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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:
Bunbaker · 08/03/2016 19:56

You are so right Foginthehills. OH and I flew to Los Angeles 30 years ago. I have just googled the flight prices and they are the same as they were then. In real terms the cost of flying is far cheaper than it used to be. Far fewer people flew long haul back then because it was so expensive. Neither of our flights were full on that flight. I have only twice flown since then on flights that weren't full.

FreshHorizons · 08/03/2016 20:05

I know airlines like to show a really cheap price but it would be better if there was a higher price and then you took off for things you didn't want e.g £ less to sit anywhere. If it mattered to you to sit together you wouldn't go for the money off.

Bunbaker · 08/03/2016 20:24

I agree FreshHorizons

ivykaty44 · 08/03/2016 20:51

Thing is paying for the extras that if you don't pay for are against aviation recommendations leaves a nasty taste in your mouth, unlike the sprinkles on your ice cream which will not make any difference to your overall satisfaction with customer service.

Perhaps you can explain to me why a man of 2.2 Meters should have to pay extra to be able to sit in his seat whereas a man of 1:75 Meters can sit in any seat and not have to pay an extra charge to be actually able to sit down?

It's not as if the man can reduce his height or has a choice about how tall he is.

oneangrydwarf · 08/03/2016 20:51

Thanks to this thread I logged into ryanair today to see how many seats were pre-booked on our Easter holiday to a sunny island flights. Not loads yet but I discovered they were offering seat allocation now for half price (6 instead of £12) so I booked them. Quite a big difference for a family of 4 both ways.

However, out of curiosity I have just gone on and started an identical booking for the same flights. Seats still cost £12! So my tip would be for Ryanair never to pay full seat price and wait until a few weeks beforehand to decide.

Blu · 09/03/2016 08:34

Unless you are on one of those flights where no seats are allocated and you sit where you can find (and I think those have stopped now?) can anyone explain why priority boarding is a good thing? Spending an extra half hour sitting in your seat? Getting up for the person with the window seat ? Everyone leaning over you stuffing junk in the lockers?

I always hang back and get in last!

Roussette · 09/03/2016 08:36

I also have no idea why anyone would pay for it Half the time it's a bus bussing you to the plane across the runway which you get on first and then most likely get off last so any 'priority' is lost!

BiddyPop · 09/03/2016 09:12

I haven't always pre-booked my seats, depends on the flight, airline, group etc.

I have had issues where booking through a travel agent, up the front for work on an 11.5 hr overnight flight, asked for a window seat and was assured I had one (seat F) but was on to agent a few times about this and other trips and regularly queried it as seat maps showed it was centre of plane (a wide body) "absolutely not Ms Pop, it IS a window seat" - got on board - YUP CENTRE OF PLANE!! Angry so stuck between 2 large middleaged businessmen for the entire flight (one with his feet up high) and no view. Not allowed to move either. I immediately re-booked the seat assignment for flight home to get a window (had to be done in advance).

But I do tend to pre-book where it is feasible, whether work or pleasure. It doesn't always cost money, sometimes it's possible by checking in as soon as it opens online.

And I have had problems before with people wanting my seat - both on trains and on planes - which are prebooked. I've had to turf people out before (a student on a flight to Athens, which was work but I was stressed out at the time and the window was important to me that time, or the family on the way back from a Hen party who thought it wasn't fair that I had a seat - needing to work on the way - while their precious DCs had to sit on laps on a crowded Sunday afternoon train (we all got on at the same stop), just a couple of examples).

Bunbaker · 09/03/2016 11:01

"I also have no idea why anyone would pay for it"

I suggest you read through the thread then, because, clearly, some people have had bad experiences through not pre-booking, and some people need the assurance that are going to sit together. Have a little empathy.

I always used to think there was no point in pre-booking, but when DD and I flew to Rome in October with Jet2 we would have been at opposite ends of the plane if I hadn't. Obviously things had changed since I last flew.

I have pre-booked for our flights to and from Orlando this year because I have paid for extra legroom seats, and IMO, on a long haul flight it will be worth it.

Roussette · 09/03/2016 12:35

Bun I am not talking about those with DC or fear of flying. I'm talking of a couple on their own who book priority boarding not just booking seats. I was responding to Blu about priority boarding, that's all.

