The fugging airline industry is about to charge us to sit next to

[malaise]

our spouses, children, parents or friends

Fuck these greedy bastards - hope they set aside money for the law suits that will follow when the pedophiles harrass people's children.

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/may/21/premium-seating-aisle-window-to-cost-extra/
<snip>
If you're flying this summer, be prepared to kiss your family goodbye at the gate. Even if they're on the same plane.

Airlines are reserving a growing number of window and aisle seats for passengers willing to pay extra. That's helping to boost revenue but also making it harder for friends and family members who don't pay this fee to sit next to each other. At the peak of the summer travel season, it might be nearly impossible.
Seat-saving strategies

Airlines are reserving more seats for passengers willing to pay extra to be near a window, aisle or the front of the plane. That’s making it harder for many families to sit together without coughing up roughly $25 more per ticket, each way. Booking early helps, and there are other ways to find adjacent seats:

[LynneSin]

1. I like my aisle seats - I get so fricking clausterphobic with window seats

Not only am I stuck in there until the plane starts unloading but I can't even stand up straight in that seat.

Give me an aisle seat any day of the week.

[MineralMan]

2. I'm a window seat guy.

I love watching the planet under the plane. Better than any other diversion for me.

[brendan120678]

3. Same with me....

Plus, when I have an aisle seat, I am always afraid my elbow is going to get smacked or my foot run over with the beverage cart.

Although, I do prefer aisle seats over middle seats. I hate being cramped between two complete strangers...unless, of course, one of those is an attractive woman

[hifiguy]

44. I second you.

Window best, aisle OK, middle yech.

[LynneSin]

13. I use to be like that until I got stuck in a row with a sleeper

The guy got on the plain and passed out dead cold asleep about 5 minutes after takeoff. I tend to make a couple of trips to the restroom (small bladder) and it's annoying that i have to wake up this guy each time I needed to make a trip or get something out of the overhead. I kinda felt trapped.

But you are right - that is one of the joys of the window seat.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

15. i am a plane-sleeper

a lot of times I am asleep before wheels up. so, knowing I am going to snooze, I tend toward the window to keep from blocking up the row...

sP

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

60. Ditto... I lay my head against the wall/window and commence sleep ASAP.

I just try to avoid sidding next to any engines. If anything happens, I don't want to be near any sort of flywheel/turbine spinning @ xx,xxx rpm when it explodes like a centrifugal grenade and shrapnel flies out radially. F*** that!

[Throckmorton]

17. I'm sorry LynneSin, was it me on the TF Green to Denver Flight last month?

I had to make an emergent trip to Idaho Falls, I had worked all night, and had to take a 5:45 AM Flight. I slept most of the way to Denver, and I am sure I was a nuisance to the window seat passenger.

Sorry again,
Throck

[LynneSin]

29. If you're sleepy swap seats with me and take my window seat

That way you can be well rested by the time you make it to Denver!

[MineralMan]

18. Yah, that can be an issue, especially on long flights.

I just try to watch my fluid intake and visit the men's room just before boarding. It generally works on flights up to 4 hours. A nice salty deli sandwich purchased at one of the places on the concourse helps, too. While everyone else is waiting for the cart with the pretzels, I'm digging into some real food. Besides, if you get the sandwich with the aioli dressing, the stranger next to you won't talk to you much.

[snooper2]

85. Don't try to use that "small bladder" line

We know it is due to the beer and straight Jack mini shots

[FarCenter]

32. The Atlantic Ocean at night is a sight to behold!

[CTyankee]

35. really? I never see it on overnight flights to europe...

truly, i can't see anything but blackness out of the window so i try to sleep or read...low dose ambien is a big help, at least for a few hours (every little bit helps!).

[MineralMan]

38. I think that may have been a bit facetious.

I rarely fly across the Atlantic, and haven't for many years. That's one flight, though, where I would try to sleep.

[CTyankee]

39. thanks, I'm glad I haven't been missing something...

[uppityperson]

70. Flying over Greenland though is very cool.

pun intended.

[Darth_Kitten]

78. I've got this nice picture of Greenland....

it was just when we were reaching the coast of Greenland, you are looking down on the ocean and the rocky formations of the land. It's beautiful.

[Bake]

51. Me too, LynneSin!

I hate window seats. I'll take an aisle seat ANY day.



