to not want to pay £100 to guarantee that our kids can sit next to us on the plane

[mumsnit]

DH wants us to pay £25 each to guarantee that we can all get seats together when we go on holiday next month. Aibu to think it's a ridiculous cost to pay out

But I have heard that one airline refused to seat a family together as they hadn't paid the premium and tried to seat a 3 year old alone on the other side of the plane from the parents. We don't go on holiday very often - especially abroad and I'm already nervous about flying so don't want this added to the stress of travelling.

WWYD/WDYD - do you pay the extra cost?

You don't want this to add to the stress of travelling... So pay it

We fly loads and have never paid for this. We have always been allocated seats together except for one time when it was 2 sets of 2 which was fine.

If you don't pay then it is more likely than not that at least one of you will be nearish the children, possibly across the aisle in the same row or in a row in front or behind. It might be a bit awkward and require you asking people to swap about though. It may be that one of you is near the children and the other away from them or that you may each be near one child.

I wouldn't have moved for you either Ruperta, why should I? Nor would I have felt obliged to entertain your child

When we went to the USA last year, I was unable to chose our seats on the plane when the line opened the day before. When we flew out the following day, at check in the lady was surprised we weren't seated together. When she logged in, she was unable to do a great deal but was able to get 2 seats together so we sat DC's next to each other and DH and I sat alone. At least she was able to move us closer to each other because we were all sat at complete different corners of the plane when I first printed our tickets.
But, I took that risk when I didn't want to pay £80 per flight to book seats together as it would have added £320 to our flights.

Pay. Like everyone else who wants to sit together does.

Legally they are obliged to seat children with their parents. We never pay thieving bastards

Gemauve, I don't think you are quite right in your assertion.

OP - 'seated together' means in a row behind or in front of the parent, or across the aisle. The only way to be certain is to pay.

There have been 100s of these threads on MN, they often turn into bunfights. You might want to search for them.

If you want to sit with your husband and children - pay for it. If you don't mind if you are seated together - take the chance. If you take the chance and end up seated apart from your husband or children then accept that you made the wrong choice - but don't, whatever you do, make a fuss or try to 'guilt' another passenger to move to accommodate your own gamble.

Are you sure that's true mrspiddlewink?

We've paid an extra £180 (6 of us) to get extra leg room seats ans as there are only a few rows of these we will be put together. Bit expensive, but its our 1st time abroad as a family (11 years since last flight) so its taking the risk out of it.

Just another money making extra for the airlines, I flew in 2013 for the first time in years with United to America - and the minute we booked our flights (11 months before flight) we could choose our own seats online, in fact I swSpped them around a few times. For no extra cost, so if they can do it surely other airlines could to.

Actually, I think there's a gap in the market for an airline who could guarantee, for a small fee, that you wouldn't be seated near your children. I'd definitely pony up twenty quid not to be lumbered with the toddler next time I go anywhere.

How does that work if the only way to do it is to move someone who has paid to choose their seat, MrsP? If I'd paid 25 quid to reserve a particular seat; there's no way I'd be moving to accommodate someone who decided they wouldn't bother.

I have paid before after reading a mumsnet thread that got me all worried!!! . In my experience it was unnesscary and in fact have not done so since a few flights we always get seats together.

we never pay. someone would always swap. realistically would u ever see a 2 year old setting on their own on a plane?

Don't pay then, but don't expect anyone else to move for you.

AFAIK wrt to the CAA, it's guidelines not law or rules. And LtEve is right, sitting together means across the aisle or one or two rows behind or in front.

Either pay, keep your fingers crossed or hope that other people agree to move for you ( I wouldn't unless I was travelling alone and it didn't inconvenience me)

ChickenLaVidaLoca - yes. We made sure of it when we decided against shelling out. You let them know at check in and they will jiggle around the seats so you are sat together.

They buggered it up on the outboard flight and we had to stand at the front of the planecwhilst they moved other passengers - they were clear that it was their error though, and to be honest the severely obese couple caused more bother as they had to seat them with an empty seat next the each and distribute the weight evenly.

This was with Ryanair

Ok - interesting to hear experiences and opinions.

Gemauve - thanks for the info!

Certainly don't want to start a bunfight though have not seen a thread on this topic before (not an AIBU MN regular!)

Gemauve, I don't read the CAA rules for fun. I read them for a living, daily. I think you might be over-reading just how interested the CAA is in most cases. The paragraph you have quoted doesn't specify child age to sit separately from their accompanying adults (it may, or possibly may not, surprise you to hear some parents actually book themselves into a completely different cabin to their children - after all, First or Club would be wasted on the children and they can't go far. The cabin crew can look after them!) One family may find it perfectly acceptable for their 6 year old to sit a few rows away, another might not want to sit apart from their 8 year old. The CAA does not get involved in situations like this.

The base fare on no frills airlines is pared down to enable people to add extras if they wish. Seat reservation is just one of those extras. Without it you may be seated near your children bit not necessarily next to them so I think you should pay if you want that peace of mind. If airlines do bring in guaranteed seating next to children I imagine the base fare will increase and effectively lone travellers will end up subsidising families.

And no - if I'd paid to reserve my preferred seat I wouldn't offer to move.

Clearly I'm not the only one imagining the fall out if their dc were scattered. I reckon I could get someone begging or maybe even paying me to swap with at least one of mine - especially if she made one of her mini cheddar reguitation specials. In fact I am fairly sure that my other dd would pay pocket money not to sit next to her!

We've been all seated apart before. Someone kindly moved so youngest was next to me. Paid next time (but flew hand luggage)

I always pay it saves me worrying about it for months before (I am a worrier) I was on a Ryanair flight before when a family of four (2 very young children) were completely split up

They won't make it obvious as clearly they need the ££...but