Would you make a big deal or let it be?

Question

We are leaving tomorrow for CA to visit my mom, just me and my 4 boys (husband has to work already used up vacation). When the tickets were purchesed we requested that we all are seated together. When I checked online for our seats, we are not together. There are 3 seats together and two are about 5 rows in front of the other three.

I called and they said we would have to ask them at check in tomorrow if they can change it.

My question is, if they should say no they can't change it, and no one is prepared to change seats for us, should I make a big deal or just let it be? My kids are 13, 13, 11 and 8. I could let the twins sit together in the two seats but one of them is afraid to fly and wants to sit with me. My 11 yr old and 8 yr old both want to sit with me also. So what would you do?

Answer 1

Make a BIG DEAL!

You paid for those seats and requested upon booking that they be together, so for them to be seperated like that and you guys being you and 4 children, KICK UP A STINK! That's just wrong, your children are minors, I wouldn't let the airline get away with that s***w up, it's not your fault they cocked up so why should your children (any of them) pay for it, and be left alone during what is a scary experience for some of them. Just wrong.  

Answer 2

Usually, after you take off, the flight attendants will help you find seats together, and you can ask people to switch seats.  It's no big deal.

Answer 3

They most likely will be able to switch it around tomorrow in check in or at least split you into two groups. If they can't, plan B would be to ask people on the plane if you can switch.

Families get split up all the time on the plane for a million different reasons and making a big deal out of it isn't going to do anything. I'd let it go. It's a plane ride and you're all stuck in the same place for the entire flight.  

Answer 4

they are all minors anyways they should be with you! call, freak out n you'll probably get them together. I would re-post in travel and see if you can get info from some one who works in the field

Answer 5

Welcome to the world of travel....I always wonder why they bother having the choice to request to sit together when 9/10, they don't honor it.

Being a single mom of three, I have flown many times sitting with only one of my kids or none of my kids. Two of them were  2 seats up, 3 seats behind etc, even though I always requested for all of us to be in the same row.

When you check in, see if they can change your seats. If they can't, ask for your children to at least be paired up so no one is sitting alone. When you get on the plane, make the flight attendant aware and ask people around you if they'll switch. Most people will if you inform them that you want to switch because of your childen. In the end, if you can't switch, just let it be. There's really nothing you can do and chances are, you won't be the only family split. Making a big deal and demanding will get you NO WHERE. Trust me on that...

Have a safe trip!

Answer 6

Ask people around you to switch. If they are nice, they will. If they don't, have your kids be really loud and obno=ixous so the people will want to switch

Answer 7

I would explain this to the sturdiest if she cant accommodate you I would go over her head to settle the issue. I believe that if someone misinformed you from their company they should accommodate you in whatever way necessary. If they absolutly cannot get you side by side then maybe close enough to where your children can see you and you see them. Hope iy works out for ya.

Answer 8

I'm 13 and I've flown ALONE to Colorado since I was 8. Let your twins sit alone and assure them they'll be fine...

Answer 9

If people know why they are being asked to switch seats they will probably be more likely to do so. If they won't let you switch at the gate wait until you get on the plane and check out who's around then politely ask your flight-mates to switch so your kids can feel safe on the flight. Other than that there's not much you can do except cancel your trip and be out the $$$ for the flight.

Answer 10

I fly with my kids a lot, and in my experience, the airlines are usually really good about accommodating families who want to sit together.  But yes, they do have to make seating changes there at the gate.  If they can't work it out there, the flight attendants will ask the other passengers if they'd be willing to switch.  Most people are, because they'd rather not sit with someone else's unsupervised kid!

But in case you do have to be separated, don't make a big deal about it.  Especially not in front of your kids.  That will only make them upset about it, which they don't need to be.  Your 13 year olds will be just fine.  Flying is fun, and you're only a few rows away from them.  If you get up in the air and one of them is still fearful, you switch places half way through the flight.  If you keep a positive attitude and let them see that it's no big deal, they'll feel the same way.

Answer 11

trust me! make a big deal. the worst that can happen is you wont get your way, but this happened to my Aunt and she made such a fuss they put them in first class. Ask for the manager or the managers manager. You paid for the seats, why should your kids have to suffer? good luck!

Answer 12

Personally I would kick up a stink. arrive early before alot of other people have checked in and demand you all sit together. Thats what i would do, ask polietly as first but if they dont want to help you crack it.  

Answer 13

Leave it alone. If you can't get seated together, oh well. It's a request, and there might not have been enough seats together for you to do it (airlines always overbook). You'll have to decide which of your children are going to sit with you--I would have the youngers sit with you, and the twins sit together (unless it's a complete phobia).