude and horrible ones.
It's not realistic to "learn to parent before breeding" because it's having the kids that enforce the learning. Even the most accomplished babysitters and nannies don't know how to be a parent until they have their own kids.
While it may be impossible to "learn to parent before breeding" it isn't impossible to learn to take responsibility for your own decisions before having children.
No one said anything about not taking responsibility for decisions. You seem to be off topic, the article is about airlines splitting up families when families really don't pay much more/less than any other passenger. There are plenty of good decent people who do their best job at parenting and it's crappy attitudes like the one above that are constantly in your face saying that you're not. No, I don't need affirmation from anyone but those people who say those things negatively influence a great deal of what we encounter in our lives. Unkindness is unnecessary.
Deciding to fly somewhere with children is a decision, a decision that a parent needs to take responsibility for, including all the ramifications of that decision in today's de-regulated, cut-rate airfare environment. If the ramifications of that (i.e., the possibility of not being seated together) are unacceptable, then don't fly. Don't ignore those ramifications and then blame the airline if you get bitten by one.
Airlines do not "split up families". Some airlines don't have reserved seating at all, and so in that case, if families are split up, it is the family doing that to themselves, or just a result of circumstance. Other airlines provide seat assignments in accordance with defined procedures, including fare basis and/or surcharges. If contiguous seats are available, but only for an additional fee, but the parents don't want to pay the fee, then the responsibility and blame for that rests on the parents. If contiguous seats are not available, then they're not available, again a result of circumstance.
The point here is that blaming the airline for a situation that we consumers have created, and that parents create for themselves, is pointless and counter-productive. Parents need to come to grips with their own responsibility for learning about the services they engage, and making the right decision for their family regarding travel, even if that means making the decision to not fly with children because other consumers have crafted a travel marketplace that is inhospitable to families.
Look. There are certain things in life that occur in a way that you cannot plan for. I do my duty as a parent to the best of my abilities and knowledge, and I know other's who do their best as well. The word "ignorant" wouldn't exist if everyone was able to know all the ins/outs of every situation. I don't recall "blaming" the airlines, but the article discussed that this DOES happen even when people DO their best to prepare. People are not perfect. If you think so, you're on the wrong planet. Even if you weren't traveling as a family but in a group of friends, this would still be an issue but without the concern of unattended minors. I think you just have a chip on your shoulder. I would never stand for a stranger taking responsibility for my kid any more than I wanted strangers touching them when they were babies (the irony is that then I was being a "rude" mother!), so take a chill pill.
Yet another thing that parents need to understand.
You're not the only other person posting in this thread.
Not a chip on my shoulder: Rather, an expectation that people will take responsibility for situations that they find themselves in due to their own actions, inactions, and lack of knoweledge, instead of what has become the default behavior in our society: blaming someone else.
Instead; Why don't you take things more seriously? If you want play time, shut down your web browser and play a video game or solitaire.
@togspled, youu said "Just make kid-free flights already, PLEASE parents, learn to parent before you breed, dammit. "
Your parents should not have had you. Honestly for convenience and common sense, large parties should be seated together. You dont go out to eat with a party of 12 and get seated halfway across the room from one another. We sit together and pay a lil gratitutity. Same should go on a plane, I'm not buying 2 tickets and having my young child sitting anywhere but beside me. Real simple, you pay for a ticket and you choose it as if you were at a stadium or hotel room.
You're obviously someone who lacks comprehension skills because you speak as though you don't have a clue what I said. Not my problem. I'm done with you.
Crais P Booking far in advance means absolutely nothing. I booked first class tickets 8 months in advance and picked out seats where my spouse and I were together. About a month or so before the flight, our seats were changed by the airline for no apparent reason. My spouse now had a single flyer in the seat next to her and I was put in a seat in the center section of the aircraft. No amount of complaining to the airline ticket agents, supervisors, and the BBB could make the airline give my original seat back. They said it was changed after a plane change. Even though common sense would tell you the reasonable and right thing to do would be to put us back together. Their only answer was seat assignments were not guaranteed. So, all airlines could give a rat's ass about keeping families together on any flight. After they have you booked with non-refundable tickets they could care less.
first class tickets that had seat assignments that were not guarenteed? sounds shaky at best
I wouldn't be surprised if you wife is sitting next to one of their elite travelers who gets all the benefits of their frequent flyer program. Its known that the top first class frequent fliers get all the benefits. Including seat choice before those that pay. Just ask the person who has the seat. They may not care.
wake up airlines with the war almost over the price of jet fuel will go down then you wont have anymore excuess to raise prices in fact you better lower your fares.the people are tired of all the crap you give us. u say you need more money to keep up but we are just as broke, one of these days when u really need us we are going to tell u to go to hell
Exactly why I refuse to fly commercial any longer, with the airlines nickel and dime us at every opportunity and the TSA's side show security act, it's not worth it. Decided to invest my money on a private pilot license and just fly myself.
