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

[StephenKatz]

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 , 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?

But in reality you could be expecting those who have paid to change their seats because you refuse to pay? Would you expect people to move to accommodate you sitting with your DCs? If so pay.

I think that airlines need to make up thuer mind as to whether dc are allowed to travel alone or not, they say that they can travel alone under the age of 16. Though they then sit dc away from there parents which is against advice, yet that's the very reason these same dc can't travel alone under 16.

Further back in the thread it said flights hardly make a profit, then how come flight prices triple in the school holidays when all the prices for staff, ground staff, fuel, tax etc stay the same and are not seasonally priced?

Eh?

Many flights will be run at a loss. Flights cost more at times of high demand (late afternoon Friday or first thing Monday ) than low demand (midday on wednesday)

Pricing models are complex but look at profitability over a season, quarter or year, not daily.

Back to the theatre example - midweek matinees are cheaper than Friday nights.

Sitting separately on the same plane and travelling alone aren't the same thing!

Ok so if you think about it they must be seats for at least two people sitting together cause you don't get that many 3 people together seats your seats are already brought so they have to keep them available. I have had free allocated seats and have sat together many times . Think they pray on peoples fear so you pay. If I ever had to sit away I would ask the hostesses to give up there seats. My kids would chat so much the other passenger would want to move seats for some peace.

'Expatinscotland, I feel incredibly sad that you have to pay to sit together. I think that the additional charges disproportionately affect young families and families with health/medical considerations. For many families holidays are precious and money is finite so it's unfair to pay out extra. '

Oh, give over! That's 'sad'? Life's not fair. Having kids is expensive. No one holds a gun to someone's head and forces them to have children (in the West, at least) and you don't have to take flying holidays. If you do, it costs a lot. C'est la vie. As pointed out, supply and demand. Midweek matinee theatre tickets are cheaper than Sat. night.

LOL @ the 'hostess' giving up their seats. The flight crew are not just dolled up waitresses. They sit in jump seats not available to passengers.

FFS.

'My kids would chat so much the other passenger would want to move seats for some peace.'

Nice try! I'd put on my noise cancelling headphones, turn to the window seat I prebooked and crash out as soon as the diazepam and sleeping aids kicked in. Not at all bothered by someone else's kids.

""Therefore the cost of them sitting next to an accompanying adult should be included in their ticket price. ""

The issue with that is, if you price up a holiday in the Internet and then go into Thompson/Thomas Cook (im quoting these because this is Who I've gone through), they can't always match the price, but they throw in extras and one of them is free, or reduced cost of pre check in bookable seats.

I always pay, or have the option, as said. My 18 year old DD doesn't like her LDs etc to be made public, so moving would get a flat "No", from us, as for children's noise, my eldest has ADHD and never shut up, I can drown anything out.

When I was a bit younger and holidaying in a group, our holiday started when we got to the airport and we'd have a drink on the plane, so I would have been pissed off at having to move, unless compensated by the airline.

I'm a LP, or rather was, on low wages, my holidays are the one thing that I spend money on.

As it stands, you need to figure that cost into the holiday, as a whole, if you want to sit together.

Have always been sat together.

With easyjet, we checked in online at online check in time and were given seats together.

With etihad and emirates we were allowed to pick seats as soon as we booked. Qatar was the same when my parents flew with them last week.

We are flying with BA next month and were allocated seats when we booked as we had an infant with us, otherwise you have to pay or wait till 24 hours before until checkin opens.

I thnk it depends on how much they are charging if in future I need to pay for us to sit together. Think I would pay up to £100 in total.

My parents have flown BA several times and don't pay to get seats, they wait till online checkin 24 hrs b4 and have never had any problem. But I think as they don't fly peak holiday seasons it could be that reason.

I don't see why someone who has paid for their seat should move.

I think the airlines should adapt to what BA does with infants and allow seats to be reserved as soon as you buy tickets, but increAse the age to say 10.
It seems like a very obvious money making scheme.

BA is shite. Another airline I avoid. At least with budget airlines - Ryanair, Easy Jet, etc, you know you're going to have to pay or take chances. It's cheap for a reason. BA isn't. And then they want you to fork out more.

I'm sorry you initially considered my (trying to be helpful) post was patronising but I'm ever so glad you saw the light and changed it to interesting :-)
Ryanair I imagine didn't break down the costs to be helpful, however they were not the pioneers of the system so I reckon went with the flow. I will say however, I think Ryanair gets a raw deal sometimes. There are always the complainers (not that I am saying you are ;-) that reckon Ryanair rips them off for every last cent and charges more that they should have been charged. My colleagues in the business do sometimes complain too. But I have to say I think Ryanair are alright! The planes are safe, clean, seldom late, quick turnaround, cheap (when you book at the right times) and does what it says on the tin. And you 'always' know what the final price is before you press the book button. If I have to use them I always book my seats (now there's a surprise!) and always speedy boarding. The flights are cheap enough and these extras to me make all the difference. They have opened up many cities all over Europe and taken us to places we might never have gone to in the past. When I hear someone have a moan about them I always say; If you could vote for Ryanair to disappear tomorrow would you? I know I wouldn't.

