Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

liberal N proud

(60,289 posts)
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:10 AM Sep 2012

Airlines charging 'you-get-to-sit-with-your-kid' fee

John Parish is giving his 5-year-old daughter the birthday present every child dreams of: a trip to Disney World. But he's afraid American Airlines has booked a travel nightmare for his family and other fliers. There's only one way out of the nightmare, he was told: Pay an additional fee, months after booking the trip.

Parish bought his tickets months ago, in March, and scored three seats together on a flight from Dallas to Orlando, Fla., for his wife, Amanda, and daughter, Megan. Then, in July, bad news arrived. American Airlines had changed the flight schedule for the return trip, and it had changed the plane, too. It was a bigger plane, but no longer could the family sit together. In fact, Megan had been moved onto the other side of the plane, rows away.



There were three seats together, an American customer service agent told him. But the only way he could get them was to pay $60 in extra fees for what was now considered premium seating. Parish was outraged. But a discussion with a supervisor got him nowhere.

"What bothers me about this situation is that they are trying to charge me for something I already had paid for because they changed flight schedules," he said. "I know it's only $60, but this is a little extreme. ... It's not fair when it is literally their fault because they are changing their schedule, but they put the onus of the cost and change on the consumer."

Amanda Parish said the family had booked the trip a full seven months in advance specifically to ensure that they'd all be able to sit together.



http://redtape.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/18/13921681-airlines-playing-chicken-with-passengers-charging-you-get-to-sit-with-your-kid-fee?lite

I would be telling them that they should be paying me to sit with my kid, because God knows know one else wants to. I would make sure the airlines knew that I was going to give that kid some really messy things to do while on the flight. They would be moving heaven and earth to get that kid back next to me when I was done with them. Two can play this game of chicken.

