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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not book reserved flight seats for us and the kids?

731 replies

LittlePudding1 · 18/06/2013 16:47

Hi, I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old and was under the impression that even if we weren't all sat together together on a plane they would sit me with 1dc and dh with the other but a couple of people have told me they can sit you anywhere. Surely they wouldn't sit a 3 year old away from a parent and next to a random stranger, would they?

OP posts:
NiceTabard · 21/06/2013 21:40

Peachy you are making a lot of assumptions and being quite unpleasant.

I am more or less recovered from a long period of anxiety which started in pregnancy. I have said I have anxiety and you say that I "enjoy" it. That is a nasty thing to say.

While I was suffering from anxiety, and as a person with mobility problems, while getting a flight I had to try to carry the baby down the stairs to the runway and everyone was pushing and shoving and I was terrified. You know this, as you have read the whole thread. So planes / small children are obviously rather a trigger even though I am generally better now, I think.

So in that case you aim that really petty post at me? You know I have helped, TBH I am someone who is pretty calm in difficult situations. I went back into work the next day after having a gun in my face, I stopped that boy being run over by a bus. I have stepped in a couple of times in violent situations.

What I don't seem to be calm about is imagining this scenario in my head and imagining everyone walking past. All that stuff about the woman dumping the 2yo in the aisle and then the other person saying they would just go and not look back. I find that upsetting. It is upsetting.

Peachyjustpeachy · 21/06/2013 21:47

I'm being unpleasant because you are being obtuse, and i have lost my patience with you.... its like speaking to a small child.....

In your OWN experience... most people did not help you and your child down the stairs... What makes you think they will behave any differently when there is an emergency?

the reason why stewards are given so much training... is to train the basic human instinct out of them and replace it with desired altruistic behaviour.

otherwise, they'd just let anyone be a steward with no training or anything.

You coming on here, ranting about MOST people ... and how you want to 'get a feel for how most people would act', when clearly MOST people said they would help and only ONE person said they wouldn't.... well its got on my very last nerve.

You do seem to be enjoying the attention and wallowing in your imagined image.... and i say this as someone with mental health issues of my own to deal with

Please do hide this thread

NiceTabard · 21/06/2013 21:54

My imagined image? What does that mean?

What is your point above? You say people won't help and then in the next line you say they will. I don't understand.

NiceTabard · 21/06/2013 21:56

I guess the people didn't help on the stairs because they didn't know I was struggling? In an emergency it would be a different situation I'd think?

Peachyjustpeachy · 21/06/2013 21:58

nicetabbard are you on night shift somewhere? bored and craving human interaction.

get help.

CloudsAndTrees · 21/06/2013 22:00

Tabard, of course most people would help. I'm one of those that said I wouldn't be inclined to help entertain a child on a flight if they been put next to me, but that is nowhere near in the same bracket as saying I wouldn't help in an emergency.

It has also been said that airlines will sit parents on the same row, or the one in front of or behind the child, so the parent wouldn't be far away.

NiceTabard · 21/06/2013 22:03

I'm not sure how to react to that.

I am at home with my DH, the kids are asleep upstairs. I work in the daytime, normal office hours.

NiceTabard · 21/06/2013 22:12

clouds thank you for that. I think most people would help too.

Coconutty · 21/06/2013 22:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SpecialAgentTattooedQueen · 21/06/2013 23:03

NiceTabbard One person said they would unclip a four year old after a poster exaggerated her DD's behaviour if seated next to her. That poster went on to clarify, and clarify, and clarify they really meant they simply wouldn't deal with bad behaviour and of course they would help a distressed child.

No one can tell you how they'll react in an emergency situation, but since you seem to using this quote to flog the dead horse, I feel the need to defend that poster.

Peachyjustpeachy · 21/06/2013 23:21

well said specialagent

Morloth · 22/06/2013 06:16

The horrible people who would ignore a distressed child/do something nasty to them are the people you risk having next to them if you don't take control of the situation for yourself. Some people suck, so make sure your kids aren't near them.

I have only ever flown a 'budget' airline once, it will never happen again so this has never happened to me.

I always book with a real airline and always do online check in or get to the gate early, we have always been seated together, never had a problem.

