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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:
Weebirdie · 20/06/2015 09:14

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

Squiggly, its ok, I know you weren't criticising. Smile

Thank you Smile

CharlotteInBlue · 20/06/2015 09:34

I really think you should pay for peace of mind. I just moved on a flight from a seat that I had paid in advance for because a family of four caused chaos insisting that they had to sit together despite not booking seats beforehand. I didn't mind because in the end they caused such hostility and chaos to the other passengers and delayed take off. Everyone was refusing to move for them and they were getting such angry comments from fellow passengers, it got quite nasty so our group willingly split up for them as we had older children. Not sure I would do it again though because if you really want to sit together, just pay like the rest of us.

WixingMords · 20/06/2015 09:42

The thing is if someone has paid for a specific seat then they are, in the true sense of the word, entitled to it.

This is quite a long thread of people getting het up about something that probably won't happen.

It's statistically very low that an adult will be separated from a minor they are travelling with, it's statistical very low that the said minor will be hysterical about flying / vomiting (vast majority of children are entranced by their tablet/book/colouring), it's statistically very low that in the unlikely situation you are separated that all the adults seated next to either you are your minor will not move.

Airlines do NOT separate minors from adults for shits and giggles. Minors are (rarely) separated because the adult they are travelling with:

  1. Did not pay for specified seating
  2. Did not check in early

It is a FACT that airfares are now much, much more affordable these days, and the reason for this is because all the frills have been removed, and whether you like it or not if you want these frills (which are checked in luggage, food etc) you pay for it. It's not a 'tax' on families because it's not just families that may want it. The effect of air travel being available to more people is the base fare plus optional add ons.

backinthebox · 20/06/2015 10:02

MixingWords a post of calm sense and reasoning! I fly up to 4 times a day, and have never had anyone sat away from a young child on one of my flights. There have been the odd case where an older child is sat away from parents, but generally because they are on staff travel. Beyond that, as you've said, it generally doesn't happen.

spookyskeleton · 20/06/2015 10:16

mixing whilst it probably is rare, it does happen and sometimes that is not the fault of the parents or because they have not paid.

It happened to us a couple of years ago. Booked a holiday to Spain and were unable to book seats (more than happy to pay for them as it was the first time the DC had flown) but it wasn't an option - possibly because we booked via an independent travel agent??. I even spoke to customer services and they couldn't help or explain. To this day, I still don't know why but we couldn't book the seats.

Anyway, flying out was fine - got to check in early and got seats together. Coming home, we were at the mercy of the coach who was late so we were the last ones to check in so we couldn't sit with each other and my 7 and 4 year old DC were sat by themselves.

We had to wait till everyone was seated on the plane and the flight crew could see where the gaps were and ask people sat nearby to move - thankfully people were kind and moved and we sat in 2 lots of 2. I wouldn't have blamed them if they said no (after all, they had paid) and yes, they probably thought we were tight arises that took a risk (not the case).

I will never not pay now as I am not prepared to have that experience again - take a chance and you will probably be OK but be prepared that you may not!

Also, in hindsight, I would obviously have paid for a taxi to get us to the airport in plenty of time but me and DH hadn't flown for 8 years so were naive and assumed the DC would have to sit with us. Definitely not the case!

WixingMords · 20/06/2015 10:46

Yes spooky rare happenings do happen but in your case it wasn't the situation where the adults around wouldn't move, so it isn't the situation so many are up in arms about on this thread. That's really what I was getting at.

I've flown with mine regularly since the were babies as I live in a different country to the one I grew up in. I've never paid the extra (admittedly this extra had only occurred in the last few years and mine are older now) but I've been on Ryan Air multiple times when you didn't even get a seat allocated. Never ended up separate from my children because for the most part people will move. But you can't rely on it, and if that concerns you it is better to pay the extra.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/06/2015 10:50

"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?"

So, if I pay for something, tobysmum, and you decide you deserve/need it more than I do, you can just take it away from me, and I am being 'entitled' if I am unhappy about this? Confused

RyanAirVeteran · 20/06/2015 11:08

We are flying down to Malaga soon with BA,DH and DD we have reserved seating, I will not be giving it up for anyone bar a disabled person.

The price to reserve the seats is less than we will spend on cocktails and dinner on the first night.

Some people are just tight. FACT

When we were broke we didn't travel on a shoestring and expect someone else subsidise our lack of disposable cash by scrimping.

RyanAirVeteran · 20/06/2015 11:14

Also, our holiday starts the minute we leave the house, we get to the airport early, we go into airport lounge, have a long leisurely breakfast, sit together on the plane, holiday together, sit together on the way home.