149 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Airlines charging 'you-get-to-sit-with-your-kid' fee (Original Post) liberal N proud Sep 2012 OP
That is nuts... so they are going to thrust responsibility for these kids on complete strangers... hlthe2b Sep 2012 #1
Anyone who pays is throwing their money away. Just switch seats. Nobody wants to sit next to a leveymg Sep 2012 #27
they will though, because they don't want to have to face a young frantic child being told to sit hlthe2b Sep 2012 #46
Some people will pay extra for an assurance the plane has wings, if that's a suggested up or option. leveymg Sep 2012 #49
Yeah this happend to us - 3 separated seats cemaphonic Sep 2012 #75
Most of the time, maybe, but not always Major Nikon Sep 2012 #141
They've put us into bad seats before. Panasonic Sep 2012 #2
Until they start charging an aisle seat "convenience fee" hatrack Sep 2012 #23
The kid was probably flying for half price in the first place customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #3
I flew with my daughters to Orlando and paid for both of them. Jennicut Sep 2012 #7
Kids do not fly at half fare ever, if you book a seat you pay full fare HangOnKids Sep 2012 #52
That is what I thought. Jennicut Sep 2012 #53
I certainly never flew with mine customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #56
Gotta dig at the ex? HangOnKids Sep 2012 #65
And it might actually be true. PavePusher Sep 2012 #83
Thank you customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #107
What happened to your parenting skills? Arkansas Granny Sep 2012 #87
I had to work for a living customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #108
Are you bereft of parenting skills? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #89
Not at all customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #109
This message was self-deleted by its author Darth_Kitten Sep 2012 #117
I travel extensively, and live in the Orlando area DrDan Sep 2012 #10
+1 Iggo Sep 2012 #37
I do when I have to customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #57
Riding Greyhound is MORE dignified than flying these days. Gormy Cuss Sep 2012 #94
Good to know customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #111
If they're occupying a seat, they're paying the same fare. marmar Sep 2012 #11
I didn't know that customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #58
2-3 hours in a plane vs 2 days in a car - which would you choose DrDan Sep 2012 #64
The only problem is customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #106
wow bitter leftyohiolib Sep 2012 #14
Do you avail yourself of air travel? customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #59
no sir , i dont want my child felt up by tsa pervs . yea i know "they're just doing their jobs" leftyohiolib Sep 2012 #112
I've made lots of cross-country flights, Art_from_Ark Sep 2012 #142
customerserviceguy? trumad Sep 2012 #15
Sorry, not everybody believes customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #60
You sound like a fun dad. Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #78
Thanks for making my point customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #113
Yes, children need a completely joyless environment! Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #124
Somewhere right in between customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #125
I thought you said you have children? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #92
My children are all right around thirty customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #114
Exactly. Darth_Kitten Sep 2012 #119
heartless CreekDog Sep 2012 #17
shitty customer service? ibegurpard Sep 2012 #18
You assume things. Darth_Kitten Sep 2012 #121
Thanks for making that point customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #126
"Airlines put all kinds of people through incredible hassles, why do people who insist on travelling Brickbat Sep 2012 #22
Conveniunt omnes in miseriae meae n/t Shrek Sep 2012 #25
Argumentum conveniunt omnes in miseriae meae. Brickbat Sep 2012 #32
Maybe there's a new Greek phrase customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #61
I'm beginning to understand why America outsources its CustomerService needs... LanternWaste Sep 2012 #28
Oh, yeah, the Indians are better at it customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #63
And either way, I realize why American customer support sucks and gets sent overseas... LanternWaste Sep 2012 #85
Oh, I do a good job for them customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #115
What union are you in? obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #93
Utility Workers of America customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #116
Because people like to use their kids as an excuse? Darth_Kitten Sep 2012 #118
Kids pay full fair once they turn two alcibiades_mystery Sep 2012 #29
As I said above customerserviceguy Sep 2012 #105
Children do not fly for half price obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #91
That has to be something that happened in the last 20 years DFW Sep 2012 #120
I think the problem is the fact he booked months in advance... YellowRubberDuckie Sep 2012 #110
Kids, flying at 1/2 fare? You're joking? mwooldri Sep 2012 #134
You do know that many people fly with children because they feel they must? riderinthestorm Sep 2012 #138
F the airlines. n/t RKP5637 Sep 2012 #4
Dallas to Orlando? BFD. What's the flight time on that? jberryhill Sep 2012 #5
a 5 year old? CreekDog Sep 2012 #19
yeah mercuryblues Sep 2012 #96
Because that is just so tremendously likely jberryhill Sep 2012 #97
It is likely enough mercuryblues Sep 2012 #99
Let me know when you have an actual probability figure jberryhill Sep 2012 #100
gee mercuryblues Sep 2012 #103
Most children who are molested know their attacker mythology Sep 2012 #102
wow mercuryblues Sep 2012 #104
You really think so? Major Nikon Sep 2012 #145
2 hours and change Major Nikon Sep 2012 #146
We need to pass some laws to stop the airline BS such as this... JCMach1 Sep 2012 #6
The easy fix is to have one parent swap seats with the little girl so that avebury Sep 2012 #8
Thanks! I thought I was the only one. mikeytherat Sep 2012 #12
What if there is only one parent flying? marmar Sep 2012 #13
Trust me, if the child becomes to annoying or avebury Sep 2012 #24
The aircrew will switch people around so kids can be with a parent. No charge. leveymg Sep 2012 #31
The father said he could switch seats csziggy Sep 2012 #69
Annoying fugop Sep 2012 #9
I think the bigger point of the story is--- trumad Sep 2012 #16
I agree gollygee Sep 2012 #20
IN the best of all possible worlds, yes fugop Sep 2012 #33
Well---I fly over 100,000 per year... trumad Sep 2012 #45
"Just started"? jberryhill Sep 2012 #127
Delta trumad Sep 2012 #132
Ah, my condolences jberryhill Sep 2012 #135
I almost exclusively fly SW nowadays. Baggage is free, you can change your flight for free riderinthestorm Sep 2012 #147
bottom line with this story ibegurpard Sep 2012 #21
That would work fugop Sep 2012 #36
I wouldn't pay for the extra fees zen_bohemian Sep 2012 #26
actually the kid wouldn't necessarily be sitting by herself. one of the parents would. eom ellenfl Sep 2012 #30
They did that to us in August. Fresh_Start Sep 2012 #34
Calcel the fugging trip malaise Sep 2012 #35
My BiPolar Adult daughter HockeyMom Sep 2012 #38
That was the last straw for me. My kids and I rode AMTRAK home from the West coast. qb Sep 2012 #39
We love Amtrak to Disney. It's a great option. nt msanthrope Sep 2012 #67
There is no direct line from Dallas to Orlando csziggy Sep 2012 #73
Epic fail no_hypocrisy Sep 2012 #40
If they moved her next to two unaccompanied males perhaps they'd be forced to move 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #41
Oh good gawd give it a fucking rest! Iggo Sep 2012 #42
What? I always try to look for a silver lining. 4th law of robotics Sep 2012 #43
Okay, I'll give you that. Iggo Sep 2012 #44
Perhaps they've also considering making money with a "sit next to someone else's kid" fee hughee99 Sep 2012 #70
These changes have been made since I left American, but ... justice1 Sep 2012 #47
You never had it so good. Peni Sep 2012 #48
That is one airline I would avoid at all possibilities. liberal N proud Sep 2012 #50
My family went through this with United FreeJoe Sep 2012 #51
No link to the video? justice1 Sep 2012 #54
Gee Reading Isn't Enough? HangOnKids Sep 2012 #55
I think this was a joke about "United Breaks Guitars" ProdigalJunkMail Sep 2012 #62
Sorry, NO, the poster has already been defending United HangOnKids Sep 2012 #66
like I said... take it any way you want ProdigalJunkMail Sep 2012 #71
Big Streak Of Passive Agrressive There Dude HangOnKids Sep 2012 #77
hahaha...bully ProdigalJunkMail Sep 2012 #95
Thank-you justice1 Sep 2012 #88
When I've flown United in recent years, it's been a bad experience. Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #79
Um, why does the 5 year old have to take the separated seat? Matariki Sep 2012 #68
Do we know if the parents are even sitting together? NotThisTime Sep 2012 #74
How much is the "sit-next-to-a-sexual-predator" lawsuit? Hugabear Sep 2012 #72
Some of the people who run airlines Mopar151 Sep 2012 #80
In Australia, airlines won't let unaccompanied minors sit next to unrelated adult men KamaAina Sep 2012 #84
I WILL PAY MORE FOR PARENTS TO SIT WITH THEIR KIDS AND NOT WITH ME!!!!!! luvspeas Sep 2012 #76
How hard is it to arrange seats that are all together? Nikia Sep 2012 #81
What I want to know is why american marlakay Sep 2012 #82
Coming up next: pay toilets KamaAina Sep 2012 #86
This is just asking for a lawsuit obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #90
They already had the seats. geardaddy Sep 2012 #98
Happened to me Samjm Sep 2012 #101
Airlines in the States are trying ANYTHING to advertise artificially low fares DFW Sep 2012 #122
I don't like to fly, but British Airways has always been my favorite carrier. smirkymonkey Sep 2012 #130
I must say about BA DFW Sep 2012 #131
this sux, BUT blueamy66 Sep 2012 #123
This is a huge pet issue for me -- write your congresscritter OmahaBlueDog Sep 2012 #128
I had not thought of it that way liberal N proud Sep 2012 #129
The parents wanted a free upgrade for the child. justice1 Sep 2012 #133
The first priority the airlines have is the safety of the passengers. Period. OmahaBlueDog Sep 2012 #136
If that's the case, than the government needs to change the way is handles transportation. justice1 Sep 2012 #140
We too have traveled to several National Parks OmahaBlueDog Sep 2012 #148
That's one of the reasons why you have flight attendants Major Nikon Sep 2012 #144
Strikes me someone saw an opportunity to extort and extra $60. /nt TheMadMonk Sep 2012 #137
happened to us too, with my grandson, who threw up all over everything as we were landing. Hamlette Sep 2012 #139
No offense, if I were the passenger next to the sick child, the air line wouldn't hear the end of it liberal N proud Sep 2012 #143
Sit with my kids? I thought this was a vacation??? nt :) TeamPooka Sep 2012 #149

hlthe2b

(101,540 posts)
1. That is nuts... so they are going to thrust responsibility for these kids on complete strangers...
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:13 AM
Sep 2012

I am certainly not anti-child, but I resent the hell out of an airline's assumptions that they can just force other passengers to deal with someone else's kids. That is nuts.

leveymg

(36,418 posts)
27. Anyone who pays is throwing their money away. Just switch seats. Nobody wants to sit next to a
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:00 AM
Sep 2012

fidgeting 5 year old for several hours, except parents. Even without that incentive, people are normally happy to switch seats, if asked.

