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17
Woman Vents About How People Paying For Their Seats Made Her Family Flights Very Difficult
Air travel, for all its magic, is often plagued with different bureaucratic minutia that take away from the very real fact that we’ve enabled people to fly. Airline rules, crowded airplanes, uncomfortable seats and restrictive baggage policies all come together to add perhaps unnecessary stress to what still remains the fast way to travel.
A netizen shared her experience on a three-legged flight with her family and how other passenger’s seat selections caused her some issues. Readers were quick to debate her points and quickly an extensive discussion started in the comments.
RELATED:
These days, many airlines make seat selection an extra you pay for
Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)
So one woman detailed how this feature disrupted travel for her family
Image credits: jannoon028 (not the actual image)
Image credits: dmytro_sidelnikov (not the actual image)
Image credits: raggedymum
There are advantages to the system of selecting seats
Flying has become an act of preference adjustment, and perhaps the most contentious argument for travelers is whether it’s worthwhile to pay extra for a specific seat. Seat selection has become an airline business model, with airlines charging more for aisle, window, or front-row seating and reserving middle seats or “random assignments” for the cheaper option. For the traveler, this arrangement has both self-evident benefits and equally self-evident annoyances.
On the pro side, buying a specific seat offers peace of mind. For many travelers, especially those flying long-haul or with families, the ability to guarantee where you’ll sit can make or break the journey. Parents can ensure they sit next to their children, friends traveling together can avoid being scattered throughout the cabin, and solo travelers can secure their preferred aisle or window. For taller riders, taking an exit-row or bulkhead seat isn’t simply about comfort, dodging hours of cramped misery is on the line. Being in charge of your location makes a stressful ordeal into a more secure experience, and that’s invaluable when dealing with airports and tight timelines.
There’s also the psychological comfort of dodging worst-case scenarios. The middle seat is the economy boogeyman, dreaded for its closeness and inevitable elbow battles. Getting to miss that fate by paying a bit extra can be like an insurance policy. Other than that, seat selection has consequences for the rest of the flight: window equals view and wall to nap against, and aisle equals easy access to the bathroom and slightly more room in bending your knees. No wonder people are shelling out extra money for the security of choosing your pick.
Image credits: Gerrie van der Walt (not the actual image)
But the downsides are just as apparent
But on the negative side, many flyers perceive seat selection fees as nickel-and-diming. Flights are already expensive, and paying for the sole privilege of not getting wedged into a middle seat seems unjust to others. For families especially, the system can be expensive and stressful: a parent might be charged extra simply to sit next to his or her child, which seems less of a luxury and more of a requirement. Something that has to be an integral part of safe and intelligent travel has become yet another product on the airline’s bottom line.
There is also the reality that even once paid for, not everything goes as expected. Flights are changed, equipment swaps, or flights overbooked and can result in seating at the last minute being reconfigured. That leaves paying customers sometimes feeling let down as well, with the extra indignity of the monetary loss. And then there are passengers who refuse to pay and accept what they are allocated, and sometimes they get lucky and score a good seat at no cost, further supporting the impression that the system is as much a lottery as it is a promise.
For price-conscious consumers, the downside is clear: the total expense of choosing seats on several different flights quickly totals as much as a second night’s stay in a hotel room or a better meal on the trip. Most travelers begrudge being placed in a situation where comfort is an optional add-on rather than an included aspect of the ticket.
Ultimately, from the perspective of passengers, seat choice is about priorities. To those who value certainty, comfort, or sitting with loved ones, the advantages are worth the frustration of the fee. But to those who would prefer to gamble, and save money for something tangible, the disadvantages make skipping seat choice the wiser choice. It’s a cost vs. control trade-off, yet another decision in the ever more convoluted air travel labyrinth passengers face before they even reach the runway.
Image credits: EyeEm (not the actual image)
She gave some more details in the comments
Not everyone was convinced by her arguments
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What do you think ?
Miriam Insidecor 4 months ago
This parent is sounding entitled. No one needs to give up their seat to accommodate others.
