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

If I'm travelling alone, didn't pay to select a seat and it's a short flight, I'd gladly move to help a fellow passenger. I don't understand the mentality of refusing to move "out of principle"

But I'd be annoyed if I paid for an aisle seat and was asked to move

We never pay and we've never been split up on no-frills airlines - although the break would be nice - let someone else look after them (kids are 20 now!)😂
We were nearly split on a flight to Australia due to a booking error made by the travel agent, they put me in the seat behind my 5-year-olds - the passenger refused to move to the seat directly behind - would only move to business class - was so glad she didn't get her own way. We did end up sitting together, we all moved.

EasyJet is good for this, check in the moment you're able. I've never been apart from my family even without paying.

Wouldn't trust RyanAir as far as I could throw them.

You will get offered what’s left and they may not be next to each other.

which means that they will then have to ask people (who have probably paid to sit together) to move around to accommodate your family

there is nothing more annoying

just pay the £20

This happened on my flight. Family hadn't paid and there was an announcement the flight wouldn't take off until someone gave up their seats for them. People did eventually move but the family were HATED by every passenger for the delay and being so selfish.

Why should someone who has paid to choose a seat have to be moved around to suit you? If you don't want to pay, you take the risk.

However,the parent will expect that the other passenger will swoop seats rather that being stuck next to a young child. So,win-win for the parent (having paid no extra money) and lose-lose for the other person who might have paid extra to choose their seat!

It's part of the cost of the flight. When we go away I want seats together and whatever luggage combination we need and I pay for that. When I price up a trip these elements are included.

As I said, mandatory seat booking/payment for families with kids under 10 (say) would stop this messing around.

I think I would be that person who refuses to move. I've had enough of it now, on nearly every flight there is some entitled and penny pinching asshole demanding that I move.... because I am female and on my own, therefore fair game. I don't move. Someone else can and honestly the plane took off eventually in all cases. Some other sucker changed seats, but it wasn't me.

I pay because I want to sit by a window. If you want to sit by your child, you pay!

Hardly anyone reserves seats on easyJet so as long as you don't leave it until last minute to check in, you'll be fine.
I usually check in as soon as it opens, I've never had to pay and never been separated.

So fuck the people who've paid for a seat and get told to move then

Op is not fucking them, the airline are.

Her decision is separate from the airline's decision to sell those people a seat choice that in reality is never guaranteed as there are always safety considerations that trump choice. For example in most aircraft, babies on laps can only be accomodated in certain rows where there are additional oxygen masks to allow this.

It is easy to ensure children are seated with parents and the airline are choosing to overcomplicate matters in a bid to make more profit.

The person who has paid to select a seat may not agree to a swop. Be prepared for that.

Not everyone is amenable to swopping from their chosen aisle or window seat for someone who couldn’t be arsed to pay. Tough times for everyone

I just checked in on Easyjet for a flight in 30 days. I didn't pay anything and I'm sat next to my 17 year old both ways. There was the opportunity to pay to select seats but i didn't bother as happy to sit apart.

I reckon they allocate seats together but if you delay checking in there's the possibility someone else could pay to select one of the seat you've been allocated. I'd risk it and check in as soon as it opens.

It is back to the fact that Next to doesn't mean next to, It means near to.

If someone is happy to be behind their 2yo or across the aisle from them, then go for it.
I wouldn't be.

Just buy the seats for peace of mind. Recently flying out on holiday and woman on third seat of three wanted me to move so she could sit with her 7 year old. I wanted to sit in the seat I had booked and paid for beside my 10 year old so did not offer to move. She was mortified when we were in the checking in queue on the way back and the 7 year old asked if I was the horrible lady who would not move. I laughed and said yes. F#*k that for a game of soldiers just buy the bloody seats.

Its not being a CF.

Its understanding that the airline has a duty to fly its passengers safely, and its their problem, and if they choose to create this issue with their pricing model, its on them to resolve it.

The price op has paid is the price to be flown safely from a-b.

She won't get to choose a row, or a window seat etc, but she will be seated with her kids because the alternative isn't safe.

How many of these threads does there have to be.

Pay your money and take your chances and piss off every one else but hey who cares about them.

BA are charging £54-79 to prebook seats on our flight this summer. I'm not paying that and am operating on the understanding that their policy does not allow a young child to sit separately from a parent/guardian. So I guess BA will just have to sort it out for us when we check in.

Yes I know the cost would be the same!
I just think the psychology of booking would be different.
Instead of thinking 'no I don't want to pay extra' people would be thinking 'I want this really, better not go for the discount'.

I wouldn't move if I'd paid for allocated seating. Just pay the 20 for goodness sake. So cheeky to expect others to move.

So fuck the people who've paid for a seat and get told to move then?

But they would just charge more on the fare price to cover it. The cost would be exactly the same… the same CF’s who don’t want to pay would remove the seating then still expect someone to move

TeenDivided

And plenty of people will opt out, and for safety reasons the cabin crew will still..... need to seat the 2 year old with the parent/guardian.

Yeah, I'm a nervous flier and have had people expect me to move for a child as we're adults travelling together. A full blown panic attack on a plane is not the one. I wouldn't move away from my travel group for this reason.