KLM’s new Meet and Seat programme, which integrates social networking into seat selection and allows you to see who else will be on board and choose to sit next to them, has been getting loadsof coverage. The verdict is out on whether it’s a brilliant or terrible idea.
Many people are debating on just how effective it will be aiding singles to sit next to someone they find stimulating for their jaunt to Lusaka. But this service is much more beneficial to families travelling with young children. I don’t want to find a date on the airplane. I’d much rather claim a seat next to one of these type of fliers:
1. Women whose grown children have so far resisted their implorations to have babies – I love these ladies. Their eyes shine with excitement when you sit down in their aisle with your infant. They produce pieces of hard candy for your school-age children. Three of them turned my first long-haul flight solo with my four-month-old into a piece of cake. They offered to hold her when I had to go to the loo, when my meal came, when I wanted to get some sleep. With older children these seatmates can play tic tac toe til initial descent. If you’re lucky, you’ll get an arts appreciation society for retirees and you can catch every onboard movie showing.
2. Exhausted students – They’ve obviously stayed up all night studying/partying. They arrive on your row, they play a game or text until the doors are closed, then promptly slump down and basically pass out – from exhaustion or alcohol misuse I care not which – for the next 8 hours, only rousing to eat the unsatisfying “snack” meal served right before landing. I book an aisle seat and pray for this type to be booked in next to me.
3. Families with other young kids – Everybody else sighs heavily when they walk down the plane and see several rugrats in the vicinity of their assigned seat. Not me. My kids have just discovered new playmates for our hop across the Atlantic or flying east. First it’s the “peeking over the seat” game. Then it’s the demonstration of how they wear the free airline socks and discussion of what’s in the complimentary kids pack. Then it’s comparing notes on which kids’ TV shows or movies to watch. Come to think it, this routine is not so different from the adult version – just with fewer cocktails, depending on what your kids like to drink.
Wow, this is fascinating. I suppose its the last nail in the coffin of our privacy…Or maybe I’m just sore because I’m worried noone will want to sit next to me..
Yes, like being the last kid picked for football…but with 6 – 8 hours of humliation on long haul flights!