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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:
LoveBoursin · 03/03/2016 16:46

Honestly?
I would pay the £28. Of course you can risk it and end up in a 2 together situation (you with one dc, your DH with the other) or you might well end up with one dc (or tow) on their own.

Now please read previous thread about people who have had to move, even though they HAD preboked their seats because otherwise you have a 4yo in their own. On the 4yo is on their own abd being a pain in the arse because unsurpervised. Or the pane is delayed because no one wants to move.

The problem is that, a few years ago, just a few seats were available to book so that wasn't an issue. Now that everyone can book the seat, it means that booking the seat is now more or less complusory unless you are on your own, two of you but adults etc... in effect situation where all the members of the poart can sit of their own and are happy to do so.
Risking it on the ground that people will have to accomodate you even if they have payed for their seats in not on imo.

lunar1 · 03/03/2016 16:49

I book and pay for our seats, I wouldn't move any of my family for you. I suspect most people are the same.

Runner05 · 03/03/2016 16:50

They won't sit both of your children separately at those ages but you may find they sit both of them with one patent and the other patent somewhere else or one with each parent.

RaspberryOverload · 03/03/2016 16:51

If I've paid the extra to pre-book certain seats, then I'm not going to swap seats unless it's an emergency. A child not sitting next to a parent is not an emergency.

MrsGuyOfGisbo · 03/03/2016 16:51

What the airlines should do is only accept the booking with the kids if the additional is paid at the time of booking or increase the child seat costs to cover it. Otherwise very unfair on other passengers being shunted around or the plane being delayed by people trying it on.

Mistigri · 03/03/2016 16:51

This is a problem entirely created by greedy airlines who want to claim that their flights are cheaper than they really are.

If my toddler were seated 20 rows away I'd be making a formal complaint on safety grounds ... I'm dubious about whether this really happens, though, I think it is more likely exaggeration and hearsay. I can certainly believe that that can legally seat a parent in the row behind or in front, but I don't believe they would risk seating a toddler far away from adult supervision - imagine the law suit if cabin pressure were lost and the child was unable to put on the mask, or if the plane needed to be evacuated. I don't believe that airlines would take that risk.

bornwithaplasticspoon · 03/03/2016 16:57

That's cheap! BA want £20 per seat per leg of journey to pre-book. I'd pay the £28 simply to not have to worry about it.

OllyBJolly · 03/03/2016 16:57

I believe airlines are not allowed to separate young children from adults so I wouldn't pay

There's no rule, and the guidance is only that children have to be seated "close by". I've been on several flights where parents have tried to quote "the law" about having their children next to them If the cost is only £28 for four of you I would imagine most people will book (BA ask for a lot more!). To be safe I would.

Branleuse · 03/03/2016 16:58

I wouldnt bother paying.

Has anyone ever actually been seperated from their kids on a flight?

OurBlanche · 03/03/2016 17:00

Well, having been the adult sat next to a 5 or 6 year old with the nearest parent a fair few rows behind, DH and I refused to move as we had paid. The kid looked fine about it, smiled at me, put his earplugs in and started playing his game thingy.

His mum, on the other hand, was heard loudly, mock sobbing for quite some time, even after take off "Oh my baby, he will miss his mummy, he will be scared without me. Nasty woman, why oh why won't they move?" It went on for a while. Her OH, other side of plane, took the kid's tack, plugged and tuned out. I did help the kid with his seat belt but that was as far as I was prepared to go. We didn't even give him the window seat!

So it can happen. There is a choice to be made. But if you choose not to, please don't be that mother Smile

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 03/03/2016 17:01

yes, OR, you need to diarise when online check in and do it the very Nano second it opens

I did with BA and we were fine, but you miss that online window (as one does when on a mini break) and its a nightmare

Pollyputhtekettleon · 03/03/2016 17:01

I would move for you OP! Couldn't give a shit where on a plane I sit. The only thing that would stop me moving is if it separated me from my kids.

IndridCold · 03/03/2016 17:01

As PPs have said, if it is online check in just check in as soon as it opens and you can choose seats together.

If not, pay.

Binders1 · 03/03/2016 17:02

The airline does not have to seat your children with you. The only way to guarantee you are sat with your children is to pre-book the seats and £28 isn't too much in the grand scheme of things.

Yes you can make sure you check in early, the risk is as pp have said, lots of people are now pre-booking seats so there is lower availability. On my last flight, a mother could sit with her DS but her DH and DS2 were sat in two different places. The DH and cabin crew was then going round asking if someone would swap places. They can't force anyone to move. My own DM ended up swapping because no-one else was going to and she didn't want to see a ittle boy sat alone but why should she have had to? She had therefore paid to pre-book her seat for nothing and wasn't sat with her family for a long flight. Yes it was her choice and no-one forced her to, but if you and your children get split, it's someone like my DM you are going to need if you want to sit together.

Behooven · 03/03/2016 17:04

I'm a worry wort so always book and pay. My DS is older now but if we were asked to move around I would refuse. It is the airlines way of squeezing more money out of us but either suck it up for peace of mind or don't - but don't expect anyone else to move for you.

expatinscotland · 03/03/2016 17:05

If you really want to sit together, then yes or wait like Pacific states for general allocation at midnight. I fly internationally with my two and pre-book. I would not move for anyone. My DS has Asperger's and I have anxiety issues due to past trauma so would not shift even though my DD2 is 10.

Last year, we fly from Amsterdam to Houston. Bought tickets in April and the flight was full to the gunners. We ended up in the middle, two seats together so me and DS and DD2 in the row and seat behind. People asking others to move where screwed.

This year tickets have already been purchased and our seats allocated. There is zero way I will move any of us.

tiggytape · 03/03/2016 17:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HeadDreamer · 03/03/2016 17:05

I paid. But I don't fancy sitting apart from my 4yo.

CwtchesAndCuddles · 03/03/2016 17:06

I have a child with specail needs - when we fly I always prebook our seats as it would be a nightmare for us to be separated! If you are happy to take the risk of being separated then don't pay, but please don't moan about it afterwards. Personally for the sake of £28 I would pay up and relax knowing that there will no seating issues to spoil the start of the holiday.

BarefootAcrossHotLegoPieces · 03/03/2016 17:07

I would pay it.

Presumably as at least one of your kids is in school, you are flying in school holidays? So much of the plane will be families - and unlikely to move.

bookbook · 03/03/2016 17:07

We just booked flights, not holidays, and you print out the boarding pass 30 days before the flight, thats when our seats were allocated, maybe it is different if you have bought a holiday?

Binders1 · 03/03/2016 17:08

As for the 5 year old who was also split from his DF because the man next to him wouldn't move, after about 20 minutes into the flight, the man actually went to the father and told him he could swap places because the child was an absolute nightmare. The father told him it was no longer necessary and he was quite happy relaxing where he was. The passenger had him for 8.5 hours Grin

slebmum1 · 03/03/2016 17:09

I'd pay it. I also wouldn't give up my seats if I had paid.

BarefootAcrossHotLegoPieces · 03/03/2016 17:09

"This is a problem entirely created by greedy airlines who want to claim that their flights are cheaper than they really are."

Not really! If I'm flying alone, I don't care where I sit - why shouldn't I get a cheaper ticket in return for this flexibility?

It does mean you should check T&C (this is pretty standard now) and factor it in, just like p&p on an eBay bid.

Buzzardbird · 03/03/2016 17:11

I would love to know how the airlines justify this charge. If half the passengers aren't paying it, why is it essential?