Would you move your seat on a plane for a family? What our readers really thought
For anyone who has ever travelled as a family, sitting together on a plane is often a non-negotiable. Whether it's needing two dedicated parents to wrangle unruly and demanding toddlers or keep anxious teenagers in check during a long flight, there's strength in numbers.
However, what happens when through accident or poor planning, families are split up while in transit? Plenty of ensuing seat arguments have been shared on social media over the years.
In an exclusive Nine reader poll we asked the question "would you move your seat on a plane for a family?"
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Parents often have their hands full on the plane. Getty
The question left travellers divided, with 43 per cent of responders saying they would help a family in need, while 30 per cent of people issued a flat-out no.
Meanwhile, 27 per cent of people were unsure, believing it depended on a number of factors.
'Poor planning on their part'
Those who voted against switching their seat were pretty passionate about their reasoning.
"If a family couldn't book seats together it shows poor planning on their part," said one responder.
Would you move your seat on a plane for a family? Nine/Graphic: Polly Hanning
"There are no excuses for anyone to have to move because of a family," another agreed. "I book well in advance to ensure I get the seats I want and if family books where it's an inconvenience for them, bad luck unless there has been an overbooked flight."
For others, being left out-of-pocket by a seat change was another consideration for denying a family's request.
"If you book in advance for a specific seat (especially if you pay for it) I don't believe you should have to move if you don't want to," argued another person.
Some claim that parents need to be prepared well in advance for busy flights. Getty Images/iStockphoto
'Depends on the circumstances'
For those saying they were unsure of what they would do, some claimed it would depend on the situation.
"Depends on the circumstances as to whether I'd move my seat," one person commented. "For example, did the airline make an error and split up a family? Or has the family deliberately tried to game it for better seats in hope someone would give up their better seats?"
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Some responders claimed their decision would depend on the age of the kids. Getty Images/iStockphoto
"It depends how old the 'children' are and how many are in the family," added another responder. "If there are four in the family and dad wants to sit by himself, [then] no."
Some admitted they would only be willing to swap seats if they were told in advance where they'd be moving to, and were happy with the alternative.
"A middle or window seat, not a chance," said one person.
"I'd move my seat to let a family sit together provided my replacement seat wasn't inferior in terms of leg room," added another.
'I would move'
Never fear - the majority of responders were Good Samaritans happy to help out a family in need, regardless of the circumstances.
"A family that's divided will make the younger children fret for their mum or dad. Its no skin off my nose, I'm single, so why not?" explained one person.
"I would move my seat if it meant that a family could sit together, I did the same at a concert last year," said another.
