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AIBU?

AIBU to expect to sit next to my child on a 10 hour flight

274 replies

soimpressed · 03/04/2014 16:44

This year I have booked my first ever package holiday. I booked with what I thought was a good company and the holiday cost a lot of money. I was told I could check in 7 days before the flight and tried to do so but the system wouldn't let me check in. I tried several times with no success. It took 3 emails before the company finally sorted the problem out. When I finally got to check in online I found that I wasn't sitting next to my child. Everyone else has obviously been able to check in and there are no seats left together. My only option is to pay £150 each seat to upgrade. My DS is in tears about having to sit next to strangers. The company are refusing point blank to help. AIBU or do I just need to shell out the £300?

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 03/04/2014 16:45

How old is DS?

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daykin · 03/04/2014 16:45

How old is he and how far apart are your seats?

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guineapig2014 · 03/04/2014 16:46

YADNBU so sorry about that

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Monetbyhimself · 03/04/2014 16:49

Did you have the option to pay for pre bookable seats but choose not to ?

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SteamboatSprings · 03/04/2014 16:49

Which airline?

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Finola1step · 03/04/2014 16:50

Detail required. How old is ds? How far apart are the seats?

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ivykaty44 · 03/04/2014 16:50

Will your D's cry and scream if he is sat next to strangers?

My eldest would have been done but my youngest would have likely been sick so warn the strangers if you think he may be sick

I know I wouldn't want a strangers DC sat next to me and certainly not if they were sick on me......

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LtEveDallas · 03/04/2014 16:51

Which package company?
Which airline?
How old is the child?

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SteamboatSprings · 03/04/2014 16:52

Usually if you check-in early at the airport there will be some seats held back for this purpose. Just make sure you get there early.

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bishboschone · 03/04/2014 16:53

This is all getting so ridiculous . There is no way a child would be left to sit alone on a ten hour flight . It would let the airline be open to no end of allegations . Call them and explain the situation I am sure they will sort it out .

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LtEveDallas · 03/04/2014 16:55

Oh and 'seated with' means:
Side by side, or
One row in front or one behind, or
Either side of an aisle

When you were able to check in online (or not in your case) were you expected to pay for the seats when you checked in?

If not, then you may have some luck if you get to the airport very early and be first in the queue - if people haven't paid for their online check-in's then the airline may be able to rearrange.

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OldDaddy · 03/04/2014 16:56

i wouldn't worry. Everytime I've checked in on a package holiday the model of the plane has been slightly changed and the seating plan totally different.

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SamG76 · 03/04/2014 16:57

I've always managed to sort it out on the plane itself. Most people aren't keen to sit next to a someone's else's child. This assumes your DC is less than 10 or so. If the neighbours say no, maybe use as an excuse for asking for an upgrade on the flight!

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Blackcathaireverywhere · 03/04/2014 16:58

As lovely as your child is, no one will want to sit next to him without you either! If I ended up sitting next to an unaccompanied child, I'd be offering to swap seats with the child's parent before I put my bag down!! I expect that's what will happen.

YANBU though.

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soimpressed · 03/04/2014 17:03

Apparently there was an option to pay extra so that you could check in online 14 days before but I've only ever flown scheduled long haul so I thought this option was for people who wanted to book extra legroom, premium seating etc. It didn't occur to me that we wouldn't be together. Ds is 9 so not very young but he is really funny about strangers - he has slight SEN. He is going to be sitting in front of me but my argument is that once I am strapped in I can't assist him in the event of an emergency.

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soimpressed · 03/04/2014 17:05

The company are absolutely not budging on this.

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WooWooOwl · 03/04/2014 17:06

You will need to pay I'm afraid. Other people who paid the extra to check in early or pre book their seats shouldn't have to move to accommodate you.

Sitting in front of you is all the airline is obliged to provide, and if you want more than that then you should pay for it.

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Blu · 03/04/2014 17:08

I think given that they offered an online check-in, at no extra cost, that was not working, you have a very good argument to say that you were disadvantaged by the system not working, so they should upgrade you, or sort out your seats, without extra charge.

Is he directly in front of you, both on aisle seats?

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soimpressed · 03/04/2014 17:09

Not sure I can name the airline. It's not a budget airline - at least I thought it wasn't. It has an ogre in it's ads and that's how I feel right now.

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Blu · 03/04/2014 17:10

WooWoo - you didn't have to pay extra to check in 7 days in advance and reserve the seats of your choice. The OP was locked out of that free opportunity due to a fault on the system.

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Minnieisthedevilmouse · 03/04/2014 17:10

Agree with blu. Good luck x

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Minnieisthedevilmouse · 03/04/2014 17:11

Ah.... Simon. They are usually accommodating... Surprised me.

Thought of twitter? Name n shame I say tbh

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ivykaty44 · 03/04/2014 17:12

Ask for the name of the person who will not budge o this as you intend to hold them responsible if anything went wrong

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WooWooOwl · 03/04/2014 17:13

But there was an option to pay to check in 14 days before, and we don't know if it was the online system that meant there were no seats together left, or if it was the fact that enough people paid to check in 14 days in advance.

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DevlinMaccabee · 03/04/2014 17:15

It sounds like your flying with Thomson, which is the company I work for.

You don't have to do online check-in. Just turn up at the airport and get in the regular queue instead and ask them to allocate your seats again.

The whole point of doing it before hand is to know exactly where you're sitting beforehand but if you don't like them either pay to change them or wait till you get to the airport.

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