Bake

[Zalatix]

4. We could punish them simply by not flying.

The airline industry is as unable to sustain itself as Amtrak and the Post Office.

Where's the Invisible Hand when we need it?

[FrodosPet]

9. I've only flown twice since 1981

I'm doing my part for the boycott.

[CanonRay]

25. I only fly when I have to, as in Europe

otherwise, I drive. I despise flying anymore.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. So now

Premium Economy is not REALLY premium Economy? Hmmm . . . It's a rip. This is a total cheat by the airlines.

Others, including those on American and US Airways, are just as cramped but are window and aisle seats near the front.

Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines go one step further, charging extra for any advanced seat assignment. On Spirit, passengers who aren't willing to pay the extra $5 to $15 per flight, are assigned a seat at check-in. The computer doesn't make any effort to keep families together.

[Buns_of_Fire]

19. Sure it is. "Premium Economy" means you get to SIT.

In the new "Economy" class you get to ride inside, but you're strapped to a bulkhead, and the seatbelt can only be opened by the insertion of ten quarters (which the airline provides with on-board money changers at the very reasonable rate of $1 for one quarter, $5 for six quarters, and $10 for eight quarters).

It's probably best that we don't go into much detail about "Budget" fares, except to note that you should dress very warmly and bring your own source of oxygen.

[leftyohiolib]

30. it only affects you if you fly

[JustAnotherGen]

42. We have to

I don't have nearly enough vacation time available for my husband and I to take a boat to Italy every time we see his parents and siblings.

From a business perspective - these days most of my travel takes me to D.C.- I prefer the train for those trips.

[uppityperson]

71. I paid extra for a seat closer to front once when had a very tight connection. I roll my eyes at peo

who jump out of their seats as soon as the plane docks, then stand. And stand. And stand. But that day I was first up, got past many of the first class passengers also, though was polite enough to explain why.

[lapislzi]

6. American Airlines did this to my husband and me on our HONEYMOON

No amount of persuasion or offer of cash would budge them. We gazed wistfully at each other across the aisle on our way to Paris, and American Airlines is never getting another dime of my money.

Not the worst thing in the world, but not the most pleasant, either.

[malaise]

7. Are youo serious?

They'd never get my money again either.

[FarCenter]

31. If you both had aisle seats you should have been able to swap one with a traveler assigned a center

If you both had center seats, you're out of luck unless you are really persuasive or can offer some other inducement.

[lapislzi]

47. There was a high school tour on the flight

Nobody would switch seats with us. I had a married couple on one side of me and hubby was surrounded by teenage girls who refused to be separated.

As I said, not the worst experience ever, but annoying nonetheless.

[FarCenter]

63. Hardly anything worse than high-school tours

I was on an overnight to Europe, and there was a high school tour on board.

All night they talked, yelled, and ran around changing seats, etc.

[spiderpig]

37. When I hired on in 1979, AA's slogan was "doing what we do best"

That devolved into "something special in the air" and then the advice to staff was to provide "perceptibly better service". That went into the dumpster too.

It's embarrassing. I quit those jerks in the mid-90s when they weren't nearly as horrible as they are now. They'd kicked out all aviation pioneers and installed corporate shills. Where we employees had been well-compensated and respected (though the job was demanding) we were now regarded as a liability and expendable.

Guess that's modern corporate America.

[lapislzi]

48. It makes Jet Blue look like gold by comparison

The bar has been set so low, that the slightest improvement is considered revolutionary.

They actually stand a chance of bringing back brand loyalty to the industry. But I'm not holding my breath.

[spiderpig]

77. You're right on, lapislzi

We were conditioned to be dedicated to our airline and customers, and I could go on for pages about things we did back in the day to provide quality service. My best friend said "you worked for American Airlines back when it meant something".

There's just a dead area I don't feel when I get my periodic mail from AMR.

When I was hired, the manager said "We're American Airlines, and we only have to hire the cream of the crop - and you're part of the cream."

Apparently I'm now part of the other end of the cow.

[aquart]

8. Screaming children flights. What fun.

NOBODY wants to sit next to other people's children. No one. Except possibly the pedophiles previously mentioned.

I foresee swift reverses in policy.

[malaise]

10. Maybe they'll throw the kids off without the parents

In these times anything is possible

[HappyMe]

11. They should have

'family flights'. All the people with kids fly together.

