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.

Who are the groups who have to fly and have to fly together that are disadvantaged to begin with?

If I'm pricing up a holiday for us and the kids, then I price up the cost of having there kids. It isn't my fault we have three, but I can't assume the airline or the hotel will accommodate that. I make sure we can cover enough luggage for what we need, I don't assume I get extra allowance for my messy child. When I book seats, seat reservations are part of the basic price of you choose to sit together or go at an age where it's necessary. I don't expect the airline to be responsible for what ages my kids are

Op made a genuine mistake, and would have factored it in if she'd realised, if she'd only booked three seats for a parent and the youngest two, or a row of five.

ok here's an example. My mother in law is blind in one eye and limited visibility in the other. she has a disadvantage - a disability. if she travels with my partner him and her have to pay extra to sit beside each other as she requires additional assistance.
if I travel with my partner I do not need additional assistance so we pay less for two seats of the same quality. The only reason we pay less is because we do not have a disability and require assistance.
she is first disadvantaged by her disability then further disadvantaged by the increased cost she incurs so that she can travel. that increased cost is for something that has been engineered by the airline.

Exactly.

People need to stop expecting that others subsidize them.

There are very few reasons that anyone "needs" air travel. Don't like the prices, don't fly. Airlines are for-profit businesses, not charities.

@CuriousEgg

I'm sorry about your relative's disability. But many people have physical or mental health issues that prompt them to prefer certain seating arrangements.

It's not disadvantaging them to sell them what they need, instead of just randomly assigning seats. Everyone has the same options to suit their own needs. Airlines are businesses, not charities.

Okay, given that you posted that you were sad at what people saying in this thread, I guess I naively assumed you were taking about the situation described in this thread (children), not something completely different.

Also, what airlines were your partner and mother-in-law flying? Any airline that I've been in on the UK, EU, Canada, or the US has had special assistance for those with disabilities. This includes, for those with visual impairments, free seat selection for them and their accompanying person. So, it would be interesting to know which airlines they've traveled where they are "disadvantaging" her.

Do not compare having children to having a disability. One is a choice, not a disadvantage.

Im not. I literally just gave an example

We generally just go for the low costs ones in Europe. There's no option when booking to flag this so I guess the alternative is to take a chance and not pay and hope they accommodate.

You are giving an example of people who you think are also disadvantaged because you think having children makes someone disadvantaged. It really doesn't. That's just the cost of having children. It's not discrimination to not be given things for free.

Easy Jet, Wizz, and Ryanair all offer accommodations (those are the ones I've travelled on with someone with a disability). I cannot imagine that other airlines don't, since it is part of CAA passenger rights (also passenger rights in US, Canada, and EU).

I think the headline price should at least include a specific seat and an overhead bag plus a handbag etc

Completely impossible. There are not enough overhead lockers for all those onboard. Hence the almighty rush when the gate opens, in case your pull along doesn't make it and has to go in the hold

So if your MIL and Husband paid for two seats together and the family in the OP got on the plane and expected either your MIL or Husband to move to accommodate them because they chose not to pay for seats, that would be ok?

The opportunity to pay for specific seats is available for everyone and people who choose to not pay then expect everyone else on the plane to shift around to accommodate them are cheeky fuckers.

And airlines provide assistance for people with disabilities.

No one is disadvantaged when the same opportunity is there for everyone.

Out last flight, the cabin crew only allowed bags in the overhead that wouldn't fit under the seats and it was made quite clear from the start when the holiday was booked. If it didn't fit under the seat then you were charged for the overhead bin

But you included children in your list of those who are disadvantaged?

And you seem to be studiously ignoring the posts giving information about those flying who require special assistance.

oh im sorry - I didnt realise I was I obliged to respond to every post in a timely manner just to say I dont agree the accommodations are sufficient. (I have responded to one giving more detail on my own personal experience btw)

additionally, I'll ensure my mumsnet posts are written with more care in the future to avoid any confusion.

I think airlines should introduce an on-the-spot fee which is twice the normal seat-booking fee for anyone who asks to be swapped out of their assigned random seat if they don't pay the fee in the first place. That would deal with the freeloaders who try to wangle the seat they want without paying for it

Excellent suggestion.

Excellent suggestion.

People need to take responsibility for themselves. Not do the bare minimum and expect others to make up the shortfall.

We flew to Egypt this week with Easyjet and I had paid for our seats then got asked to move I politely declined, felt awful but why should I when I'd paid.

🤔

By a family of five with a seven year old?

Well done for sticking to your guns!

Calm down. Why would you think this family is like that and lecture them?? Mind your own business.

I hope they’ve sorted thier seats out for the return journey.

Just to add, I’ve paid £16 extra per seat to prebook my lot, so I or anyone would be miffed to expect to move, you need to be very humble here.

Too right why should u move!! I came back from Egypt on easy jet last Friday

And I would happily change seats for anyone because life is too short to give a toss where my bum is. As long as I have a book I'm golden! :-)

It’s a mystery why there’s a fair chunk of people who think it’s fine to not pay, then expect those who have paid, to move. Something is really wrong with our society, the principle is all wrong