I effed up our holiday

[poppysgalore]

Flying out tomorrow on easyJet - family of five - first time on easyJet- had no idea we had to book our seats in advance. Just logged in and seen there's only random single seats left. Except for two rows that are near the fire exits so can't be allocated to under 16s. I'm gutted ! What do we do now , my youngest is 7 and the flight is 6 hours long. How could I be so stupid and not know this.

If someone implied that I were a molester, I'd take out my phone and video the kid the entire flight, to prove I hadn't done anything.

This post is a joke right?? You proudly admit that you’re a tight wad who won’t pay for seats and then berate people who will only swap for an ‘upgrade’.

Are you saying that not only should they do you a favour, there’s a chance they should downgrade as well?!! Honestly, you’ve got more neck than a giraffe.

Just to be clear, I wouldn’t swap with you.

They will try to seat a child next to a parent, but the parents could be far apart on the plane. I do believe you were not paying attention while booking but.....have you never travelled before? This is just plain common sense 🤷🏼‍♀️

Well now you know it's best to check-in asap from 30 days before the flight. So have you checked in on your return flight and picked the seats for that? Or are you leaving that till last minute too?

If you try get isle or window seats you'll have a much better chance of swapping. Also if the emergency ones are left, book yourselves on.. they tend to be more roomy (and pricey) so will be more appealing to the person beside your child! I'd personally hate to be stuck beside a panicky child when I could just swap with their parent but others will feel you're being a CF🙈

I always pay for the aisle seat due to bathroom access, joint issues and needing to stretch my legs, and claustrophobia. I don't swap if asked but airlines should force passengers with children to book seats, it shouldn't be optional on those bookings.
Somehow many people end up thinking it's optional.

Yes all children are different, but OP didn't mention that her kids are neuro-divergent, so I assume they cope with being separated from their parents at school for more than 6 hours a day. I can't see much difference here, except that the parents are very nearby in the same aircraft. The average child can occupy themself with a book or tablet for hours.

How do you manage when they go to school and you're not there?

Sharm el sheik, 5.5 hrs I've just come back with easy jet

She said her 12 and 14 year old wouldn't like it, not that they can't. At that age I'd have loved the independence of being on my own for a flight. I don't think there's many 12/14 year olds (without any special needs) who would have a problem with it.

My question why are you holidaying in term time ?

It’s not term time everywhere.

It’s not term time where I am. My kids are off.

Ignorance is no defence and if I had paid for an allocated seat I'd be sitting on it Lesson learned I hope You haven't effed up the holiday though Maybe the kids will think it's a huge adventure sitting away from you

The question was how the poster would cope, not the children.

I always pay for our seats so I don’t have any skin in the game but for example, if a parent came on with a 3 year old and 5 year old and didn’t pre-book seats, is there a chance they would all be split up?

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/itv-loose-women-star-refuses-30143780?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

Belfast to hurghada.

I also was surprised at a 6 hour easyJet flight. It appears this is the longest at 6h. Other Egypt flights are under 6 hours.

You say that your youngest is 7 and the flight is 6 hours. I am sure that a 7 year old will be fine on her own for a while watching the in flight entertainment. You can keep popping over to visit and check on them all, and maybe someone will offer to swap seats so you can be together. My siblings had to fly UK to Singapore on their own at a similar age. They may actually feel quite grown up doing this, the older ones that is. And yes, even if together, there are not many happy memories to be had on board an aeroplane. Not like the old days when you could get an invitation to show your children the cockpit! If it is a night flight , maybe they will sleep a bit?

Last week I flew BA from Vancouver to Heathrow. They had allotted me a seat, check in is 24 hours before flight and not before.I clicked the tab to change seats just out of curiosity as to what the prices were and was surprised that it was free, plus I could and did change to a window seat as I wanted to see The Aurora Borealis flying over Greenland. What a treat!

Well let's hope you never need a favour from me 🤣

What does that have to do with you?
Different terms/Home schooling/pay the fines

We had unfortunately years ago had this problem but on Ryan Air, I just said one of the adults needed to sit with 1 child or 1 child to an adult. The stewards sorted this out for us and some kind people moved. We now always book our seats, just let it be a lesson for the future. Have a good holiday.

'in flight entertainment.'
They're flying with EasyJet!

Got to say, passengers are getting fed up with families not booking seats together, then asking strangers to move.