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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:
kali110 · 16/09/2016 01:35

HeartsTrumpDiamonds yes there is a big difference, completely agree with everything you wrote!

manicinsomniac · 16/09/2016 01:47

I don't really get the refusing to move thing - especially if you are a solo traveller. Obviously it's massively annoying and unfair but if the choice is move or sit next to an unaccompanied 3 year old would anyone really, honestly, stay put?? It would be a nightmare of a journey. The child would probably cry for a parent half the time, you'd have to help them with their meal, if they were friendly they'd be prodding, poking, chattering and climbing all over you and if there was severe turbulence you'd have to comfort them. WHy would anyone do that to themselves just out of principle?

I'm terrified of flying and sitting somewhere other than the seat I've planned and psyched myself up for would make me even more anxious. But better that than having another child to look after.

I'd be amazed if nobody will move for you.

QueenLizIII · 16/09/2016 01:56

Exactly insomniac, it's about compassion really.

The last time I had a child near me on a flight, he had Downs Syndrome and looked about 6. He was a delightful little boy. If his mum even went to the loo on the plane, he was saying where's my mummy, I want my mummy. Even though I'd paid for my seat, I am trying to imagine refusing to move had his parents forgotten to book seats together. I just couldnt do it.

I think it all depends on attitude. Some people deliberately dont pay knowing full well people who have may be asked to move and dont care. This is a genuine oversight.

MooseyMouse · 16/09/2016 03:55

I'd move for you - no problem. Hope you can sort it.

thelittlebooktroll · 16/09/2016 05:07

I am cabin crew and frequent flyer off work so practically always in the air. I rarely come across problems and mostly people will happily swap seats. On my airline we must sit child and parent together until the child is at least 8 and I never have any issues. Of course you dont sit a 3 year old by himself on a plane. When we have children who fly alone we sit them near the cabin crew so we can keep an eye. The only flights I dread are the flights to Spain as there seems to be a specific type of person who like to holiday here. I can see these type of fights kicking off on a flight to Alicante actuallyConfused

MidniteScribbler · 16/09/2016 05:23

thelittlebooktroll So what happens when you try and get people to swap seats and they say that they have paid for a particular seat? Do you force them? And if you do, do you compensate them for the move?

Mummyoflittledragon · 16/09/2016 05:44

Maybe call Ryanair today to discuss it. If they're no help, go on the plane and beg for seats together. Be prepared to pay the people their reservation fee for their seat.

Get online NOW and pay to book the return seats together - if it's not too late.

Mummyoflittledragon · 16/09/2016 05:48

Where are all the vile posts.

The op on the other thread is being vile and spiteful herself. Enidblyton is genuinely worried and needs help.

puglife15 · 16/09/2016 05:55

He he - this is going to go well

Yes, your prediction was correct.

nooka · 16/09/2016 06:00

It's not necessarily the person next to the child that's asked if they would move. The last flight I was on the man in the row next to me was asked to move probably because he had an empty seat next to him. He said no and the stewards went off to ask someone else.

Most people are really only OK with moving if they are offered a similar seat - so I think most single travelers would happily move to the same seat a couple of rows further forward or back, but think twice if they have to go right to the back of the plane or give up a window/aisle for a middle seat.

Strawberryshortcake40 · 16/09/2016 06:03

Many years ago I was on a flight to Orlando, seated with my now ex DH, two children and my in laws. There was the same kind of issue on the plane and many announcements asking if anyone would give up their seat so a child could be seated next to their parent. This was while we were all seated on the plane waiting to go. The flight attendants were walking up and down asking everyone and saying the flight would miss it's slot. Nobody would move. This was before the days when you had to pay for seats.

When they got to me I said I would be happy to move so we could actually go. The airline gave me a£50 duty free voucher, an upgraded meal and glass of champagne and I was allowed to use the first class toilets for the flight. I didn't expect anything in return tbh - the best thing about it was a 9 hour flight watching tv, reading etc in peace :)

I'm sure someone will move for you but it may take a bit of time. This paying for your seats thing now seems to be the norm unfortunately.

Seekingadvice123 · 16/09/2016 06:14

Just read this. Then shut up
Nice response MyEmma Hmm
Totally unnecessary.

5moreminutes · 16/09/2016 06:46

I'd always move as long as I was being offered a window or an aisle seat to move to - I'm too fat to feel comfortable in a middle seat unless I'm sitting next to my own child or DH! Blush but unless the whole family are seated in middle seats there should be no need to ask another person to give up their aisle or window seat and take a middle seat.

