[missbuns]

hey,
my daughter will have turned 2 a couple weeks before our next international flight so we had to buy her a seat. it's just the two of us. i have a radian 65 seat i bought for the airplane (we use a huge RF to 4 years seat in the car which would never in a million years fit in an airplane).

now the problem is the planes were full and had stupid seat choices (united airlines). there is NO WAY my two year old will be able to sit next to a stranger. she will grab their coffee and annoy them the whole time. we're like stuck in the middle section. another flight i am not even sitting next to her, though i put her by the window. tough beans, the other person will have to move to another seat.

anyway, when i called the airline they said the carseat needs to be installed next to the window, so this is a given. i just am nervous they will try and not let us use it or else say it can be installed in the middle or something (which i have also heard).

anybody had this experience on a full plane? do they move other people to seat you and your carseat?

 

[sidandspencersmom]

they'll move people around so you can sit together-- the reason they have carseats at the window seat, is for the other passengers safety. They are thinking, if an emergency exit was needed, they don't want people being trapped, trying to crawl over and around an installed carseat.

The flight attendants should know this- but make sure you aren't in a emergency exit row, or the one behind the emergency exit row.

 

[Peony]

I had this problem on my last trip. I bought 3 seats, one for me and two for the DD's, on all the flights our seats were scattered everywhere. When I checked in they couldn't change it there, so every single flight I'd have to go up to podium tell the attendants there and they would have to rearrange seats. It was a PIA.

 

[just_lily]

I agree that it is a PIA, but most people are usually quite accomodating for young kids, and will be willing to switch their seats so you can sit together. Nobody would want to sit next to an unaccompanied 2yo, so they should be quit willing to change spots!

Have a good trip!

 

[Lisa1970]

Law says they have to move her to a place that she will fit. They say if she has a carseat, she has to be by a window. They cannot require you to not use the car seat. They will move people around to make it work. I have seen them move people around before for this reason.

 

[an_aurora]

Your car seat will fit on the plane.

They will move people to get her to the window seat. When you check in at the gate, just tell the gate agent you have a child in a car seat and need to make sure you have a window and middle seat, and they will move you.

 

[North_Of_60]

Quote:

Originally Posted by missbuns another flight i am not even sitting next to her, though i put her by the window. tough beans, the other person will have to move to another seat.

I always put DD by the window for the exact reason you stated - she'd annoy the person sitting next her. That way we have a bit of privacy with my back turned to the person next to me.

Also, don't worry about the fact that the airline has you guys sitting in sepperate seats at some point. When you get there they will over ride the system and place you guys together. We fly a lot (twice year pretty much) and the airlines are always really accomodating to us. They board us first with the seat, make sure we're together, and have always offered to help install the seat. Just get there a few minutes early and explain that the computer gave sepperate seats and they'll shuffle you arround.

 

[missbuns]

great. thanks. i have flown with her a lot but as a lap baby with a toddler seat (british airways have them and my daughter loved them) or had a whole row to ourselves by the window. i can not imagine the nightmare of sitting in the middle between two strangers. we NEED the privacy of the window seat so she can look out the window and i can entertain her without feeling stupid and most importantly she is not sitting 4 inches away from some stranger.

 

[Eclipsepearl]

I'm a former Flight Attendant and the short answer is no, the car seat doesn't have to go by a window. It can go in the center section if there are aisles on both sides.

If you will be on a single aisle plane, the good new is YES, the seat has to be by the window. Go find out if you're not sure.

If you are on a "wide body" (two aisle plane) and can't get the window, at least try to get the two seats on the aisle together. See if you can then trade. Try to do it at the gate and if not, ask yourself once on board (please don't ask the F/A to ask for you because passengers always say no to the F/A but agree more often when you ask directly). People usually like aisles more than windows so logically, two seats on the aisle are pretty "tradeable".

hth,
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

 

[Ironica]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa1970 Law says they have to move her to a place that she will fit. They say if she has a carseat, she has to be by a window. They cannot require you to not use the car seat. They will move people around to make it work. I have seen them move people around before for this reason.

FAA regulations say they have to do this... but the OP is flying internationally, and may not be subject to FAA regulations on all legs of the flight.

