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Original poster

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

787 replies

Peachpicklepie · 24/06/2023 17:41

I'll be flying with easyjet on a short flight (just over an hour) soon. It will be me, my toddler (2 years 4 months) and my baby (four months). Baby will be on my lap. According to the website they will sit children near an accompanying adult - surely in the case of a two year old this means next to?! I really don't want to spend another £20 on choosing seats if it's unnecessary.

OP posts:
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7
25sheets · 27/06/2023 22:57

Is your child not worth £20 to be seated near you? Wow.

Fuchs1a · 27/06/2023 22:55

I wouldn’t move. I would put my headphones on and ignore your child.

Probationnotontarget · 27/06/2023 22:52

Recent flight - I sat and watched a movie and chatted to a stranger next to me - DH was reading.

Makes no difference to me if we are sat together or not and I never pay -

Never paid when the kids were smaller and they were quite independent and happy to chill/read/watch a movie. No difference to being on a bus.

No we should have to pay for peach of mind - the airlines do it to stop people complaining!

Id move for a young child - but wouldn’t for an older one

TooOldForThisNonsense · 27/06/2023 22:52

Regholdsworthswaterbed · 27/06/2023 22:27

Those saying they wouldn't move, you'd be happy sat next to someone else's random toddler with their mum in the next aisle would you?

Wouldn’t bother me, I’d just ignore them.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 27/06/2023 22:51

NuffSaidSam · 24/06/2023 18:05

I can't believe the people saying they wouldn't move! I'd rather sit on a wing than next to a stranger's 2 year old for a flight.

I have AirPods and am good at ignoring

Samlewis96 · 27/06/2023 22:50

Dontworkmondays · 27/06/2023 21:22

They likely will sit you together, but you’ll be stressed all the way until you get your boarding pass. Not worth that imho.
I never pay to sit together and most of the time it’s fine.

Qwhich they can check in and get boarding pass 30 days before flight!!! If it tried to allocate separate seats on check in THEN pay. I don't understand why thee is do much saga over it

Mabiscuit · 27/06/2023 22:42

I always book my seats now that I've a small child. I once swapped with a 3 year old on Jet 2. My DH and I got on the flight and immediately saw a distressed mum and child. The boy was seated in the middle seat in the row in front of her. She admitted that because of his young age, she thought they'd at least be seated across from eachother. Not one person would budge and the poor flight attendant said they couldn't do anything about it.

Cherryblossoms85 · 27/06/2023 22:40

Haha I'd be over the moon!

ohdamnitjanet · 27/06/2023 22:39

Oh Jesus, cough up. I’m not moving for you.

FurryFrigginFrump · 27/06/2023 22:36

Same here. I never pay and we’re always seated together. You need to check-in as early as possible.

That said, I’d be more than happy to NOT sit next to my crazy little 4 year old 😆

Hawkins0001 · 27/06/2023 22:28

@Peachpicklepie forget the €€ it's your children at the end of the day

Regholdsworthswaterbed · 27/06/2023 22:27

Those saying they wouldn't move, you'd be happy sat next to someone else's random toddler with their mum in the next aisle would you?

randommangoandpear · 27/06/2023 22:21

I risked not booking a seat and it was a huge fuss. Airport staff couldn’t put my 2 year old with either of us as the flight was full, so we were instructed to ask the cabin crew to try and sort it out. Cabin crew initially began to say that we should have paid for our seats and seemed uncomfortable but I got them to ask people if they would be happy to move! Airline cock up, toddlers and babies should be sat with a parent/guardian as standard.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/06/2023 22:10

Here you go, @SunnyEgg - you asked aboutt flight price changes over time, and though this one's in dollars it's the closest I can get: https://www.in2013dollars.com/Airline-fares/price-inflation

Note in particular what happened after the Covid shutdown Hmm

Airfare price inflation, 1963→2023

This calculator uses the official Consumer Price Index for Airfare from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Airfare costing $100 in 1963 would cost $1,203.12 in 2023.

https://www.in2013dollars.com/Airline-fares/price-inflation

Getoutofherenow · 27/06/2023 22:07

HoppingPavlova · 27/06/2023 20:43

For all of you saying, "It's only £20!", it's not. It's per person, which is a lot if you are travelling as a family.