FWIW I also prebook seats but not priority boarding as I can't see the point as chances are you won't be on the plane first if you bus it to the plane. I have read the thread by the way

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 09/03/2016 12:41

The only advantage of priority boarding I can see is getting your hand luggage space sorted first. Now more people are avoiding paying for hold luggage, they are more likely to take the maximum allowed hand baggage, but it's always difficult to pack in everyone's hand baggage if everyone has the maximum size. When it was free to have checked bags I think there was more smaller bags (some people still took only carry on as it meant they could speed off at the other end)

LagunaBubbles · 09/03/2016 12:45

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

It would have cost us an extra £240 to pre-book our seats last year with BA, and that was just the London-Heathrow bit, cant remember how much the domestic flight was from Glasgow. If Starbucks charge that I would be very surprised! Grin

problembottom · 09/03/2016 13:33

I once paid extra for front row seats when booking Ryanair flights for skiing in Italy. DP then checks in online the day before our flight and pays extra for priority boarding. Which is already included with the seats! To add insult to injury, we didn't even use the priority boarding we paid twice for as they were already boarding when we got to the gate. Hmm

bornwithaplasticspoon · 09/03/2016 14:20

Problembottom, we always hang back and try to board last I hate all the inboard faffing so try to avoid!

bornwithaplasticspoon · 09/03/2016 14:21

Onboard Smile

SloaneRanger88 · 09/03/2016 14:27

Not similar, but Dh once gave his window seat up to lone seven year old on a flight to Cyprus. We assumed she was travelling alone as a hostess was putting her bag away and showing her the belt when we found our seats. She asked to swap, we also bought her Pringles, lent her headphones and helped her open her food packaging. and had her nattering for 4 hours.

As everyone was getting off, her parents appeared from the back of the plane and we heard them saying what a nice flight it was as we were going through customs. The gits had sat together and left her on her own.

bornwithaplasticspoon · 09/03/2016 14:35

Unbelievable Sloane!

Bunbaker · 09/03/2016 17:20

"I'm talking of a couple on their own who book priority boarding not just booking seats. I was responding to Blu about priority boarding, that's all."

In that case I'm with you on that. If it was just OH and me flying I wouldn't worry about not sitting with him. He has very long legs and if there is only one extra legroom seat left he will try and get it. I am a grown up and can cope perfectly well on my own.

WiIdfire · 09/03/2016 18:09

Sloane - some people can be like that even without the seat issue. I once sat by a man and his 7 yo daughter. He sat by the window, stuck his headphones in and went to sleep, and stayed there for the whole 2 hour flight. The girl very politely asked me to help her with her meal, find her a blanket etc etc - she clearly knew he wasnt interested in being a dad. So sad.

Yokohamajojo · 10/03/2016 10:55

It's funny on these threads that kids are assumed to be a pain whatever the circumstances are! I never have problems with kids on the flight but have on numerous occasions had annoying adults next to me or near me! Loud headphones, coughing or sniffing (without any attempt with tissues etc) fidgeting, talking when you clearly not want to engage etc etc.

My kids are no angels but I am absolutely confident that they wouldn't be more annoying than anyone else on a flight if they happened to sit on their own without me.

I mean the story of the 7 year old girl, if an adult had talked to you, would that be as annoying? It's not difficult to say, I am sorry I am now going to read my book, have a nice flight

Trickydecision · 10/03/2016 11:31

Flying to Sri Lanka this evening. No window seats available so have booked two with a (so far) empty seat between in the hope that no one chooses it. If they do, we will offer the inside one and hang on to the aisle. Fingers crossed.

BarefootAcrossHotLegoPieces · 10/03/2016 11:40

Tricky, are you in the middle aisle with a 4/5 seat row length? So you have booked:

X0X0 and are willing to swap to be XX00?

or X0X00 and would swap to XX000?

No one may choose it, but if the flight is full, it will be assigned. Did you check if the airline was still selling seats on the flight?

If it's 5 seats in the middle row, you probably won't get the swap.

Trickydecision · 10/03/2016 11:54

Barefoot, it's the 2-4-2 configuration and I have booked 0XOX but would swap to 00XX if someone turns up . If they don't want to swap, so be it. But usually I find this works. And the one between us might be empty anyway if no one wants it.

MaidOfStars · 10/03/2016 12:54

Tricky That's quite clever, never thought of that. I assume any couple interlaced with another couple would be happy to swap, especially as it's like for like.

BarefootAcrossHotLegoPieces · 10/03/2016 13:22

Maid, the chances are it won't be an interlaced couple though. Could be one of a group of three, a person on their own or else a couple split by several rows.