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

[LittlePudding1]

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?

[BusterKeaton]

Certainly you cannot assume that someone will oblige, but nor should you assume that someone who doesn't want to move should give you a reason. For instance, for some months after an operation I had to use a catheter with a urine bag. I liked to sit in an aisle seat so that the bag wasn't next to someone and so that I could empty it easily. I fail to see why I should have to explain my medical condition to a complete stranger.

[Shutupanddrive]

How much more does it cost roughly if you do book them?

[CloudsAndTrees]

Sitting next to someone else's child wouldn't bother me that much. I am quite capable of telling a child that I'm going to sleep, or that I'm reading.

I'd chat if I was in the mood to, and switch off without feeling guilty if I wasn't,

[livinginwonderland]

Surely kids that young board first anyway, so you'll get your pick of seats? After those who have reserved, obviously.

[AllBoxedUp]

Easyjet seat children with families without you having to pay. It's on their website somewhere.

[WicketWoo]

I flew alone with my 2 girls with Ryan air and I simply approached the flight attendants and told them that they were legally obliged to sit us together (they were both under 5 but I'm unsure of the legal limits) so would they please arrange it. I'm pleased to say that they did.

I dislike the up-selling and I wouldn't have thought more than about 10-20% of the flight had per-booked. So I felt my attitude was reasonable.

[WorrySighWorrySigh]

The last time I flew EasyJet the speedy boarder people were on first and then the various special cases.

You are taking a huge risk if you dont reserve your seat.

[BlueSkySunnyDay]

Thomson charter is £8.50 for adults and £4.00 for children each way.

Id just like to say i've prepaid ours for August, over £100 for our party. The seats were looking pretty booked up already to the extent that I couldn't be in the area of the plane I wanted to on the return. So don't make assumptions it will be OK not to pay.

Having paid for DH and I to sit with the boys I would be unlikely to go off and sit on my own and certainly not without being reimbursed by the person requesting the move.

[RugBugs]

YANBU
Last time I flew with ryanair in April they only allowed a certain number of seats to be reserved. We got to the airport stupidly early but because the gate was up a few flights of stairs and we had a buggy we were towards to back of the queue. Was a 6.25am flight travelling with a 2yr old, funnily enough a lovely young chap was quite happy to not sit next to DD (he missed out on 70mins of sticker fun).
I'm not sure I would take the risk during school holidays though.

[ShakingSultana]

If I had paid to reserve my seat I would expect to be refunded if I had to move for people who hadn't paid the extra or who turned up at the last minute. It seems really unfair otherwise.

[Binkybix]

I'm sure that it goes: speedy boarding, then people with young children/disabilities, then everyone else on Ryan Air at least? So you'd be unlucky not to be seated together I'd have thought (unless child-heavy flight).

I would be peeved at having to swap if I'd paid or got on first to be a seat where I wanted it (nervous flyer).

[rufusnine]

Once - 7 years ago - we were offered 3 separate seats for 2 adults and a 3 year old for a 3 hour flight.We weren't late just unfortunately at the end of the queue - the check in staff were just shrugging their shoulders as if it wasn't their problem so we used our initiative and chased after the two girls who had just checked in in front of us and ask if they would please swap so that we could have at 2 seats together - thankfully they did!! I always reserve now even though she's 10!!

[Talkinpeace]

everybody on easyjet is given an allocated seat - the free for all has gone

[SnookyPooky]

I worked in travel for many years and it is not a legal obligation to seat young children with their families though it is CAA guideline. Check in staff will do their best not to split families up wherever possible but if pax don't prebook they do run the risk of being split up.
I have lost count of the amount of numpties who shouted at me in the airport when they were not seated together, this was grown ups with no kids mainly. More often than not the kids would be with at least one parent.

[MrsMcEnroe]

Yes we have booked seats on Ryanair for this summer too - as others have said upthread in response to my story, people do get understandably pissed off if asked to move from a seat they'd paid for, and it's not a mistake that we will make again ( had been under the impression that we would automatically be seated with our children but we were wrong!)

[TolliverGroat]

"Now that they have offered you the option to pay in advance and select your seating, they don't have to move other passengers for you."

But the guidelines still apply in that case, because the guidelines aren't for the benefit of the family with the small children -- they are for the benefit of the other passengers, who in an emergency situation may be endangered by the actions of the separated family. They are guidelines not regulations, but an airline that doesn't comply with them isn't a particularly safe airline.

Equally, hypothetically if I am split up from my children I'm not the one who is inconvenienced. I (hypothetically) get to enjoy a nice quiet flight by myself and actually read my book for once. The people who are inconvenienced are the people who have my unaccompanied children next to or behind them -- so this is essentially a "you pay extra to avoid inconveniencing other people" charge, and that's an... interesting ... economic model.

[Tilly333]

There is always that rush at the gate ... then you get on the bus... then you're last off the bus (because you got on first)...then you're last to choose your seat ...makes me laugh every time!

[LtEveDallas]

We have paid to be seated together for our summer holiday flight. I wouldn't move for a family that hasn't, sorry.

I agree that you shouldn't have to, but unfortunately whilst everyone else is, then you have no choice.

[ChasingSquirrels]

Reading this (having just booked on Ryanair with 10 & 7 yos and not paid for extras) about families being split up I am reminded of a flight I was once waiting for, the plane was late, actually the plane wasn't coming at all but another smaller one was, so they were bumping people.
There was a couple with a small child, 2 or 3 ish. They were told that they were on the plane but their child wasn't!!!!
There was just no arguing with the check in staff, and they wouldn't even swap the allocation so that one parent & the child could go - it was the 2 adults, the child couldn't fly and that was it!

[SkivingAgain]

I refuse on principle to pay to pick seats, this is newish thing and just another way of profiting from us. Weve booked a package so not the same as when using one of the budget flight only operators but our holiday is costing a substantial amount already so I refuse to pay even more. If we all did this the airlines/holiday companies would revert to sorting this out and there wouldn't be a problem as seats are not allocated randomly at check in anyway. Threat of splitting up families is a ruse IMO.

[RikeBider]

I would love to palm my 2 year old off on someone for a flight. Bet they'd be willing to swap once the vomiting started

[holidaysarenice]

Last year I cudnt pick a seat when I checked in online. It looked like they were all full.....they were, we got the remaining first class ones!!!

[Floggingmolly]

How does it work exactly? You can pay extra to guarantee a particular seat; but can be hoofed out on a child's mothers say so? I wouldn't be too happy to be told to move...