Picking seats on the plane for the whole family: what arrangement works for you?

[Weather_Lady]

Our upcoming trip will be the first time we've flown with the kids (ages 4 and 6). They're excited to fly and we've read them lots of books, etc. about what to expect.

My problem is in trying to figure out how and where we should sit. We are a family of four, but the airplane is configured in rows of six (with the aisle in the middle, so it's three seats on each side.) We'll be in the air for about 3 hours, which likely means a potty break midway through the flight, so we'll be sitting in the rear near the restroom. Each option has its pros and cons, but without having done this before, I'm unsure how to prioritize them. What would you do (or what has worked for you in the past)?

1 - Seats A,B, E and F, meaning whole family in same row, but on opposite ends, each adult paired with a child. (Pros: kids can get a window seat with Mom/Dad sitting in the middle seat as a buffer between them and the stranger in the aisle seat. Cons: can't communicate with the rest of the family, or get up to use the restroom, without disturbing aisle seat passengers).

2 - Seats A, B, C and D, meaning whole family in same row, 3 in one side and 1 in the aisle seat across the aisle. (Pros: easier communication across the aisle, won't disturb other passengers to use restroom. Cons: only one child has window access, and one parent will be responsible to tend to both children to the limited extent necessary.)

3 - Seats B, C, D and E, meaning one pair on each side of the aisle. (Pros: easy communication across the aisle, won't disturb other passengers to reach the restroom. Cons: kids will be sitting next to a stranger -- yes, I'm as paranoid about that as I sound -- and kids may not be able to see out of the window, as the window passenger may obstruct their view, pull the shade, etc.)

I'd appreciate your thoughts (and, as always, I thank you for indulging me as I overthink every detail)!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We flew with our boys when they were little. I liked A,B,C,D with 3 seats +1 on the aisle next to the 3. My boys being close in age we usually opted to sit a parent in between them to avoid the inevitable fight. Even tho it's only 1 window, we worked it out by taking turns. Also, hubby & I took turns who gets to be stuck in the middle of the kids. Fair is fair, right? Even now flying isn't so terrible. The youngest (now 14) will still go to sleep once we're cruising...the oldest (now 16) still puts on headphones to listen to something entertaining. I still don't like sitting them together because they still bicker & fight like a couple old bitties.

 

[Britt]

As long as the kids are by my husband and I, I dont care where we sit. I dont mind the middle and I dont mind bugging the aisle passenger one time (more times then that and I might ask if they want to switch seats so that I dont continue bothering them). People fly on planes and know it's a tight fit and uncomfortable sometimes. It's not like it's an international, several hour flight, they can handle getting up 1-2 times for a kid to use the potty on a 3 hour flight! : )

 

[MITCH 112198]

I agree w/ sweetpee 1993, A,B,C,D works for us. our kids are now 8 and 3 but have been flying with them since their births.

 

[GoofGoof]

A,B,C,D worked for us in June. We got really lucky and both flights were half full so we got a full row. We flew into Tampa instead of Orlando. I have not been on a flight that empty in years.

If you are a gambler go A,C,D,F leaving the 2 middle seats open. You may get lucky and nobody takes them. Pick a row towards the back. Typically the middle seats are the last to go and sell out from the front to back. If the flight is full you will have a person in those seats. If it happens you can offer the window or aisle to the person assigned the middle seat. Nobody turns down a switch from the middle seat to a window or aisle.

 

[DisneyJoe]

A,B,C,D

 

[BUZZCRUSH]

We always did option 2 - the youngest closest to the window, then the next oldest in the middle with me on the aisle and dad across the aisle. That way both kids could see out the window and they were together which seemed to help. We had a bumpy flight [I was petrified] and every time the plane would go up they'd put their hands up like it was a roller coaster then yelled "wait for it wait for it" until it dropped. Luckily the noise from the plane drowned out their screaming and it seemed to keep them occuppied while I prayed.

 

[SAV]

We always do ABCD. And it really isn't a matter of one adult tending to both kids. The adult across the aisle can tend to the other aisle child and the middle one can tend to the window.

 

[The Mom]

We always did 2 seats in front of/behind each other. One parent per child, until our oldest was able to take care of herself or help with the youngest.

Then we could rotate through the window seat - window and center in one row, aisle and center in the next, with "kicking" child behind a family member. We learned this after one terrible flight with a squirmy toddler, in a child seat, and a passenger who insisted upon fully reclining, thereby trapping my son's feet because of the elevation of the car seat. If my husband or I sat in front of him, we just didn't recline the seat.

 

[GoofGoof]

We always did 2 seats in front of/behind each other. One parent per child, until our oldest was able to take care of herself or help with the youngest.

Then we could rotate through the window seat - window and center in one row, aisle and center in the next, with "kicking" child behind a family member. We learned this after one terrible flight with a squirmy toddler, in a child seat, and a passenger who insisted upon fully reclining, thereby trapping my son's feet because of the elevation of the car seat. If my husband or I sat in front of him, we just didn't recline the seat.

Good point on the kicking. We got lucky and my 2 year old sat behind an empty seat both ways. He kicked it a lot since the car seat put him closer to the back of the seat in front.

 

[Mrs. Jobson]

Our trip is coming up on the 3rd of October. I am getting rather anxious about the flight. It will be my one year olds first flight. We opted to not buy him his own seat and let him sit on our laps. I hope everything goes well. I think that the A,B,C, D route would work out best for you Weather_Lady. Best of luck to you and any suggestions for me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We choose the "man to man" approach. So, I'll take one girl and sit on one side of the aisle and DH will take the other girl and sit on the other side of the aisle of the same row. We usually have the adult take the middle seat and the child take the window.

 

[GenerationX]

We've typically done ABC in one row and AB in the next row. One parent in C with two kids in AB, then another parent in next row B with the third kid in A. Two window seats, kids separated from other passengers, and ability for any family member to talk to any other family member.

 

[mickeysbrother]

Me in first class everyone traveling with me in the back of the plane