2 adults and 3 kids travelling - should I buy Economy Plus subscription?

[ExGingi]

I will be travelling on UA to TLV with wife and 3 children next week.

Currently only options that seem to be available to be seated together is Economy Plus.

I was contemplating buying an Economy Plus family subscription for $1,099, but I am thinking that maybe if there are no other options, they might just seat us in those seats regardless, since they can't seat us away from young children.

Any advice on this? Should I wait for airport check-in, or should I buy economy plus subscription? How close to the flight can I buy and still receive the benefit? And can it be done once first domestic flight was taken, so that we get it on the international segments?

Don't have any status with UA, but do have Chase United Club card.

[yitzyul]

They might just seat us in those seats regardless, since they can't seat us away from young children.

Don't be so sure of that... They once held up a flight for 30 minutes because nobody agreed to move to the middle seat so my infant (on full paying seat) can sit next to 1 of us. We where both seated apart as they refused to put us together.

[Proisrael]

Don't be so sure of that... They once held up a flight for 30 minutes because nobody agreed to move to the middle seat so my infant (on full paying seat) can sit next to 1 of us. We where both seated apart as they refused to put us together.

On a TLV flight?

[3yummyboys]

Don't be so sure of that... They once held up a flight for 30 minutes because nobody agreed to move to the middle seat so my infant (on full paying seat) can sit next to 1 of us. We where both seated apart as they refused to put us together.

Had a similar experience on DL flight to TLV. A couple came on with a little girl and they all had separate seats. The FAs made a huge deal and people ended up switching but they got lucky.

[ExGingi]

Just got my boarding passes. Agent put customer service override for E+ due to "family with little kids"

[bermo]

Just got my boarding passes. Agent put customer service override for E+ due to "family with little kids"

That's great!
You are lucky

[YOSEF]

Don't be so sure of that... They once held up a flight for 30 minutes because nobody agreed to move to the middle seat so my infant (on full paying seat) can sit next to 1 of us. We where both seated apart as they refused to put us together.

Why not put the infant down in the middle seat and walk away?!?

Eventually someone would've caved.

[CS91]

Why not put the infant down in the middle seat and walk away?!?

Eventually someone would've caved.

Can't believe people are that selfish that they won't move so a parent can sit next to their kid.

[MeirS]

Can't believe people are that selfish that they won't move so a parent can sit next to their kid.

I was once asked to switch from an aisle seat to a middle seat so that a mother can see her son's seat. I politely responded that if you tell me to move, I will, but I did specifically request an aisle seat.

I don't think I was wrong.

[ExGingi]

Just thought I'd report on my experience.

Didn't buy subscription, got Economy+ on EWR-TLV segment at check-in (which was done a day early at a United Club in DCA) so we can all be seated together.

On TLV-EWR Economy+ seats were very scarce, a few days before the return there was no E+ option to seat us all together, but 5 adjacent seats did open up in Economy. Rather than taking the 5 adjacent seats, I took 4 of those leaving one middle seat empty, and another isle seat elsewhere on the plane. After boarding I switched my isle seat which was further towards the front, with the person seated in the isle seat right behind my kids. Worked out very well.

BTW, on this itinerary SQ credited 100% of miles flown, AV credited 50% of miles flown, UA credited based on fare which ends up being approximately 20% of miles flown, but did credit 100% of miles flown towards PQM.

[yelped]

BTW, on this itinerary SQ credited 100% of miles flown, AV credited 50% of miles flown, UA credited based on fare which ends up being approximately 20% of miles flown, but did credit 100% of miles flown towards PQM.

How do you get credited by all three airlines at the same time?

[ExGingi]

How do you get credited by all three airlines at the same time?

One of us credited to UA, Another credited to AV, and the 3 kids credited to SQ.