JayWantsACat 4 months ago
I understand and empathize with OP, but what makes her more important than anyone else? She has a kid? Her husband has to sit somewhere else? She paid for specific seats and that got messed up by weather and the airlines, so now she expects other people who paid for specific seats to give theirs up? lolwut That's the definition of entitlement and essentially the same as people who didn't pay for seats expecting others who did to give theirs up simply because they want them. I probably would've given up my seat and it's a little sad that people couldn't or wouldn't help her out. But to be like "nobody gave me what I wanted, not needed, boo hoo" is a little rich.
Smeghead Tribble Down Under 4 months ago
If your kid can't handle flying, don't take it on a plane. It's really, really simple. Oh but of course the usual ''ND/autism'' excuse. Sick of breeders expecting the entire world to stand on its head for them.
he_aint_heavy 4 months ago
Yep. As an ND adult (and former ND kid), don't take your child on a plane if it can't behave in a non-disruptive manner.
Load More Replies...
Orysha 4 months ago
I'm fed up with how Neurodivergent has become the explanation for everything nowadays. Maybe their daughter was just stressed or afraid of flying, the only way to be sure is to have her tested.
Ellinor she/they/elle 4 months ago
I didn't saw it, where did OP said anything about her child being neurodivergent ? (real question I'm asking, English is not my main language so I could have misread it or missed the passage)
Load More Replies...
FreeTheUnicorn 4 months ago
If your child is ND, why aren't you letting the airline know when you book and check in? If you know your child is going to be really stressed, getting it in eiritng ahead of time saves a lot of hassle. Also generally you can't sit a disabled 10 yo apart from their carer without permission. Hiding her disability is not helpful. In particular get a Slsunflower lanyard. They are available for free at most airports, they are internationally recognised way to signal a hidden disability. You can't help other passengers being educated but airport and airline staff see the lanyard and usually know how to ask what support do you need. Admittedly some don't phrase the question well, but I travel through North America and Europe most often but have good experiences with Asia Pacific airlines as well. People shouldn't be AHs but you have to do what you can as well.
James016 4 months ago (edited)
We book special assistance every time. It really helps as we can get through security and board the plane first. My son has the lanyard and ear defenders. We are flying home tomorrow and we are sitting in the special assistance row as we did when flying out. Another good thing is that some airports have a special lane at passport control for sunflower lanyards. One thing we are really grateful for is that my son loves flying. The downside is that our flight tomorrow is at 11pm so we won’t land until 2am Sunday morning.
Load More Replies...
Sabrina 4 months ago
Why don't the airlines check the seat if it is broken or not, instead of letting them board to find they can't seat there and make people switch seats? It is not the passenger's fault or the crew's fault, it is the airline's fault for making sure the seat is not spoiled. -
Scott Rackley 4 months ago
She has a airline problem, not another passenger problem. Take it up with the airline.
Suby 4 months ago
True. I've never had that issue with United, Lufthansa, or Delta.
Load More Replies...
ॐBoyGanesh 4 months ago (edited)
I’m a cousin Greg to a great-grandfather who founded an airline that, in some iteration, is still in service. My family line is tangential. I fly partial transpacific on Fridays & Mondays. I fly long-haul quarterly. There are 2 basic models to airline revenue. One is short trip, low-cost carriers. They operate in the black due to nickel & diming w/ high volume of flights. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be low-cost. On these airlines you’re getting MORE than you paid for. On mainline, 1st & Business account for ~72% of revenue. Cargo = 15%. Economy produces ~13% of a flights revenue. Wouldn’t even cover fuel & gate costs. You are 100% getting what you paid for & more. Flying is no longer elite. It’s because of these models, as dysfunctional as they are, that the vast majority of us can afford to fly. If one wants ideal seating & great service, may I recommend La Compagnie, fractional ownership or top-tier elite status. Most of us can’t afford to fly, anyways. Def not without subsidizing coach.
he_aint_heavy 4 months ago
I skimmed this because it was too dumb to read. Yeah, don't believe that all of OP's seats on every flight got jacked up, she either didn't pay or didn't do her homework. Also saying a tall 10 year old needs more room? Lol, the entitlement (if this is in anyway real) is ridiculous.
Miriam Insidecor 4 months ago
This parent is sounding entitled. No one needs to give up their seat to accommodate others.
