Paying to chose seats on flights

[PinotAndPlaydough]

We are going away on our first family holiday soon. Kids have never been abroad and DH and I haven’t been abroad for 10 years. We have scrimped and saved for this and literally every penny counts.
Have just looked at reserving seats and to book them there and back is £65. That’s a fair chunk of money for us and money I’d much rather spend when we are out there.

Despite this I think we should book seats, eldest child has asd and I’m not sure how they’ll react to flying and the youngest is only 5. No way would any of us be happy about having to sit separately. DH says that while one of us might be sat away from the kids there’s no way they’ll separate two young kids from their parents.
It’s been so long I don’t know how things work any more, is it worth the risk, can we just queue up and try and make sure we board first?
I’m really not sure this is a risk I want to take? Any advice from more seasoned travellers?

Please do go to the special assistance desk at whichever airport you are flying for, and ask for one of the hidden disability lanyards for your son (think other people have mentioned them).

You should be able to go through the priority security lane with these, and also board the plane first (depending on the airline). I know that easyjet allow you to use the speedy boarding lane (have just done this myself for a weekend trip, as I have a lanyard). Don't know about other budget airlines. Other airlines like BA etc should call special assistance first, or if you go to the desk at the gate and show them you have a lanyard, should let you board first.

Don't pay! Just call them up and ask - it's likely they will just seat you together ! they have always been really helpful any time we call! Also my 10 year old step son flys alone on Norwegian several times a year to visit us - they always look after him really well - no complaints

Do pay. Last flight I had some woman standing in my seats we had paid for because she wanted to sit with her kids without paying. What she didn't realise is my add son was getting seriously stressed because she was in our seats and I had to explain things to the steward who sorted it eventually but I had to do everything to keep him calm while that happened.

On a brighter note some airports have free fast track for hidden disabilities. East Midlands does which makes it so much easier leaving through security and getting back through passport control. Ds wears green lanyard and all staff whizz is through. Google the airport and hidden disabilities and see what they can do.

I recently heard about a code you can give the airline and they may or may not help you. From Wikipedia: In May 2008 a new IATA keyword, “DPNA”, (disabled passenger with intellectual or developmental disability needing assistance) was introduced. This keyword is to be used for a passenger with an intellectual or developmental disability.

I know someone who used it and they let his family on board first so their autistic son could get settled before other passengers boarded. Made for a much easier flight.

I'd happily pay not to sit next to any kids or for a nice childfree flight

I think you made the right decision though op

Even though we go through special assistance, I still pay, because I like the extra leg room.

Flight last year with father over 2 meters, all the extra leg room seats taken by people who clearly didn’t need them and the seat wasn’t big enough for my father to sit in. If you need extra leg room fine - but if not have a thought for people over 2 meters that don’t know all the extra leg room seats are taken until after they’ve booked the flight. Poor woman in front wasn’t to happy either..she complained to stewards but they couldn’t move him as people had paid to sit in the seats

ivykaty44 I think the comfort of my child, who doesn’t like the feeling of being closed in/trapped, due to her SN and past trauma, actually trumps your need for extra leg room. If you want to ensure extra leg room, do as I do and book early, otherwise complaining about my child and I paying for extra leg room is no different from people who don’t book and complain that they can’t sit together.

Ds wears green lanyard and all staff whizz is through It’s fantastic, isn’t it, Stuffofawesome. My child locks her legs when she has to stand for two long and would end up passing out, if we had to wait. I find the airport staff fantastically accommodating, though I explain that we don’t need someone to walk with us, as I can take her.

*too long

S1 it was the lady in front complaining due to in her words “ his legs sticking in her back so she couldn’t sit in it and wanted him moved as it wasn’t comfortable” it wasn’t great for him either not fitting in the seat. You may well trump everyone else with your dd but I doubt there are jyst two seats on each flight with extra leg room

Surely they would expect the children to sit with a parent, though? Who else would want to sit next to an unaccompanied child?

One can imagine a tragi-comic scenario should the plane go down, with passengers waving their goodbyes to loved ones distributed throughout the aircraft.
(Although I guess these days people would use whatsapp or something)

'Spare a thought for tall people who don't know that the extra legroom seats are all gone before booking'.

But with Easyjet and Ryanair you pick your seats before you pay. So if there are no legroom seats you can book a different flight.