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

I thought you did get free seat selection if you call to request assistance due to disability/SEN? If that’s not a thing already then it definitely should be!

I suppose you’re right and there’s always going to be CFers no matter how you do it. However, supervising a toddler is an absolute necessity and I really don’t agree with airlines trying to exploit young families because they know they don’t have any choice except to pay up (unless they’re entitled CFers). IMO it’s up there with the publicity stunt rumour that won’t die about Ryanair charging for the loos! It’s a basic need so of course it should be free. Anything else excluding of course disabilities, SEN or medical needs that you’d request special assistance for is really just a preference. So perfectly reasonable that you can choose whether or not it’s worth paying for.

That those with under 5s in their group get free seat selection at the time of booking maybe?

That won’t solve it. You will get parents stating their 13yo has autism and they can’t be separated (yet can’t be arsed paying to sit together and/or planning adequately to get a flight with capacity/capability to sit together). Or, their 8yo gets air sick and they need to be seated together, but ditto, can’t be arsed paying with preference to be a CF getting on and expecting the plane to shuffle around for them.

That those with under 5s in their group get free seat selection at the time of booking maybe? Lots of airlines e.g. BA do it for lap infants which is mostly unnecessary, especially on short haul where there’s no bassinet seats, because the baby will obviously be on your lap so can’t be separated from you. They’d be better not giving you a choice with the infant except maybe bassinet or not if it’s long haul, but letting those with toddlers/very young kids choose for free instead.

As a practical note... what do people want the legislation to be?
All U5s should be sat directly next to an adult in their booking (which means you can only fly on a 2:1 ratio... or potentially a 1:1 ratio for smaller planes)
Parents can select seats at booking for 1 adult plus plus children for free/one price?
Get rid of seat bookings, allow airlines to use an optimal seating plan algorithm accepting that the while party may be split up but children with an adult.

Exactly this. I always get the impression on these threads that many people do not seem to understand that passenger groups do not always neatly fit the configuration of the plane's seating and therefore it is not always feasible to sit them directly next to each other.

It won’t be with a cheap airline like EasyJet though so is there a cost to choose a seat?

Also I am an immigrant myself :) similar long haul

Yeah @ILJ28 I mean you're not a refugee.
If family is that important to you that you want to see them often but can't afford the flight then you shouldn't have moved.
Also how much is cost of choosing seats balanced against the expense of a long haul flight as a percentage?

Also, if you don't want to be charged to pick seats then go with an airline that doesn't? BA, Qatar and Emirates for instance let you choose at check-in. There's rarely no seats left in a row if you check in ASAP unless you have like 5 kids.

If you don't , I guess the cost of assured seating isn't worth it to you, contradicting your point.

I don’t HAVE to fly

Who forced you to abandon your family and move to Australia?

As a practical note... what do people want the legislation to be?
All U5s should be sat directly next to an adult in their booking (which means you can only fly on a 2:1 ratio... or potentially a 1:1 ratio for smaller planes)
Parents can select seats at booking for 1 adult plus plus children for free/one price?
Get rid of seat bookings, allow airlines to use an optimal seating plan algorithm accepting that the while party may be split up but children with an adult.

I don’t HAVE to fly. Huh. I actually live in Australia, my family live in the UK. Next time I return so my family can see their grandchild/nephew etc or I have a sick relative/funeral… I’ll be sure to let them know I don’t HAVE to fly… and I’ll hop on a boat and be there in about 6 weeks 🤦🏽‍♀️

No one HAS to fly. So it actually is a choice.

Those who for whatever reason need specific seats pay more than those who don't. As it should be.

At least she's willing to pay for her seat and not act the privileged parent whose little darling must be accommodated regardless

The point is you shouldn’t have to pay - willing or otherwise!

It shouldn’t be a privilege to sit next to your own child - it should be standard - no body should have to worry about seating arrangements.

I spend 24/7 with my children and know they’d be perfectly ok sitting on a plane and amuse themselves - maybe they are just independent? Maybe they can speak to strangers?

I’ve never paid extra - we are either together or we aren’t - no all parents ‘insist’ others move to accommodate their children.

At least she's willing to pay for her seat and not act the privileged parent whose little darling must be accommodated regardless.

No one forced you to have a child. Pay your way.

Your parents weren’t forced to have you either I’m sure you were adequately looked after and your parents weren’t too off at the privilege.

No one forced you to have a child. Pay your way.

Because as I said, I should not have to pay for the privilege of providing care and assistance to my child. It is widely understood that a 2 year old is unable to take care of themselves (this is why it is against the law to leave them home alone) so airlines should not allow any circumstances where they would be left unattended. Payment for things like food/baggage etc… is fine as you have a ‘choice’. I have no choice about whether or not I provide care to my child I am morally and legally obligated to do so. Therefore I shouldn’t have to pay and as I said before airlines should make it mandatory that a small child sits with a parent for free.

Easyjet - I have never paid for seat selection, checked in bang on 30 days before the flight and have never been seated apart from my party (which includes a child).

Ryanair - I would always pay (although if travelling with an under 12 it is compulsory to select a seat for one child and one adult at the time of booking) as otherwise they WILL split you up.

The answe to these sorts of questions is that it is very much airline dependent. Ryanair anecdotes have no place on a thread about easyjet as they are different airlines with different policies.

We went Jet2 recently and my partner was very anxious about this. They were doing the hard sell on not being seated together without paying until the last click of check in online, braved it out then 1 second later, allocated 25A,B and C. In sure if the worst came to the worst someone would swap with you rather than look after your toddler.

I think this is just in the non payers‘ heads. I couldn’t care less as long as you don’t ask anyone to move.

Hahaha 😆 you've nailed it the pay up brigade are raging that they are paying for nothing.

Unless you desperately want to sit together as a family of 4 children will always be seated with a parent

We'd logged in so we could pay for our seats together, we weren't expecting anyone to move and no I won't be expecting people to move for my 17 year old son-how ridiculous. We just got lucky

If you think those are possible why not just pay.

No the "pay up or sit apart" brigade will be raging I reckon. I bet they are totting up how much they have paid to sit together and resent anyone who gets that for nothing.

Also @ILJ28 it's not just me. People who aren't parents or used to kids might not be alert... They might manage to knock someone else's drink over onto themselves. Which wouldnt be their fault. If would be yours, the parents.

See that's the thing though. I don't eat on trips, don't watch TV, just like staring into space. I'd probably step on the toddler, I think you should be more worried about me injuring them. Or dropping MY drink on them, especially if it's hot!

But then again I'm neurodiverse and planes are my worst nightmare so I'm in survival mode. If my own kids are there I can fuss over them but if on my own the surrounding become a blur.

Actually yes, you would probably pay ME to swap seats. You don't want your toddler injured do you?