It is great hearing from you.  Flying with 3 young children on your own could be a huge challenge.  Hopefully you have a short flight and no connections.  My wife will soon fly alone from the US to Australia with 2 children younger than 5-years-old and 2 connections.  She is very anxious about the event as I am sure you are…with you having even more children to take with you on your flight.

How your family will be seated will depend on several factors:  the type and size of plane, your advance arrangements with the airline, how full your flight is booked, your negotiation skills at several points along the way, and generally how nice you are to people who can help you with the situation (airport staff, airplane staff, and other passengers). 

Larger planes have rows with 4 or more connected seats before having seats in the row split for an aisle.  Smaller planes typically have a maximum of 3 seats that are connected before a single center aisle.  If you are on a large plane, you will want to request that you and your children be in the same row and in adjoining seats not separated by an aisle.  If you are on a smaller plane you will have your family seated on both sides of an aisle even if you do get everyone seated in the same row.  The important thing at that point will be making sure that you are all seated in the same row. 

You should contact your airline and discuss your situation well in advance.  It is also in the best interest of the airline to keep you all seated together.  If you are lucky, you will be able to get adjoining seating assignments prior to check-in and know that you will all be together.  But realistically, alone flying with 3 children under 5, I am certain that you will end up seated together even if you must personally ask passengers to trade seats. 

If you cannot get adjoining seats assigned in advance, you have some options.  You will want to check-in for your flight early and try to get seats on the plane that are next to each other in a single row.  The earlier you check-in, the easier it will be to get seats that are adjoining.  Consider the following: 

1)   Some airlines allow check-in for flights up to 24 hours in advance over the Internet.  If you can check-in the day before, do so.  You might be able to adjust your airplane seating assignments online.  This could allow you a very early opportunity to claim some available seats and get what you want.  To a large extent, seating is first come, first served.

2)   If you cannot check-in early from home, make sure that you don’t run late getting to the airport!  Arrive for your flight early and work with the ticket agent during check-in to get adjoining seats assigned.  If the agent is unable to get all of your seats together at this point, don’t worry though…you still have several more options.

3)   After check-in if you have been unable to secure adjoining seats then you will need to explain your situation to the gate agent.  When you get to your gate, wait in line at the desk and ask the agent if he or she can help you out.  Don’t act frustrated…just act friendly and in need of help.  If you are there early enough, the gate agent may be willing to move some passengers and get your family seated together.  If the gate agent is unsuccessful, too busy or just not very nice…once again…don’t worry…you may still be able to sit together.

4)   As a parent flying with children, you will be permitted to board the flight in advance of all economy class passengers since you have small children with you.  Take the early boarding opportunity and immediately explain your situation to one of the flight attendants.  After all, flight attendants have a lot of interest in your being in the best possible condition to help your children remain happy and well-behaved during the flight.  Since you boarded early, you have time to discuss it without the rush of other passengers getting on the plane.  Hopefully your attempts using suggestions #1-#3 have resulted in at least most of your seats being together and you are not scattered all over the plane.  If you are mostly seated together or near each other, the flight attendant will probably seat you all together and then provide your child’s assigned seat to the person that becomes displaced.  The displaced person may also like the arrangement since that will mean that they may not have to sit next to small children during flight.

5)   If you are unable to get flight attendant assistance (and I cannot imagine why that would happen unless you don’t ask for assistance) and your seats are near each other but not adjoining, you may just sit in your assigned seats (or go ahead and sit all together) and then ask passengers to swap with your children.  I have found that passengers are generally nice about it.  One time I was in the front of coach and my wife and child were in the back of business class.  Before everyone finished boarding, my child kept walking between business class and coach to see me and then go back to my wife.  My child was happy and not causing any disruption.  And, we never asked anyone to switch seats.  But, the man seated in business class next to my wife actually gave me his business class seat so my family could all sit together!  I could not believe it!!  He was being very generous and I will never forget it as long as I live.