When we fly standby, we often end up in row 18. We ended up asking about it, and a lot of gate agents will block off 12 seats (on 737s at least) in rows 18 and 30 for families who may need to sit together.

If you don’t check in right away (24 hours before the flight) and get your seat assignment, you may notice when you get to the airport that you still don’t have a seat assignment. Hurry down to your gate and check in right away- they may be giving your seat away to me! 😜

If you are a family with small kids, you can always ask (politely!) if there’s any possibility of getting seats together. Gate agents are usually good about trying to help a mama out- but make sure you are there early because the closer to boarding, the more seats that are already taken, especially on a full flight. And be polite!! These agents deal with some of the crabbiest and demeaning customers- gate agents have no control over the weather, the crew’s locations, or airplane mechanics. It’s not their fault!!

Flying over Christmas or three day weekends? These flights, especially to vacationing destinations, are almost always oversold. You’d be surprised at how many people buy tickets and don’t show up! But sometimes they do show up- so check in 24 hours before, and be at the gate when boarding starts. The doors will close ten minutes before the flights is scheduled to leave. Don’t miss your flight- then you’ll end up on the standby list like me!

And even though you’ll be ahead of me on the standby list, I bet we’ll see each other in Row 18.