About pre-booking airline seats

[Jollyphonics]

This is a common topic on AIBU - the dilemma of whether or not to pay extra to ensure you can sit with your kids on flights. The general consensus is usually that it's unfair to expect others to move when they've paid extra for specific seats, and that if you want to all sit together you should just pay the fee.

Fair enough - so I've just done my (compulsory) on-line check-in, and chose the option to pay for specific seats. Despite the fact that the check-in only opened a couple of days ago, virtually all the seats appear to be taken, and the only ones available were randomly scattered around the plane.

I just rang Jet2 as this seemed a bit strange, and was told that most of the seats have not actually been taken, but that the airline keeps aside a big chunk of seats precisely in order to sit kids with carers. So although it may appear that we're in 3 different places, we will actually all be seated together.

This is totally at odds with what I've heard on here! So, if anyone gets moved on our flight so that we can sit together, I apologise sincerely. I really did try to sort it out! I'm still sceptical about what will happen on the day though.

Has anyone come across this before? Would you do anything different?

I'm not commenting on the rights and wrongs of this - but I was worried about our flights home from the UK a couple of weeks ago, as it appeared we had no seat places booked (for me and 2 DSs, aged 2 and 7). I wasn't prepared to pay £65 per seat to book ahead of check in, so I had my timer set to go off immediately the online check in opened. But I went into BA online to Manage My Booking a couple of hours earlier, just to make sure I had the codes at the ready, and lo! I already had seats allocated. Which was a massive relief!

I agree that it is pure money-grabbing to charge so much extra for pre-booking seats. I'm fairly sure with BA it's a new thing - last year I didn't have to do it, but then last year I needed bulkhead seats as was travelling with an under-2yo, so maybe that's why.

I pay as I don't want to risk not sitting with the dc. I also pay when flying alone as I want an aisle seat. Hate feeling stuck next to someone if not on the aisle.

Yes AndrewofGG - Airlines have an obligation to two groups - Families and those with mobility problems including the elderly.

They should not be discriminating against these groups just because some of these groups don't want to pay

*Airlines should organise seats as

Families with children
Disabilities
Elderly
Those who have paid
Those who don't care where they sit*

Absolute bollocks and your post has angered me, tbh.

Families with children can sit in any bloody seat on the aircraft, the disabled and people with mobility problems can not hence why they take priority over everyone and there are medical assistance seats that you don't pay for.

If I don't sit in the first row I am caused severe pain. I accept that sometimes there might be someone with a greater need than me (disability wise) who will need those seats, but unless I am seated row 4 or further forward I can not travel. They take my crutches from me and I'm not allowed them in flight. I need to be able to get to the toilet and can only manage to walk that short distance.

If it is so important that you sit next to your child pay for it!

Hi5Hello I was asking you at what age you define elderly as beginning?

It is not discriminating against anyone not to provide something for which they don't pay when others do pay for it - provided you do the basics which is done if each child is near one of the adults. The airlines don't give families Business or First Class seats unless they pay for them - however convenient they would find it to have more space and more comfort.

I hate pre poking seats but always do ...because everyone else does so you have to really!!

However for those who do book seats, by aware that for many airlines if you read the same print when doing it online, they can move you if they want! They don't need your permission at all, although they do have to refund you.

Be aware though that if you are sat in one row and they move you to another seat in front or to the side or across an isle then they don't have to refund you as they class that as still sitting together.

It's in the small print of most airlines it's just many who go through a travel agent don't see it.

To the pp who booked extra legroom to sit with her infant and was moved..
the extra leg room seats are by the emergency exits and only adults with no mobility problems can sit there

And the pp who has booked the extra leg room seats for the whole family... If any are under 16 (or is it 18) they won't be allowed to sit there even though you pre booked.

Anyway, we've travelled about 10 times with Ryanair the last 5 years. Before you could book seats it was awful turning up early, me running ahead to the gate as soon as the number came up and the kids literally being elbowed out of the way by other passengers on the steps.

last year I prebooked seats for the first time and it was bliss. Turn up not so early, board first, no stress at all.
This time they will be 9 and 10 and we're only flying 1 hr 10 min so I'm going to see how the free allocations go. if we aren't allocated near/next to each other I won't be asking anyone to move.

These thread make me feel very anxious.

The reason Fairy that many families want to have their younger child next to an adult is so that in case of an emergency there is someone to look after the child. A 3 yo for example is not going to be able to look after itself in terms of putting on an air mask, following instructions, leaving the plane and so forth.

One of these thread before we had at least 2 people say they would absolutely not help a child that was not theirs in this situation, not even unclip it's seatbelt if everyone was told to get off.

I understand that people get very angry with children and they can be a right PITA but there is a reason for it to be better for them to sit with a family member if they are young. This is why the guidance for airlines (which was linked on that last thread) says that airlines should seek to seat children with an adult they are travelling with, wherever possible.

Anyway.

OP I travel on business sometimes and would be happy to move, I think many people would. I don't fly as a family very often at all though due to anxiety around this very issue but I hope that it would be similar for destinations that are more holiday than business IYSWIM.

The thing is that if the campaigns are successful and airlines are no longer allowed to offer prebooked seats at a premium they will just whack £10 on the cost of all seats.

I know that Whirlpool and I don't disagree with people wanting to sit with their children, however if you want to be guaranteed of it you have to pay.

