To think they will not seat the dc away from me

[inmyshoos]

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??!

Last year BA managed to put DH and I in an exit row. Our 3 DC in the row behind aged 9, 7 and 3 and MIL about 10 rows away.

A passenger AAT with DH and I moved a couple rows away once we had taken off so our 03yo could sit with us, but a combination of her adored older brother and mummy's iPad did the trick and she was quite happy.

A few years ago, DS few as an unaccompanied minor aged 6, so he was sat next to a complete stranger

On the BA flights I have worked on during the last 30 years I have always ensured that parents and children sit together. Occasionally it has been like musical chairs to do this, but generally I have found passengers to be accommodating (especially if I am moving them to an as good or better seat!!!) To be honest I am surprised at the many posts on here of children having to sit apart from their parents and this definitely wouldn't happen on any flight I am on.

Sorry forgot to say... glad it all worked out OP. Have a great time and don't forget to check in as early as possible on your return journey.

The joke is now BA started to do similar. just paid £450 for a European flight for DD and I (seriously, it's ridiculous for a 2hr flight) and they want £60 on top to be able to book a seat earlier. They do say that if you don't do that they will allocate us a place together (OK so not exactly the same lie no-frills do) but I bet it won't be by the window which would keep DD schtum. I'm happy to be treated like a second class passenger if I pay £100, not so much when it's almost £500.

Metalguru - Easyjet check-in opens 28 days before the flight. Checking in the night before is LATE!

I flew with Easyjet last week. I checked in online early and booked seats together without having to pay...whats the problem? - you can't do this. If you check in online and book seats then you pay for the booked seats. You can check-in online a month before and print boarding passes etc and will be allocated free seats, but these will be in the 'dead' zone between wing and rear exits. These are the seats that people don't tend to book; they are far from the emergency exits and personally I find them claustrophobic and cramped (more so!)

I'm not sure what your post is saying, lavender just because you booked a 2-night trip for less than £500, what does it have to do with the fact that for flights BA are famously expensive. I do prefer flying with them but if I have to go to a certain country for Easter, a 3-day break in Barcelona for half the price is not making any difference to me.
there is plenty of cheap 3 days getaways.

I don't know Lavender. I have found the budget flights hugely cheaper than BA tbh. I have flown return to Poland for less than50 quid on numerous occasions. Same with Spain and Portugal and France and Norway.

we fly easy jet fairly often. I have never paid to get allocated seats since they introduced that system, but we have always been allocated seats together. I would not kick up a fuss if we were separate. If my DC were younger I would pay to get allocated seats.

You will probably be seated together anyway but it is a gamble and you have to decide if it is worth the gamble for you.

Rascall, thank you.

I don't think it's fair to the air crew to expect them to provide free childcare. Airlines are quite clear - they will try to help but it is not their responsibility to seat families together.

You want to be sure you are sitting with your children? Pay the extra charge, please.

I travel a lot. Fly at least three to four times a year with my dc. I've never booked seating, it's either been allocated at point of booking or we are just seated together when we check in. No one has ever been asked to move to accommodate us, no one has ever had one of my little darlings foisted onto them. I don't understand the fuss on this thread actually.

I often look for full fare tickets for my elderly mum to travel from Gatwick to Scotland and Gatwick to Turkey ( I have siblings living there) I always look at the cost of BA versus a budget carrier. I will include luggage and any booking fees ( she is not worried about where she sits) As she is flexible with her dates I can usually get BA down to a similar price to the budget ones. If the BA fare is within say £20 she will always choose BA as she finds BA flights less stressful and more enjoyable. Don't automatically assume a budget carrier will be cheaper, especially if you have luggage to put in the hold.

I flew Easyjet about 2 months ago. I was sat with DD2 (who is 3 ) and DD1 who was 7, was sat in the row behind me. They asked the person sitting next to me to move as they said DD1 was too young to be allowed to sit on her own.

I regularly fly with easy jet with 2 children and have always been seated with them without paying extra.

I don't think it's fair to the air crew to expect them to provide free childcare

Nor the poor unsuspecting passenger who gets lumbered with your precious darling.

We always book our seats - and woe and betide any precious parent who hasn't who then expects us to move.

I probably wouldn't mind switching seats if asked - not unduly fussed where I sit on a plane, although I wouldn't choose a middle seat I suppose. However, if I'd paid for specific seats, wild horses wouldn't get me to shift, unless there was a hefty rebate to the extra premium I'd already shelled out.

I think they should start with the high price and let you strip off services to reduce your fare - so the fare is £100 but if don't mind random seating and have no luggage you can strip off those facilities and pay £80 - same thing but psychologically different.

YABU.
A woman on the flight I was on a few weeks ago got on with a toddler. They were sat apart. People moved for them but they weren't happy. If they'd refused to move then it would have been tricky. I had selected my seat and a seat for ds but at booked late so there were no seats together. He sat away from me. No one offered to move and none of the air stewerds suggested they did. He's 5. Tbh I knew he'd be ok otherwise I wouldn't have booked the flights but I think they're unlikely to seat you together unless you pay to select your seats.

OP was lucky & did manage to get seats together without paying the extra

This thread has taken on a life of its own though

I'm glad i booked those flights as I defo need to get out more >

I'm amazed at the number of people who appear quite happy to pay extra for a service which was automatic and free for years.

I do wonder if they would just suck it up if it were to be introduced on buses too?