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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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

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:

AssembleTheMinions · 17/06/2015 21:43

For those that don't read CAA rules for fun, "should be the aim" and "every effort" are CAA-ese for "fucking well do this or you'll find yourself grounded like an episode of Cabin Pressure gone wrong, matey boy".

Nice interpretation of the guidelines there. Wrong of course but don't let that stop you. How do you explain the many many instances of children being split up from their parents?

Op, pay or don't pay. But please don't kick off if you decided to take a chance and it doesn't pay off. If I have paid to sit next to my family, there is not a cat in hells chance of me moving for you.

ChrisMooseAlbanians · 17/06/2015 21:44

They aren't laws/rules. Just guidelines. I was reading that article this morning. Most airlines will seat at least one parent with child(ren), but some don't guarantee it (Ryanair). Easyjet do sit a parent and children together. Just check with the airline

BalloonSlayer · 17/06/2015 21:44

I can't help thinking that these tales of young toddlers sitting on their own are not because the callous airline couldn't be bothered to seat them with their families, but because the families thought "We have a young child. They'll HAVE to seat us all together. We can therefore spend as much time as possible at home and be one of the last to check in because we can play the 'but we've got young kids!' trump card and we'll get what we want." But found that it doesn't always work like that.

ScrambledEggAndToast · 17/06/2015 21:45

I'm not paying for our holiday in August. It's just me and DS, who is 12 and I figure that if we are separated then he will be fine for a few hours. I don't want to pay around £40 to guarantee seats both ways.

43cupsoftea · 17/06/2015 21:46

For the first two or three holidays abroad with ds we chanced it, as we were on a tight budget. We always managed to sit together.
However, now we have a little more cash and I have more anxiety, we pay for every extra going to make sure it's as hassle free as possible. For us, that's what holidays are about; fun and low stress.
I think 'budget airlines' are not really. They are just airlines that charge differently.
In the olden days , all the chargeable extras were included so now everyone feels they are being ripped off for wanting pre-booked seats and a meal, or a drink. But I don't believe it's so. Pay for what you want and accept that's how it is.

Justmuddlingalong · 17/06/2015 21:47

If you didn't pay to sit together, would you be happy to reimburse the passengers who swap and had booked their seats?

hibbledibble · 17/06/2015 21:47

Itbis absolutely ridiculous that airlines do this, it is effectively a tax on families.

On principle I wouldn't pay. There is no way to that a young child could be left alone on a plane, so children should always be seated with at least one parent/carer.

Paying a premium should only be for people who are fussed where they sit on the plane/if they get a window seat.

exLtEveDallasNoBollocks · 17/06/2015 21:47

The CAA has no interest at all. There has never been a successful legal challenge, no prosecutions, no compensations. The U.S. Senate refused to pass a law in 2012 (I think) to force airlines to act.

Air travel is a business. Businesses always look for ways to make extra money. They have discovered this way and they won't give it up without a fight. Meanwhile people who don't want to take any chances will pay.

And as I always say on these threads. I will pay, each and every time. If the plane crashes I want my DD to die in my arms with her mum telling her she loves her, not seated next to a stranger screaming for me. It's my choice. It might not be yours (or anyone else's) but that's what it comes down to.

elderflowerlemonade · 17/06/2015 21:47

I wouldn't bother for a 12 yo but I do think for toddlers they need one parent near them.

I do think 'you get what you pay for' is applicable here. I don't see it as a sad reflection on society that people wouldn't move for a toddler, just that having paid for seats people are reluctant to give them up for someone who hasn't paid!

Whathaveilost · 17/06/2015 21:52

The way I see it is the base line price is the cheapest you can pay, no check in luggage, don't care where you sit or who you sit with pay by debit etc.
Then you build it to suit your needs, you need a suitcase- add that, you are a family and need to sit together, add that it's your need.

Maybe in a few years time when the kids are older and you dont have to sit together and they can have a hand luggage each you will be glad that you are just paying for a basic ticket and not an inflated price.
I know I appreciate cheaper air travel now.