hlthe2b

(101,540 posts)
46. they will though, because they don't want to have to face a young frantic child being told to sit
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 10:58 AM
Sep 2012

with strangers.

leveymg

(36,418 posts)
49. Some people will pay extra for an assurance the plane has wings, if that's a suggested up or option.
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 11:52 AM
Sep 2012

But, in reality, this is not a problem in the real world, and nobody who has air travel experience would pay extra for it.

cemaphonic

(4,138 posts)
75. Yeah this happend to us - 3 separated seats
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 02:05 PM
Sep 2012

We just asked the person in one of the adjacent seats if she would rather swap, or sit next to an unattended 5-year-old. Easy decision.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
141. Most of the time, maybe, but not always
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 05:14 AM
Sep 2012

Some seats like the front row in coach or the exit rows are considered premium and you pay extra for them. It's not likely anyone in those are going to want to trade. Even before they started charging extra for them I had a guy flatly refuse to swap seats with my wife so she could sit next to our daughter who was a toddler at the time. Fortunately a very assertive stewardess told him he could either swap or leave and he threw a whiny fit over it that would rival anything I've seen come out of a kid. After two weather delays and endless other nightmares on that trip, I bought a plane and we never rode together as a family on a domestic commercial flight again.

 

Panasonic

(2,921 posts)
2. They've put us into bad seats before.
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:14 AM
Sep 2012

For example, they put us one row behind the emergency exit, so I could not recline (as if I wanted to), and the return flight after our original one was cancelled (they assigned us the same row again on the original flight and I was going to ask them to change it - and the flight that I was rebooked had our seat two rows from the lavatory, and too many people were bumping on my wife.

Next time I'll take the aisle.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
3. The kid was probably flying for half price in the first place
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:14 AM
Sep 2012

Airlines put all kinds of people through incredible hassles, why do people who insist on travelling with children think they have a right to be exempt from that?

If they charged full fare for kids, and stopped letting the screaming seat-kicking infants ride for free, folks like the Parishes would just drive from Dallas to Orlando, and we'd all be happier.

Jennicut

(25,415 posts)
7. I flew with my daughters to Orlando and paid for both of them.
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:28 AM
Sep 2012

They were 2 and 3. I don't think airlines let you pay anything but the full fare for children that are that girl's age (6). Maybe babies on your lap? That is about it.

 

HangOnKids

(4,291 posts)
52. Kids do not fly at half fare ever, if you book a seat you pay full fare
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 12:59 PM
Sep 2012

The poster you replied to is full of crap. Only an infant gets to fly on your lap and that is charged as one seat. If your kid puts their butt in a seat their fare is the same as an adult. Customer service guy obviously doesn't have any kids.

Jennicut

(25,415 posts)
53. That is what I thought.
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 01:02 PM
Sep 2012

And my kids were well behaved on that flight too. Actually, they loved flying. I hated it.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
56. I certainly never flew with mine
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 07:15 AM
Sep 2012

If we had to go someplace, we piled into the car, and ate at the fast food places or Denny's, I didn't inflict my kids (with their mother's poor parenting skills) on other people, not like what happens today.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
107. Thank you
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 07:11 AM
Sep 2012

In fact, after we were divorced, she wanted to remarry, but with a convicted child rapist. I had to go to court to try to keep my youngest two away from this monster. She eventually married him after the last child turned eighteen.

She deserves the digs.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
108. I had to work for a living
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 07:12 AM
Sep 2012

and her "skills" were the primary ones they saw after the divorce. Men don't get treated as equals by the courts when it comes to child custody.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
109. Not at all
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 07:15 AM
Sep 2012

I was able to get custody of our middle child ten years after the divorce. At his mother's, he had to go to summer school to be able to pass from the 7th to the 8th grade, and had a police record. Five years with me, and not only was our town's police chief his friend (he worked on neighborhood projects that the whole community got involved in) but he was accepted to both state universities.

Of course, her wanting to marry a convicted pedophile was what really gave me a shot at the boy. If that hadn't happened, the courts would have left him with her.

Response to HangOnKids (Reply #52)

DrDan

(20,411 posts)
10. I travel extensively, and live in the Orlando area
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:41 AM
Sep 2012

I have heard the "screaming . . . infants" more times than I care to remember.

But - I would prefer sitting next to one of these than you. If adults who feel they should not be bothered by these kids would drive instead, I think many of us would be happier.

do you ever fly on a non-full fare ticket? I bet you do.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
57. I do when I have to
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 07:18 AM
Sep 2012

But lately, I've managed to channel enough spending through my United credit card to get first class with miles instead of money. You avoid a lot of other indignities that way, too.

My point is, flying has become almost as undignified as riding the Greyhound bus, people with kids should expect to suffer from that, too. Just because they decided to procreate does not give them and their progeny some sort of special privileges in our society, and today's parents don't seem to understand that.

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)
94. Riding Greyhound is MORE dignified than flying these days.
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 04:27 PM
Sep 2012

Seats are plusher and have more legroom. No one noses through your carryon-- you just bring it on board. Curbside checkin is the norm. Seats aren't assigned in advance and groups traveling together can usually sit together. Some bus lines even show films and have jacks for audio.

Of course, there are no first class seats on intercity buses.

Your point asserting that it's some special privilege to accommodate seating at least one parent with a child is short-sighted. Do you want to sit for hours next to a five year old who's overtired, or who is ill-mannered, or upset to be surrounding by strangers and away from a person they trust? I don't and I also don't think it's my responsibility to switch seats just because the airline tried and failed to extort a fee from the child's parents.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
111. Good to know
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 07:20 AM
Sep 2012

I haven't been on a Greyhound bus since college days back in the Seventies.

I just don't think it's a good idea to take kids on to an aircraft, especially the cross-country runs I do twice a year. Most parents don't have a clue how to get little Junior tired enough to sleep on the flight, and they've done such a bad job of parenting that the little tykes think that they can have anything they want. Sometimes a raised eyebrow or disapproving look will get them to take their kid aside in a restroom for a talking-to, or even get them to leave, but that's just not possible in the confined space of an aircraft.

This article is about how THEY feel put out, the fact is that the airlines put us all out every time we fly. Their grievance is no more significant than anyone else's.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
58. I didn't know that
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 07:19 AM
Sep 2012

And the folks here have so educated me as to that fact. Which makes it even more amazing to me that a couple will pay that much money to stick themselves and their 2-3 kids in a tin can and cross the country that way.

