To not pay to choose seats but expect to sit together?

This. If the seat next to you is allocated to a passenger who paid for that specific seat they might not want to give it up.

Someone will move. No one wants to sit next a toddler, particularly someone else’s. If they don’t then they get to sit with a 2 year old and you don’t have to.

I took my two children to Majorca last October age 12 and seven. It was our first holiday abroad without their father and I had never been abroad on my own so it was a bit scary for me. I didn’t want us to be separated and I was the only adult so I paid to have three seats next to each other. It’s not worth the stress or the hassle. Just pay to have the seats together and at least then you can guarantee your toddler will not be separated from you.

You may be seated near them but this can be in an aisle behind you or beside you across one. There is no guarantee you'll be literally next to each other. You don't get any special entitlement for this which is why so many people get upset. You may also want to book a seat where you can lay the baby to sleep so you probably need to book specific seats unless you really want to annoy some poor soul who paid for extra legroom and has to give you the space...

I recently had two flights with EasyJet with my DD((17). Didn't pay to sit next to her but checked in as soon as check in was available (30 days before flight) and both times got seats next to each other without having to pay a premium.

Just make sure to check in as soon as the online check in opens 30 days before.

I agree is this thread full of EasyJet bots or Mumsnet mugs? Ker-ching!!!!

11 years of flying easyJet with a kid and never once paid to book a seat, just checked in as soon as online check-in opens (30 days before). Me DH & DS always all sat next to each other. If you want to pay fine but I think you are a mug. The only airline that doesn't allocate seats together (if available) is ryanair & I don't fly with them (because they are money-grabbing c**ts). There's a very small risk with easyJet that even if you check in as soon as it opens you won't be sat together but then you can just pay then if you are that incredibly unlucky. I swear some mumsnetters want to pay extra - almost like a martyr thing.

Nor me. I've paid for my seat and I'm not moving for anyone.

I’m sorry but I think you are being completely unreasonable. I wouldn’t move for someone who hasn’t bothered to pay for seats together.

No one will want to sit next to your toddler so you will be absolutely fine.

I never pay on principal. I have sometimes suspected that couples are deliberately split up even when there are loads of seats together to force people to pay. But I also don't expect people to move.

I would assume the airline wouldn't want to piss someone off by putting someone else's 2 year old next to them. So I'd probably risk it myself!

Will you babysit for me for free?? I'm in the north west. Thanks a bunch xx

I would be amazed if your two year old was anywhere other than right next to you and if they weren’t, I’m sure the passenger next to your dc would be happy to swap with you! I wouldn’t want to be next to a two year old on a flight.

Ignore this thread. You shouldn’t have to pay to sit next to your child.

I’ve just paid extra but resented it. Tried to hold out but ultimately want to guarantee they were right next to me x

I don't know about Easyjet, but China airlines don't. We flew to Beijing a few years ago with a 6 year old on her own in front of us. Dad was at least 4 rows away.

I don’t think they’d have their demands dealt with, I wouldn’t anyway

If he's sitting next to me I won't be entertaining him.

Let the kid sit where his seat is and have whoever is next to him entertain him for the flight….free baby sitter 😂

If you don’t want to pay the fee to guarantee your seats that’s fine…but please don’t complain when you’re not seated together and then ‘demand’ that some other poor sod move. I always pay for a specific seat, it’s my choice. I like to sit next to my husband. He doesn’t mimd
having the middle seat. We still pay for the bloody things.

I am so glad I have retained my humanity. This thread is remarkable

Haha I can relate!
Although I'm only nice to my own kids. Strangely motherhood destroyed any maternal instinct I had for other people's children and if a strange child made any attempts to engage me I'd just ignore them

I'd not move for someone else's poor planning.

If everyone else pays to sit next to each other its likely nobody that does not pay will be near each other. As there will be odd seats scattered about. I'm sure they will try to sit you together but why in the world woukd you consider chancing your child not being sat next to you.

I never pay to sit next to my kids -
and always sit next to my kids with all airlines - they are now 11 and 13 and I’m just not bothered anymore.
at some point when they were around 4-8years old my dream was for them to be seated next to someone else who then would have to deal with their demands and I would read my book I peace few raws away 🤣🤣🤣