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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To change seats on a plane

89 replies

Enidblyton1 · 15/09/2016 22:51

Has anyone flown with Ryan Air recently? I've just checked in and didn't pay to reserve seats. Oops! I haven't flown for a while...

All 4 of us are sitting in different places - ridiculously apart (rows 1, 15, 27 and 29!). We have a 5 and 1 year old.

As the flight is early tomorrow morning I assume we were one of the last people to check in, so other seats have been allocated.
AIBU to ask to pay for seats next to each other when we arrive at the airport tomorrow? Am I just too late?

OP posts:
heidipi · 15/09/2016 23:44

I flew with Ryan Air a couple of weeks ago and they asked for volunteers to swap seats so a family with small children could sit together. It looked like there was done huffing and puffing but it seemed like it had to happen. Bonkers system.
Maybe be prepared to offer coffees etc to the swappees - probably more expensive than the seats would have been anyway Grin happy hols!

heidipi · 15/09/2016 23:47

I should add that I was travelling with smalls myself which is why i didn't swap and help the family out (theirs looked as sticky and tetchy as ours so nothing to be gained).

OnceThereWasThisGirlWho · 15/09/2016 23:51

QueenLiz My only desire on a plane is to have a window seat.

I'd swap with someone so they could sit next to a child as long as it was another window seat I swapped for.

Me too! I'm still pissed off 10yrs later about the guy who showed up late to check in, meaning I was asked to move from my window seat so he could sit next to his child. Was long haul, I was young and it was the first time I'd gone abroad alone (and had barely flown so the window seat was a big deal!). I'd got to the airport 3 hrs early as suggested.

I still think they should have upgraded me to first class. Grin

QueenLizIII · 15/09/2016 23:53

OnceThereWasThisGirlWho

I wouldnt have moved!

TheLastHeatwave · 15/09/2016 23:55

You shouldn't need to pay. They shouldn't book a child under 10 into a seat on their own.

If there is a person on the desk, inform them at the check in that there's been an error with your allocated seats.

If you are doing a self check in, then when you get through security to the departures area look for the customer services desk. Most airports have one & they will sort it out for you.

Failing that, go & talk to the staff at the gate as soon as it opens.

You'll be fine.

emotionsecho · 15/09/2016 23:57

Have you tried the Live Chat option on their website they may well be able to sort this out for you prior to you turning up at the airport.

DesolateWaist · 15/09/2016 23:58

What is going on? Where are the 'vile' posts?

Fwiw OP, ages ago I was all checked in and in the departure lounge for a flight when there was a 'will Mr and Mrs Waist come to the desk please'. We were asked if we would mind moving so a parent and child could sit together. The plane was completely full and moving someone was the only option. We hadn't paid to book so didn't mind.

Viviene · 16/09/2016 00:00

I'd move but I fly often enough not to be bothered where I sit and I mostly fly low- cost so know the game. I never pay for allocated seats- it's nonsense!

QueenLizIII · 16/09/2016 00:01

What is going on? Where are the 'vile' posts?

it is late. Perhaps the vile posting will start when everyone else is up?

Parker231 · 16/09/2016 00:01

Will all depend on whether other passengers have paid for specific seats and therefore won't move. I have specific seats I pay for depending on which flight I'm on and I wouldn't move from those seats.

Original poster
Enidblyton1 · 16/09/2016 00:07

Thanks again all, your friendly posts are making me smile! I know it's normal to expect a few vile replies on AIBU - my risk for posting on here - but most of you have been v helpful.
Good thinking about the live chat - I'll try that.

OP posts:
QuackDuckQuack · 16/09/2016 00:08

I'm puzzled by the reluctance of people to move. Given the choice between sitting next to my DH and an unaccompanied 3 year old or sitting on my own away from the 3 year old, I'd pick on my own every time. I get that some people have paid to reserve seats, but presumably not everyone. If I'd paid to reserve then I'd expect a refund.

lamprey42 · 16/09/2016 00:09

I expect it was the computer rather than a person who allocated the seats. If you try to talk to someone they should be able to change. The CAA say '
The seating of children close by their parents or guardians should be the aim of airline seat allocation procedures for family groups and large parties of children.

