To Thank Thomas Cook for clarifying the matter of paying to sit beside your children

[Groovee]

I flew Thomas Cook today to Florida. I paid extra for seats together and got to choose where we were sitting.

We decided to go on last because we had seats and there were near the cabin door. When I got settled a family were not happy that they had 5 single seats. The cabin crew were quite adamant that they could not ask customers who have paid to choose their seats to move.

So last weeks thread is solved

[Sallyingforth]

Seriously though *ivykaty44", I would suggest your DD and family consider going to Murcia instead. The weather is certainly better. Goodnight :)

[ivykaty44]

well be careful in that time machine on the M1 hit the wrong button and you could end up in the ducking pond

[holidaybug]

Terrible airline policy!

[Sallyingforth]

No, looks like I never will. But I have been to Murcia though, and enjoyed it.

[ivykaty44]

wel if yu cn't find it then posibly yu will nevr get to go their sally, but then it will not be there loss

[Sallyingforth]

ivykaty44
You asked me where was Mercia that I could drive to in two hours. You have found the answer.
Now please tell me where was the Mercia that you can fly to with Ryanair? I have looked on their website but it doesn't seem to be listed.

[DarkWinter]

lmgtfy.com/?q=where+is+Mercia%3F

and

lmgtfy.com/?q=where+is+murcia%3F

[ivykaty44]

Sally mercia was in the past an area stretching from the boarders of sussex to northumberland - but then as you left london you would already be in mercia as it was incompassed int he area.

I used to listen to the radio station but it isn't a place any longer

Where do you mean now? come on give a proper answer none of this google is your friend malarky

[Sallyingforth]

Google is your friend.

[ivykaty44]

Sally that will be the mercia you can drive to in a couple of hours - where is it near?

[ivykaty44]

could you show me on a map where Mercia is please?

[Sallyingforth]

Straight up the M1.
On the other hand, Murcia takes a bit longer.

[Sallyingforth]

Yes you can drive to Mercia in a couple of hours. I do so regularly from London.

[Sallyingforth]

ivykaty44 You can drive from London to Mercia in a couple of hours.

[ivykaty44]

if you pay to sit next to someone - they also have to pay to sit next to you, it is the biggest con ever.

The only reason that the airlines charge for seating is due to the fact they can and people will pay.

[itwillgetbettersoon]

When I buy three theatre tickets on line I get three tickets next to each other. When I bought Olympic tickets last year online we were seated together. So why can't airlines do the same? I buy three tickets I expect the three tickets to be next to each other. It is a rip off and just another way to make money. They know in advance the configurations of tickets so it isn't rocket science to work out!!!

[ivykaty44]

Oh and as he siblings are still classed as children they get half fare so it is cheaper than flying

[ivykaty44]

My dd1 looked at going to Spain last half term, for her and her two siblings it was over £1200 for three return flights to Mercia with Ryan air. I don't think that is cheap when you can go by train for £400 each, ok you start in London on the afternoon and get there the following tea time but you can take luggage fro free and you get sat next to each other as part of the booking and it is a pleasant way to travel if you have a bit more time.

That said wasn't there an airline this weekend sat for 30 hours on the tarmac, the budget airline flybee at a hot airport and they wouldn't let the passengers of the plane

[LtEveDallas]

People keep saying it's all about the cheap fares, cheap airlines.

It isn't. Normal, scheduled flights, premier airlines and airlines/companies providing package holidays all do it too.

We are with Thomson this year and got an email at the 60 day point I think telling us that the flight would open for online selected seating the next day. I logged on as soon as I could and loads of seats were already gone - people stay up until midnight to book the seats they want.

We paid £75 for allocated seats for DH, DD and I. Extra Legroom seats are different and a different (dearer) price.

I have paid for selected seating on Thomson, Monarch, Thomas Cook, CyprusAir, Britannia and Virgin so far. CyprusAir and Virgin were normal scheduled flights, the rest as part of package holidays.

Ryanair may be bastards, but they aren't the only ones that ask for payment for allocated seats.

[BegoniaBampot]

With Ryanair and Easyjet - you don't always pay cheap fares. Why do folk always say you get what you pay for when two people sitting next to each other might be paying a difference of hundreds of pounds.

Just don't understand why folk can't see it's immoral of an airline to create this kind of fear and panic with people travelling with their young children. It just be normal for a young child t be seated with an a complying adult. Airlines shouldn't be charging people for this 'privilege'.

[exoticfruits]

Exactly- but that way they get to advertise the cheap price- people need to factor in the 'extras' to get the true cost. If you want to keep it cheap sit anywhere, don't take a suitcase etc.

[flatmum]

they don't have rock bottom prices, anymore. that was their initial business plan. if you do a like for like comparison by the. time you've paid for all the extras like having luggage, children, buggies etc they aren't rock bottom prices. they just think people are too stupid to realise that.

[exoticfruits]

You get what you pay for- if they have rock bottom prices they make up in other ways.