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 thought you were serious at first too - ha! This is ridiculous on both ends. First of all I do NOT want a stranger talking/playing/touching my child- period! Secondly think about the people that get stuck next to a child feeling they need to look out for them. I'm glad I don't fly - airlines are obviously heartless and will do anything to make an extra buck. Shame on them!
No, seriously, wtheck is the airline doing?! I'd throw a FIT, be beyond pissed, and contact the news too. Seriously airlines are getting more expensive and less friendly constantly it seems. I hope this airline realizes its rediculouse mistake in this and refunds the money and their stupid policy of not always, seating young children with their parents.
Honestly, if I were those parents, I would have been tempted to refused to pay and instructed my 5 yr old to throw a huge fit once on the plain about "want my mommy/daddy." Lol...I bet the flight attendants and passengers near my screaming kid would have moved us, regardless of the not paid extra fee. Lol
@Woodbabe I LOVE YOU LOL! I have 4 nephews and even I couldn't sit with them on a 6 hour flight, even a 3 hour flight would be pushing it, I love them but no lol. I agree with you, I know I would be raising hell if I had a 2 year old with no parent sitting next to me, NOT MY JOB TO BABYSIT on the flight I PAID FOR! I hope the airlines get a lot of crap for this!
Another reason not to fly!
Most passengers would trade with you rather than sit with a little kid they dont know.