What I do wholeheartedly disagree with is HI5 thinks they should take priority over people with disabilities and mobility problems. The likelihood of a disabled person needing to use the facilities on a aircraft is far higher than the likelihood of you ever having to use an oxygen mask or being in an emergency situation.

It's not just wanting though is it? I think that it is quite important for young children to be seated next to someone who will assist them in an emergency and not step over them and leave them strapped in like the person on the other thread said they'd do.

The thought of it freaks me out quite frankly and this is why I don't fly with my family.

I have a disability which affects my mobility and it was trying to carry the baby down the stairs with people pushing and shoving and I nearly went tumbling that has stopped me to be honest it was awful.

Anyway that's what I think.

To me it's common sense to have people who are going to need assistance in an emergency in the best situation possible whether that's in a certain seat or the staff being aware or seated with a carer. Personally I include young children as vulnerable but I know a lot of people just think the parents are being precious. I do see young children as vulnerable but I know even on MN when it comes to transport scenarios I am out of step with that.

I want airlines to allocate seats for families together because I don't want to sit next to someone else's 2 year old. I'd rather sit next to my own dh and ds or friends/whoever I am travelling with. This was never a problem back in the day and has only become a problem now due to money-grabbing airlines. I always sat with my parents as a child and we only booked in at the airport with everyone else as you couldn't pre-book seats.

BA allocates seats together for families where the kids are 11 or under. That is how it should be. Once they get to 12 you have to pay for a particular seat or hope that when you check in online 24 hours before that you can get the seats together. I've never had a problem with that but it's more difficult on the way back as you don't always have access to a computer so you have to check in at the airport.

In fact it would be really good if airlines would allow you to check in both your outward and return journeys from home, so the problem of not having internet access on holiday doesn't arise. Last time I was away I asked the hotel to print our boarding passes for us, and I've used mobile check in, but it's not always that easy.

Airport travelling has become awful over recent years Whirlpool.

People no longer seem to adhere to letting each row out in it's turn and instead it's a complete free for all. Best waiting until the others are out and then getting out and hopefully the aircraft crew will help you then.

I've always paid to sit beside DS where I can, although I'm now shocked to discover through a few threads of mumsnet that this doesn't always guarantee you will sit together. We had one hairy situation when DS was 5, where I couldn't do pre online check in with BA and they tried to separate us, but DH did his very calm standing still thing until they relented and got two of us together.

I'm with Fairy - children grow up, disabilities are often for life.

jeanBaptiste I did book extra legroom pregnant and with toddler and they were not exit seats. There were bulkhead seats and several non exit rows. But they still gave those seats to others. I was incredibly uncomfortable for more than 4 hours. I couldn't even reach the floor!

This whole thing is outrageous. Airlines used to sit all parties together apart from those checking in very late who got whatever was left.

I think the paying extra bit was started by Easyjet who used to have free for all when you got on the plane.

Then everyone else cottoned on that people would be prepared to pay again for what they already had.

And now there are few seats left for non payers as so many are happy to pay extra for this service that has always been free. They then get annoyed with anyone who objects to being fleeced like this but still expects to sit reasonably close together.

"The thing is that if the campaigns are successful and airlines are no longer allowed to offer prebooked seats at a premium they will just whack £10 on the cost of all seats."

I would be OK with that. As has been pointed out, paying extra to sit in pre-booked seats was started by the budget airlines. Before that we paid more to fly anyway.

Last year we flew with Jet2 and didn't have to pay extra to pre-book seats

They should not be discriminating against these groups just because some of these groups don't want to pay

But as someone who is incredibly unlikely to ever fly with children, what with being barren, I'm fair game? What if I am a nervous flier, and my partner knows how to keep me calm? What if I'm flying on business and could do with the opportunity to talk with my colleague? As it happens, I generally fly alone, and unless in an extra legroom seat, would probably be happy to move but your attitude stinks, Hi5Hello. You've had children, not cure cancer.

The easyjet guidance to flying with children says as long as your children are identified as such (i.e. by their ages) on the booking, they will make sure they are sat with you. It seems pretty clear that you don't have to then pay to pre-book specific seats in order to get to sit with your children.

If then on the day it turns out that other passengers who have pre-booked are asked to move in order to allow a parent to sit with their child, that is easyjet's fault for not managing their bookings system well, as far as I see it.

most extra legroom seats are exit aisle and children can't sit there anyway.

tarka. There's normally two seats at the very front with extra leg room. On easyjet it's seats 1E and 1F where children can sit.

We flew American Airlines to Charlotte last Summer. I didn't pay the extra £80 to book seats as I had read about people being shifted. Online check in opened 24 hours before we flew so I sat at the computer waiting to book. It opened and there was not even a pair of seats together. When we got to Heathrow the following day, the lady on the desk was really shocked at how far apart we were seated as DD was 12 and DS was 10. She had a bit of a shuffle and managed to get 2 seats together so we sat DCs there and she was able to get DH and I within sight of them so we could sort them. I think they behaved better sat apart from us!

American charge to book seats? Since when? I've flown with them dozens of times (although admittedly not for 2 years now) and you've always been able to pick your seats at the point of booking online. For free.

Whirlpool, I also don't fly because of similar reasons to you due to my disability, selfish behaviour from other passengers and lack of understanding from cabin crew. Once you have had a bad experience which causes pain and ruins a trip it stops you wanting to ever set foot on a plane again. My last flight was 5 years and I don't miss the stress of faffing around at the airport and the general unpleasantness of air travel.