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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think they will not seat the dc away from me

263 replies

inmyshoos · 04/03/2015 13:16

Flying on easy jet uk flight. Myself and dd1 (6)and dd2(8). Big treat for us. Goung to visit friends. Managed to get flights cgeap enough for it to be possible. Do i really need to pay the extra money to ensure we get seats together. Been a long time since we flew but have never had to do this before.

Aibu to think it is just another way to squeeze more money from you??!

OP posts:
fromparistoberlin73 · 04/03/2015 21:45

Anyway budgeting in advance now for the pre paid seating

that said - when you are abroad with Ryanair sometimes the foreign airports dont get the priority boarding issue when it come to gate/ get onto plane stage . And it can get .....Angry ugly as the priority boarding battle the non priority boarding people

Voices get raised - lovely end to a a family holiday

Rascalls3 · 04/03/2015 21:50

Lavendersun yes I think this is how it should work. I think the problems only start if you don't check in online promptly or leave it until the airport. At some point all the aisles and windows will be taken including yours unless you have secured them by checking in. The point of my post was really to say that you don't have to pay to choose your seats on BA.

MidniteScribbler · 04/03/2015 21:54

It's not ignoring a small child, it's allowing either the child's parents/caregivers to deal with the child as they should, or allowing airline staff to do so. I am not employed to take care of someone's child on a flight, if the parents want to pay my equivalent wages for the duration of the flight, then I'll do it, otherwise, I'm on holidays.

MaidOfStars · 04/03/2015 21:59

To be clear, there are people here that would ignore another human being in distress, vomiting, crying? I actually don't believe that. You can't have so few neurons in your body that you don't immediately want to help? Impassive headphones-in-let-someone-else-sort-it? If it were an adult, you'd be boasting on here about how you calmly rescued another person.

clam · 04/03/2015 22:03

And the parents of that child are quite probably banking on the fact that another mug kindly adult will care for their child for them.

That said, could Rascalls (or anyone else who knows) explain how come random strangers/adults are allowed to sit next to children who aren't theirs? Wasn't there a case that went to court (BA I believe) a few years ago when a man had to move seats (swap with his pregnant wife) because company policy wouldn't allow him to sit immediately by an unaccompanied teenager in the next seat?

clam · 04/03/2015 22:05

Maid If a child by me was "in distress, vomiting, crying" and I knew his parents were a few rows up the plane, then I would sure as hell be taking steps to get them to come and sort him out.

MaidOfStars · 04/03/2015 22:06

And the parents of that child are quite probably banking on the fact that another mug kindly adult will care for their child for them

To echo hmc, how is that the child's fault?

peutetre · 04/03/2015 22:09

Just check in early, I think you can do it a month beforehand with Easyjet and you'll be fine. Don't be scared into paying as it will only encourage them to find new things to charge us extra for.

clam · 04/03/2015 22:09

Who has said it is the child's fault? That's beside the point. If he's distressed, he will want attention from his parents. The stewardess can facilitate that.

MaidOfStars · 04/03/2015 22:12

Clam, fine. But bing the bong, put your headphones in and ignore is a very different state of affairs. People are advocating a complete stonewall. That's truly amazing to me. I don't want to nanny, I don't want to entertain, I don't want to assume responsibility, but I will if it comes down to it.

MaidOfStars · 04/03/2015 22:14

Who has said it is the child's fault? That's beside the point. If he's distressed, he will want attention from his parents. The stewardess can facilitate that

How? If nobody wants to switch seats, then how are they going to facilitate it?

MaidOfStars · 04/03/2015 22:17

Genuinely not being confrontational - I'm not inclined to switch myself. But I know that my position of non-switching may carry a penalty.

hmc · 04/03/2015 22:19

Exactly MaidofStars Sad

clam · 04/03/2015 22:22

For the majority of the flight, people are allowed to move around the cabin. So, there is opportunity for the child's parent to come to see their son and mop up any vomit/calm any tears.

IreneA78 · 04/03/2015 22:23

To be clear, there are people here that would ignore another human being in distress, vomiting, crying?

No I would ring for the stewardess or go and fetch/yell to the parents

madwomanbackintheattic · 04/03/2015 22:37

I took a youth group on a trip last year. We booked as a group, over 6 months in advance, etc etc, using the group bookings facility, did everything we were supposed to do, were met by the airline group facilitator at check-in etc etc. Both directions the group were completely split up all over the plane (9 hour flight), including children sitting alone. In fact, on the first check in, I was told that currently the flight was overbooked and they actually didn't have seats at all for two of the children, and would we mind sending them on later.

I politely declined, and said I looked forward to them sorting it out. They did, but I still had kids everywhere. Nuts. I spent 9 hours pacing the aircraft checking on scattered kids that weren't even mine. In loco fecking parentis....

RedSoloCup · 04/03/2015 22:37

We flew Ryanair once and didn't do the priority boarding thing, we did make sure we were front of the 'peasants' queue and it was more than fine.

I think not paying is fine if you're early and queue British style;-)

Original poster
inmyshoos · 04/03/2015 22:50

Well a wee update!! I booked flights and then as soon as i could check in online (well timed as that was 7pm tonight!) I checked in and printed boarding passes. All seated together in a row of 3! At no extra cost.
Money is v. tight for us at the moment. Not checking bags in etc so every little saving helps.
Thanks for all the replies guys!

OP posts:
TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 04/03/2015 22:52

there isn't a peasants' queue as such any more, Red. Everybody is allocated a seat before boarding.

Haroldplaystheharmonica · 04/03/2015 22:52

Don't risk it!

My brother, SIL and niece were all seated separately as he thought "nobody bothers to pay the extra charge" Unfortunately they had all paid it and everyone on the plane refused to move. Niece was just over 2 years old and sat on her own!

Dowser · 04/03/2015 22:53

If no one paid for priority seating , then the airline would have to sort it out themselves, like they should be doing as part of their service.

Same as our postal system. If everyone only used second class, there would be no first class.

Wintehill · 04/03/2015 22:57

I don't get all the whinging about money being 'squeezed out of you' mentality.

I honestly think the budget airlines are fab and have enabled me to go to many more places a lot more often.
They offer a basic price - a seat and hand luggage and the you pick and choose to match your needs.

I often travel alone just with my handbag. I I get it at basic rate. If I need something to go in the hold I factor that in. If I go with mates I don't give a toss if I sit next to them or not but if they want to sit together they factor that in.
Surely it's similar if you go to Starbucks or something. You get your basic coffee, you want a topping on it, you pay a bit extra, you want a syrup in, pay for it. You pay for your needs,. You are not being ripped off.
I can fly return to Spain from Machester cheaper than I get the train to London.

You are not being ripped off folks!!

Metalguru · 04/03/2015 23:28

I flew easyjet last year, went to check in online night before and we were allocated two seats together for one adult and 4year old dd, but dd7 was sat on her own two rows away. They can't move other passengers once they are checked in.

Jackw · 04/03/2015 23:29

Easyjet has stopped doing bus style sit where you can now. When you check in you will be allocated seat numbers. So as long as you check in at the beginning of the check in window you will be allocated seats together. It's only if you are late that you will be put into random odd seats. I have travelled on EasyJet on numerous occasions and we have always been allocated seats together, but we always check in early. You always have to queue to board for ages standing down the wretched stairs though!

Samcro · 04/03/2015 23:34

if I booked a seat and paid extra I would not move,
I would not look after someone else's kids either.

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