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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not book a seat on a longhaul flight?

204 replies

DecemberPlusFebruary · 06/07/2025 14:08

I'm travelling alone. Flight is 10 hours. Adding seats to the (economy cheapest) booking raises the price by about £70 - £85/flight and it's round trip. Economy cheapest means I am allocated a seat randomly - no choice even at check-in. Price without a seat: £425. With seats: £602!

I have a half hour drive on arrival at destination, but a route I know well, and even if I don't sleep at all, timings mean I will be okay to drive. No driving on return.

But... I like an aisle seat. I stand up and move like once/hour. Crawling over people is pretty unpleasant, for everyone involved - though I would do it anyway.

Hmm. Aibu to just hope for the best on allocation?? How bad can it be? £175 seems insane to pay for seats.

OP posts:
Original poster
DecemberPlusFebruary · 06/07/2025 14:56

JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome · 06/07/2025 14:54

I did and normally you can choose at check in but choice is often limited. The payment is normally to secure the seat ahead of time.

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That was the terms when I went last year. I suppose it's still a risk, though, choice or allocation at check-in.

OP posts:
JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome · 06/07/2025 14:54

simsbustinoutmimi · 06/07/2025 14:47

She said she’s going economy and will be allocated a seat, no choice at check in. Read the post.

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I did and normally you can choose at check in but choice is often limited. The payment is normally to secure the seat ahead of time.

Original poster
DecemberPlusFebruary · 06/07/2025 14:53

simsbustinoutmimi · 06/07/2025 14:51

Lucky you. It should be you paying though, not him.

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It's all the same pot of money. He's not being generous - just pragmatic.

OP posts:
HerRoyalNotness · 06/07/2025 14:52

Air NZ have charged to choose seats too. It grinds my gears. I’m not booking on a low-cost airline, it shouldn’t be an extra charge. I didn’t do it,
family of 4, and were allocated seats together anyway, both ways.

Original poster
DecemberPlusFebruary · 06/07/2025 14:52

PeloMom · 06/07/2025 14:43

For 10 hrs I would pay. It’s a long time to risk to be squished between 2 people in a middle seat.
I’ve noticed recently airlines doing that- I booked business with 2 different airlines and had to pay for seat too on top.

With business? Ugh. That's just wrong.

OP posts:
simsbustinoutmimi · 06/07/2025 14:51

DecemberPlusFebruary · 06/07/2025 14:48

Thanks all. Can I afford the seats? Yes - I can afford the flight so the seats won't break me. I was just sticker-shocked at the cost (of seats, not the flight) this time.

Anyway, I just put this to dh who looked at me over his glasses, having sat next to me on many many flights, and immediately offered to pay for the aisle seat.

So... yeah.

Lucky you. It should be you paying though, not him.

RampantIvy · 06/07/2025 14:50

For longhaul I would book an extra legroom seat.

DD and I had extra legroom seats on a Virgin Atlantic flight. We ended up with three seats between the two of us as they hadn't all been booked. I actually managed to get some sleep on the overnight flight home.

Original poster
DecemberPlusFebruary · 06/07/2025 14:50

bluecurtains14 · 06/07/2025 14:45

You'll get a middle seat which would be my idea of hell.

Yes - that is also my thought.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 06/07/2025 14:49

If it is a daytime flight and no-one will be sleeping, I'd say yes in a heartbeat.

It should of course not be allowed to charge extra and you be allocated a seat when you book, as happens with Eurostar. One of many customer rip-offs that should be outlawed in a modern consumer act.

Original poster
DecemberPlusFebruary · 06/07/2025 14:48

Thanks all. Can I afford the seats? Yes - I can afford the flight so the seats won't break me. I was just sticker-shocked at the cost (of seats, not the flight) this time.

Anyway, I just put this to dh who looked at me over his glasses, having sat next to me on many many flights, and immediately offered to pay for the aisle seat.

So... yeah.

