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Original poster

Thomas cook. Chances of us sitting together on flight?

137 replies

Helpies · 12/08/2019 22:49

DH and I. 4 sprogs. 2 over 12. 2 under 12. (all over 7)

Keep being told by family not to waste £120 on prebooked flights (money is super tight) as everyone else has always been seated together.
They go away regularly and have never been split.
It's our first time and kids are nervous.

Would you pay?

OP posts:
Likethebattle · 12/08/2019 22:51

If you want to guarantee it you have to pay.

PinkBlossomInSummer · 12/08/2019 22:53

I always pay to sit together, I think it’s really cheeky to expect others who have paid for their seats to move just because someone didn’t pay for theirs. This happened to us a few years ago and the family were pissed off that DH and I refused to move for them. Sorry, but pay for your seats and don’t expect other people to have to move for you if you haven’t.

Original poster
Helpies · 12/08/2019 22:54

I never said I would expect anyone with paid seats to move Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
Helpies · 12/08/2019 22:55

What a strange conclusion to jump to Pink

OP posts:
Original poster
Helpies · 12/08/2019 22:56

I'm just asking for a general consensus.

If you didn't pay were you seated together.

It seems like on MN it's a thing that people say they've been split but all family and friends have said it's never happened to them.

OP posts:
PinkBlossomInSummer · 12/08/2019 22:56

I never jumped to a conclusion. I simply posted what had happened to us (on more than one occasion) so you need to book your seats. Most people do.

AppleKatie · 12/08/2019 22:56

I would pay for the younger ones to be next to an adult. The others can cope if they have to wing it!

We didn’t pay this year knowing DC was young enough that he would be seated next to one of us. This did happen and the adults were split. THEN another family asked if we’d mind moving about and we ended up together (and so did they).

So clearly it was possible to seat families together they just choose not too...

If you’re happy to take the risk then it might work out still. But obviously no guarantees.

One woman (totally unaffected by us switching around was very eye rolling and kept muttering ‘if you want to sit together pay’.:. But all of the people doing the moving were smiling and jovial about it, which I like to think is the best way of sticking it to the money grubbing airline 😃

sarahjaneg · 12/08/2019 22:56

We've just come back from our holiday- first time I've refused to pay- 4 kids roughly same age as yours, all sat in a row there and back- I was nervous but couldn't justify the money....

Theromanempire · 12/08/2019 22:57

As long as you are prepared and happy being seated away from your DC who may be scattered around the plane, then don't pay.

Wolfiefan · 12/08/2019 22:58

I would pay to avoid being separated from nervous kids. A teen? Not so much. But younger kids on a first flight? Yes.

Lockheart · 12/08/2019 22:58

Bear in mind that "seated together" can mean in the row in front, or across the aisle. It doesn't mean you would have two seats right next to each other. You could end up with 6 aisle seats in a line, for example.

It's up to you of course but if you go down the route of not paying to book seats then ensure you check in as early as possible, and be prepared to have to split up or have the older children sat away from both you and your DH. Seating 6 together may be difficult if the plane is full, but 3 lots of 2 (or 2 lots of 3) might be grouped together more easily.

Theromanempire · 12/08/2019 22:59

It did happen to us when my DC were 6 and 3...we weren't given an option to pay due to how the holiday was booked. We would definitely have paid if we could have - was not a pleasant experience!

EskewedBeef · 12/08/2019 23:02

As long as the older ones are happy to be separated from you (the younger ones won't be), then it's a gamble worth taking.
We've never been separated and have never paid to choose seats. Check in as soon as it's possible to and you're more likely to be allocated seats together.

Original poster
Helpies · 12/08/2019 23:04

The older ones have never flown either and I don't think they will want to sit alone.

I think I will have to find the money somehow.

OP posts:
RomaineCalm · 12/08/2019 23:04

Worst case scenario could be 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 with the two together (parent and youngest DC) being across an aisle or one in front of the other and the single seats being anywhere on the plane. If you (and the DC) are happy with that and you are prepared to accept that it might happen then I would take the risk.

There have been enough posts on MN to suggest that it could happen or, hopefully, you find yourselves all together or as 3 x 2 groups. Only you know whether you're prepared to risk the worst case option and not expect other passengers (who may have paid to sit together) to move.

cccameron · 12/08/2019 23:06

Please don't waste your money. I travel a lot. I've never paid for pre booked seats and we have never been sat apart. Just check in as soon as online check in opens.

areukiddingme · 12/08/2019 23:07

Your family are wrong, pay or risk it.

cardamoncoffee · 12/08/2019 23:08

Flew recently with TC, only one dc under 12 (2 more teens) and we were all seated together which surprised me. I wasn't bothered if we weren't so didn't pay the extortionate price for seats.

areukiddingme · 12/08/2019 23:11

Just to back my post up, I hate flying my husband and I had a flight to Iceland booked we didn’t pre book the seats, at check in I told the lady at the desk I was a nervous flyer and could we sit together, no problem she said, when we got on the plane my seat was two rows behind his, only saving grace was the flight was not full and the hostess let me move.... after take off.... which is the worse part for me anyway.

Pieceofpurplesky · 12/08/2019 23:13

Flew to Canada - told not to bother booking seats together by the agent - we were all sat separately. DS was 5 at the time. Luckily I had the email from the agent (who was from the airline). They had to move us.

Really depends on when and where

cardamoncoffee · 12/08/2019 23:13

cccameron I never pay for seats either except on flights where it is mandatory for under 12's, but we have been seated apart most times. Some airlines only allow online check-in 24 hours before the flight, so it is very risky if sitting together is important.

TeaKettleBell · 12/08/2019 23:14

Your family are not wrong. They have to seat you with your younger children.

VivaLeBeaver · 12/08/2019 23:15

Thomas cook now seem to employ Ryanair tactics of purposefully splitting families up unless you've paid.

I sweated it out not paying for me and dd to do early seat reservation recently. Normal reservations opened up a week before the flight. Logged in and we had been allocated seats on opposite sides of the plane even though there was a seat directly in front of dd which was free. When I tried to move my icon to that seat so I could be infront of her it wanted to charge me approx £80 for choosing my seat.

Tigger001 · 12/08/2019 23:15

I think if you need to sit together you will have to find the money and pay.

Have you viewed the plan seating plan to see what seats are available ? It will give you a better idea of availability, but ultimately paying is the only way to secure the seats.

My husband and I were asked to move so a mother could sit near her child, we refused as we had paid to reserve our seats and it's just selfish not to if you need to be seated together.

Lockheart · 12/08/2019 23:16

Yes @TeaKettleBell however "seated with" in airline parlance can mean "in the row in front".

I don't think a nervous child would be happy sat next to two strangers with their parent behind or in front where they can't see them.