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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do I REALLY need to pre book seats on the plane?

438 replies

StephenKatz · 03/03/2016 16:05

Flying to Spain in a couple of months, Thomson have told me I now have the option to pre book my seats on the plane. The last time I went it was just allocated from the very beginning (different airline and quite a while ago to be fair!) It's going to cost £28 for the four of us, something I wasn't really anticipating and I kind of resent paying it. But if I don't, would they seriously sit DC away from us? They are 4 and 6.

Whilst I don't really mind having a couple of hours peace from them sipping wine Wink , I fear I'll be one of those people that Mumsnet whinge about! I won't demand rudely that a stranger give up their allocated seat or anything! But I'm trying to decide if it's worth paying, or trusting that they'll sit us together? I don't mind DH and I aren't sat together, as long as we have a child each to look after? AIBU not to pay?

OP posts:
NuggetofPurestGreen · 06/03/2016 12:22

I've been asked to move twice on long haul flights so that adults can sit together. Once I moved as it was a row of 4, I was in between the husband who was on the aisle and the wife who was on my other side so it didn't make any difference to me. The next time I had an aisle seat, and the woman beside me (middle row of four) wanted me to swap with her husband who was in the seat behind her. I said no as I wanted the aisle seat and she had a right strop.

The next 22 hours on the plane was a tad uncomfortable Grin

expatinscotland · 06/03/2016 12:42

Yeah, funny how it's always an aisle seat or window one people want you to change out for.

I felt sorry for the bloke behind me (aisle seat) on the flight from Houston to Amsterdam last year as he was a really tall, muscularly-built guy and that seat was tiny. He said he had tried to book an extra legroom one and pay for it, but they were all taken.

The flight wasn't full so he was able to be moved to a row with the middle seat empty so he had more room.

Blu · 06/03/2016 13:01

LOL that as an adult flying alone I might be expected to move because another fully grown adult cannot sit alone....

(any special considerations such as disability exempted)

I have moved to make things easier, but not if I get a worse seat than the one I had. Once I moved and the cabin staff brought me a free half bottle of champagne substitute.

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 06/03/2016 13:59

Yes Blu there has to be something in it for the adult moving too! Have had a few upgrades this way. I used to move for anyone but when I was asked to move twice on the same (short!) flight to accommodate families I decided to become a refusenik. Now I must be bribed with free upgrades to business Smile

bloodynoris · 06/03/2016 14:12

Thomson do separate children from adults. When we went last year it was only me and dh and we prebooked our seats on row 2 due to medical conditions back when we first booked. When we got on the plane they was a mum and child in our seats when we asked them to move she wouldn't and the child started crying and then said don't worry dd the nasty lady and man will let us sit together and just being over precious about the seats. We had to get cabin crew involved and they did ask us very nicely and then my husband said ok it doesn't matter but I will assume that cabin crew are happy to give my wife with her medication by injecting. They soon back tracked and asked a few other people to move and no one would. The mother and daughter ended up on different rows and the mother kept getting up and cabin crew was quite rude in the end to her and said if you don't stop moving from your seat (bad turbalance) we will have no choice other than divert the plane and off load you. I did feel guilty but I have to have medication hourly on planes otherwise I would've moved but row 2 is medically assisted seats. For the sake of £28 book them.

rookiemere · 06/03/2016 15:49

Blu and Younggirl - just so I'm prepared, when I fly to the US in the Autumn I will be on my own, so particularly on the way out where I'm less precious about where I am, could be persuaded to move.

What would be the right wording to politely suggest that I'd consider it if the seat was in a better position than the current one?

ilovesooty · 06/03/2016 15:58

"What inducement will the airline be offering me to move?"

Ememem84 · 06/03/2016 16:31

rookie or simply "I'll move to a similar or better seat" more direct. Less polite.

Foginthehills · 06/03/2016 16:50

I was once asked to move to allow a couple to sit together (no children just two adults). This was proper long haul (southern hemisphere not just over the Atlantic) and for that trip I always book a window seat and curl up and sleep.

I simply asked the cabin crew: Will I be swapping to a window seat? It wasn't, I said no I won't move.

As someone said upthread, funny how people are never swapping out of a window or aisle seat

Happymummy007 · 06/03/2016 16:52

On a Delta flight home from the US a couple of months ago, to our horror, we found out that our DD (10) could be seated away from DH and myself. Our DD was in tears, but fortunately, although full, the flight manager made sure we were all together. If I could have paid to put us all together without any worry then I certainly would have done. IMO the cost of guaranteeing your specific seats is far outweighed by the peace of mind it gives you that your child/ren will be with you.