[LynneSin]

16. If i ever have to fly to Orlando again I'll fly to Tampa or Palm Beach and drive to Orlando

I had a business trip in Orlando about 15 years ago. Monday morning flights to Orlando are planes overfilled with anxious kids hyped up to see Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. It was like being forced to spend a day locked in a room filled with Kids who have eaten nothing but High Fructose Corn Syrup for the last 48 hours.

Never again will I fly or Orlando.

[TBF]

21. Tampa has a nice airport -

we fly there a lot because the in-laws are there. When we want to take the kids to Disney we drive from there - just a couple of hours. The fares are usually cheaper too because so many folks want to fly directly to Orlando.

[MadrasT]

75. There is pretty much nothing worse

Than a floght to Orlando. I have to go there on business occasionally. It sucks.

[LynneSin]

82. I think I would rather clean the worst toilet in Scotland first!

[frazzled]

22. I have a good story about that

My nephew and his husband were flying somewhere a few years ago with their young daughter (she was probably 16 months or so at the time) and had booked seats together in one row, but the airlines changed them (probably because someone paid a premium for the window/aisle seats), leaving their baby stuck in a middle seat with complete strangers and them in two separate rows nowhere near. They called the airline explaining that it had stranded an infant, but the agent refused to budge on it. "Fine," they decided. "We'll just plant her alone in the assigned seat and see what fun ensues."

They boarded the plane and strapped the car seat and baby/toddler into the middle seat and told the two passengers, sorry, but this is what the airline did. If she starts crying or giving you trouble, we're in rows x and y. Otherwise, she's all yours. The passengers immediately jumped up and offered to switch seats, allowing the parents to regain their spots with their child. It was a smart move.

[hedgehog]

52. Totally off-topic, but I wanted to make note of your description:

"My nephew and his husband "

[frazzled]

53. Well, as recognized by at least one state and by all our family

as well as others (their daughter's preschool teachers, their employers, etc.). We're the classical "Modern Family." They were married in Iowa soon after it became legal there, and pretty soon they will be legally married in the federal government's eyes, and, hopefully, in the eyes of their own state and every other.

[aquart]

56. Very smart move. By all parties except the idiot airline.

[Art_from_Ark]

27. I don't have any problem sitting next to children

and I am in no way a pedophile. I've never had a problem with screaming children next to me, and they take up less space so they aren't constantly rubbing against me like some adults who take up their seat and part of mine, too.

[sharp_stick]

34. Me neither

I'd rather have kids next to me than some afraid of flying drinker or group of friends off to "partay". After getting puked on by the afraid of flying guy I'll do anything to avoid them.

[uppityperson]

72. Me either. I like sitting by kids, they can be very interesting and take up less space.

[KansDem]

12. Oh, I don't know. Considering some of the families I know...

This could be a blessing...

[Gormy Cuss]

14. Recently I've noticed that even weeks ahead of a flight I'm offered only middle seats

yet when I check in there are plenty of aisle or window seats available. I've flown enough to know that sometimes seats free up at the last minute but this is different -- it's a consistent pattern of only back-of-the-plane middle seats in advance and at least a half dozen window/aisle seats opening up the night before the flight.

Summer will be hell because there are so many infrequent flying family groups looking to sit together.

I'd like to think that passengers will complain about yet another fee but I was wrong about the checked bag fees -- people apparently love all the separate charges.

[FarCenter]

20. What is your frequent flyer status, and are you booking through your company's agent?

Premium seats are reserved for premium travelers.

[Gormy Cuss]

54. I'm talking about my personal travel plans

and as we're discussing here the notion of economy having "premium seats reserved for premium travelers" to this degree is new.
I'm seeing only middle seats consistently when booking 3-4 weeks in advance and in all but one instance I was able to switch to an aisle seat when I checked in the night before. I had remarkably similar choices all three times -- a few windows, a few aisles, most near the front of economy. I noticed it because it was so consistent but had no clue that airlines have shifted their policies yet again.

[FarCenter]

58. Reserving seats for premium travelers is at least 4 or 5 years old.

There might have been fewer reserved then, because business travelers were a small part of the the load.

Airlines have been successful in ending the price wars for leisure travelers and increasing the business traveler percent of load.

[Gormy Cuss]

62. I would guess that they've been reserving a lot more in the past year or so

at least on United. As I wrote upthread, it's been a marked drop off in the number of available seats anywhere but the middle.