I paid last year, on entering the plane was asked if I minded moving so a child could sit with their mum. On the one hand I didn't mind as obviously don't want to see a child upset, but thought, why didn't you pay like I did, and now I have to move?!

Why didn't you ask for your money back Knackerelli ? That's what I would have done if I had paid for a service I didn't receive.

Peaceandloveeveryone some people don't seem to get a refund if they swap/are forced to swap.

moreginrequired just as long as you're prepared for the fact that people may not move for you, especially in june!

Belshels
why did you move? I certainly would not be guilted into moving! I prebook as im very nervous and need my dh to help with medication.
I pick my seats to helpme feel as calm as possible and i certainly wouldn't swap and be seperated from my dh when i'd bothered to prebook.

Ok...so happiness aside...what about in an emergency evacuation would you rather have a guarantee that you and DH were sat with the kids so that worse comes to worst you can safely evacuate all together not try and struggle one of you with 2 panicking kids. People may shoot me down for this (excuse the pun) but you have to be adult and accept that paying the price of coffee and cake for 4 people in starbucks is worth the safety of your children in the horrible event something were to happen.

I always prebook taking into account safety, evacuation and comfort....but then a friend designs the escape chutes for aircraft so I fully aware of the implications of what may happen.

The thing is, so many posters on here are saying that the airlines are holding them to ransom, why should they pay for seats together, it's preying on parents etc.

But when you don't book and pay for seats, you are doing what you are accusing the airline of. Preying on others (who have paid) to move, guilt tripping them and I think that is really wrong.

PersonalTAgent talks sense. Flights have come down. I remember flying a fair bit in early eighties and I used to pay more for flights then than I do now. Air travel is not expensive and if you have to add on baggage and seats .. welll... it's still cheaper than it used to be. I'm sure it's because it's an extra you pay for that makes everyone try and avoid it. You can't if you want to sit with your DCs.

My dd was 8 when she had to sit on her own on a flight from Majorca.
DH and I were both in dufferebt parts of the plane.
Nobody would move so I reassured her Id be back and sat in my seat a few rows up.
She's flown a lot but is a bit nervous but she was next to a young couple who seemed nice if a bit partied out.
As soon as I could I went back to see her and the couple next to her with literally nearly having sex!!
Poor dd was just staring straight ahead.
I think that's one good reason why they need to be at least in eyeshot of a parent or guardian.

'As soon as I could I went back to see her and the couple next to her with literally nearly having sex!!
Poor dd was just staring straight ahead.
I think that's one good reason why they need to be at least in eyeshot of a parent or guardian.'

The crew said nothing?

I am more worried for the adults sitting next to the DC!

I was separated from my two DC recently on a busy flight. I would normally always pre book seats together but on this occasion I hadn't done so for some reason. My 8 year old DD was very upset and it was embarrassing to ask people to move seats so that we could sit together. Cabin crew just left it up to me to sort it out - they didn't want to get involved.

As others have said, flight prices have come down in recent years and airlines have resorted to developing all kinds of additional revenue streams to make money. It may be annoying but it's a reality nowadays. There are no guarantees if you don't prebook and pay for seats. Airlines are under no obligation to seat you together and passengers are under no obligation to move to facilitate those who have not prebooked.

I would never risk not doing it again. Especially on a charter flight where there will probably be much fewer people travelling alone and who might therefore be more willing to swap seats.

Thank you Rousette. I agree totally. I think so too, sometimes because it's 'extra' some feel inclined to not want to pay and look for reasons not to. The thing is, airlines do not hold people to ransom. It's a product, you either buy it or don't. Simple. Airlines broke down the extras to make it fair on those who felt they didn't use the extras. It's the fairest way to do it. Prices def came down to allow for that. On a family day out to a Pizza Parlour, you pay extra for the toppings, but no-one is forcing you to take them :-) Some people love holidays but hate the travelling. I always say if you think of the travelling as part of your holiday you will enjoy (endure!) it better! See it as the first day of your whole holiday, a day out, shopping and a snack at the airport, a miraculous journey flying through the sky to where sunshine and beaches (or snow and sledging and lots of fun!) is, and all sitting together while the kids look out the windows, watch movies, play games and you read or watch a movie too. Book the seats AND the speedy boarding, get yourself on the flight first and get settled and make sure your hand luggage gets first shout in the overheads. It's part of the journey and worth it. Who wants stress and fighting for seats on an aircraft? I'd rather stay at home! Or prob rather you would if that's your inclination!! :-D Marisa

PersonalTAgent what you write makes sense.

Some people here maybe aren't old enough to remember how expensive flying used to be, only 20 years ago. It was the preserve of the well-off. Now almost anyone thinks that an overseas holiday is some sort of right (viz. the comments about holiday companies discriminating against families in school holidays). It's not a human right to have an overseas holiday. If you can't afford what you want - to sit together - then you have to cut your coat according to your cloth.