And that sounds like a lot more fun!
After flying first class and choosing my seats very carefully, i was asked each and every leg of my flight if I would switch seats with somebody since I "was alone." Two legs were roughly 5 hours and I ended up stuck in a corner seat that did not allow much comfort. The next flight, I was asked once again and said no. I was ostracized. I reserved my seats well in advance for a reason and now I was the bad guy. When I end up in coach and choose my seats only to be asked to move and end up in discomfort because of others' lack of planning, I may go postal. But on the flip side, I certainly am not going to be responsible to other people's kids. If parents want to fly with their kids, please pay to seat with them. And if there are people that do not want to move out of their original seat, please try to understand their position.
Ridiculous! More airline greed and lack of compassion for their customers. That's why I'm not one of them. Haven't flown in years - don't plan to, except maybe to Europe, where I will be sure to choose a non-US carrier.
Do we get a discount for buying more than one ticket at a time? Jerks.
Used to fly a lot.....now, will do anything to avoid it. Actually take pleasure reading about the financial struggles of the airlines....everyone except Southwest of course! Actually care about the customer.
They are trying to charge for everything. It will be brilliant until a seperated child climbs off a plane and says: "That man touched my pee-pee". Front page news, public uproar, senate enquiry, and a sports coach/politician/teacher/priest is in jail. Sheer marketing genius.
Do airlines go out of their way to be a-holes, or does it just come naturally to them?
It's like cats hunting birds: they can't help it.
Until we start passing laws against companies acting like they're only in it for the money, then it is unreasonable to complain about companies acting like they're only in it for the money.
I can understand not being able to seat a large family all together, but not to put a parent with each (set of) kid(s)? That's dangerous and insane. I'd refuse to fly before I'd be separated from my kids. I'm going to trust that some unrelated adult take responsibility for putting my kid's air mask on or making sure they don't need the potty or dealing with their last moments during a terrorist attack? My kids are my problem, not anybody else's.
This is just airlines squeezing the customer for more and more and more money for what should be standard service.
I've only flown once in twenty years (15 years ago) and have never taken my kids on a plane. Every time I think it might be nice to go someplace, I read an article like this and decide that there's no place like home!
My family was booked on a flight from Alaska to LAX (long flight). We bought the tickets almost a year in advance and had our seats all picked out (together). At the last minute our seats got changed putting my 4 year old and 7 year old seperate from my husband and I (none of the 4 seats were together). After much wrangling we were able to get 2 seats together so I could sit with my 4 year old, but my 7 year old was forced to sit by himself several rows away from either me or my husband. He was TERRIFIED. I can only imagine if something had happened....
I had a similar experience jennitg. We were bumped from a flight due to weather, and got rebooked on another flight, all in different parts of the plane. My husband and the then 6 year old managed to find a kind soul to switch seats, but I couldn't find anyone who would move so the 10 year old could sit with me. Someone finally switched with me so I was right in front of him, but all I could think of was what if something happened?
Something MAY have happened. You might not know until many years later....
Rediculous to charge more.
I fly SW and have often seen families separated because they have to wait to get on, rather than be pre-boarded.
There are plenty of people who do not want to sit near children and if families were pre-boarded, then they could be together and the passengers that want to be away from children can see where they do not want to sit.
A win-win for all concerned, since the families are not a massive number that will take over the plane.
Nuh uh uh (at least on American Airlines). If the person named on the ticket isn't actually sitting in a particular seat, the FAs won't let you stay there unless they themselves moved you. Been there done that.
i repeat: i am not watching after somebody else's kid. heck - i'll pay for the family's seat change. but why put the child, the parent, and the stranger through this crap?
Bring back FAA airline regulations to pre-Carter / Reagan era.
Back when customers had MORE protection and rights.
And effectively paid almost four times more.
"In the event of the cabin losing pressure, for a small fee, an oxygen mask will drop from above, and for another small fee, we will actually supply you with oxygen."
boycott airlines with crappy policies. American airlines is already on its last leg anyway.