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

I agree with most of pp , pay the £20 so you can sit together , as you say yourself it would be a dickish thing to do to get someone to move.
If your DC is in front / behind you how would you stop the from standing on the seat to see you or try to push past the person on the aisle to get to you ?

I think that sentence was meant to be; 'her little girl annoyed the shit out of everyone by sharing her sweets around'.

That's my policy, too.

The only reason airlines have got away with charging for this is because of the mugs who just accepted it and paid up.

There was a point upthread about airlines might start making people pay to use the loo. That (insert nasty word) O'Leary proposed to do just that.

I think airlines need to approach this differently. Too many entitled people these days expecting the world to revolve around them and their children yet not paying for the privelege, then flights getting delayed when the poor crew have to deal with asking people to move.

If all airlines put a £15 per head surcharge on families with children under 8 year olds, which then gave them guaranteed seats together that would makes sense.

FWIW yes I do have children and yes I do pay the extra for allocated seats.

why not just pay for peace of mind? £20 is not alot in the scheme of things. Plus i really detest being asked to move for a parent with a quivering lip who could not be bothered to pay when I have paid for and chosen a seat. The entitlement irritates me. Not the only one I assume.

No airline make you stay in your seats once the seatbelt sign is off.

Is the seat you want next to an unaccompanied 2 year old?! That's the last seat on the plane I'd want.

We don't pay, but we're not bothered. Makes sense to pay a small amount to sit together if it's important.
BTW, Ryan Air aren't the only bastards, Wizz Air deliberately split up people who won't pay.

Nobody ever thought airlines would start charging you to bring a hold bag. And then they never thought airlines would start charging you to bring a cabin bag.

And yet here we are.

I personally never bother with Easyjet BUT I do make sure I check in 30 days in advance on the dot to ensure my family is sat together. We've always been put together, even on flights listed as sold out. It's entirely up to you.

They really won’t.

Together can be right next to each other, or next to each other but across an aisle btw.

I suspect they'll say that primarily the safeguarding of the child is the responsibility of the parent.

If the OP isn't fussed enough to sort it out in advance, why should the airline be fussed?

I was on a Ryanair flight where a 3/4 year old was seated down the front of the plane and dad at the back. The seats behind him/me about 8 rows, were all empty but they wouldn't allow them to sit together despite him asking. The child, bless her, didn't make a fuss but after take off they both just sat in the empty rows and nothing was said. They stayed there for landing too.

Incorrect, I regular travel on easyjet and jet2, they will seat you together if the seats are available at check in at no extra cost.

I believe ryanair is the only airline that deliberately separates (going by what I've read).

🤣🤣

I also wouldn’t move because I will have paid the price to get the seat I want!

You, probably, will be seated next to each other.

But, hypothetically, everyone on the flight could be a single parent with a toddler and done the same. So half of you will have the toddler behind.

For £20 I'd pay it, because it would be worth it to not worry about it from now until you're seated.

During a busy time of year, like 'high summer', I'd pay - flights are fuller so less options for cabin crew to ask people to swap to accommodate you, particularly those that have the foresight to pay in advance.

Also, you could even delay the flight if it misses its 'slot' due to trying to find people willing to swap - many other families also travel this time of year too.

I have noise cancelling headphones and a very good resting bitch face expression.

You can risk.it, but be prepared to be like the woman and 3/4 yr old next to us on an easyjet fight. Not booked seats sat across the asile from each other. They assumed sombody would move but DH is sight impaired so needs me next to him on the flight as part of there safety rules and the other couple had.an obviously very nervous flyer who needed their companion. She wasn't impressed but I bet she booked next time

My friend went on holiday with her 3 year old last month and forgot to book the seats and her daughter was 2 rows in front of her with no one moving. Her little girl kept everyone amused on the flight sharing her sweets round.

I wouldn't pay in principle. I hate all these airlines charging for things which should be included in the ticket price. As soon as everyone had accepted that it is normal to pay extra to choose your seat, they'll start charging people to use the toilet.

and I bet those who finally agreed to swap did it because they wanted to just get going not because they actually wanted to!

Op pay the money. My dh and I have always booked seats even before children because we didn’t even get seated together on our honeymoon and that was a lesson learned!
Nothing worse than sitting on a flight that we have paid extra money to sit together whilst some entitled parents demands they are seated with their child.