DrDan

(20,411 posts)
64. 2-3 hours in a plane vs 2 days in a car - which would you choose
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 07:37 AM
Sep 2012

and please also consider this from the perspective of the children. They can be entertained with a coloring book etc quite easily for a couple of hours.

Think, from their perspective, of 2 days in a car.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
106. The only problem is
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 07:09 AM
Sep 2012

most of them don't really know how to be entertained for anywhere near that long by their Sesame Street shortened attention spans.

One exception I see is kids who have a smartphone, they can sit for hours without disturbing anyone in a restaurant, etc. But that really doesn't happen much with the under five set.

Art_from_Ark

(27,247 posts)
142. I've made lots of cross-country flights,
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 05:59 AM
Sep 2012

as well as trans-Pacific flights, and I've never had any problems with unruly kids. In fact, I prefer to sit by kids since they won't be taking up both their space and part of mine, too. In the unlikely event that they are making noise, I just plug in my iPod.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
60. Sorry, not everybody believes
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 07:21 AM
Sep 2012

that all children are god's angels on this earth. Maybe your experience differs from mine.

 

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)
124. Yes, children need a completely joyless environment!
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 10:54 AM
Sep 2012

Gosh, I wonder why you've had problems with your kids ... hmmm ...

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
125. Somewhere right in between
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 09:52 AM
Sep 2012

"a completely joyless environment" that I never called for, and the indulgent style of parenting that is too often seen these days, there's a happy medium.

obamanut2012

(25,869 posts)
92. I thought you said you have children?
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 04:16 PM
Sep 2012

Wow. Just wow.

I'm child-free, very happily so, and I don't have a negative mindset about kids. It's a bit appalling a parent does.

I tend to think your ex probably has quite good parenting skills.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
114. My children are all right around thirty
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 07:19 AM
Sep 2012

The lady I live with now (and have for over five years) had a few regrets about never having had kids, but she's seen my experience, and has decided that it isn't always a bowl of cherries. Procreating is overrated, and my experience with going through the whole thing is what produces my present attitude.

Maybe you'd change your mind about my ex's parenting skills if you could read the custody trial I went through ten years after the divorce to get my youngest two away from her when she went to remarry a convicted child rapist. There's all kinds of stuff in there how she doctor-shopped to keep my oldest on Ritalin that she was trying to use as a substitute parent.

Not a bowl of cherries, indeed.

ibegurpard

(16,685 posts)
18. shitty customer service?
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:59 AM
Sep 2012

just spread it to everyone! problem solved.
your "name" is pretty funny by the way...

Darth_Kitten

(14,192 posts)
121. You assume things.
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 07:48 AM
Sep 2012

Customer service reps have to deal with a whole load of people each and every day. Most are fine, you can deal with them like normal human beings.
Others are petulant, annoying, frustrating, selfish, confused whiners who will pull out every trick in the book to try to get their way.
The fun ones are those who use their kids as an excuse. Right, don't pay your bills or even try to contact us for months on end, and THEN say we are out to harm/deny your precious young of the basic necessities of life. Whatever.

Customer service reps get paid to take a lot of crap.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
126. Thanks for making that point
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 09:58 AM
Sep 2012

It also seems odd that my feelings about the current state of parenting are used by some people here to look at my username and presuppose that I'm not good at the occupation described that has very little to do with my opinions on the subject at hand. When I see the Southerner-bashing that goes on here, it's clear to me that we have the same flaws as the racist, sexist homophobes on the right that we disdain.

Yes, I've certainly heard kids being used as some sort of super-excuse as to why people don't have to pay their bills. My company recognizes medical needs as the only thing that matters, and we need a letter from the person's doctor. But, I live and work in an area where all kinds of folks feel they're entitled to some sort of special privileges. You should see all the pro-cop bumper stickers that indicate that a car owner has given money to police charities.

Brickbat

(19,339 posts)
22. "Airlines put all kinds of people through incredible hassles, why do people who insist on travelling
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 08:11 AM
Sep 2012

with children think they have a right to be exempt from that?"

That argument needs a Latin name. "It sucks for me, it should suck for you, too!"

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
61. Maybe there's a new Greek phrase
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 07:22 AM
Sep 2012

for "We're all screwed, why do you think that you're something special?"

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
28. I'm beginning to understand why America outsources its CustomerService needs...
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:01 AM
Sep 2012

I'm beginning to understand why America outsources its CustomerService needs...

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
63. Oh, yeah, the Indians are better at it
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 07:25 AM
Sep 2012

Maybe they "understand" when Mommy gets on the phone, and little Tad or Muffy insists on having a tantrum that Mommy feels the need to take care of, instead of what she waited on hold half an hour to deal with.

I get paid a union wage either way.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
85. And either way, I realize why American customer support sucks and gets sent overseas...
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 03:36 PM
Sep 2012

"I get paid a union wage either way..."

And either way, I realize why American customer support sucks and gets sent overseas...

(six of one, half a dozen of the other)

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
115. Oh, I do a good job for them
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 07:21 AM
Sep 2012

if they allow it to happen. As I work for a utility company, most callers expect someone far more bureaucratic than they get, and often tell me how helpful I've been.

And your support for American union jobs is duly noted.

obamanut2012

(25,869 posts)
93. What union are you in?
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 04:19 PM
Sep 2012

And, you do get how classist the "Tad and Muffy" comment is, right? Of course you do.

I bet your kids know better than to "have a tantrum," eh?

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
116. Utility Workers of America
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 07:25 AM
Sep 2012

And I didn't think I'd get grief for using those names, especially when talking about folks from the well-to-do suburbs of NYC that are in NJ. I suppose I could have said Juan and Maria when talking about the poorer folks, would that have made you feel better?

My kids are all right around thirty or so, any tantrums they have are something their spouses will have to deal with. And they did indeed have them when young, especially when I got custody of the younger two from their mother ten years after the divorce. It took awhile to get them to stop seeing chaos as the solution to life's problems.

Darth_Kitten

(14,192 posts)
118. Because people like to use their kids as an excuse?
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 07:40 AM
Sep 2012

Try working in customer service; you would be amazed at the number of people who use their kids as an excuse not to pay/be difficult/get special breaks. The parents who call for their adult children's accounts are especially annoying.

 

alcibiades_mystery

(36,437 posts)
29. Kids pay full fair once they turn two
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:01 AM
Sep 2012

and have to use their own seat.