 

[Momily]

I wouldn't guarantee it. A woman I know online was travelling with a teenager and 5 year old triplets, one of whom was blind and had CP so severe that he couldn't talk, sit up, or move independently. He sits in a special needs carseat.

They booked far in advance and selected seats together online, and when they got to the airport found out that the airliine and reassigned their seats and put them in 5 different single seats in 5 different parts of the plane, far enough apart that none of them could see each other.

I couldn't tell which part of the story I found more horrifying.

1) That when the airline saw their mistake they didn't at the very minimum arrange things so she could sit next to her son with CP. They kept saying that it wouldn't be fair to move other people (yet they moved her).

2) That she had to "beg" people to get 2 seats together for her sons, one of which was a window to accomodate the carseat and then 3 middle seats in consecutive rows so she could see her 2 little girls. I don't like middle seats and I like sitting next to my 10 year old. He enjoys a window seat. But I wouldn't hesitate for a second to give up our seats to a mother and child with a severe disability. The only circumstances I would even hesitate would be if I had a toddler in a carseat, or someone with a similar disability, and yet she had to ask lots of different people before she found someone willing to move. How disgusting is that.

 

[Eclipsepearl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironica FAA regulations say they have to do this... but the OP is flying internationally, and may not be subject to FAA regulations on all legs of the flight.

The OP is flying United Airlines so since it's a U.S. company, FAA regs apply on all legs.

What can trip up parents with car seats is "code sharing". Often I book one company and part of my flight is on another airline. If you book Delta to Paris, you could be coming home on Air France, and therefore not be able to use the car seat.

hope that clarifies things!

 

[missbuns]

Ok, now I am nervous.

I find it unbelievable an airline would require me to purchase an adult size seat for my 24 month old tiny daughter, and then not arrange for me to sit next to her where she will be safe and comfortable in her car seat.

I will not run around the airplane begging strangers to trade seats with me. I am pregnant, with a two year old, dragging a car seat and stroller around an airport. Plus no one wants to sit in the middle sandwiched between a bunch of strangers when they have a nice window/aisle seat.

Seriously, they will have to move someone to business class or something. It's their job.

 

[missbuns]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eclipsepearl Try to do it at the gate and if not, ask yourself once on board (please don't ask the F/A to ask for you because passengers always say no to the F/A but agree more often when you ask directly). People usually like aisles more than windows so logically, two seats on the aisle are pretty "tradeable". hth, http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

I was just thinking about this and it's crazy. Isn't it the F/A's job to seat people? I remember one flight they had me and my lap baby between two strangers in bulkhead. The gate person had told me the aisle was open and I could move there. When I got to my seat it was sandwiched between to very large and unfriendly older men. I asked if the one would let us sit on the aisle and he said no.

Haha, like he wants a 17 month old all up in his coffee and pushing his online entertainment.

So I asked a couple more aisle people and they all said NO. So I freaked out and went to the FA who moved us to three seats all alone, and I had paid for one.

Anyway, this plane is full, so it makes me more nervous. I really feel like this running around and begging is not my job though.

 

[SweetPotato]

We've had several crummy experiences along these lines-- it gets me all riled up! We're flying on Northwest this Thursday-- I had selected seats online when I purchased the tickets, only to promptly receive a receipt with a note that "your requested seats are not available" and that they had reassigned us seats scatteed willy nilly- which is just 100% not acceptable (and I do need to have dd, myself, and dh all together- flying is mildly traumatic for her and she will scream bloody murder if she doesn't have us both with her) When I called, I was told that the airline holds something huge, like 40-60% of the seats until the 24 hours before departure. They have assured me that, if I phone in 24 hours before departure, they will be able to assign us seats at that time (presumably with about half the plane unassigned they should be able to find 3 together- near the front- please??) I've never knew baout that time-line before, so I'm hopingit'll work (and at least then I have a full 24 hours to wrangle with people over it, if necessary, instead of dealing with it in the plane, moments before we're scheduled to leave-- I always get so frazzled about travelling that the last thing I need is something else to stress about the day of!) Good luck!

