American Airlines Should be More Considerate of Families

Kailani is a beautiful name.

It was this exact reason that we drove to Florida a few months ago
instead of flying. 2 of us plus a 5 year old. I know you can't drive
to Hawaii but I think some single passengers wouldn't have minded
changing seats.

I was dreading the drive, but it went quite smoothly and all our stuff
arrived too! lol In the long run, even with gas prices the way they
are, it was still cheaper to drive than fly. Plus we went thru a lot
of small town America, which was the best!

The reason is because you booked separately. Secondly American has to
FILL every plane to its capacity. If they do not, it could be
CANCELLED!

Btw, my wife and I are going to Maui for the week, the second week of
September, hope you had a good time irregardless of your small hiccup.
Its sad to read that little things ruin whole vacations. (I'm not
saying this one was either)

Good Day

So you should get more consideration because you are travelling with
children? That's not right, you should be treated the same as every
other passenger.

You caused some of your problems by booking separately and with
different names. How is the airline supposed to know you were
travelling together? Sometimes they can accomodate you and sometimes
they can't, it's just the way it is.

As far as pre-boarding, it's a nice courtesy but it's just that, a
courtesy, not a requirement. A lot of airlines are getting away from
pre-boarding families. I don't know why but if I had to speculate,
people were taking advantage of it.

You sound like a nice guy and it baffles me why businesses sometimes
won't help out their paying customers. What you were asking doesn't
seem unreasonable.

I think sometimes places should made exceptions, especially in
situations like yours.

But things have been happening like this for years now. I remember
when I was six and my family was flying back to the states from Spain
(where we were stationed). My mother booked the seats to have all of
us sit together (five kids, included two year old twins.) But they
split us up and didn't give my parents much help when they asked to be
seated close together. To top it off, no one would move around for us.
Very frustrating.

The airlines later said it was because my mother and one sister had a
different last name than the rest of us (my mom uses her maiden name
for business/navy) or something to that effect. Basically, a BS answer
in my opinion.

It would be nice if places could make accomadations for families, I
think. It was rude of the CSR to have an attitude with you.

I hope the airlines contacts you regarding the situation, but I doubt
they will.

If the pre-boarding you are referring to was in part for families with
young children to board, I would have certainly been upset as well. I
know that there are different pre-boarding terms depending upon which
airport you fly with.

As far as sitting together, although inconvenient I don't think
American has any duty to make sure you are sitting together,
especially since you booked separately and have different last names.
You paid for a seat on the plane and got one. Both of your children
had a parent with them. I flew several times with with a young
baby/child by myself and lived, it can be done. Besides, it's not
that difficult to ask around and find out if there might be other
passengers willing to switch seats.

I don't think the airline specifically went out of their way to be
inconsiderate to a family. Rather, I think this was just a serious of
unfortunate circumstances.

As for the separation on the first flight, others have addressed that
already and offered advice I agree with. I don't think an airline
guarantees you can sit with even your spouse. (Wasn't there a letter
recently from someone complaining an airline didn't seat him next to
his wife?)

As for pre-boarding, although I don't think it's required, I'm
surprised they didn't ask you to pre-board with your children. On
every flight I've ever been on, people with handicaps and people with
small children have been asked to pre-board.

The real complaint I see is with the employee's attitude. There was
probably no need to be rude about the whole situation. But I'll be
perfectly frank, the last line of your letter bugs me. Perhaps you
didn't mean it in this way, but it reads as if you believe those
traveling with children deserve more consideration than those who
don't.

I don't think the airline is really to blame. You and your wife
booked separately. This was really up to the consideration of the
people around you. If I were next to you, I would move unless it was
to a middle or window seat. I like aisles because my legs are long,
and it is quit uncomfortable to squeeze into an inside seat.

Preboard on the return? Gosh, it sounds like they seated you
together, but I guess that wasn't good enough. They tried to please
you.

Did you consider asking solo or adult passengers around you if they
would mind terribly switching seats so that your family could sit
together? I know that many people would be downright elated to be
moved away from an infant and a toddler.

I've got to admit, though, I think pre-boarding should be for those
with handicaps. You can plan a family, but you don't usually get to
chose to be in a wheelchair.

Jason, I don't know if it would have helped, but your wife should have
added your last name to hers when making the reservation. I do not
use my husband's last name, but for an airline reservation I would
include it for identification purposes. I do think you should have
been permitted to pre-board, and I don't understand why the attendant
didn't think it was necessary. I haven't flown a lot but I do
remember people with children being allowed on the plane first so they
could settle in.

I'm glad you chose not to make a scene. You sound like a polite
person, and you shouldn't have been spoken to rudely. Maybe the
attendants aren't used to people being so nice and are operating on
automatic. But that's still no excuse. I hope you hear something
back.

They were wrong to not let you pre-board so you could get the children
settled. I mean I see this many times when I fly and people bring
their small ones on board.
It gives them time to acclumate to the area and to get settled in.

Maybe next time you may want to book everyone at the same time instead
of seperate as you did. This way you can all have assigned seating
together on all flights.
It should not matter if the last names are different as you have to
list the people being booked at that time.