Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

612 replies

mumsnit · 17/06/2015 21:08

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 Shock

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?

OP posts:
tobysmum77 · 19/06/2015 19:54

You sound nice Hmm

ShiftingSandsofSamarkand · 19/06/2015 19:59

If you're referring to me, Tobysmum, what's the problem? I've flown frequently with my kids and would never expect someone to move for us. I always pay the extra because it's important to me to be beside them. I don't see why someone should expect special treatment just because they have kids they want seated next to them but are too mean to pay for it.

lampygirl · 19/06/2015 20:05

I'm not sure I get the whole 'it's £65 or whatever, and that's a lot of money to some people' line. If the airlines didnt have this system, then everyones ticket would be that much more expensive. If the only way you can afford to fly is by the headline price of a no frills budget airline then that is what you can afford. If you dont like those terms then don't fly as you clearly can't afford it if the terms were any different.

I always pay to book my seat, even if flying alone, because I like them best. At the front usually, with legroom, or in the exit rows by the window so I can watch the mechanics in the wing with fascination. Long haul I go by the aisle so I can get up as and when.

If the only way I could afford to fly was without paying for all these extras, then that would be what I would accept. Look beyond the headline price of a budget airline ticket when you budget out your holiday plans, and decide if you can still afford it.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/06/2015 20:10

"well, there are things I want, and things that EVERYONE wants. the trouble is that airlines should seat children with carers not for the sake of the carers, but for other passengers."

No matter how much you pay, keepitsimple, or whether the airlines offer everyone the chance to choose pre-allocated seating, you won't be able to guarantee a child-free flight. The last time I flew alone, I ended up next to a couple, with their baby on their lap. OK I didn't have to look after the child, but she did scream piercingly at take-off, due to her ears being so uncomfortable.

And what some people want is the cheapest possible flight, and they are willing to accept that they don't get to choose their seat or check in a bag - so you just can't make casual generalisations about what 'EVERYONE' wants.

goodnessgraciousgouda · 19/06/2015 20:40

wow,if you need to fly with seats allocated together, and that is not included in the base price of the ticket...then you need to pay extra. Or make sure that you check in well in advance so you can choose relevant seats.

It would be nice if people were willing to give up their seats in order for others to sit together - having decided to just risk it - but they are in no way whatsoever obliged to do so.

How on earth is it discrimination? You are requesting an extra service (having seats all in the same place, as opposed to just x number of seats), therefore, you are paying extra money. Otherwise it's like saying "I paid for this ticket, and food is included in that ticket, so it's discrimination if I don't get the nicer food in business class".

Um...no.

exLtEveDallasNoBollocks · 19/06/2015 20:46

I'm quite concerned by the people who "cannot afford" to pay the extra seated together charges. If you cannot afford it, what on earth are you doing flying to a foreign country where one little accident could cost you hundreds in hospital/doctor/ambulance/medication fees?

Because if your holiday hinges on that £25, £65, £100 etc and you absolutely cannot afford to pay it, how could you afford to pay if your child got hurt?

I understand the people who just don't want to pay it, or don't think they should have to pay it. But can't afford to pay it? No so much.

If I didn't have a 'spare' £25, £65, £100 there is NO WAY I'd be flying abroad on a holiday.

Misty9 · 19/06/2015 22:22

Pip I don't know why but if you have a lap seated infant you can't check in online (for the airlines we've flown with) - something to do with not being allowed to sit in certain areas and to force you to pay for pre booking

Pipbin · 19/06/2015 22:44

I see Misty I didn't know that.
Last time we flew we were called to the desk early and asked if we were ok to move to accommodate a man with a baby as he had to have the aisle seat.

EvilTendency1 · 20/06/2015 00:10

I'm just Shock at parents going in a different class on the plane, why the feck would you do that ?!

I can only think really shitty parents would do such a horrible thing !

keepitsimple0 · 20/06/2015 00:44

No matter how much you pay, keepitsimple, or whether the airlines offer everyone the chance to choose pre-allocated seating, you won't be able to guarantee a child-free flight. The last time I flew alone, I ended up next to a couple, with their baby on their lap. OK I didn't have to look after the child, but she did scream piercingly at take-off, due to her ears being so uncomfortable.

who's saying guarantee a child free flight? I am saying for the sake of everyone (carers, children, other passengers and the airline itself) they should change their idiotic policy of not automatically seating carers and children together. You know why? Because of precisely this thread. people will take the piss. They will say, "fuck it, why should i pay" because they know that there will be huge pressure for others to solve the problem.

