Fees for Families?

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FAQ Friday is back, and this time — we’re tackling an issue that was in the news:

I purchased four tickets from tri-cities to Orlando months ago. I was told that I could have my family seated together. My wife and I have a 7-year old and a 5-year old. When I got my seat assignments, we were not together. I was told to call within 24 hours of flight and it would be taken care of. I called today and now am told it will be an additional $10 per ticket! My children have never flown before and may not get to now. They will be terrified if we cannot sit together and we will not go if this cannot be taken care of. Can they do this?

Robert of Kingsport, TN.

Dear Robert,

First of all, how awesome that this will be your kids first flight. I’ll never forget mine! But, without further adieu, onto the question and media debacle at hand.

The media has been reporting that airlines are now charging “fees” for families to sit together.. and allow me to be the first to call them out on this: THAT’S SIMPLY NOT TRUE! No airline has initiated collecting fees so a family can sit together. None of them. United no longer allows families to pre-board, but that’s it! The media is taking an old news story and spinning it into something else. For years now airlines have been charging extra for Choice Seats. These seats are usually the windows and aisles for the first 10 or so rows, as well as the bulkhead and exit seats. They can charge more these seats because most travelers want to sit there. Whether its the leg room, not a middle, close to the front, over the wing, or whatever — airlines know they can get the money from these seats so they sell them usually around $5-$35 more.

So, because those seats are not allowed to be selected (because the fee hasn’t been paid) there’s now LESS seats to choose from in the coach cabin, and even less together. That’s where the media got this idea from that there’s a “fee for families” but it’s simply not the case.

What you can do to fix your situation is talk to an agent the airport. Sometimes airlines “block” a row of seats together for situations such as yours. Additionally, you can check online 23 hours prior to departure and check the seatmap again. By now folks may have “upgraded” into those choice seats, into first class, etc., and more seats in coach are free and maybe even some together.

When you make your next reservation, in the future, get seat assignments right away. Avoid flying on airlines which don’t offer assigned seating until day-of (Southwest is different, they have an open seating policy and they allow families to board after zone A regardless of their boarding zone to ensure they’ll be together), to ensure you’ll be able to sit together and not have to worry about it a month prior to your trip.

Have fun in Orlando!

Bobby

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  • flutiefan

    Bobby, please keep in mind that the Family Boarding for Southwest is only when families have a child under the age of 5. if the children are 5 & older, they are to board in their regular groups. now, the vast majority of families can still check in 24 hrs prior to departure and reasonably assume they’ll get either a high A or a low B group.  but families really don’t need to worry until they hit the C group.

    • http://upupandagay.com Bobby Laurie

      That is true. But it’s rare for a family to be separated on SWA. Unless they check in late or arrive at the gate late.

  • Tonivitanza

    Here’s my take. If choosing a seat in advance requires an additional charge, PAY IT. It’s not a penalty against families; it’s a charge for seat selection. So pay it! Stop going around saying that this or that airline “hates” families or “discriminates” against families. You insist on staying together, that’s understandable; what’s not understandable is that so many families think that because they ARE families that they shouldn’t have to pay for this privilege. Do NOT go on board and expect or demand that someone who either booked earlier, has status with the airline or paid more for seat selection will switch with you. They might; they probably WILL, eventually. But they shouldn’t have to, esp. if it means giving up a preferred aisle or window seat to sit in the aisle seat you’ve been assigned. And if you ask and they don’t want to, don’t be mean to them afterward. There are all kinds of very good reasons why people select a certain seat: Sundown or sunrise, left-handed, bad right knee, superstitious about seat numbers, whatever, and they don’t have to explain it to you or anyone. If someone DOES agree to switch, then at least buy them a drink or a set of headphones for the movie. You might even bring on a small box of candy or something for the person that does switch. And if the $20 to $40 is making that big of a difference in your plans that you would actually forfeit flying because of it (which will cost you even more) then you can’t afford to fly and shouldn’t be doing it! What if there is a weather diversion and you have to pay for a hotel room for the night for the four of you? How will you cope then? 

    • http://upupandagay.com Bobby Laurie

      What she said! :)

    • Tonivitanza

      And I meant to type But they shouldn’t have to, esp. if it means giving up a preferred aisle or window seat to sit in the MIDDLE seat you’ve been assigned. 

  • Tonivitanza

    And why on earth should your children be “terrified”? This is a flight to MCO you booked months ago. It’s gonna be FILLED w/families just like yours. Your kids are 5 and 7. Even if they sit next to some other kid or some other adult, they will be fine. Really. 

  • Cari Dee

    So… you really wouldn’t fly over a whopping $40? When you’d be losing far more money on the plane tickets? You need more help than a mere mortal can give you.

  • Heather

    Great post.  We have been flying with our son since he was 3.5 months old, several multi-segment flights, several times a year and we have never been seperated.  I continued to be baffled by these families getting split up issues. 

    Booking far ahead of time and booking over the phone with the airlines or a travel agent can go a long way in making sure you are seated together.   Maybe people don’t know enough to ask for a seat assignment when they book the tickets?

    I remember an Amex Plat agent telling me she was linking our seats together so if their was an equipment change, our record would be noted that we were travelling with a small child and our seats should remain together.  Don’t know if this is true or not. 

    Another tip – get to the airport and check in as early as possible.  Be polite to the gate agents, it goes a long way in getting them to take a couple of extra moments to accomodate seat changes.

    On a recent trip, home from STT, it was not only families not being able to sit together causing a problem, grown adults were crying about it too.  My son and I were seated in row 2 across the aisle from each other.  It was in first class with a two-two, two-two, two-two layout.  An adult man was insisting that my son switch seats with him so he could sit with his wife.  This would have put my child (6yo) in the last row, on the opposite side of the plane.  (or me if I would have shifted my son to my seat) 

    This finally ended with me raising my voice and told him that no, he was a grown man, deal with it, I was not moving my child so he could sit next to his wife.  He eventually got enough other passengers to move, which is fine but don’t hassle me because you don’t like your seat assignment.