Yep. If you can’t afford that, you can’t afford to travel. Why make your lack of planning/inability to pay everyone else’s problem if things go pear shaped? No way I’d move to facilitate this. I’d even put up with a toddler on a long haul than give in to such a CF’er.

I sat on a long haul flight 2 rows and across the aisle from a mother with her screaming baby - I'd have paid to move, never mind being offered another seat, we were stuck with it. Do you frequently put yourself through misery to supposedly teach random strangers lessons? You are a hero - the world should applaud you in all your selfless acts... Nobel prize coming your way perhaps?

ilovesooty · 27/06/2023 22:04

Hyperthyroidkitty · 27/06/2023 21:29

I love that everyone is just telling you to pay, surely airlines shouldnt be charging for people to select a seat full stop?

That's what the usual pricing model involves. If they didn't charge for seat selection the base rate would be more expensive.

ZiriForEver · 27/06/2023 22:03

Catxxxxxxxxxx · 27/06/2023 21:44

If you want to risk not being next to your 2 yr old then don't pay. Do not expect people to move if you don't pay to sit together. Simple

Why? Some people don't pay either and don't mind some types of exchanges.
And the OP needs just 2 places, not a whole row.

I'd gladly get rid of middle seat for accross the aisle one. And I don't see any difference between 23C and 21C.

Raggeo · 27/06/2023 22:02

I have never reserved seats with any airline. Regularly fly with Easyjet and Pre-kids was always say next to DH. I think I've had 3 easyjet return trips since my eldest has needed his own seat, and every flight been sat next to him and DH. We make sure that we check in as soon as check in opens (set a reminder) just incase.

Catxxxxxxxxxx · 27/06/2023 21:44

If you want to risk not being next to your 2 yr old then don't pay. Do not expect people to move if you don't pay to sit together. Simple

Hyperthyroidkitty · 27/06/2023 21:29

I love that everyone is just telling you to pay, surely airlines shouldnt be charging for people to select a seat full stop?

Dontworkmondays · 27/06/2023 21:24

It’s only a short flight, someone will swap seats you. Up to you on how you feel about asking though. I have no issues with someone wanting to swap with me even if they said it’s because they didn’t fancy spending the money extra £20

Clafoutie · 27/06/2023 21:23

PumpkinPie2016 · 24/06/2023 17:50

Honestly, I'd just pay! Then you can be certain!

We fly in August and my son is 9. I am quite a nervous flyer so wanted us all together. I just paid for the seats and chose what we wanted.

If I didn't pay, I wouldn't 'expect' anything. I would accept that I may not get what I wanted.

Yes I agree with this. It is not really reasonable to expect to have it both ways OP! ( not paying but also expecting to get the seats you want).

Dontworkmondays · 27/06/2023 21:22

They likely will sit you together, but you’ll be stressed all the way until you get your boarding pass. Not worth that imho.
I never pay to sit together and most of the time it’s fine.

SerafinasGoose · 27/06/2023 21:20

How have we made sitting with your friends and family a luxury you have to pay extra for? Theatres don't do it!

Nor do they squeeze you into a seat pitch of 29" ...

Koalasparkles · 27/06/2023 21:13

I never pay when I fly with my kid and they always sit us together. Personally I think it's a piss take asking you to pay extra to sit the seats you booked at the same time together when they easily could just do it. I'd understand if they were across the aisle etc, but the way some airlines purposefully separate you to make you pay is taking the piss. As a point of principle I don't pay. They've got to put your kid with at least one of you and if there's a stranger in the 3rd seat and they choose not to swap with my partner then that's up to them. I know I'd rather not be sat next to a toddler, given the choice 🤷🏼‍♀️

How have we made sitting with your friends and family a luxury you have to pay extra for? Theatres don't do it!