dad doesn't book adjacent seats and whines cuz he has to pay $88 to sit next to daughter

[Liberal_in_LA]

he is not getting much pity online

-----!---------

dad named Frank Strong is outraged that he paid $88 to sit next to his 4-year-old daughter on a flight.

The single dad was flying with his daughter on Delta Airlines last month from Raleigh, N.C., to Montgomery, Ala., to visit his mother.

When Strong booked the tickets online, he couldn’t find two seats together and he decided to wait for assignments until arriving at the airport.

At the check-in counter, Strong learned he was seated 11 rows away from his daughter. Strong asked staff if they could be seated together and they said he could pay $88 to immediately secure adjacent seats or try to get better seats at the gate for free.

Strong begrudgingly paid $88 and wrote about it on his blog Sword and the Script:

Faced with a dilemma of handing over ransom money to Delta in exchange for certainty, or taking a risk that an agent might fix the problem at the gate, I opted to pay.
http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2015/05/12/delta-charges-father-88-to-sit-next-to-his-4-year-old-daughter/

[dawg]

1. I feel bad for him.

I only feel $88 bad, though. Worse things happen to me almost every day of my life.

[stevenleser]

2. I agree with him. Why is his request such a big issue when Ultra Orthodox Jews can throw a

fit about sitting next to a woman and get accommodated?

[LisaL]

5. It wasn't a big issue. He could have waited until he got on the plane to see if anybody would

be willing to move. He chose to pay to make sure he got a seat next to his daughter.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

12. By the time people get on the plane and settled in, they may be less willing to move.

Hopefully they would be accommodating, but I'd rather have that peace of mind up front, and I guess the airline levered that situation out for more money, right or wrong.

[LisaL]

14. That's what he did, so it was his decision to pay up.

[Gormy Cuss]

35. Being offered only fee-based seat reassignment, when they knew damn well the flight had empty seats

is incredibly arrogant on the part of the airline. What about the unsuspecting passengers who were seated next to an unaccompanied four year old? Was the airline going to offer them some babysitting money?

He "chose" to pay up because they wouldn't guarantee that he could be seated closer to her on a flight with open seats. That's just a shakedown.


eta: I've been asked to move a few times so that couples or families would be seated closer together. The only time I refused was when a couple asked me to switch my aisle seat for a middle. I've never refuse someone trying to sit with their kid.

[LisaL]

36. But he needed two seats next to each other.

So just because there were empty seats doesn't mean there were pairs of seats next to each other.

[Gormy Cuss]

37. No, but there were probably middles back to back if the plane had plenty of empty seats.

What he needed was to be able to tend to his child on the flight.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

38. It's very likely that the only adjacent seats open were for sale at an extra fee

This is one of the things that airlines are doing to market a competitive priced fare and still make more money.

Airlines are often a ripoff. I fly from Philly to Atlanta most weeks and buy about 7-10 days ahead. Delta wants $300+ one way. But I can buy Philly to Atlanta to Myrtle Beach for $82 from Delta.
It's just a stupid game. If you're flying, you'll be ripped off sooner or later.

[Ms. Toad]

43. There obviously WERE seats next to each other -

The airline could not have charged him $88 for seats that did not exist.

[TeamPooka]

44. bingo

[LisaL]

52. There were, but they were more expensive.

[Ms. Toad]

56. First, I was responding to the post which suggested that there might not be two adjacent seats.

But as to your comment, some airlines have started pricing that no two adjacent seats can be obtained without a charge for one of them because window and aisle seats are upcharged. This is an offensive business practice, but typically it stops when you reach check-in. Apparently it didn't this time (the article notes the plane was filed with empty seats - so it is not like the only empty seats were in first class, and he was paying to change classes).

In addition, when you are traveling with a minor child you should not have to pay an upcharge to get adjacent seats at booking. Both dealing with passengers who are cranky about being asked (and expected) to move (perhaps away from seats they paid to select) to accommodate a last minute change - or the consequences of having a 4 year old seated 11 rows away from her father - make it a better business practice to accommodate this in advance (when seats are available).

[uppityperson]

57. thank you, exactly and so have I (moved). He didn't want to risk not having seats together, but was

not told about the number of empty seats. Gouging, not helping.

[DFW]

26. I was on a flight where that happened

I was outraged that this nasty, pushy guy was making such a scene, delaying the flight's departure because he didn't ant to sit next to a woman. I had hoped the airline would toss him unceremoniously from the flight as he was being loud and disruptive. The only one who won in that situation was the woman who was spared having to sit next to this fat boor for eight hours.