I used to fly alone short haul every other Friday and Sunday (long distance international relationship and more disposable income!) and before that did a lot of long haul flights as a solo traveller and I have never been asked to move for a family - but was frequently asked directly by couples who wanted to sit together and both had middle seats and would be quite loudly rude to one another (meant for the whole plane to hear) about solo travellers not moving for them to sit together - for them I would not move except to my preferred option of an aisle seat, which they never seemed to be able to offer :o

thelittlebooktroll · 16/09/2016 07:10

Midnite, people dont pay for their seats when booking with us. We are not allowed to sit young children away from their parents as someone must be responsible for them. I do fly with other airlines and never book a seat and I didn't think many people did to be honest.

My main headache are an increasing number of people who are too big for one seat and actually take up two. Some people need sofas these daysConfused

cherryplumbanana · 16/09/2016 07:44

Some people need sofas these days Grin

Thank you so much for making me laugh so early this morning! Grin

Not directed against the OP at all, but I have seen the question about paying for seats often coming up on facebook groups. The general advice is pretty much always to not bother paying extra with young children, as you are guaranteed to be seated together, other people will have to move for you. So there are many travelling families who are trying to take advantage of nice people Angry

Andrewofgg · 16/09/2016 08:01

I move if (1) asked politely by cabin crew or other passenger and (2) what I am offered is acceptable, that is window or aisle. It has never happened when I have paid to reserve but I don't think I would worry about the money if it did. It's those two conditions that matter.

When DS was small we once got three seats together, though we had paid for two, after a flight attendant asked a couple if they would split and the bloke got up. At the end of the flight I asked the attendant "Why that couple?" and he let me in on the secret. They knew from the check-in staff that we hoped to get a three, and they spotted that he was trying to read his book and she was trying to make him talk - so he would jump at the chance to be Mr Nice Guy and get some peace Grin

kali110 · 16/09/2016 13:42

manicinsomniac ihave friends who travel a lot on their own, they always book a window seat and wouldn't want to swap Grin

fuzzyfozzy · 16/09/2016 13:57

Years ago my DH and DD (3) were flying home after an 8 hr delay.
We'd just got comfy in our seats when the air hostess came to ask if we'd swap seats so another family could sit together. Strangely we'd not seen her ask anybody else first.
I said no, not like me at all, but why would we want to not sit together just so another family could.
Very strange.

IceRoadDucker · 16/09/2016 13:59

OP, I think you'll be fine. Either the airline will sort it out or someone will swap.

But...

you'd have to help them with their meal, if they were friendly they'd be prodding, poking, chattering and climbing all over you and if there was severe turbulence you'd have to comfort them.

Er, no, I wouldn't? I'd call the crew over to get them or the parents to help with dinner. If the child touched me I'd tell him/her to stop, and then get the crew if it didn't.

emotionsecho · 16/09/2016 18:20

If I'm travelling alone I never bother to book my seat and have no issue with moving, I don't care where I sit. I would possibly move if I had paid to book my seat depending on circumstances and how I was asked.

Crackerdog · 16/09/2016 18:27

It just goes to show that the OP and their attitude has a lot to do with the response. People who ask if they are unreasonable and then argue if anyone says they think so see to get battered. Nice normal person who just wants to ask if it will be possible and "not intentionally tight" in their own words, get help, warmth and kindness.
Only unreasonableness is giving any money to the revolting little RA creep.

wasonthelist · 16/09/2016 18:40

Travel solo on Ryanair quite a bit and don't book particular seat so don't care where I sit - would move if asked but no-one's asked me so far.

coffeeslave · 16/09/2016 19:34

I'm with you IceRoadDucker, I'd never help a child with their meal! I have no idea how to help feed a child, I wouldn't know what I was doing. What a weird thing to suggest a stranger does! Shock

eternalopt · 16/09/2016 19:49

What's the update OP? Did you get to sit together?

popmimiboo · 16/09/2016 21:44

I must be incredibly lucky but I managed to take 3 return flights (ryanair and cityjet) this summer and each time my 3 dc and I were seated together. DC are teens/ preteen so would have been fine if we'd been split up but on every flight we were seated 3 together and 1 across the aisle.
Hope it works out OP, have a good flight.