I've never heard of a "half-fare" kids seat, and I fly with my two children fairly often, since I live far from family.

A five year old child is certainly not a "infant," and it's unlikely that a five year old would be screaming or seat kicking either, although I could see a few seat kicks.

But I'm guessing the response you've received here is the response you want, and this is only adding to your self-satisfaction.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
105. As I said above
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 07:06 AM
Sep 2012

I know that kids rode for half-fare many years ago, and like numerous posters have pointed out, it's not that way anymore.

Here's the problem: Many, if not most parental units have no desire to do any real parenting these days. They're too busy trying to be their kid's "friend" rather than an authority figure. Kids need to respect authority figures when they're young, and when they don't, it leads to juvenile delinquency, teacher burnout, and a lower quality of life for all of society.

Normally, I can avoid most situations involving them, but a six hour airplane flight is not one of those times.

DFW

(53,934 posts)
120. That has to be something that happened in the last 20 years
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 07:46 AM
Sep 2012

My children always flew for half price until they were 12 (they are 39 and 27 now).

YellowRubberDuckie

(19,736 posts)
110. I think the problem is the fact he booked months in advance...
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 07:16 AM
Sep 2012

...now because his airline decided to change the schedule and the plane, HE has to pay 60 bucks to sit with his family. That is ridiculous. And we have been giving these airline people far too much leeway and it has got to stop. You give up half of your constitutional rights just to fly? Fuck that. Unless there's an emergency, you will never find me on a plane again. EVER. They are greedy bastards who have no care for their customers. What choice have they got? You essentially hand them a credit card and then bend over for speedy travel cross country. If a few more people would just say no and stop buying nonrefundable tickets, we wouldn't have this problem.

mwooldri

(10,291 posts)
134. Kids, flying at 1/2 fare? You're joking?
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 07:20 PM
Sep 2012

It doesn't exist. Seated children pay full fare, and if there are discounts, it's generally a dollar or two... but nowhere near 1/2 fare. The airline websites ask for children's ages, in anticipation of a ticket being purchased for an unaccompanied minor - too young and cannot go - just young enough, direct flights only.

The under twos fly with an adult on their lap for the cost of taxes and fees. On long flights, those adults don't want to hang on to their kids for 8 hours or more, especially on an overnight flight. Seats are typically purchased, but those infants do have a tendency to end up on mothers' lap anyway.

When I fly with my children, it isn't a short journey. For me, it is transatlantic. I do have options though... the Queen Mary 2 still has a scheduled transatlantic crossing - at about $1000 a ticket one-way per person. Takes 7 days. Or $800 round-trip on a plane, trip taking 10-12 hours, including the business of checking in, changing flights and finally out at the relevant airports.

 

riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)
138. You do know that many people fly with children because they feel they must?
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 12:38 AM
Sep 2012

A parent is dying, custody arrangements mean the kid has to be there ON TIME....

Lots of times, driving isn't an option.

Bitter folks like you who can't spare an ounce of empathy are the problem.

And children haven't flown for half price in decades. They're paying the same freight as you and have every right to be as much of a dick as the next "customer" (hint).

 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
5. Dallas to Orlando? BFD. What's the flight time on that?
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:18 AM
Sep 2012

First, it's such a short flight, who gives a rip.

Second, this guy is going to Disney World and he's this excited over sixty bucks? Oh, they are going to have a GRAND time at Disney.

mercuryblues

(14,464 posts)
99. It is likely enough
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 05:27 PM
Sep 2012

that Quantas airline has a policy not to seat an unaccompanied minor next to a male.


Delta has been sued:

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500202_162-3366947.html


Ending up in the wrong city is nothing, though, in comparison with ending up next to a child molester. A cursory search in Lexis Nexis, a news search engine, turns up 10 instances of child molestation cases aboard airplanes from the past couple of decades, though there have almost certainly been more. It's likely that many other cases did not make the news, or were never reported by the children.


http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-07-15/news/predators-are-free-to-move-about-the-cabin/

So I wonder how many children have to be molested in the name of profit.

 

mythology

(9,527 posts)
102. Most children who are molested know their attacker
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 05:58 PM
Sep 2012

So statistically speaking we shouldn't allow their family members to be the ones to sit next to them if the concern is that they might be molested.

mercuryblues

(14,464 posts)
104. wow
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 07:11 PM
Sep 2012

so because kids are molested by family members, no big deal for a kid to get molested on a plane. If there was only some way to prevent this...Oh, yeah there is. When a family books their tickets together and arrange it so their seats are together don't wait until they are at the airport or on the plane and charge them extra to remain seated together.

http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-07-15/news/predators-are-free-to-move-about-the-cabin/

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
145. You really think so?
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 09:01 AM
Sep 2012

For one thing, Quantas policy is misandric, not to mention dumb as day old dog shit. For another thing, even if you take your number of ten and multiply it by a factor of ten (which would be a stretch), you still have only 100 instances out of 2.75 billion passengers (yearly). Those 10 instances you mentioned were almost certainly over a period of several years which would further water down the probability making it less significant than a fart in a hurricane and it means putting your unaccompanied child in an airline seat is just about the safest place on earth. Public bathrooms, public parks, restaurants, playgrounds, and millions of other places people tend to take their kids would be far less safe. Furthermore the child wouldn't have been unaccompanied because the article clearly said two out of the three were sitting together which means all they had to do was have the mother or the father switch seats with the child, or the two seats together could have been traded with just about anyone on the flight since they were premium seats (exit row, etc.) and offer more leg room.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
146. 2 hours and change
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 09:03 AM
Sep 2012

The article also said that two of the three seats were already together which means the daughter wouldn't have had to sit alone regardless.

This entire article is nothing more than media generated hype.

avebury

(10,941 posts)
8. The easy fix is to have one parent swap seats with the little girl so that
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:28 AM
Sep 2012

she sits with the other parent. Halfway through the flight the parents can swap seats. That way the girl spends part of the flight with each parent. Solution to problem with no extra money paid.