[malaise]

23. Yep they gave us an aisle and middle seats but when we gpt to the airport early

they gave offered us a window and middle at no extra cost.

[Capt. Obvious]

24. Won't somebody please think of the children!

[HappyMe]

33. Oh, I did.

That's why I think there should be 'family flights'.
For the amount they charge for airfare, I am not willing to babysit.

[Capt. Obvious]

36. And I think the OP is laughable

Complaining about paying more but dressing it in concern about pedophiles.

Although this guy was on my last flight

[Bohunk68]

55. I noted that too

Why the slam on pedophiles? Seemed like an unlikely subject to bring up in this context.

[malaise]

81. Huh?

Why should a family pay more to sit together and is it not possible that pedophiles will take advantage of this situation.

[Capt. Obvious]

84. Your concern over pedophiles is noted

It's probably thwarted their plans to buy airline tickets on their off days (their days off from tracking down minivans with those family outlines on the windows.) to molest children of families who can afford to fly but not the extra money to sit together.

Thanks to you their off days will now be filled stuffing apples with razor blades in preparation for Halloween, and lacing temporary tattoos with LSD.

[Yavin4]

26. I Have To Sit on the Aisle Because I Use The Bathroom A Lot

and I don't want to disturb the other passengers, and I like sitting near the front so that I can quickly get off the plane. So, I do pay extra for that privilege.

As with all things, you have to plan ahead.

[SWTORFanatic]

28. I'd pay extra to fly cargo class. As long as I could take a flash light, drinks, and had a

restroom in there.

[Blue_Tires]

40. Hate to go against the grain, but a lot of this is our own fault

One of the reasons airlines in the U.S. have been struggling to remain profitable has been the never-ending lowest-common-denominator price wars...

For more than two decades, American consumers have spoken en masse that service, amenities, perks, etc. take a back seat to finding the lowest rock-bottom ticket price...Americans have historically shown they will pass on a flight with much more comfort in order to save 50 bucks...So the airline publishes the lowest price, hoping to recoup the loss with tacked-on fees...It's unsustainable in the long run, but every airline in this country has remade their business model to reflect this...

[dickthegrouch]

41. A 60% gross margin is partly responsible too

When we know we're paying 60% more than cost for most things, we tend to make the same assessments on things that might not have the same cost structure.
It still infuriates me to have to pay extra for my bags, having to spend more to get adjacent seats on the few occasions that I fly with someone would incense me. And I'd much rather give another passenger $20 to exchange seats than give it to the airline.
Quit arguing with the checkin clerk and create an underground economy.

[KharmaTrain]

76. They're Hedging Bets As Well...

When the price of oil surges it has a big affect on the expenses of the airlines. As you point out, people will always go for the lowest price and be willing to give up ammenities. When oil surged to $4.50 or more a gallon one can imagine the hits the airlines were taking. In the past they tacked on those extra costs to ticket prices but now they're making up shortfalls in charging for anything and everything they can. I can't see how they project expenses with oil being so volitile...and raising ticket prices only scares away business.

[flamingdem]

43. If passengers unite and complain they will back off

For instance with paying for bags, that has eased up especially if you have an airline credit card

[dembotoz]

45. not having parents next to their kids is a disaster waitng to happen

my buddy flies all the time for her job
i used to envy her
i don't anymore

[Tikki]

46. If your child has to sit away from you because of ticket price..

then there should be a warning to other passengers that they may be sitting next to
the child who has never before been away from the oversight of a parent.
There may be a lot of crying.

Plus, does the airline want to be responsible if a young one
is harassed or molested by a stranger they are going to sit by.




Tikki

[malaise]

49. Add to that the fact that planes do crash

What happens in a disaster announced or unannounced.

Unregulated greed is going to destroy all of us

[Capt. Obvious]

88. I can only imagine the fear that would race through me

if I had to search through the wreckage of our plane crash for my daughter because we didn't die in the seats next to each other.

[HappyMe]

57. I have no desire to pay a decent

chunk of change and be forced to babysit somebody's kid.

[uppityperson]

73. Yes, you already said that. Try this next time, it usually works.

Scream at the kid. Or simply shove them aside. Or step on them as you move past them. Or insult them. Or glare at them every time they glance at you, roll your eyes and say "shut the fuck up little brat". Spill hot coffee on them, or even a cold drink. That helps too. If all else fails, slip them some alcohol in a drink to knock them out.