LtEveDallas · 22/06/2013 07:00

Thankyou SpecialAgent, that is exactly what I meant, exactly why I posted. That horse is so dead the funeral was 2 days ago Smile

Peachyjustpeachy · 22/06/2013 08:49

we all understood exactly what you meant lteve... just one barmy poster taking your words and twisting them.

theodorakisses · 22/06/2013 08:54

Haven't read the whole thread and I am probably not the only person to say this but I wouldn't give up my extra legroom seat for you if I had paid for it. It happened on a BA flight, I had paid £100 extra for my seat and booked it well in advance. Where you sit is of no interest to me

theodorakisses · 22/06/2013 08:58

I was in an emergency landing years ago and the cabin crew were most definitely not altruistic

Peachyjustpeachy · 22/06/2013 09:04

they didn't help you?

theodorakisses · 22/06/2013 09:40

Not at all helpful, they were all screaming. It was in 1980 though

scissy · 22/06/2013 09:40

Out of interest, by the time you've added on the cost of 'extras' such as pre-allocating your seat, checking in bags etc, do budget airlines actually work out any cheaper than flying scheduled?

BegoniaBampot · 22/06/2013 09:50

They often don't. I looked at RyanAir flying to Berlin say in a few days was 287 return basic without any extras. In October the same flight would cost 87. You only get the silly cheap prices if you can book in advance. We were flying Monarch to Turkey in the summer. Each flight adult or child nearly 600 a head. Paid extra at bookin for a bundle to include a meal and bag and pigs have just emailed to see if i want to book the seats for just another 7.50 each way a head. These airlines are using people's fears and stress of flying to screw everyone over and have the punters fight amongst themselves rather than tackle the airlines.

BegoniaBampot · 22/06/2013 09:54

And they are targeting people with children more. If I'm flying with other adults, especially short haul I don't care if we sit together so can easily opt not to pay the extra and take my chances. People with young children are being coerced more to pay often quite a bit extra to beside their child. I really find this quite repugnant.

LtEveDallas · 22/06/2013 09:59

As do I Begonia. We've paid £3.5k for our summer (package) holiday, and have had to pay an extra £75 for guaranteed seats. It really is taking the piss, especially as the flight itself is no better than a budget flight (did the same route last year) - no food, no film, no extra legroom etc for 5 hours.

We did actually look to see if it would be cheaper to book separately hotel/flights, but when the volcano started rumbling again we decided it wasn't worth the risk.

Housemum · 22/06/2013 11:39

Just to reiterate on the "what would you do in an emergency" - the point is you don't know until faced with it. Flight crews are trained but I'm sure if you are in a stressed situation a lot of them would revert to survival mentality too!

There have been various studies on simulated emergencies, and people do the stupidest things like try to get back to the entrance they came in by rather than use the emergency exit behind them, adding to the crush and panic. And people almost submit like children and wait for instructions when there are other people in charge eg flight crew - people feel they cannot think for themselves. Wish I could remember where I'd seen this, was a Times article a few years back linking to a study.

My view? System is a bugger, but the fact is they are offering a cheaper option if you are willing to risk not being seated with travelling companions. If you have kids/nervous travellers/elderly/people with disabilities in your party you cannot take advantage of the discount and have to pay the supplement. Nothing will change, other than if they abolish the charge to prebook, they will just put the flight fee up to compensate.

theodorakisses · 22/06/2013 13:13

But why not use a proper company and reduce the stress? Why give crappo jet people your money? For a few more pounds you could have a proper seat, meal and crew who are trained. I just booked a crappo jet flight for a tightfisted friend nod linden to Berlin was £348. Business on a proper pane was only a hundred more. I don't get it.

theoriginalandbestrookie · 22/06/2013 15:19

Theodorakisses - if you live near to a regional airport then using the likes of Ryanair or Easyjet is often your only option if you don't want to travel via London.

We live 10 miles from edinburgh airport, I'd rather put up with a wee bit of hassle and fly from there with a "low cost" carrier ( although the reality is they are usually pretty expensive when there is no other option) and pay the extra for an assigned seat or priority boarding. The alternative is an excruciating trip via Heathrow, which is always stressful even with BA.