How can the father miss the obvious.

mikeytherat

(6,829 posts)
12. Thanks! I thought I was the only one.
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:45 AM
Sep 2012

My first reaction was, "Well, why doesn't one of the parents take that seat, and then the kids will always be together with a parent?"

mikey_the_rat

avebury

(10,941 posts)
24. Trust me, if the child becomes to annoying or
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 08:48 AM
Sep 2012

out of control during the flight, someone will be willing to change seats to put parent and child together.

leveymg

(36,418 posts)
31. The aircrew will switch people around so kids can be with a parent. No charge.
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:06 AM
Sep 2012

People have no problem switching seats, if you ask them. If they won't voluntarily, the crew will find a way to make that happen.

csziggy

(34,115 posts)
69. The father said he could switch seats
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 01:26 PM
Sep 2012

"Parish said that, if he had to, he planned to trade seats with his daughter so she could fly next to Mom during the flight home. It's an obvious, if not optimal, solution."

So I don't see what the big deal is, either.

fugop

(1,828 posts)
9. Annoying
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:30 AM
Sep 2012

Ok, I was annoyed for this family until I read the story. Two seats were still together; only one was moved. This guy complains as if his daughter would have to sit alone, when actually just he or his wife could sit alone. I was on his side when I thought the airline was separating all of them; now he just seems like a whiner.

 

trumad

(41,692 posts)
16. I think the bigger point of the story is---
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 07:56 AM
Sep 2012

It's not the fault of the passengers when another plane is put in rotation--- and that the airline should honor the original deal.

Having the passengers pay more money for the airlines mistake is BS in MHO.

gollygee

(22,336 posts)
20. I agree
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 08:02 AM
Sep 2012

It has to be very frustrating to take care to make sure all the seats are together only to hear they've shuffled everyone around and you have to pay more to have everyone sit together.

fugop

(1,828 posts)
33. IN the best of all possible worlds, yes
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:09 AM
Sep 2012

Then again, as with a store that runs out of the item you ordered, they can offer you either a different item or a refund. I suppose the airline could say, "Here's your money back. We didn't have enough seats filled on that plane and had to combine flights" or whatever happened, but instead, they do try to reschedule everyone onto new flights.

I don't know. I get that we pay for our flights, but airlines can't always account for scheduling. Sometimes, you have a half full plane. Sometimes, circumstances change. I frankly have more issues with the fees they charge for luggage (which is why I fly Southwest) then I do with them having to reschedule flights and only be able to get two seats together.

Again, sometimes I think we just whine about stuff that isn't worth whining about. As I tell my kids all the time, some things are worth getting worked up about. But if you get worked up about everything, no one will know when it's important anymore. The Boy Who Cried Wolf is a great teaching story. For me, this story would have made me feel bad for the people if all three of them were separated. But as long as one parent can sit with the kid for this short flight, they should teach their child that sometimes, you just have to deal with stuff and make the best of it. Otherwise, you're setting her up for a lifetime of being unhappy even when there really isin't anything to be unhappy about.

 

trumad

(41,692 posts)
45. Well---I fly over 100,000 per year...
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 10:31 AM
Sep 2012

and trust me when I say--- the airlines do shit like this all the time.... so I see a bigger picture with shit like this.

They just started adding the rip off premium seat which is not even close to being a premium seat. Wow--- a little extra leg room.

 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
135. Ah, my condolences
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 08:52 PM
Sep 2012

I'm a PHL hub hostage of US Scareways. Their FF program is pretty decent, and the Star Alliance network is worth it. It's a discount airline, but it is what it is, and it has a good employee ownership rate.

But they all suck one way or another, and will continue to suck as long as the market prefers discount tickets on Priceline, Kayak, etc. Everybody SAYS they would pay more for better service, but that's not what the market says. I'm pretty jaded about airline complaint threads on DU, because the market reality is that people will buy the cheapest ticket they can find. That's what drives the whole industry.

Take those Southwest people, f'rinstance. They line up at those crazy posts for boarding like trained monkeys. They seem pretty happy and their tickets are rock bottom.

 

riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)
147. I almost exclusively fly SW nowadays. Baggage is free, you can change your flight for free
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 11:44 AM
Sep 2012

as many times as you want as long as you do it 24 hours in advance. They're service is on time and their staff is great.

My sister just had a double kidney/liver transplant in February in San Francisco (I'm near Chicago). Between my mom and I and my other sisters, we must have changed our flights 6 times as she worked her way through recovery. With Southwest that's not even a problem.

I'll line up at the posts like a "trained monkey" any day. They've pretty well convinced me they're the best airline out there now.

ibegurpard

(16,685 posts)
21. bottom line with this story
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 08:06 AM
Sep 2012

the man made an arrangement and paid in advance for it. The airline altered it. They should honor the original arrangement or refund his money.

fugop

(1,828 posts)
36. That would work
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:12 AM
Sep 2012

But do you really think he'd want the refund? He'd rather have a refund out of principle and skip the trip just because the airline had to move the seats around? Two seats are still together. One member of his family will sit elsewhere (and, frankly, it's rare that you can't find someone who wouldn't switch to let the third member sit with the family).

Airlines sometimes have to reschedule flights. My guess is that this possibility is in the agreement when you buy the ticket. Shit happens. I just don't get this story.

Now if you want to launch a movement to stop the fees for luggage, I'm your girl!

zen_bohemian

(417 posts)
26. I wouldn't pay for the extra fees
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 08:59 AM
Sep 2012

Once the plane is up and going the person sitting next to the kid may trade places with the parent, or is that still allowed? It's been many years since my experience of flying from California to Minnesota on a plane with small kids, they got to sit together, I was about 5 rows away. The man who was sitting next to them offered to trade places with me so I could sit with them.

Fresh_Start

(11,330 posts)
34. They did that to us in August.
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:10 AM
Sep 2012

I thought it was disgusting but I paid so my kid didn't have to feel uncomfortable.

 

HockeyMom

(14,337 posts)
38. My BiPolar Adult daughter
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:14 AM
Sep 2012

I had to fly with, and sit with her, when she moved to Florida and then back to NY. She gets panic attacks being in small, confined spaces for long time periods. It isn't just on planes, but in a car too. While she did take meds before the flights (driving 24+ hours would have been worse), I had to sit next to her to try to keep her mind off where she was. I doubt a stranger would have enjoyed sitting next to her either for 3 hours,

Fly JET BLUE instead of these other airlines. Besides being cheaper, you pick your own seats when you book your flight.

qb

(5,924 posts)
39. That was the last straw for me. My kids and I rode AMTRAK home from the West coast.
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:22 AM
Sep 2012

Fortunately, most of our relatives are nearby. For longer trips I will definitely look for non-airline options.

csziggy

(34,115 posts)
73. There is no direct line from Dallas to Orlando
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 01:46 PM
Sep 2012

The train that used to go from New Orleans to Jacksonville has been cancelled for many years. It was originally stopped "temporarily" after the barge hit the bridge and an Amtrak train went into the bayou. But it never permanently resumed.

