Have you heard the latest about flying with your family? It sounds like some airlines may be charging you extra to seat your kids with you. A family who booked their flight to Disney World seven months in advance JUST so they could sit together got split up when their flight was changed. Their 5-year-old daughter was separated from them and seated next to strangers! The airline said they could re-assign the seats ... for a $60 fee.
Well of all the -- the parents complained to the airline and then to NBC News. How dare an airline charge families extra to be seated together. Do they really want to stick passengers with other people's young children?
Wait a minute. Why is this a problem? This actually sounds like a great idea!
Think about it: The airline seats your toddler on the other side of the plane from you. You give the passengers around your kid some advice and instructions. And then you get to enjoy the flight all alone! Watch a movie, read a book, take a nap, have a cocktail, ENJOY A COMPLETE THOUGHT IN YOUR HEAD WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTIONS!
More from The Stir: Family of 6 Wrongly Kicked Off Flight for Having Too Many Kids
Hey, your kid will be fine. There's plenty of other people around to help her. I'm sure random folks would love nothing more than to take her to the potty, read her a story, get her that toy, no that other toy, no that other toy, take her for a walk up and down the aisle, sing some songs, go through all the airplane snacks 12 times while they try to find something acceptable to eat, and then sit with the full weight of her bowling-ball head on their arm once she finally falls asleep, drool pooling on their sleeve.
Yup, smart move for the airline, smart move for you, parents! Let's do keep splitting up families like this. I think it's a fine idea. I mean, pay a sit-with-your-kids fee or accept the free childcare? It's a total no-brainer. Thanks, airlines!
UPDATE: Mom Amanda Parish says American Airlines finally honored their original request.
What would you do if an airline separated your kids from you and then told you they wouldn't seat you all together unless you paid a fee?
Image via viZZZual.com/Flickr
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Comments 154
I totally get the humor she's using....and I agree with her! Give those kids sugar and sodas, strap em in and go enjoy your flight!
I guarantee if all parents did this as a form of protest, this policy would be not only be changed, they would REQUIRE parents to sit with their kids and be very accomodating. Maybe even offer you discounts!
I bet a mass protest like this would make national news! LOL
HA HA @Woodbabe, love that idea!
I see what they are saying. I really do. But instead of alerting the media why didnt one of the parents take the ticket that was seated away from the family and let their daughter have the other ticket that was seated next to the other parent. Just because the ticket has your name on that specific seat doesn't mean that that individual person HAS to sit there. I understand where they are coming from but I also think that some people have lost their problem solving skills. I mean really, they felt they needed to alert the media because their travel plans haven't gone to plan. Welcome to the traveling world! And i highly doubt that they reserved these tickets for the pure reason that they wanted to sit together as a family. It is widely known that the earlier you buy tickets the cheaper they are.
Also they could have used a different airline that caters to these situations. For example, Southwest has a first come first serve policy. They only thing you need to make sure to do is do online check in 24 hours in advance so you can be on the first on the plane and find a empty row and,boom, you are all sitting together. You don't even need to print out your tickets. You just check in and then go to the desk at the airline, complete bag check, and ask for your ticket print out. A little research into the right airline for you and you eliminate a lot of these issues beforehand. I hate to sound like a know it all but really there are no guarantees when you fly and you definitely shouldn't expect them because you are traveling with small children.
WOW! I can't beleive the people who think the author is being serious. Ever heard of Satire! I think the article is hilarious, and to those who are being serious your right I can't imagine my child being left in the care of strangers and think the airlines in this case was wrong I mean they had booked the flight 6 months in advanced I would think they would at least try to get one of the parents by the child. I am going on a trip next month with a 2 year old the tickets have been reserved since July we are suppose to be sitting by each other since we had to pay for a seat for our son and also advise that he is a child of 2 I hope the airlines doesn't pull something like this.
We have a flight coming up, we have two kids, right now it's set up so DH is with one, and me with the other. I will be one pissed off mommy if the airline tries to separate us, my young kids will not be seated away from us and with strangers... too many stories of perverts groping on planes! HELL NO. I'm fine with the 4 of us not sitting together, I know that would be a challenge but our kids will be siting with one of us!
I actually think it's a great idea, but with an age limit for separation beginning at age 9. Sounds about right...