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 06/03/2016 16:59

I just say "I will happily move to a business class seat, otherwise I will be remaining here, thank you". The crew member usually disappears at that point (presume to check availability or - as DH thinks - to check my airline privileges) then about 50% of the time I am moved up. It's got to the point where I smile inanely at boarding families to look like the approachable singleton when flying economy... Grin

One woman (who allegedly had a terrible fear of flying that caused her to hyperventilate when seated more than 6 inches from her poor DH) actually had the brass neck to ask why they weren't being upgraded as it was their booking that the airline "messed up". Cabin crew must have some epic patience....I would be flinging passengers like that out at 40,000 feet!

amicissimma · 06/03/2016 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

betsyderek · 06/03/2016 17:04

ngGirlGrowingOld Sun 06-Mar-16 13:59:27
Yes Blu there has to be something in it for the adult moving too! Have had a few upgrades this way. I used to move for anyone but when I was asked to move twice on the same (short!) flight to accommodate families I decided to become a refusenik. Now I must be bribed with free upgrades to business

On Qatar Airways they always ask us paying customers in business if we have objections to this type of blag..I always object and refuse. If you want to go business, do what the rest of us do and spend an extra grand on the ticket.

BarefootAcrossHotLegoPieces · 06/03/2016 17:04

The other PITA about moving any distance is that there is probably no space in the locker for your bag at the new seat!

Foginthehills · 06/03/2016 17:05

I smile inanely at boarding families to look like the approachable singleton when flying economy

Grin Grin files away this idea for transAtlantic trip next month

HortonWho · 06/03/2016 17:06

Zad, by that logic, airlines have the right to say to those parents demanding to be seated with their entire family (but where there is no legal obligation) "no, you should've reserved your seats in advance" instead of asking a paying passenger to move. And from my experience, they do. They tell the parents they will try asking for volunteers.

BarefootAcrossHotLegoPieces · 06/03/2016 17:07

"I look at the charges the other way: that you are getting a discount if you are prepared to be separated."

Yup

Betsy, all the "moving" passenger, who is perfectly happy in her selected seat in economy, is doing is looking for compensation for inconvenience. A move to business class, a small gift, a voucher for on board duty free would all be sensible offers.

And you are mistaken if you think everyone in business class with you has paid more than everyone in economy

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 06/03/2016 17:10

I never fly Qatar after they lost my luggage last year. I would say I am upgraded on Emirates about 1 in 4 flights without asking (me or the other passengers) since I got platinum frequent flyer status. I only really fly for work and always fly business if the client is paying or it's over 5 hours or overnight. Seems reasonable to me. I would never object to someone else getting a free upgrade. I couldn't afford to fly business for years and it was a massive treat that I would never begrudge to others.

I hope your little panto in business class on Qatar makes you feel important and special though Smile

betsyderek · 06/03/2016 17:10

I don't really care how much it costs, I get an allowance anyway. But it's pathetic hearing people hinting at the gate to get upgraded. Just book business if you want it. Its not rocket science. Anyway not bothered about arguing about flights on mumsnet just tired of people thinking they should be upgraded when they can't afford it.

rookiemere · 06/03/2016 17:11

Ok I'll practice being assertive - funny as I thought they'd be more likely to upgrade you if uber polite.

rookiemere · 06/03/2016 17:14

Well ok betsyderek good for you with your allowance.
Most of us can't afford to fly business class.
I certainly won't be hinting at the gate, but if I was to do a good turn for someone else and get upgraded as a result I'll try not to lower the tone of the refined atmosphere too much .

expatinscotland · 06/03/2016 17:14

You can pre-book on Delta. I did this 2 years ago. I think at that age you should prepare for this. I fly long haul every year and regularly see children that age flying as unaccompanied minors. Children age 5 and up can fly as unaccompanied minors.

My DD flew to the US seated away from me and DS last year. She was 9. The flight was full and that was the only seat we could get.

'I was once asked to move to allow a couple to sit together (no children just two adults). This was proper long haul (southern hemisphere not just over the Atlantic) and for that trip I always book a window seat and curl up and sleep.'

If I'm alone on a long-haul flight I purposely book a window seat and drug myself with diazepam and a sleep aid so I can sleep all the way. So no, I won't be moving out of the window seat.

betsyderek · 06/03/2016 17:14

Yes I am that sad. I also fly for work weekly and not always Qatar. So sad they lost your luggage. How awful, poor you. (passive aggressive smiley face copied from defensive economy passenger)

Magawamma · 06/03/2016 17:17

God yes! Delta are the WORST and never seem to honour the pre booked seats I was spilt from my dc once- never again. He got ear ache and had a complete meltdown and the staff were VILE!

I've just had to fork out an extra £320 for us to sit together. Scoundrels!

BarefootAcrossHotLegoPieces · 06/03/2016 17:18

Wow, Betsy, are you always so unpleasant?