To get from Dallas to Orlando, the family would have to go from Dallas to Chicago, Chicago to Washington (or Virginia), then to Orlando. And it would take two days, instead of getting there the same day.

For years I've wanted to take an Amtrak trip but from Tallahassee, Florida, I'd have to drive to Orlando or Jacksonville to catch the train, instead of being able to take it from here in town, like it should be possible. Even then, rather than being able to go straight to New Orleans, I'd have to take a round about route.

My dream trip would be to take the train through the Rockies to Seattle, and the other way through the Canadian Rockies from Vancouver. I guess I would have to add time to my plan so I can go out of Toronto or a Northeastern city rather than the route my Dad's family used to take from Central Florida, New Orleans, Chicago to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

 

4th law of robotics

(6,801 posts)
41. If they moved her next to two unaccompanied males perhaps they'd be forced to move
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:58 AM
Sep 2012

since all men are pedophiles eager to molest children on crowded airplanes* and the girl could sit next to her parents.

*http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-incidents/nurse-humiliated-by-qantas-policy-20120813-243t4.html

hughee99

(16,113 posts)
70. Perhaps they've also considering making money with a "sit next to someone else's kid" fee
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 01:26 PM
Sep 2012

for pedophiles.

justice1

(795 posts)
47. These changes have been made since I left American, but ...
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 11:09 AM
Sep 2012

It sounds like mom and dad might have status, and were given premium seats,on the bigger plane and didn't want to pay to have their child sit with them. Nor did they want to move to the back of the plane, to sit with the child.

Peni

(2 posts)
48. You never had it so good.
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 11:24 AM
Sep 2012

While I know quite a few parents who would be relieved the airline sat their kids somewhere else, I have little sympathy for these people. you should all try living in the U.K. and flying in the cattle truck that is Ryanair.

FreeJoe

(1,039 posts)
51. My family went through this with United
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 12:47 PM
Sep 2012

My wife and two sons (then ages 8 and 11) lost their seat assignements on a three hour flight because United changed planes. They made no effort at all (aside from offering to sell them expensive seat upgrades) to reseat them together. All three flew in different parts of the plane. United is now my last choice of airlines. They hate to fly and it shows. They also break guitars.

ProdigalJunkMail

(12,017 posts)
62. I think this was a joke about "United Breaks Guitars"
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 07:24 AM
Sep 2012

the music video... but you can take it any way you like.



sP
 

HangOnKids

(4,291 posts)
66. Sorry, NO, the poster has already been defending United
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 01:14 PM
Sep 2012

On different fronts. Thanks for chirping in though.

ProdigalJunkMail

(12,017 posts)
71. like I said... take it any way you want
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 01:32 PM
Sep 2012

being wrong is ok ... regardless of what was said in other parts of the thread the video comment was about this.

sP

 

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)
79. When I've flown United in recent years, it's been a bad experience.
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 02:13 PM
Sep 2012

Employee morale must be very low there, because the workers I encountered were pretty bitter and towards customers.

Matariki

(18,775 posts)
68. Um, why does the 5 year old have to take the separated seat?
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 01:20 PM
Sep 2012

Why not have one of the adults take that seat? I think the guy got pissed off because the whole family isn't seated together and called the press. It has more emotional weight if little Megan is being forced to sit by herself.

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
72. How much is the "sit-next-to-a-sexual-predator" lawsuit?
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 01:36 PM
Sep 2012

This sounds like a horrible idea from every possible angle. It's a public relations nightmare, and a potential legal nightmare as well.

Mopar151

(9,954 posts)
80. Some of the people who run airlines
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 02:19 PM
Sep 2012

Pull the wings off flies every afternoon, for the calming effect. They watch screaming customer/overwhelmed ticket agent security videos like porn, and trade them with their buddies.

 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
84. In Australia, airlines won't let unaccompanied minors sit next to unrelated adult men
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 03:35 PM
Sep 2012

for whatever reason, it's only men.

Nikia

(11,411 posts)
81. How hard is it to arrange seats that are all together?
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 02:51 PM
Sep 2012

I know that they had to combine two planes so it might have been a little harder, but not much considering that there are usually several people traveling alone. Some people are talented at solving problems like this and there might even be software to help. It sounds like a money making scheme: purposely separate groups of families or other people traveling together and charge more so they can sit together. Unless there is a full plane and you bought the last tickets that day, pretty much all groups should be able to be seated together without any special fees.

marlakay

(11,351 posts)
82. What I want to know is why american
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 03:13 PM
Sep 2012

couldn't switch the child with one of the parents, then an adult could sit alone. The whole thing stinks but that is the very least they could do to fix things without charging more.

Or they should wave the fee…

The whole thing is BS….I am like the mom who plans early to get certain seats.

I set up an aisle seat on flight to hawaii because i have bad back and need extra space to stretch legs, this was on United and I set it up 9 months in advance to get good seat. Then day of trip the two people next to me who set up tickets a few weeks ahead whined and complained their mom (they were 40's mom 60ish) wasn't with them (in my seat!) they made such a stink that they were given free drink coupons and many apologies because i refused to sit in the middle seat in middle of plane since I have bad back.

I never complained or said anything until stewardess dropped ice all over me and didn't say sorry. Then I only asked her to pick up on floor so passengers wouldn't trip on it. I was given dirty looks the whole flight...

I wrote letter to United and got prewritten form letter with sorry but not even a free drink for next flight.

I have never flown them since nor will I….

Airlines need to realize that if you are treated like cattle, you have a choice and can go elsewhere!

 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
86. Coming up next: pay toilets
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 03:39 PM
Sep 2012

Seriesly.

http://www.boston.com/travel/blog/2010/04/ryanair_moves_a.html

Ryanair confirmed that it is working with Boeing on design changes that will allow the discount carrier to install pay toilets on 168 planes.

Last year Michael O'Leary, the aggressive, bombastic chief of the British discount carrier, said that he wanted to start charging passengers to use the toilet but that Boeing hadn't developed an effective locking system yet. At the time, some analysts said they weren't sure whether O'Leary was serious or poking fun at his own reputation for creating fees for all kinds of conveniences and services. Ryanair currently levies booking fees, baggage handling charges, and it charges for all food and drink on board.