OP posts:
simsbustinoutmimi · 06/07/2025 14:48

If it was me, I would pay extra for an aisle seat. Very unlikely you’ll be the lucky one to get allocated one. People with the cash will likely book for them beforehand, especially if it’s such a long haul flights. Same for exit row.

simsbustinoutmimi · 06/07/2025 14:47

JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome · 06/07/2025 14:13

I wouldn’t pay. You can normally choose seat at check in online so just do that as soon as it opens to clinch aisle seat.

She said she’s going economy and will be allocated a seat, no choice at check in. Read the post.

CopperWhite · 06/07/2025 14:47

I would do the same as you. You are not obliged to pay that much extra for an aisle seat because you want to follow basic fight advice to move around regularly. PPA are talking nonsense. People who choose aisle seats know they will have to move for other passengers when they are asked to.

Coffeeishot · 06/07/2025 14:46

I hate paying for seats it is a total rip off and I don't usually bother for short haul but if I was on a plane for 10 hours I would book.

BirthdeighParteigh · 06/07/2025 14:45

I don’t pay extra when travelling alone. Invariably I get allocated a middle seat between a couple who booked aisle and window to try to get the whole row to themselves. Every time they’ve moved over and given me the aisle.

But if you want to be up and down every hour then you need to pay for an aisle seat - you can’t rely on it.

bluecurtains14 · 06/07/2025 14:45

You'll get a middle seat which would be my idea of hell.

PeloMom · 06/07/2025 14:43

For 10 hrs I would pay. It’s a long time to risk to be squished between 2 people in a middle seat.
I’ve noticed recently airlines doing that- I booked business with 2 different airlines and had to pay for seat too on top.

Original poster
DecemberPlusFebruary · 06/07/2025 14:41

For those wondering on airline - I checked four, all major carriers (BA, etc) and the cheapest economy option for 3/4 was allocation at check-in (not choice).

OP posts:
Dontcallmescarface · 06/07/2025 14:40

We booked the exit row seats on our Heathrow to Singapore flight. Worth every penny. Nobody in front reclining their seat, only 2 seats on the row, extra legroom and room in front to move about without disturbing anyone.

ComtesseDeSpair · 06/07/2025 14:31

SleepingisanArt · 06/07/2025 14:15

What airline is that? I've only flown longhaul with airlines which include seat choice in the fare so I'm fascinated by this (sorry).

Jet Blue have taken to doing it recently - with some ticket types, unless you pay to choose, you aren’t even assigned a seat on check-in, but only when you get to gate. If your boarding group is right at the end, it’s going to be whatever’s left after everyone else has taken their pick. I think Iceland Air are the same for Transatlantic - though they are pretty no-frills generally.

Coffeeishot · 06/07/2025 14:27

If you are up and down you need to book a seat i think not only will it be a pain for the other passengers but you as well with "excuse me sorrys" . I wouldn't chance it.

ComtesseDeSpair · 06/07/2025 14:24

I’d be pretty annoyed to be seated next to somebody in a window or aisle seat who wanted me to get out of my seat ten or more times so they could move around during a flight, particularly if I wanted to sleep even though they didn’t. If you know you’re a fidget who likes to stroll then you need to book the appropriate seat.

Sometimes you get lucky at check-in allocation and can ask for your preferred seat, but it’s not unusual for only the least-liked middle seats to be remaining, especially for long haul when more people will value their comfort and pay for a seat.

McCartneyOnTheHeath · 06/07/2025 14:23

I also like an aisle seat so would definitely pay to book one on a 10 hour flight.
If you don't pay, chances are you'll be stuck in a middle seat.

ThejoyofNC · 06/07/2025 14:23

If you expect to get up once every hour then you need to book a seat. I'd be seriously pissed off if I was next you you (trying to sleep) and you kept wanting to get out that frequently.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 06/07/2025 14:20

I would book.

I am claustrophobic and need an aisle seat.

I would be incredibly anxious if I didn’t know my aisle seat was guaranteed (can cope with a bulkhead middle seat as you can get out without having to ask another person’s permission).

So it would be worth it to me.

Not wholly sure it’s fair to be getting up every hour if you aren’t in an aisle seat and don’t know the person beside you.

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