...to NOT pay extra to book pre-assigned plane seats with Monarch

[parakeet]

We are family of four, with our two children, six and eight. It's a 3.5 hour flight each way and we need at least one parent with each child (or one parent with the both of them would also be fine). It would cost us £64 to book assigned seating for all four of us, each way and it seems a bit much. Am I being mad (or selfish somehow) to think "they can't let the children sit by themselves" and let Monarch sort it out somehow once we've boarded, if we have difficulties getting each child with a parent?

I've seen threads on here where people are criticised for not booking their seats beforehand. But to me it seems like this is a problem of the airline's making when they could easily assign seats at check-in, like in the "olden days".

I don't think car crashes are more likely to be instant, there is a risk that your child would be stuck in their seat and you'd be stuck in your seat.

All very unlikely, I just find it very over dramatic to say you would make sure you sit next to your dc so they could die in your arms. I read a statistic that if you fly every day you would need to live 26000 years vefore you die in a plane crash.

Worries about child vomiting or being silly/loud are founded, death because of plane crash not so worth worrying about.

Ikea car crashes are instant though an air accident may not be

Im flying with Monarch in the summer, will be pre booking seats and if anyone rolls up last minute and asks us to move they will be getting a brilliant smile with a firm "sorry no" followed by putting on my headphones

Look this has been going on for years, it's not a surprise I think of it as a "holiday expense" in the same way that over priced ice creams and crap Chinese inflatables (that pop before the end of the week) are.

But that is my worry ikea, and my reason for always pre-booking seats. It's not something that worries you, so you don't need to do the same as me. I've been on two planes that have had issues, once having to make an emergency landing and I am friends with someone who was in the M40 crash. For that reason I will not go on a plane journey with my DD if I am not seated with her - no matter what it costs me. I don't find my reasons 'dramatic' I find my solution pragmatic - if we die we die, but at least we die together.

We flew with Monarch lat year...didn't prebook, when we arrived at check in they had already allocated us seats together (2+2 in front of each other). They were great to fly with. I've taken a chance again this year and not pre booked.

I wouldn't pay to pre-book seats, there are only ba few extra leg room sets on the plane so it's far more likely thay if someone does have to move it will be someone in a normal seat, and if that were me I'd be happy to move to accommodate a family with young children, why should they be forced to pay extra?
I don't get why people are so precious about seats on planes (paid extra legroom for tall people excepted). I couldn't care less who I sit next to so long as they're not hugely fat and spill into my space, or smelly.

I'd refuse to move. Sorry but in that instance my comfort would trump a family sitting together.

Ninety nine times out of one hundred you'd be moved and there would be no issue, like I said I sit next to anyone as long as my comfort wasn't compromised. I'm not a martyr.

We have prebooked our seats with Monarch as we are all six feet tallish.
I would laugh if someone asked me to move.Not a chance.

But if you're travelling with adults only and asked to move to accommodate a family and it wasn't going to impact on your comfort why wouldn't you?

'But if you're travelling with adults only and asked to move to accommodate a family and it wasn't going to impact on your comfort why wouldn't you?'

Because I pre-book and pay for seats based on my comfort. It's not my problem to accommodate others.

If the airline wants to upgrade me, fine, but if not, well, I paid for the hire of the seat.

Im a nervous flyer. I pay extra to make sure im sat with my dp.i wouldnt move for anybody. It isnt fairto make somebody who has paid move if you have paid any extra.

Because you might want to sit with adults you are travelling with.

Pre DD I would book seats so that I was seated next to DP/DH. Nope, still would not move, sorry.

I wouldn't MrsHappyBee, I have paid to sit next to my DH, it is part of the holiday. I am not moving for people who won't pay, but expect the same benefits for free.

If you end up not sitting with your kids, are you happy for A.N.Other to help them, if they wish, in an emergency?

If you're not happy with another doing this, then you pre-book and stump up or find an airline (probably not as cheap as Monarch) that allows you to pre-book free.

But you're still getting a seat, it's not as if you're going to be strapped to the wing.

'But you're still getting a seat, it's not as if you're going to be strapped to the wing.'

I'm getting a seat that I don't want, that's why I pre-booked and paid for a specific seat. I paid for its hire, not for someone to rock up and get it for free.

I hate flying, I always pre-book so I know where on the plane I will be sat and who I will be sat with. If someone doesn't want to pre-book their seat thats fine but don't expect me to move for you!

ISWYM if you've paid extra for specific seat. Unless it's for extra legroom I'm surprised people do that.

Even if you have just PAID to sit with the other adults you are with because you want to chat with them or whatever else why should someone roll up and expect them to move because they didn't want to pay?