We call it a family holiday.

itsnothingoriginal · 20/06/2015 11:28

Ryanairveteran - I don't think anyone would begrudge an extra £50 but £25 per person per flight = £200 which is quite a lot isn't it???

The problem is that some airlines are charging excessively....

switchitoff · 20/06/2015 11:30

I once booked a package holiday for me and my DCs who were then 3 and 5. There was no option to pay extra to be seated next to each other. TBH I just assumed that the booking system would see that I had small children with me and sit us together. But they didn't and we were seated in three separate rows.

When we got on the plane I asked the people sitting next to my DCs if we could possibly swap, but they refused. Funnily enough about 45 minutes into the flight when the DCs were crying and being generally fractious, they changed their minds! I felt like saying "Nah, I'm alright thanks" but I didn't.

I don't understand why it's not possible to choose your seat (free of additional charge) when you book the flight/holiday, in the same way that you can choose your seat when you go to the theatre or cinema.

Mehitabel6 · 20/06/2015 12:02

You most probably will get seats together- you just have to realise that there is a slight gamble in it.
It is the fault of budget airlines wanting to show low prices. Easyjet looks really good until you start to factor in paying for your luggage, meals , seat booking etc.
The problem would be resolved if they started with a higher price and took off for people without luggage, seat bookings etc BUT then it wouldn't look as attractive.
You have to realise you are getting a rock bottom price and if you want more you will have to pay more.
I think it is perfectly fair that if I get on with only hand luggage and will sit anywhere then I shouldn't pay as much.

alrayyan · 20/06/2015 12:07

Budget flights are not really budget. They're just shit. Shit planes, shit seats, poorly trained crew, second class pilots and crap website.

They are not any cheaper once you factor in normal stuff like having luggage or children. The are just shitter and less safe than real airlines. I know some people take a huge pride in flying crappojet because they think it makes them guardian reader dad cool but it is just a bit sad. If I go from here to Bahrain I go shittojet because it's 25 minutes in the air. Otherwise I go on a proper plane.
If I couldn't afford it I would either fly shitto and accept it (and expect it to be shit) or not travel so often.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/06/2015 12:20

"The problem would be resolved if they started with a higher price and took off for people without luggage, seat bookings etc BUT then it wouldn't look as attractive."

This is the common sense option, Mehitabel - so there's little chance of the companies adopting it.

Mickeyanonymouse · 20/06/2015 12:46

With all due respect, alrayyan, your post is incorrect. UK airlines, regulated by the CAA, all adhere to the same standards regarding crew training and aircraft maintenance. They are no less safe than any other carrier. And if you feel that way why risk a 25 minute flight? Take off and landing are the critical times.....
As for what happens outside of the UK, I've no idea....... and I think that includes Ryanair - being Irish registered they're not bound by the CAA (happy to be corrected if that's no longer the case).

ilovesooty · 20/06/2015 12:50

Some of us use budget airlines because they're affordable and take us where we want to go from our local airports. What an unpleasant post.

alrayyan · 20/06/2015 12:52

You think that if you like.
I am not too worried, I like flying and have been in a few hairy landings every time on a shit plane.

I personally prefer to go on a flight that has more than a 30 minute turn around for cleaning etc.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 20/06/2015 12:53

Where's your evidence that they are less safe alrayyan

alrayyan · 20/06/2015 12:53

But you CAN'T afford to fly. Otherwise you wouldn't be worrying about not sitting with your children.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 20/06/2015 13:04

How nice for you that you can choose alrayyan. Not everyone has the option.

Mehitabel6 · 20/06/2015 13:37

I am quite happy with Easyjet.
The CAA test all aircraft that fly in UK airspace. They are all quite safe.
You just have to realise that when they advertise £24 for a flight that you will have to more than double it if you want to take your suitcase etc.

alrayyan · 20/06/2015 13:37

There is a choice. Sometimes people on here talk about flying like it's education or health care. Nobody puts a gun to your head and forces you to take holidays abroad.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 20/06/2015 13:52

People do fly for other reasons you know.

alrayyan · 20/06/2015 13:56

Obviously people fly for.other reasons. However, I rarely take my children on business trips. It is generally frowned upon unless you own the company or are that ghastly woman who created Friends.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/06/2015 13:57

Yep - like us flying back from my MIL's funeral last year, because we had to have it on December 23rd, and wanted to be home the same day so we weren't travelling on Christmas Eve.

Or when ds2 and I flew down to visit her in the hospice. Sad

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