Maybe that's what the kid's father needed to do: be loud and disruptive so his daughter could sit next to him. There's no reason some nasty member of a religious cult should be able to get that to work where a parent of a four year old girl can't.

[randys1]

29. Jewish, sounds better than Jews there. I always figure out a way to do that because

I know it sounds disrespectful not to.

but that is me

You would have to reword it slightly so it is grammatically correct.

For instance: when ultra Orthodox Jewish folks can

etc

and then the word FIT, well at that point it is clear you mean to show disrespect

embarrassing to see this on DU

I am not the reporting type so I would rather correct you publicly

[REP]

39. He used it correctly

Your use is not preferred. It's okay to say Jews. It doesn't have to be softened. There's nothing wrong with being a Jew or calling Jews Jews.

- A Jew

[randys1]

40. NOt according to several of my friends who are Jewish. I will defer to them, if it wasnt

followed up with the other demeaning language I might have ignored it.

[REP]

41. Jews can throw fits. So can Muslims and Christians.

Would you say "that Islamic fellow" or "that follower of Christ"? No. It's only Jewishness that is so ... not our kind, dear that knowing how sneeringly Jew is said behind close doors, it's assumed that it's a slur. It isn't, except when used as a verb.

You can call them your Jewish friends. Jewish is an adjective, which modifies nouns, such as friends. Jew is a noun.

[stevenleser]

48. I'm Jewish. I said it correctly. Nt

[doxyluv13]

55. Disagree totally

A Jewish person is a Jew. Exactly the same thing, and nothing offensive about it. People who find the term Jew offensive are most likely the same ones who find being Jewish offensive--anti-semites.

[Gormy Cuss]

58. As others have pointed out, there's nothing wrong with referring to Jews as Jews.

When it IS problematic is when Jew is used as the adjective rather than Jewish. For example, " Jew food" would be offensive where "Jewish food" is not.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. I don't know. It does sort of suck.

I remember after having a flight canceled and having to re-book and having my entire family with young kids scattered in different seats and desperately trying to get everyone close together. It was a nerve wracking experience. Thankfully I was able to do it without paying any extra money, but they pretty much have you by the balls at that point.

For some reason, I read the title and thought the guy was complaining about having to sit next to his daughter because he'd rather sit alone. In which case I'd be far less sympathetic.

[d_r]

46. yep. me too.

We had them text at 10 pm that our next morning 6am flight was canceled. After hours on hold our nonstop flight was two legs on two separate airlines.

[uppityperson]

4. If there were "numerous empty seats", it seems easy enough to put them together. Even so, kids and

parents should be seated together, especially very young kids. Reading the responses, it seems greed from the front check in area. They could have told him there were plenty of empty seats.

He has my sympathy.

[LisaL]

6. If there were numerous empty seats, why couldn't he find to adjacent seats at booking?

[REP]

8. He wanted a free upgrade

[Ms. Toad]

45. Airlines have gone to specialized seat pricing.

If you want to book in advance and have adjacent seats, you often have to pay (unless you are willing to accept middle seats - as in middle seats in different rows).

And - even if the plane is empty, when you arrive at check-in they will deliberately assign you middle seats in different rows (expecting that quite a few people will pay to sit next to each other . . . even though there are 20 people on a plane that holds 50).

[uppityperson]

17. maybe there were not 2 seats together. I often see that.

[geek tragedy]

7. There's a third option--asking another passenger to switch.

Had he done that, no problemo.

It's not like the kid was in mortal danger sitting on an airplane.

[MADem]

28. If one of his or his kid's seats was an aisle or window one, he'd have takers, no problem.

If he and his kid had middle seats, though, he's screwed. He might be able to find someone squished in a middle seat in front of/behind his daughter who was willing to trade for a seat with less squishy seat mates. Then, at least, he could be in front of/behind her.

[napi21]

53. That's right. I've flown many masny miles, and i've never

seen an occasion where someone asked to switch and said no. Airlines are getting to be a big PIA. Some seatsd are "premium seating" and the only reason I can think of is people who insist on and aisle seat for convenience, or those who want a window seat just for the view. my suggestion is to wait until you're on the flight and ask someone to switch.

BTW, that flight had to be a really short flight. I find t hard to understand why seating was such a problem.

[olddots]

9. anybody who flys commercial flights has my sympathy

even the dweebs in 1st. class are getting screwed now .