Staywithme · 17/06/2015 21:54

If the plane crashes I want my DD to die in my arms with her mum telling her she loves her, not seated next to a stranger screaming for me. It's my choice.

Sorry but that did make me laugh. I'll leave now.

kslatts · 17/06/2015 21:56

We are going to America this year and have paid to sit together because it's a long flight, but on shorter flights we don't bother, we take the chance, check in as soon as it opens and are usually okay, have been separated once, I wouldn't dream of asking someone to move.

SpringInTheStep · 17/06/2015 21:57

What I don't understand from the story of the 3 year old is this: there were 3 seats paid for, were the parents separated too? If not, surely it made sense to have one parent sit alone and switch halfway through the flight to make it fair.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/travel/2015/06/family-tax-dads-outrage-as-ryanair-tries-to-seat-three-year-old-away-from-family

Ruperta · 17/06/2015 21:58

Cuntycow - I really hope on your next flight you are sat next to a separated 2yo during take off & landing. You would have to console/deal with tantrum/entertain like it or not - I doubt you would have much of a choice really (oh but you could have moved - but them your name wouldn't have suited you).

Terrible state of affairs if grown adult women are too precious about your seat allocation to swap with a terrified 2yr old. Yes I would have bloody repaid you whatever money you had spent - if it was that big a deal.

People like you make me despair

Ubik1 · 17/06/2015 21:59

I really think it is unfair to expect parents to pay extra to sit next to their young children.

It's a disgrace really. Small children are vulnerable - just like disabled or elderly people. I hope they don't have to pay extra to have a carer sit next to them.

MrsPiddlewink · 17/06/2015 22:00

Staywithme I laughed too, I'll come with you

Ubik1 · 17/06/2015 22:03

People like you make me despair

I agree. There have been many threads like but one of the most shocking attitudes was from a regular poster who basically said that she wouldn't help my child with an oxygen mask if my child was sat next to her.

I've never forgotten that.

ScOffasDyke · 17/06/2015 22:03

Ruperta, she wouldn't have to do anything for your child. She could put headphones in and ignore it.
If you want a guaranteed seating arrangement, you need to pay

Ruperta · 17/06/2015 22:03

Spring in the step - on our flight they sat us in three separate seats on three separate rows.

elderflowerlemonade · 17/06/2015 22:03

I wouldn't console or entertain someone else's child, mainly because children I am not related to scream in terror if I smile at them!

worridmum · 17/06/2015 22:04

actully its not a hard and fast rule as they do you the words MUST not should aim to etc

and it will also meet these specfication having having a family split (i have been on a airplan were a family of 4 (2 parents 2 young kids ) were forced to split to oppiste ends of the plane as they hadnt paid so if your prepared for the family to split up

Also seen it happen to family of 5 etc so if your prepared not to sit next / close to your entre family go ahead and not pay

AssembleTheMinions · 17/06/2015 22:05

Ruperta If the parents of the tantruming two year old were too tight to pay to sit next to their child then what would you like Cunty to do? Give up the seat she has paid for to sit next to her family? Hardly fair is it?

DoughDoe · 17/06/2015 22:05

It doesn't cost the airline anything, it's just a way of scamming more money out of you.

I avoid these airlines where possible, but if I had to fly Cryingair I would not pay extra for this.

AuditAngel · 17/06/2015 22:06

I once rang BA to complain about the seats allocated to my family, on the grounds it was sexist! The lady on the other end of the phone agreed. I had an infant on my knee, plus two other children, say 7 and 4 (I can't remember exactly) next to me, whilst DH was sat alone 3 rows and an aisle away.

I pointed out that I wouldn't be able to help the DC with opening stuff, or take one to the toilet. The lady was great. We changed to seating so DH had DS and DD1 while I was across the aisle with DD2.

Justmuddlingalong · 17/06/2015 22:06

I'm a terrified 45 year old when it comes to flying. Therefore we pay to sit together. I would not inflict me on any other passenger, neither would DP come to think of it.

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