Young children and infants who are accompanied by adults, should ideally be seated in the same seat row as the adult. Children and accompanying adults should not be separated by more than one aisle. Where this is not possible, children should be separated by no more than one seat row from accompanying adults. This is because the speed of an emergency evacuation may be affected by adults trying to reach their children.

Whenever a number of infants and children are travelling together the airline should make every effort to ensure that they can be readily supervised by the responsible accompanying adults.'

OnceThereWasThisGirlWho · 16/09/2016 00:23

QueenLiz I was a bit of a people pleaser back then. I would feel the force of MN behind me and refuse if it happened again. Maybe. Grin Didn't pay back then, had to earn your window seat by being punctual!

it is late. Perhaps the vile posting will start when everyone else is up?

I'm sure we could gather togather some sort of night watch vile vipers team to make sure no AIBU OP goes unscathed.

MegCleary · 16/09/2016 00:28

Tweet them first thing about 7am usually very helpful on there

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 16/09/2016 00:30

I think the difference between this and other pay-for-seating-on-a-flight threads is that in this one, it is before the fact, the OP sees the problem and is trying to rectify it - not acting all entitled and outraged and too cheap to spend the money or threatening to drag the story to the tabloids or whatever.

Well done OP - I would maybe move from my paid seat for someone as nice and sensible as you Smile

Mouikey · 16/09/2016 00:34

Ryanair have some useful information on their website - worth a look. This was interesting as it will now require one adult to pay to reserve a seat with the children... www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/faq-overview/Travelling-with-children#0-11

QueenLizIII · 16/09/2016 00:37

OnceThereWasThisGirlWho

Hehe. I dont fly very often, and I like the extra space the window affords. I hold water like a camel so getting out to the loo frequently isnt a huge issue for me.

I still think when I was younger I would have said no.

Lunar1 · 16/09/2016 00:49

Either ring them as soon as they are open or get to check in first. Ryan air usually have some unbookable seats so unless someone has contacted them with a similar problem there should be seats available.

TroubleinDaFamily · 16/09/2016 01:01

If I have been organised enough to book and pay for seats I will not move.

QueenLizIII · 16/09/2016 01:15

The OP hasnt flown for a while.....she didnt realise. Suggesting she is disorganised is a bit harsh. Paying for seats in advance didnt used to be a thing a few years ago.

TroubleinDaFamily · 16/09/2016 01:20

Not calling her disorganised, just saying if I have been organised, I am unwilling to move.

DoNotBlameMeIVotedRemain · 16/09/2016 01:21

I reckon out of school hols you'll be fine. As others say point out issue at check in and they will probably be able to sort it so that each child is near to at least one adult. Being across the aisle ( like in the other post) might be a solution too.

ohtheholidays · 16/09/2016 01:29

If me and my DH were travelling without children(won't be happening for a while as we have 5DC)then we'd happily move so a family could sit with they're DC and we wouldn't expect anything for it.

Fingers crossed for you OP that there's someone nice wiling to swap.

kali110 · 16/09/2016 01:34

QuackDuckQuack it wouldn't bother me if i was sitting by a random i child, i have my headphones, dramas and anxiety meds, i wouldn't hear a thing Grin

I would be a non mover. Unless the parent would also help with my
Meds, get me up and down And keep me calm during the flight Grin

Airline may be of use in the morning, but it may be too late.
People may have already reserved these seats. These may be the only ones left now.
Caa are guidelines, not law. The airline has to make an effort, if there are no seats left and nobody wants to move not much they can do ( they certainly can't stop the op from flying).
Be prepared, if they seat you in same row as your child but separated by a few seats, that is sitting together.