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Original poster

BA flights - do I need to spend £300 to pre book 3 seats together for me and kids? Or will this automatically happen?

52 replies

mummybearSW19 · 06/05/2026 10:35

Just booked 3 flights to the US in the summer with my 10yo and 14yo. Flights are British Airways.

I have the option to pre book 3 seats now. Or wait to be assigned / choose when check in opens 24h before the flight

would we be assigned 3 seats together?
or do I need to pay £600 to secure that now?

don’t really want us to be split up on the flight. (Unless it’s them together in the back and a mummy upgrade to first up front of course!!!)

OP posts:

Ozgirl76 · 07/05/2026 08:52

Actually I flew to Singapore recently and at check in was asked if I would mind moving to an extra leg room seat to allow two people to sit together. That’s the kind of movement I like!

notimagain · 07/05/2026 09:07

Needspaceforlego · 07/05/2026 00:39

CAA policy is under 12s must be with a parent. Potentially row in front/ behind or across aisle.
Because other posters are correct it is well known that parents will not leave their kids in an evacuation. Evacuation that is meant to happen in 90 secs.

Actually I read today that there is considerations that policy should change for elderly people as they can also be a bit slow in evacuation and put other people at risk. Its being considered they should be separated and placed near the exits!

Edited

The UK CAA guidelines certainly used to say thar carriers "should aim" to do as you describe, it wasn't a "must" but that may have changed.

Most airlines try to group families together anyway if that is possible.

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