[petronius]

10. I wonder if he booked through the airline, or through something like Orbitz

I often use Orbitz et al., and I feel like I've noticed more frequently that it's difficult to select two seats together, and/or the automatic assignments are separate. But of course, an upgrade of some sort is always available. My wife and I have more than once arrived at the gate with separated seat assignments, needing to have the gate agent put us together (which, if it hadn't happened, wouldn't be the end of the world since we're both adults traveling with plenty of reading material).

I have no evidence for this WAG of an accusation, but I suspect that airlines do this on purpose both the collect extra fees and/or to drive reservation traffic to the airline sites themselves...

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. I'd happily switch seats so a dad could sit with his

4 year old child.

What's the big freakin' deal that some other passenger couldn't offer to do the same?

[LisaL]

13. You should read the OP.

The guy decided to pay $88 to get the seats before he ever got to the plane. Other passengers had no way of knowing anything about this situation.

[TheCowsCameHome]

31. He probably presumed

the plane was going to be filled with self-centered travelers that wouldn't be receptive to switching, and didn't want to take the chance.

[Angry Dragon]

18. I have changed seats for a family to sit together

[LisaL]

23. I would have too.

[Angry Dragon]

15. Airlines suck today

[LisaL]

16. What doesn't?

[Angry Dragon]

19. DRAGONS

[Tommy_Carcetti]

24. Nice post, Daenerys. nt

[petronius]

47. Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot approve this message... (nt)

[uppityperson]

20. my job doesn't.

[LisaL]

22. Lucky you.

[uppityperson]

25. yup, indeed

[phil89]

21. Pulitzer prize material.

amazing story lol.

[onenote]

27. I think most people who fly regularly would know that its not hard to find a sympathetic soul

who will switch seats to allow a parent to sit with a child. Indeed, most travelers probably don't want an unrelated child sitting next to them.

[jberryhill]

30. Needs more information

Even in economy, there are "premium seats" - generally toward the front and aisles and windows.

People book cheap seats through services like Orbitz and Kayak, and then expect higher priced options when they get to the gate.

Really, though... a flight from Raleigh to Montgomery? How long is that? An hour?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

32. Always select seats when you buy the ticket

If you can't find seats together, check each morning throughout the week before the departure. Airlines grant frequent fliers with elite status free upgrades during that time and seats tend to open.

If you're buying on short notice and finding the flight full, consider other carriers. As a last resort, book by phone. Airlines charge an extra fee for that but may be able to accommodate your seating needs or switch you to a flight that works for you.

Gate agents have a lot of authority. They can usually override some seating charges. The open seats Mr Strong got were probably in the delta comfort section that features extra leg room. Most likely the check-in counter sold him 2 comfort section seats on each of 2 flights. On Delta, to get from RDU to MGM, you're usually going to connect in Atlanta. RDU to ATL comfort seats are $25 extra. ATL to MGM comfort seats are $19 extra. That's $44 each for two people, $88.

[Ms. Yertle]

33. If he wanted to avoid the fee

he could have just seated himself and his daughter in their assigned separate seats. As soon as the kid started wailing, you can bet all the passengers and flight attendants would have bent over backwards to accomodate him.

Happened to me on a flight once. Middle of the night, and a family that had been flying stand-by was seated. The kid was seated by the dad, and when she realized she wasn't with Mommy she let out an ear-piercing shriek. Probably only one, before the problem was solved.

[seabeyond]

34. i agree witht he dude. if they could do it for 88, they could do it for customer service. nt

[IdaBriggs]

50. ^== This. nt

[DawgHouse]

42. He didn't trust that someone would trade with him at the gate, I suppose.

I used to travel for business and since I was alone, I was often asked by airline personnel if I would mind changing seats with someone. A few times, I offered to switch, once I got seated and realized that two people were traveling together and were separated.

I was just going to put on my headphones and tune out everyone anyway.

Delta would have definitely fixed this at the gate.

JMHO

[philosslayer]

49. I sense a bit of poutrage

He could have easily gotten someone to switch with him. Especially on a short flight with lots of empty seats.

[840high]

51. I support him totally. Shame on Delta.

[JCMach1]

54. Non-story... I have had this happen on occasion with my children on flights where seats are not

assigned until the last minute due to code sharing. I never had any trouble getting Flight Attendants to sort out the issue. No one wants to sit next to a 3 or four year old by themself.

He paid 88 bucks for essentially nothing.