They will either shy away from you or be incapacitate and voila! A nice flight.

I hate to have to add this, but

[treestar]

90. A child would be happy in a middle seat though

So it should not be so tough to get the middle seat as one next to the parent.

Saying that, I doubt these airlines are really going to want isolated kids, so that probably won't be part of the calculus.

[dana_b]

50. horrible and greedy

The airlines are holding seats until close to the day of the flight and then releasing them. This is a horrible thing to do to people who already are stressed out from having to fly and just want to be near their family/friends.

"Bouaphanh balked at paying an extra $114 round-trip in fees to reserve three adjacent seats for him, his wife and their 4-year-old daughter on an upcoming trip to Disney World. "I'm hoping that when we can get to the counter, they can accommodate us for free," he says."

What if the gate agent can't accommodate them? Will the 4 y.o. have to sit next to some strangers? Ridiculous.

[FarCenter]

59. Why would anyone take a 4-year old to Disney World.

4 is too young to have any substantial long term recollection of Disney World.

Basically a meaningless trip designed to enhance the social status of the parents. Conspicuous consumption.

[elehhhhna]

64. because at that age they still believe.

we did it - it was about the moments, in real time. No regrets. She was so enthralled, the cynic in me was quite moved.

[LadyHawkAZ]

65. Huh?

I have vivid, happy memories of the Bicentennial celebrations at Disneyland. I was 3.

I pinched Mickey Mouse on the nose that trip.

I'm glad my parents did that.

[HappyMe]

68. My sons were 4 1/2 when we took them to Disneyland!

The happiness and joy on their little faces was awesome.
We saved for over a year for that trip.

[belcffub]

61. just booked flights last night for a trip in july

and had to pay $6 per leg per person for seat choice... so an extra $24 for me and my wife... plus the bag fee... my stuff is covered as my travel is for work... so it's only half as bad... I'll just take an extra large bag and we will pack our stuff together... but the nickels and dimes add up... I used to like flying and going on trips... not anymore...

[LadyHawkAZ]

66. Frankly,

if they put all the families together in one area and billed an extra $5 for every row farther away you wanted to sit, they'd probably make more money with less people angry about it. No one wants to fly with a bored, fussy or crying child nearby.

[brooklynite]

67. Sorry to interrupt your anger...

...but greed has nothing to do with it; desperation does.

The economics of the airline industry have been lousy for years, and they've found that, unlike other market which support a wide range of product options and varying prices, the airline market (with the exception of the handful of people who can afford First/Business class) is driven by the lowest possible ticket price. Every time an airline has tried to offer a marginally better service option at a marginally higher price, it's failed. With continued downward pressure on airlines to match the lower fares of their competitors, airlines have been forced to cut out all the ancilary expenses: food, pillows, more legroom, unpaid luggage etc. You the customer want to get from "A" to "B" for the absolute lowest price, and that's what they're doing for you...anything beyond that is extra.

[bluesbassman]

69. Yeah and if Rmoney gets elected they'll be able to tie you to the roof.

Cue the Geico pig... Weeeeeeeeee!

[MrScorpio]

74. I haven't flown domestically since 1987

I don't miss it at all

[BeyondGeography]

79. Another great idea from the customer dissatisfaction department

You go flyboys!

[Brigid]

80. I haven't flown in many years.

Not since befor 9/11, and it was a pain in the butt then. I would love to visit Spain someday; if I ever do, I think I'll walk.

[yellowcanine]

83. There is a reason why Southwest Airlines is booming.

First come/first served unreserved seating, no extra seat charges and no extra luggage charges. So you don't have as many people trying to cram large "carry on" bags into the overhead bin. You would think the other airlines would get a clue.

[a la izquierda]

86. I fly standby in

The US when traveling for fun. My husband and I rarely make the same flight. If we do, we end up sitting apart.

[Egalitarian Thug]

87. I wonder how long an entire industry can be bankrupt, but continue to

pretend that it is an industry? We're going on our third generation of Americans that have been subjected to the whims of these corporate welfare queens.

[treestar]

89. It's a wonder they never did that before

Given that they realize people prefer aisle seats - adults I would think generally do.

My sister and I went on a trip and took aisle seats - they were across from each other, though!

Any remember the L1011s where you could end up in the middle of a row of 5? There should be a discount for that!

[KamaAina]

91. Window for me

I can hold it in. My seatmates, as a rule, cannot.