So, who's seat is it ?

[Trifle]

We booked a package holiday for a week but dp's work wanted him to return a day early to attend a conference so his work paid for him to fly back on his own.

As we had paid for 4 allocated seats (2 seats in one row and two in the row behind), was I within my rights to insist on using dp's allocated seat so that I got more room to spread out?

The aisle seat also happened to be free so it appeared that there were 2 seats free in the row. Several people seemed to think his 'spare' seat was theirs for the taking until I politely informed them that only the aisle seat was available.

Am I right or wrong ?

*whose

You were not being unreasonable. You were however being a bit selfish.

Technically you were in the right. Socially, morally, I think you should be questioning your decision.

I don't think you can book a 2-12 yo ticket for a 2.11 yo toddler. The details on the ticket need to match the passport.

I'm not sure it was"your seat" from the point your husband didn't check in. Airlines do over book as they know there will be no shows.

I do think you were selfish. I couldn't imagine going through the rigmarole of explaining the seat was taken by , to anyone who asked, my imaginary, invisible travelling companion.

Hic, we flew with an under 2 and and over 2 this summer. The over 2 had a seat. The under 2 was not allowed one, we couldn't even pay for it. It cost us MORE for the under 2 than the over 2!!

I can't understand how anyone could justify not allowing a family with a toddler using a seat that was spare. So what if you paid for it? No one was sat in it?? Morally it's a bit of a grim thing to do.

So you would rather a toddler had to sit on their parents knee for the whole flight rather than use a seat that you wanted to put your bag on?
Totally and utterly selfish.
Hope you're pleased with your little self.

Yes, I don't get how it was 'your' seat if your husband didn't check in.

I think you were completely unreasonable and the sort of selfish person that makes life a bit harder for other people. I tell my kids that kind is the most important thing to be.

This is not a serious thread

It's not your seat. It was allocated to your husband who didn't check in, therefore the seat had technically been released.

Would you expect the airline to reserve seats for a whole family who didn't check in?

This is precisely why airlines overbook.

If I were the couple, I'd have plonked the toddler right next to you, sat next to them in the aisle seat and waited with a smug grin on my face while you called a member of the flight crew who'd have said the same thing.

I don't get it? Why didn't they just use the aisle seat and their own two seats?

I imagine they didn't book allocated seats so the 'free' aisle seat was there seat, if they sat in it.

YABU. I would have given the seat up and I done exactly this a few weeks back. DP and I were travelling and had four paid for seats between the two if us (not more money than sense, it was due to me having a broken leg ). As it turned out we only needed three seats. There was a very tall gentleman crammed into his seat so we offered him the extra legroom empty seat. He was very grateful and it was no skin off our nose.

I think you were a little selfish IMO.

I can see your point OP but rightly or wrongly, technically if you don't check in, you lose rights to the seat. I think.

Though it made me think. Say someone did have more money than sense, would they be able to book 2 seat for just themself? Does anyone know?
Just curious?

It is not your seat unless you have a boarding card for that seat.

If he had checked in then not travelled with you, you are legally obliged to inform the boarding desk when you get there that he is not travelling as part of your party and thus he will not be on the passenger manifest... they would withdraw the boarding card.

So it was not your seat unless you transferred the ticket into YOUR name so that you personally held 2 seats.

Therefore you were wrong and YABU..

it was the airline's seat

its not like a train

I would not expect the seat in this scenario, your husband didn't book in, the seat I would imagine had been lost.

Not sure why you'd need a spare anyway tbh?

So you left them with the toddler sat on their knee while you had an empty unused seat beside you? You're just lovely aren't you...

As your DH didn't check in for the flight he would be classed as a "no show" and his allocated seat would have been released. Unless you specifically bought, paid for and had an "extra seat" boarding card issued then it was NOT your seat to use.
You were U and very selfish and wrong to assume the seat was yours

yabu

Actually we have had this happen a few times. If you choose not to fly the seat is no longer yours and will be reallocated if needs be. Just because you paid for it- if you do not travel- the seat is free.

A group of us were travelling once and one person did not fly. Their seat happened to be a middle seat. Lo and behold, someone came along who had been allocated the "spare" middle seat. We all just moved around as that would have been silly.

It sounds like you checked in online- did you then check in baggage? The airline would then know one of you were not flying. However, if the other family have 2 allocated seats and were just presuming to be able to use the spare seat, it's slightly different. But it is just that, a spare seat, not your seat.

Agree with nenny I'm a bit confused about that

It's your seat so do what you want with it, might have been nice to offer it though

If its that discomforting and distressing to fly with a toddler on your lap then don't bloody do it

I'm surprised the cabin crew didn't intervene, OP

Rufus it was not op's seat, her DH failed to check in, therefore he was a no show and his allocated seat was released.

If the airline give you a refund then the seat is their seat. Otherwise you have paid for the seat and can use it, though I think it would be very petty not to let a toddler sit there if the alternative is them being on their parent's knee all the way back. It's pretty selfish IMO.

You paid for 4 seats, and, I presume, had 4 allocated to you? So that seat is yours.

The different question that you have not asked here, and the crux of the matter, is WYBU to not give up this seat so that the couple with an infant could use it, despite the fact that you have paid for it.

For me it depends on how they asked, how long the flight was ect.

The couple with the child made the choice not to buy a ticket for their baby, and knew they would have to have them on their lap. They saw an opportunity in the empty seat and want to use it.

I wouldn't say you would have been massively unreasonable not to give it up - depending on how much it would inconvenience you, and any other reasons you might have had.

However, I'd like to think giving it up would have been the kind and charitable thing to do, and something that I hope I would consider. We're all people who struggle with things at times, and it's nice to think we would help each other out.

However - if the couple were rude about it any way, or acting entitled about it, then this makes me see red, so I would say definitely YANBU for not giving up the seat.