We're typically "last-minuters" and practically never pay for seat selection. We go into it with a whatever-wherever expectation and it works out fine (we also wait at the gate until almost everyone else has boarded so we're not stuck on the plane so long, but I digress...). If we had need of specific seating arrangements for specific reasons we surely would be there early and be confirming everything with the gate agent and not just rolling-over to impromptu changes without further serious discussions with the FAs.
I think it depends how late they are. I have seen passengers just grab any available seat on Delta at the FA’s direction. In that case they were probably given a boarding pass with no seat assignment.
Where do you fly from?
Most likely somewhere in Canada, If I could just drive over the border to Bellingham or Seattle I would in a heartbeat, I would. But alas, I live on an island that the only way off of is by plane or boat. Delta just started flying from here a couple of years ago and is SIGNIFICANTLY less expensive than any of the Canadian airlines ( Air Canada or Westjet). We are currently planning an extended family trip with 8 people. Westjet for 3 people Victoria (YYJ) to SNA (John Wayne) $2500.00+. Delta same route and better times $3632 for ALL 8 of us!! $454/ person RT on Delta vs $835/person RT on Westjet. Delta price includes seat selection too, Westjet doesn't.
Count me as another person that checks in early and relaxes at the gate. I've done the terminal sprint as our flight was late leaving and we were running through Pearson Airport trying to make our flight to Vancouver. I swore I would avoid doing that again if it could be avoided.
I flew with my daughter on JetBlue. She intentionally wanted to sit alone and I paid for a bulkhead for myself due to an injury. We had a hard time explaining to the flight attendants who seem puzzled we declined their offers to move her up.
As for the mom, I agree that demanding was rude. But with blizzard/Snowmageddon, we just don't know what caused her particular situation. If OP was looking for folks to commiserate, then the additional details of airline and age of child are useful. Absent that, I'm sure the situation is the typical story that has 3 sides.
I mean poor Andie MacDowell got bumped to coach. Sometimes with blizzards--we just have to deal with steerage.
just kidding...kind of.
(and start by telling them stories of my crazy mother!!!)
That's hysterical!I once traveled with a party of 6: my hubby, DD, about 4 at the time, my 2 boys about 14 and 17 and my mother around 70??
I forgot how I seated everyone, but I could not get us all in 2 rows of 3, but had it so we were all close to each other and everyone had 1 person with them.
My mother and younger son, 6'2" at the time, were across the aisle, one row up from me and my DD. They also had a seat, window, taken by a young girl, about 7?? Her father went to the row and asked if one of them would mind moving to his seat in the emergency row, a row behind me, so he could sit with his daughter. I thought perfect! More legroom for my son. Before anyone said anything I said "E..., why dont you move?" He did, my mother moved to the aisle seat and we all took off.
Fast forward 3 hours later and we land, get off the plane and I say something to my mother and get no response. I say it again and she says "Dont talk to me". Huh ???? "Whats wrong?" Her reply....
Mother - "I hope you know your act of kindness caused me great distress"
Me - Umm... "What are you talking about?"
Mother - "I had to ask a total stranger to open my preztels for me"
I laughed, she got even angrier and would not talk to me for 3 months!!!!! This was years ago and occasionally I bring it up and she still stands by she had the right to be upset. I think it is hilarious and so ridiculous, but thats how she felt.
Bottom line..I dont care who asks in the future (though she doesnt travel much anymore), I will NEVER give up a seat leaving my mother alone! Ill keep your kids entertained
He may be an A-lister though unless you saw his boarding pass and it said EBCI. Otherwise I don't assume that he paid for Early Bird Check In just for him. It's true that the passengers could sit in the seats he was attempting to save if they wanted to as it's an open seating policy. It's also true that another option for him other than attempting to save seats is to board with his family's boarding position. Saving seats should always be treated as a risk that someone will choose to sit there.
Good for her. If more people challenged seat savers, it would be less of a problem. I've done it before when at the end of my tether. Boarded a SWA plane late in the evening, right after a miserable flight to get to that airport, with an autistic child who might have melted down without a good window seat. I saw one, and indicated to the woman sitting on the aisle that we would take the two inner seats. She told me that her mother was going to sit there. I gestured to the empty aisle seat directly across, and said that her mother could sit there, but that we would be taking those inner seats. We took them. She moved away & complained to a fellow passenger once. No regrets here. I had paid for Early Bird for both of us.
