Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to be allocated airline seats next to my kids?

751 replies

correllia · 30/08/2011 13:24

My partner and I are off on holiday to menorca at the end of September with Monarch. They have emailed us to tell us we can check in online now, which saves time at the airport.

So far so good - but to complete the process I have to prebook my seats at the cost of £5 per seat per flight. We are on a tight budget and deliberately haven't bought the seats in advance to save the pennies.

Kiddies are 2 and 4, whilst I don't mind our sitting 2 and 2 apart from each other but looking at the seat plan even this option is fast disappearing! Can the airline force such young children to sit next to strangers?

Am I unreasonable to demand that we sit with them?

PS this is my first post, so please be genttle :-)

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 30/08/2011 22:32

Exotic - that's pretty much what I thought, that people would be desperate to change. Unfortunately the reality was different. And dd was actually sick.

exoticfruits · 30/08/2011 22:33

I am surprised Viva. Shock

Ifancyashandy · 30/08/2011 22:36

I pay to sit where I chose to as I am not a great flier. I want to (as mentioned up thread) sit in a 2 seat row, either window or aisle. I manage my fear by pre-planning my flight. If I was asked to move to a similar seat in order to accommodate a family, I wouldn't hesitate to change. But if it were asked to move to a seat in a central row, then not a chance.

Just because someone is flying alone, it doesn't mean their needs are any less than a family.

northerngirl41 · 30/08/2011 22:36

Even if they haven't paid extra for their seat - why should someone who's planned ahead and checked in early, queued early and stood in line for longer than you, get bumped out of their aisle/window/preferred seat just because you've been stingy and disorganised about getting on the plane?

ledkr · 30/08/2011 22:38

viva that happemed to me too,the stewards were just irritated by me asking them about it and hurried me to sit down.In the end we managed to get seats across the aisle which wasnt too bad,she is a nervous flyer and likes to break my hand on take off.

ledkr · 30/08/2011 22:41

northerenwe were at the back of the queue cos when the gate was announced we had to battle all the others and we had a buggy and i was pregnant and cumbersome,even if everyone arrives early someone will always be at the back of the queue.

Animation · 30/08/2011 22:46

Mothers and children first!!

Animation · 30/08/2011 22:47

...and fathers.

upahill · 30/08/2011 22:47

After reading this thead I am glad my lads are now 11 and 15 and are ok to sit apart.
in fact on long haul flights we prefer to be apart!!! Grin

Fontsnob · 30/08/2011 23:10

Why should they Northerngirl? Because a 2 year old needs to sit with their parent. No matter how long it took them to get on the plane!

Iggi999 · 30/08/2011 23:12

Northerngirl isn't that like saying why should someone who got onto the bus earlier than you, give up their seat so you and a toddler can sit down? Or do you think that's wrong too?

Fontsnob · 30/08/2011 23:15

And Ifancyashandy, why should you have to pay to sit where you need to? Your need is no less, that's my point. No one should be paying. This conversation should not have to exist. The airline is causing a me me me attitude where it doesn't need to be. Everyone can be accommodated without stress. The airlines choose not to let this happen though, they choose to create a situation where people feel they need to pay for a seat that they have already paid for! Where people feel entitled to the window/aisle/seat of their choice and feel agreaved when something happens that means they don't get what they want. So other people end up not getting what they need. This is so wrong.

mayorquimby · 30/08/2011 23:20

whoa I've been giving up my seats to the elderly and pregnant people, am i really expected to give it up to parents with toddlers also?

Ifancyashandy · 30/08/2011 23:22

I agree to a certain extent but if everyone turns up and wants their needs taken Into account, airlines would find themselves dealing with lots of irate people saying 'but I want to sit there (cue mass pointing at 'one' seat). The airline would never be able to accomodate everyones needs/desires. This way, people can pay to avoid that additional stress at check in.

Iggi999 · 30/08/2011 23:25

Mayorquimby unless you want to watch them being thrown around the bus/sobbing on the plane, yes!
(Only one seat mind, toddler can sit on someone's knee!)

MJHASLEFTTHEBUILDING · 30/08/2011 23:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MJHASLEFTTHEBUILDING · 30/08/2011 23:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SDTGisAnEvilGenius · 30/08/2011 23:33

Animation - it is not entirely true to say that on the train, you just turn up, get on and find somewhere to sit - you can book a seat on the train for intercity/long journeys.

mayorquimby · 30/08/2011 23:34

nah think I'll stick to my old system. Haven't noticed parents with toddlers having any particular troubles, I'll keep an eye out in future and maybe add it to the list, although I'm not on public transport to regularly so it's not that big of an issue.
As for the plane, if they can switch me to another seat with an aisle on my left I'll switch. If not I'd be staying put.

donthateme · 30/08/2011 23:42

If the airline asks passengers to move to accommodate families, do those passengers get refunded if they have 'pre booked their seat? It seems to me the best approach is for people to just kick up a real stink if asked to move- demand a refund and complain loudly about the seat you're moved to. Many people do prebook because of specific requirements anyway- eg fear of flying and wanting to be away from window. If people make it really problematic for the airline that's probably most effective.

bubblesincoffee · 30/08/2011 23:43

Thing is, they don't always provide it anyway. I have argued with check in staff before who have been happy to to give me and my husband seats together because we have the same surname, but they have made it out to be a major hassle giving my tetraplegic friend a seat next to a personal assistant because they have different surnames.

When there is a plane full of families going to the Costas, how can they possibly give everyone the seats they want without asking people to pre book early? It seems the fairest way to me.

If you have a child and you need two seats together, book it and pay for it. If you have a phobia and you will be made much better by having an aisle seat next to your partner, book it and pay for it. If you are a couple trying to enjoy a romantic weekend for your 10th anniversary and you want to sit together and drink brandy, book it and pay for it. Same goes for honeymooners, friends whatever.

If you have no needs or wants and you don't care where you sit, don't book it, don't pay.

Seems fair to me, and very simple really.

Fontsnob · 30/08/2011 23:48

But this all used to be sorted upon check in a fair system that worked. People didnt moan too much if asked to move for a special situation as there was no sense that their seat belonged to them. It only doesn't work so well now because the greedy airline saw some extra money to be made. Greed on the airlines behalf has caused this issue.

Fontsnob · 30/08/2011 23:50

Not fair at all. No one should pay!!!!!

Fontsnob · 30/08/2011 23:52

That was to bubbles btw and was not meant to sound quite so much like a mini foot stamping tantrum. Although...

bemybebe · 31/08/2011 00:16

I do not fly Monarch, EasyJet, Ryanair and will never do after this thread (well, only under extraordinary circs)... People who fly with them should not complain about being treated like cattle.

Swipe left for the next trending thread