it would be simple to implement and solve huge problems, and nobody would get the seat they want without paying.

alrayyan · 20/06/2015 04:51

shiftingsands I really do think you sound nice. Thanks

Alligatorpie · 20/06/2015 06:33

I think there is a huge difference between paying for a certain sit and just wanting to be say with your children. I don't understand why no one has ever invented a program that kids under ...say 10 are automatically seated with a guardian. Then if you wanted a certain seat, you could pay for it.
I just paid £320 to ensure dh and I sat with our dds. ( 4 flights as nothing direct) and it was £20 per ticket. Yes I can afford it, but there are lots of other things I could have done with that money.
We had tickets booked by our company once and they booked individual seats...the plane was full and dd ( just turned 5) was separated by me and dh who were also separated by several rows. Dd was petrified and in the end another traveler offered to swap seats
It was an 11 hour flight and we were moving overseas - it was a highly emotional and horrible flight.

WixingMords · 20/06/2015 07:10

EvilTendency1 the people I know who did this said it was because their DC wouldn't appreciate it, so wasn't worth the money. I was still Shock about it even after they told me thier 'sensible' idea.

WixingMords · 20/06/2015 07:10

Children were 8 and 5 btw.

tobysmum77 · 20/06/2015 07:52

exactly alligatorpie although I think this usually happens. It is discriminatory to make a certain group pay more. Especially as the seats arent even guaranteed so its a total lottery.

The entitlement for me on this thread is the I've paid a tenner so sod everyone else attitude. What if someone disabled needed to sit next to a carer? Would that be different or is it just people with children who are the issue?

exLtEveDallasNoBollocks · 20/06/2015 08:03

The entitlement for me on this thread is the I've paid a tenner so sod everyone else attitude. What if someone disabled needed to sit next to a carer? Would that be different or is it just people with children who are the issue?

See, I see the entitlement as coming the other way - why should anyone (parent/child/carer/disability) have the entitlement to expect someone who has paid for a service to move because they haven't paid for a service?

Indeed, those people who need a specific seat for reasons behind their control (disability etc) should get those seats for free. I don't argue that. But whilst airlines are making us all pay, then everyone has the same opportunity to do so. I wouldn't dream of asking someone to give up something they'd paid for simply because I expected it for free.

Behooven · 20/06/2015 08:14

Correct exlteve

Weebirdie · 20/06/2015 08:26

I frequently fly with my 24 year old son who's severely autistic and we quite often have 2 carers with us. I always pay for the seats we need because I just don't for a minute believe that our needs trump anyone else's. My sons comfort is my responsibility, no one else's. Its also why I would't move for anyone else even if travelling alone. If you have specific needs pay for them and save yourself the stress of sorting it out on board.

SquigglyLine · 20/06/2015 08:40

I disagree Weebirdie, I don't think that your son should have to pay to sit with you/his carers. I think your son's comfort is not just your responsibility but society's responsibility. It is wrong to sit someone who has particular needs away from the person who is going to meet those needs. I think that covers young children too. If someone is not able to travel independently, then they should be sat with the person helping them.

tobysmum77 · 20/06/2015 08:43

you see bollocks we just arent going to agree on that however long its discussed.

Making disabled people pay extra is just appalling surely it is illegal as disability is a protected characteristic.

I think maybe though the reason why in the rl this is rarely a problem is that most people don't pay it anyway so it isn't a big deal.

Weebirdie · 20/06/2015 08:56

Squiggly I understand the points you make but I want hassle free travelling from the beginning and Im just not prepared to leave anything to chance.

My son is very well integrated into society and to be frank we generally meet with nothing but kindness when out and about with the result I don't see society as the enemy.

We all need to be mucking in together to make the world go round Smile

Mehitabel6 · 20/06/2015 08:57

In a nutshell exLtEve.

It is a gamble if you don't book. If you can't take that gamble, for various reasons, pay the extra and know your seats.

Mehitabel6 · 20/06/2015 09:00

If I flew with my mother she would need to be next to me and in an aisle seat not too far from a door. I would therefore pay extra to book- not turn up saying 'it is obvious she needs that sort of seat- people will have to move'. If I fly with DH we can gamble- we will most likely get one together but can manage if we don't.

SquigglyLine · 20/06/2015 09:02

Not criticising you for paying, Weebirdie, I would do the same. Just saying that I don't think you should have to, that's all. Glad you and your son have good experiences of going out and about :)

TendonQueen · 20/06/2015 09:04

Toby are single room supplements also discrimination then? How about plus size clothes costing more?