JayWantsACat 4 months ago
I understand and empathize with OP, but what makes her more important than anyone else? She has a kid? Her husband has to sit somewhere else? She paid for specific seats and that got messed up by weather and the airlines, so now she expects other people who paid for specific seats to give theirs up? lolwut That's the definition of entitlement and essentially the same as people who didn't pay for seats expecting others who did to give theirs up simply because they want them. I probably would've given up my seat and it's a little sad that people couldn't or wouldn't help her out. But to be like "nobody gave me what I wanted, not needed, boo hoo" is a little rich.
Smeghead Tribble Down Under 4 months ago
If your kid can't handle flying, don't take it on a plane. It's really, really simple. Oh but of course the usual ''ND/autism'' excuse. Sick of breeders expecting the entire world to stand on its head for them.
he_aint_heavy 4 months ago
Yep. As an ND adult (and former ND kid), don't take your child on a plane if it can't behave in a non-disruptive manner.
Load More Replies... Orysha 4 months ago
I'm fed up with how Neurodivergent has become the explanation for everything nowadays. Maybe their daughter was just stressed or afraid of flying, the only way to be sure is to have her tested.
Ellinor she/they/elle 4 months ago
I didn't saw it, where did OP said anything about her child being neurodivergent ? (real question I'm asking, English is not my main language so I could have misread it or missed the passage)
Load More Replies... FreeTheUnicorn 4 months ago
If your child is ND, why aren't you letting the airline know when you book and check in? If you know your child is going to be really stressed, getting it in eiritng ahead of time saves a lot of hassle. Also generally you can't sit a disabled 10 yo apart from their carer without permission. Hiding her disability is not helpful. In particular get a Slsunflower lanyard. They are available for free at most airports, they are internationally recognised way to signal a hidden disability. You can't help other passengers being educated but airport and airline staff see the lanyard and usually know how to ask what support do you need. Admittedly some don't phrase the question well, but I travel through North America and Europe most often but have good experiences with Asia Pacific airlines as well. People shouldn't be AHs but you have to do what you can as well.
James016 4 months ago (edited)
We book special assistance every time. It really helps as we can get through security and board the plane first. My son has the lanyard and ear defenders. We are flying home tomorrow and we are sitting in the special assistance row as we did when flying out. Another good thing is that some airports have a special lane at passport control for sunflower lanyards. One thing we are really grateful for is that my son loves flying. The downside is that our flight tomorrow is at 11pm so we won’t land until 2am Sunday morning.
Load More Replies... Sabrina 4 months ago
Why don't the airlines check the seat if it is broken or not, instead of letting them board to find they can't seat there and make people switch seats? It is not the passenger's fault or the crew's fault, it is the airline's fault for making sure the seat is not spoiled. -
Scott Rackley 4 months ago
She has a airline problem, not another passenger problem. Take it up with the airline.
Suby 4 months ago
True. I've never had that issue with United, Lufthansa, or Delta.
Load More Replies... ॐBoyGanesh 4 months ago (edited)
I’m a cousin Greg to a great-grandfather who founded an airline that, in some iteration, is still in service. My family line is tangential. I fly partial transpacific on Fridays & Mondays. I fly long-haul quarterly. There are 2 basic models to airline revenue. One is short trip, low-cost carriers. They operate in the black due to nickel & diming w/ high volume of flights. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be low-cost. On these airlines you’re getting MORE than you paid for. On mainline, 1st & Business account for ~72% of revenue. Cargo = 15%. Economy produces ~13% of a flights revenue. Wouldn’t even cover fuel & gate costs. You are 100% getting what you paid for & more. Flying is no longer elite. It’s because of these models, as dysfunctional as they are, that the vast majority of us can afford to fly. If one wants ideal seating & great service, may I recommend La Compagnie, fractional ownership or top-tier elite status. Most of us can’t afford to fly, anyways. Def not without subsidizing coach.
he_aint_heavy 4 months ago
I skimmed this because it was too dumb to read. Yeah, don't believe that all of OP's seats on every flight got jacked up, she either didn't pay or didn't do her homework. Also saying a tall 10 year old needs more room? Lol, the entitlement (if this is in anyway real) is ridiculous.
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