Samjm

(320 posts)
101. Happened to me
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 05:50 PM
Sep 2012

We saved up for 4 years to go visit family on the other side of the world. My husband, myself, my then 4 yr old daughter and my 1.5yr old daughter (without her own seat, flying as a lap child). On our return flight, despite having picked seats next to each other when booking, we were told they couldn't give us those seats and wanted us all to sit separately. Yeah, I threw a fit. This is an 18 hour flight. And you want my 4 yr old to fend for herself the entire time? I don't think so.

It is not special treatment to move people around so they can sit with their kids. It is just plain common sense.

DFW

(53,934 posts)
122. Airlines in the States are trying ANYTHING to advertise artificially low fares
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 08:10 AM
Sep 2012

And they tack on about 150% or more of the air fare in charges. Before the law was changed, a carrier here in Germany charged one euro each way to inaugurate the new route of Düsseldorf to Copenhagen. I said what the hell, sure, so I booked a one day round trip. Sure enough--one euro each way--plus about 80 euros of charges (still cheap, but not one euro each way.

I see the next step as the airlines first asking if you want to travel with your kids. Say yes, and it'll cost you, Say no, and that'll cost you, too.

They already have pay pillows and pay blankets, I hear. Pay toilets? Sure, why not? Next will be pay polite flight attendants. Otherwise you get a flight attendant who just got out of jail after serving ten years for an assault-with-intent-to-kill conviction. Then it's $5 per shoe if you want to wear shoes on board, and $6 per shoe if you want to store them to avoid the $5 fee.

I'm waiting for the advent of NOBS (No B S)Airlines. Whatever the fare is, it's what you pay. Not 250% in subsequent hidden fees. Two pieces of luggage per passenger? fine. Seat reservation for your class of service? Anywhere you want while they last. Drinks for flights under an hour. Snacks (low fat) for flights 1 to 2 hours, and hot meals for flights lasting longer. It'll cost the airline plenty to offer that, and the fare will be higher than published fares of the standard airlines. But they will be lower than many published "low" fares after they get done piling on fees right and left.

I've been on flights in the USA where they charged me more in luggage fees than the flight cost. I HATE flying domestic in the USA. Over here, it's a mix of Air France, Air Berlin, British Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss and KLM. I REALLY hope they don't study the American or United model too closely.

Both American and United have done evil numbers on some of my guitars, as well, so that was one song I could REALLY relate to.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
130. I don't like to fly, but British Airways has always been my favorite carrier.
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 11:06 AM
Sep 2012

I only wish they flew domestically in the US.

DFW

(53,934 posts)
131. I must say about BA
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 02:36 PM
Sep 2012

I hadn't taken them transatlantic for about 13 years. I was VERY impressed by the improvement in their service, and the free food in their lounge in Heathrow Terminal 5 resembled a $40 dinner buffet (it helps that I love Indian food). I am platinum for life on Air France, so I still usually take them, but the fact the BA has better food, more comfortable seats, and flies nonstop to Dallas (AF does not) is REALLY tempting, I have to admit.

 

blueamy66

(6,795 posts)
123. this sux, BUT
Fri Sep 21, 2012, 08:28 AM
Sep 2012

just let Megan sit with one of her parents and let the other parent move seats

or talk to the gate agent or flight attendant...I'm sure it would work out

OmahaBlueDog

(10,000 posts)
128. This is a huge pet issue for me -- write your congresscritter
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 10:27 AM
Sep 2012

To me, this chould clearly be an FAA issue. It's straight up safety. By separating young children from families, you potentially endanger the kids and nearby passengers in a state of emergency on the plane. Kids under 10 should be seated with parents. Period.

The burden needs to be placed on the airlines to make this happen, as it is their responsibility to provide safe aircraft.

justice1

(795 posts)
133. The parents wanted a free upgrade for the child.
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 04:21 PM
Sep 2012

Rather than insisting the child sit in premier seating, all the parents had to do was sit in standard coach. The computer might give an elite passenger a free upgrade, when it's available, but the passenger doesn't have to accept it.

When I started with the airlines, almost every seat was open to the public, which made it difficult to seat special passengers. Meaning special needs, unaccompanied minors etc., without upsetting other passengers by moving them, and it helps with delays.

OmahaBlueDog

(10,000 posts)
136. The first priority the airlines have is the safety of the passengers. Period.
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 12:13 AM
Sep 2012

Placing a child under 10 away from his or her parents is an unacceptable safety hazard under any circumstance, and it should be incumbent on the airline to fix it -- even if they have to put the passengers in first class to do so. They know the ages of the passengers when they sell the tickets. If they cant seat the passengers together in this circumstance, don't sell the tickets.

justice1

(795 posts)
140. If that's the case, than the government needs to change the way is handles transportation.
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 01:49 AM
Sep 2012

I just traveled to several national parks, my child and I were separated by more than 10 feet on shuttles. Why not implement your rule on all forms of transportation? Why single out airlines?

Getting back to my original point, he could have had 3 seats together in coach, without a problem. Instead, he chose to run to the media, and insinuate, they were anti-family, because he couldn't get his daughter a free upgrade. That is not the same thing, as the airline refusing to let them sit together.

OmahaBlueDog

(10,000 posts)
148. We too have traveled to several National Parks
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 03:23 PM
Sep 2012

I've never been more than 10' away from my kids on any form of transportation upon which we all travelled. My 15 year old would be fine on a plane by herself at this point. Our 8 year old stays with us until further notice.

If they could have had three seats together in coach, then I agree they should have taken them. I had Continental try to make me pay a change fee to sit next to my daughter, who was (IIRC) 4 at the time. The cause was that they changed plane types, causing our original seat selections to go out the window. We got it fixed, but we should not have had to.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
144. That's one of the reasons why you have flight attendants
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 08:17 AM
Sep 2012

They are trained to get everyone off the aircraft efficiently to include the elderly, disabled, and children.

Hamlette

(15,384 posts)
139. happened to us too, with my grandson, who threw up all over everything as we were landing.
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 01:48 AM
Sep 2012

No one could get up because we were landing. Few more incidents like that might make them change their policy.

liberal N proud

(60,289 posts)
143. No offense, if I were the passenger next to the sick child, the air line wouldn't hear the end of it
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 08:07 AM
Sep 2012

The would be paying demanding some perks to continue to fly that airline and to keep my mouth shut.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Airlines charging 'you-ge...