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.

Remind them that no one should be touching them and they can shout or find a member of staff if anyone is making them uncomfortable.

I'm trying to imagine how I'd react if I were sat in the aisle seat between you and your child whilst you explained this to them. I'm really not sure! What would others do?

Please when asking people to move they may say no! My daughter is autistic and for her she books the seat and obsesses about the location - she is only 21. On a recent flight she had anxiety as she could see a family who hadn’t bothered to pay or book seats ~ she is a people pleaser as well! So ended up with a panic attack as she was so worried that she would end up being asked to move!

You need to remember that the majority of people don't tend to fly to holiday destinations alone, so you are asking other families, couples or friends who have probably paid extra for their seat to sit separately because you messed up. This is not their responsibility, it's really hard not to book seats when you book because the airline wants your money.
Also getting on a plane is not leisurely, yours crammed on and don't have the opportunity to wander around the plane looking for people to swap with.
Your best bet is to put yourself at the mercy of the check in staff before you board.
And no, I wouldn't swap. I look able sat down but have mobility issues that mean I need the seat I've paid for.

I'd be fucking fuming.

How dare the parent insinuate that people are going to do that sort of thing? I'd genuinely ask to move, but I'd not be offering for the parent to sit with their child.

Don't do this @poppysgalore - if you made your kids act up at me, there would be nothing more likely to make me tell you to sling your hook. You would be the worst kind of dickhead .

Do offer your better seats ie window and aisle first or ask someone like for like (middle seat in front) to swap. I would have no issue swapping if you asked politely and it wasn't a seat downgrade.

Worst case scenario take charged iapds, snacks, headphones, books, stickers and sell it to the kids as an adventure! Please let us know how you get on, good luck.

Some things give away a lot about a poster.

Such as the advice to loud parent a child, warning the unfortunate adult next to them who did nothing other than check in to their flight against "touching" the child or making them feel uncomfortable.

If you did this to me, I would either be incandescent at your entitlement and manners, or if I was in a more generous mood (unlikely if I am sitting on an Easyjet flight) wonder what had happened in your life to make you act quite so bonkers.

It's not the airline's problem. It's OP's problem.

It's half term where I am...

I'd probably just think the parent is nuts and get on with my day.

I'd roll my eyes so hard they'd fall out of my head @DancingTurtle and that would lead to a long delay for everyone whilst the ambulance men tried to find them...

It will be fine but the other people definitely won't be pleased. Tell the cabin crew and they can instruct people to move. We had to give up paid-for window seats (no compensation given either) on a flight for exactly this reason because some family didn't bother reserving seats for underage children. Instead of flying home sitting together, DH and I were in totally random aisle seats somewhere in the plane.

I don’t think I’ve ever paid for allocated seats. Just checked in online as early as is allowed and they allocate you seats together usually. I know that doesn’t help you this time, but for next time you can check in on the app I think up to 30 days before you fly and you’ll be allocated seats together. That’s been my experience anyway.

I’m sure people will swap if you ask nicely. I’m not bothered where I sit really and wouldn’t want a random child sat next to me without a parent as I’d feel responsible for them. Try not to worry. It’s a genuine mistake and I am sure it will be Ok x

I've been on a flight where a parent was in your shoes - unfortunately nobody was willing to swap for them and they were absolutely fuming - which of course made people even less inclined to swap.

I think your only option is to kill people with kindness - but be prepared for them to say "no" anyway, and if they do, don't put pressure on them or try and guilt trip them.

If the cabin crew instructed me to move I would simply tell them that I'm very sorry but I cannot move as I am travelling with someone who has a disability and needs me to sit with them for support. (I should not have to violate the person's privacy like that!).

Exactly this. I’ve seen one person admit they are too stingy to pay and just get people to swap with them. I wouldn’t do it . It gives clear options on booking seats when you book the flight too.

I pay extra for my seats and book where i want to sit with my partner. I hate the expectation that we will move because we don’t have children with us etc.

You also don’t know other peoples circumstances wether they have a reason for saying no like they have a fear of flying or even going to through something personally that they need their person with them.

The op will probably find others will swap especially as there may be some that haven’t paid to book seats etc.

What the fuck have I just read..?!!! OP please do NOT do this! This is awful.

My 7 and 11 year old wouldn't be okay with this at all actually. My 7 year old would be traumatised. They simply could not and would not cope with this.

Must be because all children are different and we know our own kids best eh?

Imagine that!

Don't be so ridiculous - there is no law on any transport about not sitting with a stranger: can you imagine being on a bus or a train and having this law? If you are travelling with kids, there is a reasonable chance that your kids may be sat next to a stranger (most parents would try to put themselves next to the stranger, but not always possible).

The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) guidelines are that children should be seated close to the adults in their party - but this can mean in the seat directly in front of or behind the adult or across the aisle from.

I’ve always got seats allocated together on easyJet, I’ve never paid. I know Ryanair split you up on purpose but I don’t think easyJet do.

I hope you get it sorted OP. A family got on our flight home in the summer and wanted everyone to move and made a big fuss. In the end, the cabin crew had to offer free drinks to get people to move - they basically said this plane isn’t going anywhere until this family are seated together.

As others have said really not sure how you missed booking seats. It says it many times when booking flights about seats luggage etx

I always fly easy jet. I always book seats. Not worth the risk. Think basic seat is £12/13 so £25pp there and back

I would take cash and offer to pay £15/20 for their seat

Have a nice holiday

But you must surely see that a trauma response is hardly typical? The poster was talking about most children - not yours. If this a traumatised response was typical airlines wouldn’t do it as planes would be full of screaming children and parents suing companies for PTSD

Ask politely and people may be willing to swap. Dont do some of the ridiculous suggestions of getting your kid to cry/pretend to be travel sick ect to guilt or force people to swap...this is your mistake not others.

Don't get arsey if people don't want to swap... people have their own reasons for pre booking seats/not wanting to move that are noone elses business and its massively unfair to try and force people to move if they dont want to.

Prepare all your kids that they may not get to sit with you and pack them a little bag with what they need for the flight. Tell them not to bother the person next to them but if they need anything to press the call bell for the flight attendant.

And remember, this is just a small part of the holiday. Remain calm and act like its an adventure for the kids...if you get angry/stressed or upset, it will impact how they will feel.

How do these things even keep happening? There is never a day that goes by without a story appearing in the paper, a post on FB, or a thread on MN about parents failing to book seats beside their children.

So book seats if your kids wouldn’t cope.

Imagine that!

Take cash with you. People will have paid to choose their seats. If you or the stewards are going to ask people to move for you, the least you can do is compensate them for both the money they spent and their inconvenience in moving.