 

[North_Of_60]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Momily I wouldn't guarantee it. A woman I know online was travelling with a teenager and 5 year old triplets, one of whom was blind and had CP so severe that he couldn't talk, sit up, or move independently. He sits in a special needs carseat. They booked far in advance and selected seats together online, and when they got to the airport found out that the airliine and reassigned their seats and put them in 5 different single seats in 5 different parts of the plane, far enough apart that none of them could see each other. I couldn't tell which part of the story I found more horrifying. 1) That when the airline saw their mistake they didn't at the very minimum arrange things so she could sit next to her son with CP. They kept saying that it wouldn't be fair to move other people (yet they moved her). 2) That she had to "beg" people to get 2 seats together for her sons, one of which was a window to accomodate the carseat and then 3 middle seats in consecutive rows so she could see her 2 little girls. I don't like middle seats and I like sitting next to my 10 year old. He enjoys a window seat. But I wouldn't hesitate for a second to give up our seats to a mother and child with a severe disability. The only circumstances I would even hesitate would be if I had a toddler in a carseat, or someone with a similar disability, and yet she had to ask lots of different people before she found someone willing to move. How disgusting is that.

I cannot believe that. I mean, I guess I can. I've seen some flight attendants trip on their power. But I mean, I'd be effing arrested for the hell I'd create before I let my children sit scattered all over the plane after having pre-selected my seats. ESPECIALLY with a special needs kid.

Having said that, I don't think the original poster needs to be worried. I've never had a problem, and I think the example above is a pretty rare case.

And I have to say, I think it's a big pile of bull that passengers should not approach the flight attendants for help with seating. It's not my job as a mother who's orcastrating a small toddler to negotiate with other passengers. Seriously.

 

[alfabetsoup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Momily I wouldn't guarantee it. A woman I know online was travelling with a teenager and 5 year old triplets, one of whom was blind and had CP so severe that he couldn't talk, sit up, or move independently. He sits in a special needs carseat. They booked far in advance and selected seats together online, and when they got to the airport found out that the airliine and reassigned their seats and put them in 5 different single seats in 5 different parts of the plane, far enough apart that none of them could see each other. I couldn't tell which part of the story I found more horrifying. 1) That when the airline saw their mistake they didn't at the very minimum arrange things so she could sit next to her son with CP. They kept saying that it wouldn't be fair to move other people (yet they moved her). 2) That she had to "beg" people to get 2 seats together for her sons, one of which was a window to accomodate the carseat and then 3 middle seats in consecutive rows so she could see her 2 little girls. I don't like middle seats and I like sitting next to my 10 year old. He enjoys a window seat. But I wouldn't hesitate for a second to give up our seats to a mother and child with a severe disability. The only circumstances I would even hesitate would be if I had a toddler in a carseat, or someone with a similar disability, and yet she had to ask lots of different people before she found someone willing to move. How disgusting is that.

Momily, do you know what airline this was? I'd like to know so I can avoid them in future.

Missbuns, we fly a lot, international and domestic, and have not had trouble getting seats together. As other posters have said, tell the gate staff that you need seats together--you'll have to let them know you need to get on first and gate-check your stroller anyway, I've always found that's a good time to alert them to your presence.

I recently flew cross-country alone with my almost 3yo and 7mo and found the gate staff and F/As nothing but helpful, even on a budget airline. Good luck with it!

 

[DahliaRW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfabetsoup Momily, do you know what airline this was? I'd like to know so I can avoid them in future. Missbuns, we fly a lot, international and domestic, and have not had trouble getting seats together. As other posters have said, tell the gate staff that you need seats together--you'll have to let them know you need to get on first and gate-check your stroller anyway, I've always found that's a good time to alert them to your presence. I recently flew cross-country alone with my almost 3yo and 7mo and found the gate staff and F/As nothing but helpful, even on a budget airline. Good luck with it!

Honestly, I've always gotten better service and nicer FA's on budget airlines, and the worst experience on major carriers. Kind of ironic!

We've never had a problem getting seats together, but we always are able to book them in advance. From what I know about northwest, you can pay extra to get seats assigned earlier or you can do it 24 hours in advance via online checkin. I would try that and then call immediately if you can't get seats together.

 

[missbuns]

I'm actually sure we can sit together--I'm just wondering if we will be booked by the window, which is the safest and most comfortable place for a 24 month old.

These flights are like 11 hours so sitting in the middle section with my daughter next to a stranger will not work.

 

[an_aurora]

Yep, they will put you by the window

It's a safety hazard having a car seat in the middle or aisle since in an emergency evacuation the passengers would have to climb over.