AIBU to expect to sit next to my child on a 10 hour flight

[soimpressed]

This year I have booked my first ever package holiday. I booked with what I thought was a good company and the holiday cost a lot of money. I was told I could check in 7 days before the flight and tried to do so but the system wouldn't let me check in. I tried several times with no success. It took 3 emails before the company finally sorted the problem out. When I finally got to check in online I found that I wasn't sitting next to my child. Everyone else has obviously been able to check in and there are no seats left together. My only option is to pay £150 each seat to upgrade. My DS is in tears about having to sit next to strangers. The company are refusing point blank to help. AIBU or do I just need to shell out the £300?

[BoffinMum]

Nomama, I would go along with that. It is in the safety interests of everyone on planes that kids sit near their parents - I would actually include older kids in that policy too, for the safety reasons other people have described. Let's have a campaign.

[truelymadlysleepy]

BA let you book your seat for free when you make the booking.

[Forago]

oh you mean a campaign like refusing to do it or refusing to use those airlines? I think there is a fair few people on here that have indicated that is what they are already doing. Happy to contribute to any more formal campaign - perhaps we could get Which involved as they have already indicated they would support it - as per my link.

[Nomama]

Well, maybe a campaign to get them to publish real prices and allow you to book seats for free. Then if you book late you accept that you may be out of luck.

But maybe that would hamstring the budget brigade.

[Forago]

yes good idea - the "budget" is often not really true when you look into it.

I often find BA is cheaper overall compared to Easy Jet or Ryan Air when you factor in the extras.

Handy table : www.caa.co.uk/docs/2200/Comparing_airline_charges.pdf

[LtEveDallas]

On one of the last threads on this subject someone suggested that all seats were a 'base' price and then people who didnt care about allocated seating could have a discount if they agreed to sit wherever the airline put them.

I'd support that. The airlines would probably make more money out of it as well.

[YellowBellow]

Well I am currently finding myself in EXACTLY this situation and not through any entitled feelings, due to being the proud owner of 2 children either. I booled my holiday to Orlando last week and I fly out next week, so pretty last minute. I booked with Low Cost Holidays but the flight is with Thomson. I am flying alone for the longest flight we have ever done, with my 2 boys 8 and 10. I went to book our seats this morning and got the message to book at the airport on the day of departure. I will tell you now, that at NO point at my booking and paying did I get the chance to pay extra for our seats. For the last few years we have flown Ryan Air to Italy and always paid for this option, so I was very suprised not to see it. Now I think it was because the website must have disabled that option because all the bookable seats for 3 in a row would have been booked up, due to my booking so last minute. I have rung several times the (un)helpful Thomson contact numbers, all are based in Indian call centres have been hard to understand and I have been unable to reserve seats together, which I would gladly pay for, for the piece of mind. I am now sick at the thought of my two boys sitting alone, especially my 8 year old, and I am not thrilled with my 10 year old sitting alone either. What happens if they are sick, scared by turbulence, need the toilet, they are pretty shy. I think the safeguarding issues involved with all of this are simply awful. This is a horrible situation and I am really unhappy about having to wait until check in to see if it will be resolved or the shame of having other people who have paid to reserve be moved on our account.

[truelymadlysleepy]

Yellow I'd make comments of FB & Twitter airing your dissatisfaction, I bet you get results.

[BoffinMum]

Yellow, I think that's we need some sort of universal airline policy allowing people to make proper arrangements.

[ShakesBootyFlabWobbles]

BA don't let you book seats for free anymore. They want £96 for a return flight for a family of 4 to Cyprus. I am not paying it.

[truelymadlysleepy]

Shakes, I've just checked and you're right . But if you join the executive club for free they 'save preferences' and eventually can prebook.

[ivykaty44]

Boffin there is a world wide policy which suggests that children should be close to their parents as in the event of a crash or emergency children would be going yo find their parents rather than escape which could cause more fatalities
But it is aviation rules not law and in the ops case they are close

[ivykaty44]

Boffin there is a world wide policy which suggests that children should be close to their parents as in the event of a crash or emergency children would be going yo find their parents rather than escape which could cause more fatalities
But it is aviation rules not law and in the ops case they are close

[ShakesBootyFlabWobbles]

I am on blue executive, so not for free. I think it's silver or gold and I don't fly enough to get that. Bunch of money grabbing bastards was the phrase that sprung to mind when I booked, no better than the budget airlines on this issue.

[MrsShortfuse]

BA long haul is £25 per person each way to reserve seats. So £200 for us on our USA trip. I'm paying it as I don't want 10 hours next to a stranger. They have us over a barrel.

[truelymadlysleepy]

Mind you Shakes we're Silver and have zillions of Avios but can never spend them in school holidays, so I rather agree with you.

[Forago]

its free for non loyalty card holders if you wait til 24 hours before the flight - we did this last year flying to Florida and got (free) seats together

[Forago]

you might have to sign up for the loyalty scheme though so become an instant Blue - no cost

[LtEveDallas]

Yellow, if you made the booking with LoCostHolidays, why are you phoning Thomson?

Phone numbers: 0871 221 1696, and 08444 77 0078 The company is based in Spain, but have a UK call centre. Hope you get through.

[OwlCapone]

On one of the last threads on this subject someone suggested that all seats were a 'base' price and then people who didnt care about allocated seating could have a discount if they agreed to sit wherever the airline put them.

So they'd just charge everyone to prebook allocated seating unless you specifically opt out. The base price would increase.

[ShakesBootyFlabWobbles]

Don't get me started on the Avios school holidays fuck up truly grrrrrrr

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

Truely, Avios bookings open about 364 days ahead (might be 355), same as the flights open. If you want to book, be online then and do so. Cancellation fee isn't too evil if your plans need to change.

[slithytove]

I fly to Spain several times a year, always with easy jet, and always when I online check in a month before. they allocate us seats together. I couldn't give a shit where those seats are, and if I did, I would pay for allocated seating.

Thumbs up for easyjet.

Ryanair however are shit. Checked in online, didn't prebook seats because I was alone, got to the airport as late as I could without being late as I had already checked in and had no luggage. They told me that I was the last passenger and online check in had screwed up, that I wasn't checked in despite having a boarding pass and there was no seats left for me. I was six months pregnant as well, it was awful. I had to wait at the gate to see if any passengers failed to turn up. Luckily one failed to show. They were just horrible about it though.

[LtEveDallas]

I agree Owl, but tbh I think it is worth it. Those people who already pay for selected seating would still pay, those who don't would have to make a considered choice and wouldn't be able to complain/sneer/throw tantrums/tell their kids to misbehave/stamp their feet about how unfair it all is because they had already taken the money - it would make them thieves.

[DevlinMaccabee]

Yellow, if you booked the package through Low Cost Holidays that'll be why Thomson wont let you pay to book your seats together. You can only do so if booked directly with Thomson/First Choice.

LCH will have purchased a block of seats so the chances of you being separated are slim.

Jealous that you're going away so soon!