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I'm fairly confident that US Airways doesn't, as an entity, hate families and kids, contrary to what this post might tell you. I'm also fairly confident that flight attendants would rather not seat your child next to strangers when perfectly related parents are on the same flight. I'll continue this confidence, backed with actual travel experience, and state that given the ability to do so, the airlines would prefer to meet all your seating preferences within the confines of increasingly ridiculous pricing schemes. And just so you don't think I'm some kind of mouthpiece for the airlines, I'll tell you that I'm equally confident that things get screwed up All The Time. No, wait, confidence has nothing to do with it, it's a fact. Seating is just one of the things that can go out of whack -- and does -- on a trip that involves an airplane. It's not just US Airways, it's not just families and kids, it's everyone, everything, everywhere.
What am I on about? If you strip all the editorializing out of the US Airways Hates ... post, the story goes as follows: mom boards flight, finds that the seats for her group (one that includes three small children) are in different rows. Mom contacts flight attendant, explains the situation. Flight attendant says seat your family, and we will sort this later. Once the cabin is seated, a passenger is moved and the family is seated together. You can go back and fill in the bits about crying babies, rude flight attendants and other descriptive details. I've intentionally left these out of my recap to get at the essentials.
You board the plane and find your kids aren't seated with you? What are you supposed to do? I asked two experts. First, here's Jamie Pearson from Travel Savvy Mom:
In my ten years of traveling with kids, I've sometimes had it happen that my family's assigned seats aren't together. It wasn't our fault either -- customers are often unable to choose seats until after they've purchased tickets. It's very unsettling and particularly common with award travel.
Here's my advice on working the system: 1. If you're willing to sit in the last row (I'm not, due to a steadily worsening turbulence phobia), it's often available. Get your seats switched ahead of time by phone. 2. If you're willing to pay up for extra legroom (Economy Plus on United, for example), upgrade when you check in online or later at the gate. 3. If you're flying Southwest, pay extra for EarlyBird Check-in ($10 each way and well worth it).
What if that doesn't work? 1. Only the gate agent can help you, so be v-e-r-y polite. 2. Explain that you're unwilling to board the plane and roll the dice unless your seats are at least a row or two away from your kids. 3. If you've already checked bags, mention this (airlines can't allow bags to go without passengers, it's a huge security risk). 4. As a last resort, bring cash to bribe people who refuse to switch seats with you. Flight attendants can't actually force anyone to give up their seats, much as they'd probably like to. [More from Jamie on this issue here.]
Next, I asked Mary Jo Manzanares, a flight attendant and blogger at Traveling with MJ. It's probably worth some kind of disclaimer -- Mary Jo is sharing her advice and insight; she's not speaking on behalf of any airlines.
Any problems with seat assignments should be handled before getting on the plane, and preferably before even arriving at the airport. Call reservations after you have booked your flight and make sure you have seat assignments together. Make sure you check in early, double-check your seat assignments, and do all that you can to help prevent things from going wrong.
Despite those efforts, things still happen. If boarding is starting and your seats aren't together, immediately ask a ground agent for help in solving the problem. Stay calm, polite, and try to keep your kids calm as well. If it's a full flight, the answer may take some time, so don't jump to the conclusion that no one cares or wants to help you. Personally, I wouldn't board until the end, that way giving the agents a chance to figure out who can be moved. It doesn't do any good to take the problem onto the plane.
At my airline,
