All to often a family will get on a plane and realize that they are not seated together. It’s frustrating, because really, if you booked your seats at the same time, shouldn’t the airline naturally seat you together? Oh, and you booked child tickets, which designate your kids as being under the age of 12 (normally), and yet you are now seated seven rows in front of them.
This is not a fun situation for any parent, especially if you are flying solo with the kids. Passengers get annoyed, and flight attendants find it equally as frustrating, because it delays boarding and takeoff time. Don’t lose hope. There are a few tricks to making sure you get seated together on your next flight.
Call ahead
Call the airline. Call until you find a representative who will actually do what is necessary to get you seated with your toddler. Some airlines, for instance Delta, are leaving the back rows of their flights open for families so they can sit together. Why airlines aren’t automatically sitting people together that book together is beyond me, but know that some airlines are starting to recognize that toddlers being separated from parents delays their flight departures, which they never want.
Talk to the ticket agent
When you arrive at the airport, if you had no luck on the phone, plead your case with the ticket agent. Sometimes these same people will be your gate agent and they would rather get this sorted before you get on the plane.
Plead with the flight attendant
As soon as you are on your plane find a flight attendant. Calmly explain where you are all seated. Everyone who does not need immediate parental assistance should go to their assigned seats so the flight attendant knows where you are at and can help you reconfigure with the other passengers.
Reason with your fellow passengers
When all else fails throw yourself on the mercy of your fellow passengers. Most people do not want to sit next to a toddler or a young child. They would rather take that aisle seat you have a few rows back so you can have their middle. Always try to give them the better seat exchange as many people do not want to swap a roomy aisle seat for a middle seat, but sometimes it can’t be helped.
What are your tricks to always getting seated with your family?
